EP 16: Daniel Solsky - Never in an A-League Academy, almost Quit Football, and now at Perth Glory!

From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. The goal is simple: to give young players and their parents the education, the honest stories, and the perspective they need to navigate the pathway to professional football.In this episode, Jan calls Perth to sit down with Daniel Solsky, a 23-year-old goalkeeper who grew up in Sydney, was never in an A-League Academy, packed up his life at 18 to chase a professional career in Spain, came home without a contract, nearly quit football altogether midway through last year's NPL season, and then got a phone call from Perth Glory that changed everything.Solsky takes us through the whole journey. From starting at Maccabi Lions at five years old as an outfielder, being turned into a goalkeeper at nine after another kid's injury, and joining Hakoah where he won the NPL 1 under 16s league. He talks about his 10-minute trial at ESFA, the goalkeeper coaches who shaped him (Trinity Allen, Dave Plowright), and modelling his game on David De Gea.We move through his FFA Cup first grade debut for Hakoah at 17, signing for Manly United under Adam Griffiths (now head coach at Perth Glory), and the move to Cultural Leonesa in Spain at 18. Daniel is candid about the reality of playing in a tiny Spanish town at Leon, coming back to Australia without a contract, and the Wollongong Wolves NPL breakout year that put him on Perth Glory's radar.He opens up about the moment he almost quit football midway through last year, the Sydney-to-Wollongong commute five times a week, and the Perth Glory trial that led to breaking down in tears with his grandparents when the contract came through.Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is essential listening for anyone who has ever wondered what the pathway to professional football looks like when you don't go through an A-League Academy.Jan and the Eleade Fussball coaches help young Australian players bridge the gap between team training and individual development, so they can reach the highest level possible. Individual and group sessions with a cognitive focus, game analysis, and performance testing, all built around the individual player. CHAPTERS00:00 Intro 03:54 Starting at Maccabi Lions at 5 06:35 The injury at 9 that turned him into a goalkeeper 09:22 The 10-minute ESFA trial 11:56 David De Gea: the goalkeeper who shaped his mentality 14:45 Why clean sheets are everything to him 17:17 A family of goalkeepers: dad at Hakoah and grandpa's FFA role 22:00 The parents who drove him everywhere to chase the dream 23:57 Winning the NPL 1 under 16s league with Hakoah 25:26 The COVID year and getting split into the under 18s 28:40 First grade FFA Cup debut for Hakoah at 17 30:32 Signing at Manly United under Adam Griffiths at 18 35:33 What he'd do differently looking back on his youth career 39:17 Life in Spain: 42:57 The lessons Spain taught him about becoming a pro 45:08 Coming back to Sydney and searching for the next step 48:10 Signing for Wollongong Wolves and finding his form 49:45 The breakout NPL year 50:33 The Sydney-to-Wollongong commute five times a week 51:49 The moment he almost quit football 54:04 The Perth Glory trial and the 3-3 draw that almost ruined it 56:13 Breaking down in tears with his grandparents when the contract came 59:37 The circle that kept him going: 1:02:17 The message from Griffo that got left on read 1:04:56 Stoppage Time Questions 1:10:28 His advice for young players chasing the dream