ORLANDO, Fla. – Put together a soccer odyssey starting in France, and then quickly visiting Spain, Scotland, Greece, Wales, Portugal and the US, and it’s pretty clear there are going to be some challenges, and not just on the field.
Such is Aurelien Collin's journey – one that's challenged him with a quick success of new languages to face. But he's met them all head on, the same way he's tackled his nine-year career to date.
MLS audiences already know the Orlando City SC defensive enforcer well, after his four largely successful seasons with Sporting Kansas City. Collin helped that team to the 2013 MLS Cup and appeared in three successive All Star games from 2012 to 2014.
But not many realize his playing successes are matched by a rare ability as a multilinguist, a skill that's become almost as essential a part of his soccer repertoire as his knack for winning headers and tackles.
“Yes, it is soccer today. It is vital,” the Frenchman agreed. “It is especially important with teams like Orlando when we have a lot of young players who need to understand the instructions and who need help on the field. I have a head start in the ability to communicate so that definitely helps.”
Along with his native French, Collin has become fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and all since leaving the youth development program for French side Sedan. It started, he said, in Spain, when he went to play for Mallorca.
"No one knew how to speak French. I had studied some Spanish at school so I was already able to communicate a little in Spanish," he recalled. "I was only there less than one year but I managed to learn a lot of the language.”
From there, he continued to pick up almost as many new languages as new teams, as he grabbed the interest first of ambitious Gretna during their one and only season in the Scottish Premier League, from 2007 to 2008.
“That got me started in English,” Collin said. “I grew up watching movies in English and listened to hip-hop, so I had a start in understanding when I went to Scotland. I had some problems with the accent at first, though.”
After less than a season with that troubled team, it was off to Panserraikos in Greece, where a 22-year-old Collin stayed just long enough to make nine appearances, “but learned no real Greek,” he admitted. A mid-season switch to Welsh outfit Wrexham in 2009 added to his globe-trotting, culture-loving nature, if not to his resume, as the move lasted just 12 games.
“And then it was Portuguese,” he said, as if it was as easy as a visit to the supermarket. Portugal’s Primeira Liga side Vitoria Setubal had come calling, and the promising young Frenchman chalked up his sixth country in less than three years.
“When I played in Portugal, it was for less than two years,” Collin continued. “But, after taking classes, I was speaking some Portuguese words, and then, when I moved to Sporting Kansas City [in 2011], they had Julio Cesar, and I was able to learn more Portuguese from him.
“When I was young, my mother always told me ‘If you want to play soccer, you have to be good at school,'" Collin said. “We had to learn two languages in France and, even though I wasn’t a top student for languages, it gave me a good start. I was actually good at math, but I would definitely tell kids these days to work hard and be good at languages.”
It's only improved since he's arrived in Orlando. "I think I am blessed that this team has a lot of Portuguese speakers, plus Spanish and English speakers,” he said. "Ten people here are fluent in Spanish, while Kaká also speaks four languages, so we can talk a lot with the younger players and help them to understand the game more.”
Orlando is certainly one of the most multicultural teams in the league, with more than its fair share of players from a Spanish-speaking background, plus five – including their iconic captain – who speak Portuguese. Recent additions include Spain’s David Mateos, acquired from Ferencvaros in Hungary, and Swiss midfielder Adrian Winter.
All in all, the Lions boast 12 different nationalities – 13, if you count Congo-born striker Danny Mwanga, who is now a US citizen – and Collin feels right at home on this United Nations of a team.
"I have learned to absorb and enjoy new cultures wherever I go – especially as my wife is Venezuelan – and I think this is good experience for young players," he said. “Hopefully our young guys can also learn this lesson and it will make the team a better team as they also learn and grow. I know it is a part of the game I definitely enjoy.”
