After starting his career alongside Brazilian superstar Romario with Miami FC in the USL, playing against the Impact in 2006, Eric Kronberg feels there is a little bit of irony with the timing of his move north this season.
“I started playing professionally with THE Romario against the Impact, and now I’m playing alongside another Romario,” says Kronberg, who played his first minutes in nets this past Saturday against Orlando.
Kronberg is referring to forward Romario Williams, who was actually named after the World Cup winner, and who has something else in common with him.
They were both acquired by the Impact through a draft process, Williams in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft and Kronberg in the Re-Entry Draft.
“My first sentiment when I heard I was drafted was excitement, but my second thought was I need to learn French!” he joked. “My mother is obsessed with the French language and she’s studying Rosetta Stone, travels to France all the time and is really excited for me. She bought the Rosetta Stone for me as a gift just after she found out. Montreal is a great city. I’m really looking forward to immersing myself in the culture here.”
Surf and Turf
Born in Santa Rosa, California, Kronberg started playing soccer at five years old, but only put on the gloves around 11.
“Soccer is very popular in Cali and it has been like that for a very long time,” said Kronberg. “With good weather for it year round, a number of good players have come from Southern California.”
A multi-sport athlete, he was forced to give up baseball, basketball and track when soccer started becoming more competitive and serious for him.
The hard work eventually paid off and soon enough, he found himself backstopping the Fresno State Bulldogs before completing his University career with the California Golden Bears.
“I surprised a lot of people,” he explained. “I was a little bit of a late bloomer. I was always tall, but lanky. I didn’t settle into my body until my last year of high school, first year of college. Eventually, I went to Cal Berkely and they have a great soccer program. The goalkeeper coach, Henry Foulk, and the rest of the coaching staff really helped me become a pro.”
Kronberg was eventually drafted by the then Kansas City Wizards 40th overall in 2006.
While in KC, Kronberg and his team suffered at the beginning of his tenure, serving as backup to some bad teams before the club turned things around with new ownership.
All that time, he had to wait for his opportunity, playing behind “rocks” like Kevin Hartman and Jimmy Nielsen, who were seldom injured.
Finally, after Nielsen’s retirement at the beginning of last season, the 6’5” goalkeeper got his opportunity.
“Peter Vermes gave me a shot last year and I think I did pretty well. The season started off really well, but then I broke my hand and it slowed me down a little bit.”
In full form to start the season, IMFC fans can expect to see a keeper who, self-admittedly, has modelled his game around a Dutch legend.
“The guy I really looked up to growing up was Edwin Van der Saar. The Ajax coaching staff came to Cali and did some training with us. I remembered one of the coaches actually talking to him on the cell phone and I freaked out. I’ve tried to imitate his style. I’m a solid keeper, who doesn’t make too many mistakes. I’m good in the air (6’5”), a good shot stopper and pretty good with my feet. If they pass it back to me, you won’t always see the long ball for a 50/50 duel, but I’ll try to find someone at his feet.”
Kronberg was able to show some of his shot stopping abilities this past weekend in the 2-2 draw with Orlando City SC at Olympic Stadium, particularly when he stoned Brazilian star Kaka from inside the box in the game’s opening 10 minutes.
If that save is a precursor for what’s to come from the big man in goal, the team is in good hands whenever Kronberg will be called on to defend the woodwork.
