Transcript: Charlie Horton on His US Journey, Playing Pro Soccer, and Transitioning to Finance

Good morning, and welcome back to the show. We're here with Mr. Charlie Horton, former MLS Championship League, League One, EFL, and USL goalie and US alum, class of 2013. How are you, Mr.

Horton? Well, that's quite an intro, but nice to meet you guys and looking forward to the conversation. All right. So, Mr.

Horton, we did a little research on you, and one thing that stood out was that you were born in London. So, what was it like growing up overseas, and any fun childhood stories from your time over there? Yeah. So, I was born over there.

You can call me Charlie. Okay. I was, I grew up, I was born in London. My father was actually English.

My mom was American. And that's actually where, you know, sort of my love for soccer, of course, over there, football sort of started. But I had two older half-brothers. And we had a trampoline, and they would turn the, the trampoline was sort of a rectangle, and they would turn the rectangle on its side.

And they would sort of shoot balls at the rectangle, the trampoline. And, you know, one day sort of encouraged me to go stand in front of it to try and stop them. And that's sort of what turned me into, into a goalkeeper. And of course, the worst part about that was, if they managed to get one pass, you'd actually hit the trampoline and then came back and hit you in the back of the head.

So, you know, you try to, try to stop them. Yeah. That's what happened. You know, you, how did you end up not only kind of just coming to the U.S., right, but also U.S. for school?

Yeah, good question. So I actually, my mom, as I mentioned, was American. My parents ended up getting divorced. And when they got divorced, my mom sort of wanted to return back to, you know, an area that was close to her parents.

Her parents were in Western New York, near sort of Erie, Pennsylvania. And so Cleveland was the sort of, you know, largest, you know, city nearby where she could practice law. She was a little player. And, you know, I was really fortunate.

I ended up coming to U.S. I joined it in the third grade. And then my sister, Rachel, went to Hathaway Brown. Do you think U.S. played a big role in your development as an athlete, or did you kind of get that development outside of U.S.?

Uh, that's a good question. Um, I think athletically, um, U.S. set me up for success. And I mean that in that, like, there was every sort of opportunity for me to go and pursue what it was that I wanted to pursue. And, you know, U.S. was sort of willing to facilitate and support me and my family in sort of whatever way, um, you know, frankly, we thought would help me be successful.

And that took a lot of different turns at different stages. At some stages, that was sort of me going down to Florida to practice and train, for six months. And at other stages, it was, you know, playing for the varsity soccer team. So it just, it, I would say they, they never stood in my way, is, is probably how I would say it.

Now, on a, on a personal level, as a human being, uh, I give a tremendous amount of credit to university school for sort of turning me into, and, and, um, making me the person that I am today. Um, you know, when you first got into soccer, right, how did playing soccer here compare to what you were? You were used to, and what was the competition different? Did U.S. soccer kind of give you the kind of experience you were hoping for?

It, it, you know, I don't know how it works now. Back then, coming from England, obviously, you start playing soccer at a very early age. So when I came to the U.S., I was sort of ahead of the curve, I would say. And then I probably, honestly, just regressed a little bit.

That was no fault of university school. It was just like, you know, in, in the U.K., all of their best athletes go and play soccer from a very early age. As you guys are well aware, at U.S., but in the U.S. more generally, you know, we sort of split all of our best athletes across five or six sports. And some of those athletes will actually, um, do multiple sports.

Um, and so I think you, you, you sort of dilute the talent pool a little bit, um, but that comes with, with benefits, which we can talk about. Um, but, but, you know, the, the, the soccer team itself at U.S. was, was fantastic. There was sort of a, it was a club team. It was a, it was called the Development Academy.

Again, it's probably called something else now. This is over, you know, 10, 15 years ago. But I actually would go to play on a travel team when it wasn't soccer season at U.S. and then would come back to U.S. Eventually that travel team ended up taking over.

And so my senior year, I actually wasn't able to play for university school, which was in hindsight, like one of the biggest bummers. My high school, you know, athletic experience. Um, because personally I found like there was no, no better feeling than like playing a game on a Monday or Tuesday night, coming in the next day and having a bunch of your buddies that had been at the game and going crazy. And those are some of my like core, uh, core favorite memories from, from U.S.

Besides soccer, were there any other culture shocks that, uh, when you moved from England to the U.S., was there anything that kind of caught you off guard? Um, I don't know about culture shocks. I mean, I showed up as sort of the third grade kid with a thick British accent. And as you can tell, that's completely disappeared.

Um, much, uh, much to my wife's dismay. Um, but you know, it, it, it was pretty seamless, honestly. And, and like I said, university school, just in general, I really can't speak more highly of, you know, at a school that's so academically focused. Um, how did you manage to play soccer at such a high level?

And were there moments where it just felt like too much sometimes? Uh, that's a good question. Um, I, I think university school does a, a tremendous job setting you up for what you're going to face, uh, in, in the real world, candidly. And yes, um, I, I think university school did sort of set me up to compete and play soccer at the highest level.

I think a lot of that was sort of done through, um, them creating sort of the person that I became. And a lot of that is sort of like to, to your question, managing the stressors of having to perform and, and complete your academics at a very high level, but then also be expected to go out on the soccer field after a long day of school and practice or play and compete. And in reality, when you, uh, you know, get to the real world and you have your first internship and your first job, it's sort of funny, but like the same sort of stresses and demands on your time, you know, you're not going to be able to do that. You're not going to be able to do that.

You're not going to be able to do that. You're not going to be able to be able to do that. You're not going to be able to do that. You're not going to be able to do that.

And frankly, because you've been at a school where you've sort of had to train and practice and be a part of a team and sort of practice all of these skills. Um, I think it ends up serving you really, really well. Um, not to mention you get a world-class education and, um, you know, hopefully go to a great school that you're excited about. So after us for you, you went to play professional soccer, um, and you pass up an opportunity to play at UNC who was recently coming off a national championship at the time.

Um, why did you make that decision? It's a good question. Sometimes I ask myself that, uh, no, um, I think, you know, for me, I remember a conversation I had with my mom and it was, I had always had this dream of being a professional athlete and being a professional goalkeeper and, um, you know, UNC, as you said, sort of word top program. I actually don't know how they've done since, but national champions.

When I, when I signed up for UNC, I was like, I signed an NLI there, was super excited, but ultimately had a contract put in front of me. And it was like, okay, there are truly so many things that could go wrong to where you, you won't be able to reach that goal. You won't be able to be a professional soccer player, whether that's through injury or just bad luck. Um, to where I said like, look, I want to back myself.

I want to go and try this. I want to go and experience, you know, life abroad as an athlete and see what that's like. And I made a promise to my mom that I'd go back to school. Um, and so I did it and, and I, I don't regret it.

I, I, I joked at the beginning, but, um, you know, there's always like the, what if analysis of, uh, you know, what life would have been like in Chapel Hill, which don't get me wrong. Great school have nothing but good things to say about, you know, the team and the coach. And, um, when I left the school and went overseas, anytime I was sort of like in the news or made the national team, anything like that, um, it was actually, you know, the UNC head coach who I'd turned down. And called a week before my freshman year was supposed to begin that would send me an email and say, you know, Hey, Charlie, congratulations.

Still following your career, really excited for you, et cetera, et cetera, which, you know, speaks to the caliber of human being, uh, that Carlos, the head coach was the institution of UNC, but also just, you know, uh, is part of why I have nothing but good things to say about him and that program. You know, I feel like most high school players want to even know how to get noticed. By these international soccer clubs or other teams. How did that process kind of really work?

Yeah. It's, uh, anyone that asked me this, I say I got lucky, uh, which is true. Um, it wasn't at us. I mentioned this development Academy team that I played for, and there was a showcase in, um, I want to say it was in Texas, but I could be wrong.

And this was, you know, my, uh, junior or senior year when I was sort of on my way to go to UNC. And we were playing a team and honestly, my senior year, the team was called the international soccer Academy. I'm, I'm almost certain the international soccer club still exists in Cleveland. Um, but I was playing for them and I played in a game.

I had, we, we weren't very good and I was very busy and, um, 30 minutes into the game, I'd probably made three or four saves. I wasn't supposed to, I'd saved a penalty kick. And then I had been, and then, and then the referee said someone encroached, which basically means, you know, one of the out our outfield players ran in on the kick before the guy took it when I saved it. So he made them redo the penalty kick.

I'd saved it again. Um, and then in the, like I said, in the 30th minute, I got a red card and I got a red card cause I came out and took out, uh, the, the striker that had broken through, uh, which is pretty devastating. And I'll never forget the referee came up to me and said, Charlie, I'm sorry. I have to send you off for this.

Cause I'm enjoying watching you. Play. Um, and so I was sent off. I went to the bench, took off my gloves, obviously pretty upset.

That means you're suspended for two games or three games after that. And, um, a scout out of nowhere came up to me and was basically like, Hey, uh, you're wasting your time going to play UNC. You should, you should go abroad. Um, and that started sort of a domino long, long story, but, um, ended up, you know, going on trial just to see sort of what it would, what it would be like.

And this was sort of a couple of weeks before my freshman year ended up going well and, um, and, you know, was offered a contract, but it really was lucky. It was the right game, the right, you know, good game, the right team we were playing against and the right person, you know, literally walking by the field I was playing on at the right time. That's that's cool. Well, I've been around some high level athletics, but I can't imagine making that kind of decision you did at just 18, you know, playing professionally overseas is so who helps you help guide you through that process?

Yeah, it's a, it's a, another good question. I, I really add a, a village of, of amazing people and an amazing support system around me. Um, and those were people, you know, it really started with like John Patasek at university school. Um, and then, you know, even people like, uh, Mr.

De La Mata, who at least back then was still coaching. Um, coaching, you know, one of the, the JV teams, but he and I were super close from that connection to the sport. And, uh, and then it, it, you know, it, it sort of grew from there. And I had, you know, folks that I'd met along the way that were either sort of professional players in their own right or professional coaches and had coached or played at the highest level.

Um, but I really had just a tremendous support system. Uh, there was really in many ways, I think the work of my mom who, uh, I have a lot to thank for, um, that I could just sort of like lean on and ask for guidance and experience because ultimately you're, you're exactly right. I mean, you go from, uh, being a, uh, you know, 17, 18 year old, a big fish in a small pond to walking into a locker room where it's like, you need to figure out how you're going to communicate with the, you know, 34 year old guy that's at the end of his career and going home to like a wife and four kids at the end of the day. And I'm 18 with very different things on my mind.

Um, so, so it was, it was like, it was crazy. I mean, and, and one of the, one of the coolest things, uh, that frankly, I, I would impart on anyone that I talked to just about professional athletics and school and the decision to forego college at that point, man, had I gone to UNC, I would have had no understanding or appreciation for the education that I was getting. Even when I was in your shoes at us. And when you go into a professional, professional locker room where truly like these guys, most of them, this is like their way out.

This is the only, you know, this is the only thing they can do to sort of put food on the table. Um, and, and, and candidly by their own admission, like can't really string a sentence together, man, you, you get an appreciation very quickly for education and, and what it is that, you know, an institution like university school, or frankly, all the other great schools in Cleveland, you know, provide to you guys. And, um, folks coming through their corridors, you know, as a goalkeeper leadership is just a huge part of the position. How did you kind of develop your leadership skills?

And what advice would you give to young athletes about leading from their own position? Yeah. Um, another good question. I think, look, the reality that I'm even still confronting now as a young professional is like, no one has ever finished evolving and adapting and growing.

As a leader and anyone, I think that thinks, you know, they have should take a real firm look in the mirror because I just, I think leadership is so important, but really changes depending on your environment and, and, and frankly, who you're standing across from who you're communicating with. When I was playing, um, look, I was like very loud. I was trying to organize people. I was, you know, I tried to be commanding of my 18 yard box.

Which is, you know, the, the area where a goalkeeper is sort of in charge and can use their hands. Like those were sort of all the things that, um, that I sort of aspire to be. Um, but, but, you know, there are certain players in certain games and certain coaches that you, you honestly just have to communicate with very differently. Um, and, and that sort of fine tuning is something I still, still work on today.

It's certainly not, uh, ever a finished product. Yeah, that's great. So after your soccer career, you, uh, fulfilled your promise to your mom and went to George Washington and then completely switched things up by joining the rowing team. Um, so how did that happen?

That is correct. Um, so I, I did go back to school. I had the, um, last of several concussions and sat across from a doctor and he was basically, look, you know, you're okay. Uh, if you keep sort of rolling the dice, you know, you're going to start to flirt with a line where like, you, you probably don't want, want to do that.

And so I said, okay, say no more. And frankly, uh, there'd always been a part of me that wanted to convince people there was more to me than just sort of being a soccer player. Um, I went to GW, I was walking around campus and I had a Cleveland at the time, the Cleveland Indians, uh, baseball cap on. And, uh, one of these guys walked up to me sort of like a big guy and goes, you know, you're a baseball player.

And I was like, no, you know, and I chuckled and I sort of said, you know, I used to play a little bit of soccer and really didn't let on to anything. And he's like, oh, well, you know, you're built like a rower. You should, you should come out for the rowing team. And it turns out this guy, Jack St.

Clair was his name. Um, it was sort of like a novice that he wasn't a novice. I was a novice, but he, he actually was an athlete on the team. He turned into a manager cause he ended up getting hurt.

Um, but he encouraged me to come to this basically like an open tryout. Um, and I had sort of been sitting back. I was starting school at 23 years old. I was like, I'm going to struggle to make friends.

I don't know what my circle is going to be. I'm like, I was sort of in a bit of a precarious position and man, like all of a sudden I had this great, you know, input and Avenue into, excuse me, a bunch of guys that work really, really hard. And, you know, it was a bit odd cause, and it's probably different now, but in Cleveland, when I grew up, like the rowing kids were the weird kids. And so, uh, or, or at least like you, you, you didn't have very many rowers coming through, through us.

Um, but man, did I find just some awesome human beings? I absolutely loved my time there. Um, and it, it helped me through, you know, a challenging period of transition. My mom passed away.

Um, and so the, the, the growing team really became like a, a second family in, in many ways. Um, so now you're in private, private, private equity. Um, before that, I believe you went into investment banking. How do you think, you know, playing high level athletics, a lot of people that go into those careers, they go straight top school and then into investment banking, private equity, but you had a different path by going into high level athletics.

So how do you think that kind of propelled you into a career in the finance world? Yeah, that's a good question. Um, I think, I think, you know, the, the, the, the nice thing about being an athlete is you learn a bunch of these skills that the corporate world is really, really interested in hiring. And that's things like being on a team, metabolizing failure, um, you know, understanding what it, what it means to work for something, you know, with uncertain outcomes at the end.

Um, there, I mean, there are just so many lessons that you get by being a part of a really playing a sport, but especially a team sport that, you know, these institutions like to hire for. And so, you know, that that's, that's one thing that's really important. And then, you know, back to sort of some of the values of us, you know, actually being able to articulate them and like, you know, build connections with people and, and, uh, um, you know, really have people buy into your success just as a, as a human, as a, as an individual, those all become super important. And then, yeah, like you said, you know, I, I sort of was fortunate to find finance and, and sort of have people push me on, you know, the path in terms of, you know, getting your foot in the door early enough and teaching yourself what you need to know to sort of have success with these interviews and, and placing various places.

But I ended up at Morgan Stanley. I spent two years there in their M and a department. And that's sort of like a tried and true path to go into investing, um, which is, which is where I am now. And, and the fund I work for Hellman and Friedman, like we hire a bunch of athletes too.

Like it, it, it's sort of all, all of these skills that I've learned and, and, um, you know, it, it, it, it's continues to serve me well. Speaker 3 Do you still kind of stay connected to the soccer world in any way, whether it's coaching, mentoring, reffing, or just playing for fun? Speaker 2 Uh, I play very rarely. My, my wife, um, her brother had a, uh, like a beer league team here in New York and they were playing, this is not like maybe a year ago and they were playing like a Tuesday night in some game.

And I guess they, they needed a goalkeeper. Speaker 2 Yeah. Speaker 3 Or, you know, long story short, I got, I got roped into going and playing and we ended up winning two zero and it was honestly so fun. I need to, I need to go back and start playing more.

Um, but it got to the point where my wife was actually cheering against me. So, uh, uh, but it was, it was, it was fun. So I do still play. And then, uh, look, I, I keep in touch with a lot of my coaches.

I got married this summer. The, um, sorry, the, uh, the, uh, the official, the, uh, the efficient of my wedding was actually my goalkeeping coach at, uh, at Leeds United. Um, and like he and I still stay, you know, close and connected. He was at, uh, Manchester United recently, and he would have Heidi and I come in and, and go to games.

And, and so like, I'm still, I still am connected to that world and in touch with the people that I really care about and have built relationships with. Um, but I'm also, I mean, I'm also, you know, removed from the game in many ways. Speaker 2 I, I really only follow the people that I, that I know personally. Speaker 1 You know, we like to ask all of our guests, the same question that constantly stays in our own minds about what is your why?

Like what's that driving force behind everything you've done and wanted to accomplish from playing so pro soccer to where you are now? Speaker 3 Yeah. Um, you know, for the longest time, and I think in many ways it still is, it, it has been my family and my mom. And obviously now that she's, she's gone, it, it sort of has just transitioned into like, okay, well, if she was here, like I would want to be making her proud.

Um, but that, that's it. I mean, there are, you know, I think if I take that now a step further, you know, why I feel it's important to like, make those people proud is, and, and it goes now just to beyond just my mom is, you know, people invest a tremendous amount in us as, as young men, as, as boys at university school, sort of growing up and into young men. And man, like I get a tremendous amount of purpose and power from trying to sort of reward and pay back the faith, trust and energy that, you know, people have poured into me just because, you know, th th they took a bet or they believed in me, or frankly, they just cared to do so. And so I, I take a tremendous amount of purpose and responsibility from that.

Speaker 4 Speaker 2 You've had such a full life so far, You know, you've you've played high level sports. You're in finance now at a high level. Where do you see yourself going after this? That's a good question.

I don't know. So I did two years at Morgan Stanley. I'm in a two year program here at Hellman and Freeman. You know, I'm not I'm I've started to sort of think about what might be next.

And I'm honestly not sure. You know, I like what I'm doing. I find the work that I do interesting. We basically get to look at and speak to companies and management teams and basically take bets on whether we like them or not.

And so I think something in a similar sort of vein, but I'm not sure it's a good question. And I sort of ask myself that and and and I'm always sort of thinking about and looking for for what might might be next. You know, you kind of mentioned that you keep up with some of the people that you. On your journey through soccer, do you keep up with some of your friends still here from U.S.

And you have you seen this connection that you've kind of like taken with you from U.S.? Yeah, totally. So my my best friend, probably he was the captain of the soccer team at U.S. Jude Jingo, who I doubt you guys have ever heard of, but he was the captain.

He was my best friend. He was at my wedding. He and I still keep in touch. He lives in New York.

He. He has actually started a couple of companies. I think he's on his his this is technically maybe his second one, although he might call it the first one morphed into the next one. You guys should actually definitely speak to.

He started a caffeinated energy bike company. But he and I keep in close touch. Evan Harris is another good friend that I keep in touch with. Johnny McGinnis, who was a year ahead of me.

I keep in touch like there's just such an interconnected. You know, Web and the people that you're really close to U.S. become, you know, lifelong friends. What's amazing is for me, especially like I actually went so far out of their lives. We went through completely different things.

I was sort of overseas playing soccer while they were already finishing college. But like you still stay connected to all these people. And, you know, I'll see Johnny and go skiing. I'll see Brooks in San Francisco and grab a coffee.

You know, those phone numbers don't go away. So, you know, I. I missed my first reunion and I was bummed because I think, you know, you really have quite a powerful and amazing brotherhood at that school. And I think that in many ways, you know, you'll find that you have friends that you can not see for years at a time, but then come back together and pick up right where you left off.

And I imagine it would be that way for for the majority of folks in my class if I was able to actually make it to a reunion. Yeah. Um, do you have any like funny stories or just favorite stories from your time at U.S.? Yeah, I'm trying to think if I can share them all.

Uh, yeah, the one that sticks out in my mind, which I'm going to spare some details just for the, you know, anonymity of the situation. Um, there was a senior prank, um, my senior year. And I had actually I had left school early to go and play soccer. Believe it or not, overseas, um, and before my before my flight, I came onto campus.

I used to live right next door and, um, came on with two buddies and we sort of set the stage for this senior prank and maybe some of the teachers that were there would would remember it. But, um, we did it and I just remember I was so excited, but because I was leaving the next day, I never actually got to, like, see the the prank in action. And long story short, we tied a bunch. We tied a bunch of canoes together and left them out on the middle of Lake Kilroy with some just going to leave it at that.

And, uh, and, um, and I never got to see it. I never got to see the reaction. All I got were like my buddies that did it with me texting me being like, this is fantastic. This is going off.

Like, it's great. And then it wasn't until like six months or a year later when I saw I don't know if it was Stephen Murray, whoever the headmaster was back then, or maybe it was William Dalton. I think it's now. I think it was William Dalton.

I think it was William Dalton. Um, but they were doing a video recording for like a piece of publicity for the school. And I guess they'd done it the same day that we put this prank out in the middle of the lake and you could see it in the background. And, uh, and it was just like, it still is like one of my favorite, favorite memories, but no, I mean, there, I have so many great memories from that school.

There are so many tremendous teachers, um, and, and, you know, there are people that I, you know, now have left. They're not there anymore. But, you know, when I, when I graduated, it was, you know, you had professors and teachers like Dr. Yadid, who you guys may or may not have heard of, but he was a language teacher was at the school for gosh, 45 years, like a legend.

All right. Like this guy truly like has like still is teaching me and, and, uh, I'm learning from, uh, Ron Grant, who was the athletic director at university school for another, you know, 40, 40 plus years. And I love, uh, his, some of the eye twitches that he's done. I think he they hadn't found out about.

There's other people who are teaching me who are all excited about that school and have got great coaches and teachers were such young people. Pat Ali that's a quote from Pat Ali, see who I think, uh, has recently left, um, Allen Cade. I think he's still keep, right? Teach there like there, there are just so many incredible, incredible teachers that did truly like you guys, like we and I, and and you guys are so lucky to have and learn from.

And, and. You know, I hope they also realize that. And yes. Right.

Yeah. but how they sort of set you out into the world. And U.S. is a really special place. You know, if you could give one or a couple pieces of advice to current U.S. students who want to play at a high level like you did, what would it be? Yeah.

The first one would be don't let anyone tell you you can't. You know, for everyone that told me, like, you're great and you're going to be able to play at the next level, there were 10 that said no way. So you need a way to, you know, use that as fuel. And then the other thing is just, like, enjoy the journey.

Like, I look back on it now. Like, there are so many stressors and things in my life, and I'm so sort of far removed from being a professional athlete. I miss it. Like, you know, even when you're in school, but the practice, the grind.

And, you know, it'll be over before you know it. And, you know, so enjoy that journey and never give up. That's great. Well, I think this might be one of our last questions here.

But, you know, I'm kind of going through that process of starting to – I play baseball, but hopefully playing at the next level in college. Do you have any advice recruiting-wise of, like, how to put yourself out there and kind of present yourself to the colleges? Yeah. You know, you'd be – you know, this is a good piece of advice, whether you want to be an athlete or, frankly, a finance professional.

Like, you'd be surprised how far personal relationships and connections go. And, like, at the end of the day, you will need to be a good enough pitcher or first baseman or whatever it is that you're, you know, excellent at. Like, that sort of has to stand on its own. But actually, like, the way in which you approach, you know, what you do and the relationships, the relationships that you make and foster can really actually open the door for you and allow you to sort of step through it in a meaningful way.

So I would encourage you to just reach out to these coaches, see – you know, find out where they're going to be. You know, a lot of times, you know, they're used to people reaching out to them and asking them for something. Like, I would actually, rather than ask for something, like, try and learn from them. You know, ask them what they're doing, where they're finding talent, who – who they're looking for.

You know, how you can set yourself apart rather than just going and saying, hey, I want to play baseball for you. All of a sudden, that opens up a dialogue and a level of maturity for you guys where, like, people are going to, you know, A, want to share, you know, what it is that they know because they've spent decades, you know, perfecting and crafting it. But also just, like, you know, maybe come at it from a different angle that – that they might not be expecting. Yeah, thanks.

That's great. Well, Charlie, it has been a great time. I'm happy you're on the show today. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences and everything.

To our listeners, thank you so much for tuning in to the next – to this episode of Late Start Show, and we hope you'll join us next Wednesday. Thank you. Thank you, Charlie. Thanks, guys.

Go U.S. Go U.S.