In the modern game, it’s rare to find a player who has been at the one club their whole career. But that’s what Connor Lade is — a one club man. A cult hero of sorts for New York Red Bull fans who see the 29-year-old as the epitome of what their club is: homegrown, committed, proud of his local roots.

FloFC caught up with Lade, talking to the defender about RBNY’s disappointing start to the season, the difference between Jesse Marsch and Chris Armas, Tyler Adams, New York pizza, and the Avengers, among other things. 

FloFC: How would you describe the start to the season the New York Red Bulls have made?

Connor Lade: It’s been a tough one for us. Obviously we got going a little bit quicker than other teams due to the Concacaf Champions League, we made a good start of it and then we were disappointed with our series against Santos [Laguna]. And then it’s been a little bit difficult the first few games of the MLS season. 

We know we’re capable of more, but we have a strong foundation, it’s a long season. We are very confident still, and we know that nobody’s out of the race. The Supporters’ Shield and the MLS Cup aren’t decided in the first couple months of the season, they’re decided in the last. We’re staying focused on steadying the ship and doing everything possible to get back on top.

You think of teams that have timed their form late, like the Sounders have and the Timbers did last year. You don’t want to dig yourself a big hole, but we’ve had slow starts before and gone on to win the Supporters’ Shield. We never get too high and we never get too low. 

You’ve been at RBNY your whole career to date. Can you ever see yourself leaving?

If it was up to me I would absolutely love to spend my whole career with the New York Red Bulls. It’s my hometown team, it’s the team I grew up supporting and I’ll always be a fan of the club no matter what. But obviously it’s a business and it’s a little bit out of our hands sometimes. This is a place I care so much about and above all I want to bring a championship to my hometown team.

The New York Red Bulls have won the Supporters Shield three times in the last six years. Why hasn’t the team been able to translate that regular season form into a deep playoff run?

It’s definitely a difficult question. It’s hard to put your finger on one thing that is the culprit, that has meant MLS Cup has evaded us. I think every single year it’s been something different. 

Along the way you learn so many lessons. We have got so close in the past couple years and that leaves a really bitter taste in the mouth. As long as we keep healthy and keep playing the way we want to play, not let any outside distractions distract us, that’s going to lead us to bigger and better things. There are a lot of guys in the locker room who have been here a long time and we’ve all learned lessons. Hopefully in the end that will make us stronger.

You’ve been involved in the Concacaf Champions League. No MLS team has won the competition since 2000. What’s the reason for that?

That’s another tough question. It’s another competition that we feel we’ve gotten really close. We felt we competed well last year with Chivas and came up just a little bit short. 

Obviously this year, we came up short. The Mexican teams have always been incredible with an incredible wealth of talent… Them being in the mid-swing of their season gives them an upper hand, while they are our first competitive games of the year. I don’t know… I know people have argued that they should switch the timing, but there are no excuses. We know over the offseason what we have to get ready for. I think as our league grows someone is going to take down one of these Mexican teams and bring it home. That would be a massive step for our league, and we want to be selfish and make it us.

Is it time for MLS to relax the salary cap to help the league compete with Liga MX in the CCL?

Yeah, that would help in a big way. It would draw bigger name players in their prime, players who have also been involved in big games previously in their careers. We would be able to compete with Europe a little bit more and make MLS a destination league. I think that would only help us going forward.

What are the differences between Jesse Marsch and Chris Armas, both as coaches and people?

I’ve been very lucky to work with a lot of great coaches here. Jesse came in and turned the club on its head in terms of philosophy. We’ve had so much success in the past couple years and he was a massive part of that. Chris, now being the manager, has the same philosophy. Jesse brought him in for a reason, he’s an incredible guy and an incredible competitor. Wherever Chris has gone, he’s always been successful. He’s a real winner and that for us is massive because we need as many winners as possible in this locker room.

Not a whole lot changed because the system itself — we feel like that gave us a good foundation to sit on. There are little things, though, and we’re really excited with what Chris has brought. He pushes us and brings the best out of guys in the locker room.

You played with Tyler Adams when he was with the New York Red Bulls. He’s now excelling in Germany. What makes him so special?

Tyler is a very special player. I think the biggest thing for him, he’s so wise beyond his years. The first time he stepped on the field with us, he didn’t take any crap from anyone, he’s fearless. And that’s what makes him the player he is, an absolute fearlessness. I was surprised when I found out how young he was after playing with him for the first time. It was eye-opening. For him to be like that at that age, he was destined for special things. We’re so proud of how he’s doing over there and I think he’s going to have an incredible career, not just with RB Leipzig, but he’s also going to push our national team on to incredible things.

Who’s the best player you have played with at the New York Red Bulls? And why?

I’ve been lucky to play with a lot of good players here. Obviously I think Thierry Henry is the best player I have ever played with. Everything he did on the field just seemed effortless. You’d be in a drill with someone and he’d be looking on, then step in and just show you how it’s done and be like “It’s simple.” And it really wasn’t that simple. He did everything with such grace. To be able to play with him at the end of his career and try and pick his brain as much as possible, it was incredible.

There is speculation that Thierry Henry could become RBNY head coach. Given your opinion of him, is that something you’d relish?

We, as players, like to stay outside of those things. In the future, who knows what will happen, but for right now we are completely committed with Chris. We’ll let people talk on the outside. We’re very confident with what Chris has brought to the club and that he’s going to lead us to great things. Thierry is a great guy and I’m sure he’s going to have a great career as a coach as well, but further down the line, who knows?

Who’s the one player in the league you find the toughest to play against? Is there one player who gives you sleepless nights?

In the past couple years I’ve played a lot of guys in the league who bring you those sort of feelings. Players like Diego Valeri and Ignacio Piatti, guys like that who are so dynamic on the ball and are fast and can really do everything, those are the guys who are always going to give you the toughest matchup on the day. 

Overall, in my time playing, the toughest guy to mark was Robbie Keane. His movement was really the best that I’ve seen. He was so intelligent and the way he played with such a fiery pace and his movement was always tough to track. For me, he was the toughest guy I have gone up against in MLS.

You’re from New Jersey, so are the New York Red Bulls New York’s team or New Jersey’s?

You’ve put me on the spot with that one. Being a Jersey guy and growing up there they were the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and so being from Jersey, selfishly, I think of them as Jersey’s team, but obviously we’ve got so many New York fans and we mean a lot to both markets so it’s hard to pick just one. Obviously being a Jersey guy, I’m always biased, but we have a big standing in New York. If you ask NYC FC if we’re a New York team, they would probably say no, but we have bragging rights there.

Why should a New York soccer fan support the New York Red Bulls over New York City FC? What would be your sales pitch?

I think the way we play is a very exciting way. We like to play a fast-paced game and I think that’s exciting for fans to watch. We put a big commitment on playing hard for the badge and I think that shows on the field. I think we’re a club that gives chances to young players. We put a big emphasis on Homegrown Players and I think that’s exciting for fans to watch players grow. That’s something that sets us apart from a lot of teams in the league. We’ve had some fun games against NYC FC, but if you ask who has had the better of the two teams I’d have to say we have.

Here are some classic New York food items: New York cheesecake, bagel, pizza, Waldorf Salad, or a street vendor hot dog… Pick one.

I’d have to go for the pizza. You can throw a rock and hit about 50 good pizza places in New York, and so it’s the pizza that sets New York apart from anywhere else. And I’d have to go for pepperoni. It’s a classic. 

If you could be one of the Avengers, who would you be and why?

I’ve never really got into those movies that much… Captain America is a classic, but I might take the Hulk. I’m not the biggest dude, admittedly, so to spend a day in his shoes it would be kind of fun. I could give it back to all the people who have talked crap to me all my life.

Graham Ruthven is a soccer writer based in the U.K. He has written for the New York Times, Guardian, Eurosport, Bleacher Report, and others.