Former Cougar, Steve Magleby is a professional soccer player in Denmark now.  Here’s a Q & A with Magleby about his new found career.

Q. How did you find your way to Denmark?
A. I was looking in to some different places to try and play in Europe and Denmark stood out above the others.  I have cousins who live here and my ancestors are Danish.  Magleby is a Danish last name, pronounced mawlebu here in Denmark.  So this was the place to start.

Q. How was the tryout experience?
A. Finding tryouts was the toughest part.  Right now a lot of clubs don’t have much money and aren’t looking to buy new players.  So I had a trial with one team which went well but they decided not to keep me.  Then I found a trial with Skjold and was with them for a week before their coach offered me to stay with the team.  I had two other teams that I was looking at if things didn’t work out with Skjold.

Q. What’s Denmark like?
A. Denmark is a great place.  The weather has been really nice.  Besides the occasional rain it’s in the 70’s pretty much all the time.  It’s a very green country which reminds me a lot of my hometown in Maryland.  There is a lot of history here.  It’s a very family oriented society, which was a big plus for me and my young family.

Q. Is your hair still rock-star length?
A. Still growing.

Q. What’s the soccer style in Denmark like?
A. The players here are very skilled.  The style is pretty direct.  They like to use their wings and often bypass play through the middle of the field.  It is a very physical game here and you don’t see too much diving.

Q.  What club are you with and when do you play?
A.  The club I am with is located in Copenhagen.  Their name is Skjold and they are in the 2nd Division (which is actually the third division in Denmark.  It goes Superliga, 1st Division, 2nd Division).  We have games once a week and sometimes twice.  Our season just began and so I have to work my way in to the playing roster, but I’m confident I will be able to get some time.

Q.  How long will you be there?
A.  Not sure right now.  It depends on how things go.  Anywhere from a year – 2 or 3 even.  We’ll see how far I can get.Tweet

Jarom Jordan

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PROVO, Utah (July 6, 2010) — BYU plays its toughest pair of home games this season when it hosts the Hollywood United Hitmen Thursday, July 8 and Ventura County Fusion on Saturday, July 10 in Provo.  Both matches kickoff at 8 p.m. MT.  The Hitmen won the Premier Development League’s Southwest Division in 2009 and the Fusion won the PDL Championship last season.  BYUtv will broadcast both matches with Thursday’s live at 8 p.m. MT and Saturday’s tape delayed at 10 p.m. MT.  Catch both online at www.byutv.org/live.

“It’s going to take a humongous effort from us,” said BYU head coach, Chris Watkins.  “Both teams have tons of great players … We can play with great teams.  We have to play our very best.  We can do it but it takes a massive effort.”

BYU plays last year's Division and National Champions this week. (BYU Photo)

The Cougars snapped a three-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Ogden Outlaws on July 3.  BYU scored a single-game season-high three goals, including two from junior forward, Brady Marshall.  The Cougars had scored eight goals in 11 games prior to the outburst versus the Outlaws.  BYU has four games remaining and is 3-7-2 with 11 points and in eighth place in the Southwest Division.  If BYU wins its remaining four games it will finish with a .500 record.  Toni Niccoli, Britton Osborne, and Marshall lead the team with three goals each.

“I think our scoring slump, while it may not be over, we’re getting better and better with our attacking players,” said Watkins.  “I’d be surprised if we get shutout this weekend.”

With some help and two wins, BYU could ascend to fifth place in the division by Saturday night.  The Cougars are not mathematically eliminated from the PDL playoffs (top two teams in the division qualify) but hope hangs by a string with the Cougars need to win its final four and get some major help.  The Cougars earned a win and tie out of this home stand in 2009.

Hollywood is 7-2-2, on a 6-game win streak, and in second place.  The Hitmen can climb to first with a pair of wins this weekend against BYU and Ogden.  The Hitmen are led by forward, Jaime Chavez who has seven goals and five assists this year.  BYU is 1-2 versus the Hitmen all-time with a 1-0 win in Provo in 2009 and a 3-0 loss on June 3 on the road.

The defending national champion, Ventura County Fusion is a point behind the Hitmen with 22 at 7-3-1 in the division.  The Fusion is led by former MLS player, Brent Whitfield who has seven goals in six games but he will not travel to Utah this weekend.  Five other players have scored two this year.  BYU is 0-1-2 with two ties in the last two meetings, including a 0-0 draw on June 5.

“I think we’ve found that confidence again,” said junior defender, Tyler Christiansen.  “That win against Ogden was good for us.  It’s really easy to get into that mode, the ball doesn’t bounce your way, to get real pessimistic real quick.  I think we’ve bounced that back.  We have a great chance to finish with a .500 record and in the middle of the table.  We still have a lot to play for.”

QUICK FACTS
Who: Hollywood United Hitmen vs. BYU Cougars
When: Thursday, July 8 at 8 p.m. MT
Where: The Stadium at South Field in Provo, Utah
TV: Live on BYUtv or www.byutv.org/live (Jarom Jordan, Hugh Van Wagenen, Aaron Nilsson)

Who: Ventura County Fusion vs. BYU Cougars
When: Saturday, July 10 at 8 p.m. MT
Where: The Stadium at South Field in Provo, Utah
TV: Tape delayed on BYUtv or www.byutv.org/live (Jarom Jordan, Hugh Van Wagenen, Aaron Nilsson)

PREMIER DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE
After winning seven club national championships, Brigham Young University joined the Premier Development League in 2003. The Cougars reached the elite eight in 2006 and 2007. The PDL is the top U23 men’s league in North America and features 68 teams within four conferences across the United States and Canada. The PDL season consists of 16 regular season matches for each team, eight home and eight away. The PDL provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. BYU is the first and only university to own a franchise in the PDL. In addition to league play, PDL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions. The United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League has proven to be an important stepping stone for top professionals now playing around the world.

FOLLOW THE COUGARS ONLINE
Check out the Cougars on twitter at www.twitter.com/byusoccer or on the official website at www.byusoccer.com.Tweet