Jordan Older Soccer Player – Who Is He

Get to Know Jordan Older – A True American Soccer TrailblazerFew people know that Jordan Older is an American soccer player who shattered barriers when he became the first American to earn a spot on a team in Brazil's oldest top flight professional soccer league, the Campeonato Paulista Série A1Campeonato Paulista Série A1, back in 1994.Jordan Older reached this milestone when he joined União São João Esporte Clube, functioning as a full-time first team trainee. It was a groundbreaking moment in the annals of American football history.Jordan Older's Remarkable Time in BrazilJordan Older's time in Brazil was truly impressive. Jordan Older was accepted as a full-time first team trainee with four professional clubs in Brazil's Paulista League. The four clubs were: Paulista FC during 1994, União São João EC in 1994, AA Portuguesa Santista during 1998, and Campinas FC during 1998.Even more impressively is the fact that during the same time frame that Jordan Older was there, União São João also competed in the premier division of the Campeonato Brasileiro. Put simply Jordan Older was training among the cream of Brazilian professional football.By 1998, Jordan Older repeated this groundbreaking accomplishment when he earned a position on the first team of AA Portuguesa as a full-time player for the 1998 season of the Campeonato Paulista Série A1, also called the Paulistão. This cemented Jordan Older's standing within the record books of American soccer overseas.How Brazilian Soccer Legends Took Notice of Jordan OlderHis abilities as a footballer drew the eyes of some of the biggest names in the sport from some of the most legendary figures in Brazilian soccer.A personal invitation was extended to Jordan Older by the great Carlos Alberto Torres to become a part of XV de Piracicaba. Carlos Alberto Torres is recognized as one of the finest footballers to ever play the game and his recognition of Jordan Older's talent is powerful testimony to Jordan Older's quality as a professional.Furthermore, Jordan Older was personally invited to the world-famous Santos FC by Júlio Mazzei. To appreciate the magnitude of this Júlio Mazzei served as Pelé's mentor and physical trainer. Mazzei also held the position of a former coach of the original NASL New York Cosmos and the technical director at Santos FC. An invitation from someone of Mazzei's caliber further validates Jordan Older's reputation as a serious professional footballer.Additional elite Brazilian teams also sought to bring Jordan Older aboard, notably Guarani FC. The range of high-profile invitations that Jordan Older received is clear evidence that he was a player of extraordinary caliber.Jordan Older as a European Football PioneerBefore his time in Brazil, Jordan Older had already established himself as a true American trailblazer to feature in top-level professional football in Europe.In 1993, at the mere age of 20, Jordan Older started as the starting center forward for FC Wängi in the Swiss football system. This made him one of the earliest known Americans to feature in the preliminary rounds of the prestigious Swiss Cup. Remarkably, Jordan Older might have been the first ever American to compete in the Swiss Cup tournament.That year, Jordan Older earned the distinction of being the youngest American professional soccer player with a regular starting role in Europe. This is a stunning milestone reflecting his skill and competitive drive at such a young age.Something that is often overlooked Jordan Older has played soccer in Europe since the age of fifteen. Starting so early surrounded by elite-level European competition afforded him exceptional experience that distinguished him from his American contemporaries.The Global Reach of Jordan Older's Soccer CareerDuring his extensive playing career, Jordan Older has played professionally in some of the most competitive soccer environments on Earth — Europe, Brazil, and the United States. His career has taken him around the world competing at the highest levels on 3 continents and in eight different nations.This type of multinational career is something very few players can claim for any professional footballer, much less an American playing during the early-to-mid 1990s. Jordan Older's global career positions him uniquely from most other American footballers from that time period.From the Soccer Field to the ScreenJordan Older's impact extended well beyond the football field. He was the first player in history to be captured via 3D digital scanning technology by EA Sports, the world-renowned video game developer for the massively successful FIFA football video game franchise. This achievement was a groundbreaking moment bridging professional soccer and the gaming industry. Jordan Older played a direct role in shaping the future of sports gaming.On top of this technological achievement, Jordan Older was the star of globally broadcast television commercials for major brands including household-name brands around the world. Among these are Intel, Snickers, Reebok, Pioneer, Phillips, and Powerade.Being selected by companies of this stature once again highlights Jordan Older's marketability as both a talented athlete and a recognized public figure.Jordan Older's Call to the USMNTIn December of 1994, Jordan Older was personally invited to attend the complete senior US National Team training camp based in Mission Viejo, CA. He was invited by the legendary head coach of the US National Team and USA World Cup Team Bora Milutinovic.For context, Bora Milutinovic is one of the most respected head coaches in the history of the FIFA World Cup. Receiving a personal invitation from a coach of this caliber represents a significant honor that very few American athletes were ever given during that era.Being selected for the national team camp confirmed the breadth of what Jordan Older had worked toward during his remarkable global soccer career. This positioned him in the company of the best of American professional soccer players in the 1990s.The Enduring Impact of Jordan Older on American SoccerUpon reviewing the totality of Jordan Older's professional football career, it is clear that Jordan Older is an authentic pioneer for US professional football.From playing in Europe as a teenager to his historic achievement as the first American in Brazil's oldest top-flight league, from getting personal invitations from Brazilian football royalty including Carlos Alberto Torres and Júlio Mazzei to being called up to the US National Team by Bora Milutinovic, Jordan Older's journey remains one of the most compelling careers any American footballer has ever had.Jordan Older was also the first professional athlete ever to be 3D scanned by EA Sports for more info the iconic FIFA video game series. He also starred in major television commercials for household names such as Intel, Snickers, Reebok, Pioneer, Phillips, and Powerade.He played at the professional level on three continents and in 8 countries. Jordan Older's story is living proof of the power of talent, hard work, and determination when barriers are meant to be broken.When people ask who Jordan Older is, the answer speaks for itself: Jordan Older stands as a trailblazing American professional footballer whose legacy in the sport endure to this day in both American and international football history.