Player Feature: Rui Reis
- Gabi Vuong
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
In his first season with ECFC, Rui Reis has been a fierce offensive midfielder for the Rooks. In this part of the Player Feature Series, Reis talks about how adversity is essential to the game, the need for consistency, and how ECFC has been his new home this summer.
What’s your earliest memory of playing soccer, and when did you realize you wanted to play it in your adult life?
“My earliest memory was when I was seven [years old]. I was playing at a football club back home in Portugal. I decided to take soccer seriously when I was twelve or thirteen.”
What was the biggest challenge you faced on your journey to becoming a semi-professional soccer player?
“I’ve dealt with not playing and that kind of adversity. Obviously as a player, playing time is important.”
Who has been the most influential coach or mentor in your career?
“I would have to say the assistant coach at UIC, Coach Minos [Vlamakis].”
Is there a moment in your career you’re most proud of?
“Getting called for my country’s national team.”
What does your typical day look like during the season vs. during the offseason?
“During the off season, I’m still in school. For game days, I would wake up, go to classes, get ready for the game, get a good meal, and then we would play. It depends, games are sometimes in the evening or late in the afternoon. Getting ready for the game mentally [is important to me]. [I would] get some more food after [the game] and then get back home to rest. During the season, it’s important to take the advantage to take the time to get better. Usually I make sure to go to the gym and the sauna after [for recovery].”
How do you handle pressure or nerves before big games?
“I just listen to music, honestly. There’s obviously going to be a little bit of pressure. I’m not the kind of person that gets anxious or nervous when it comes to games. I’ve been playing for so long and I know myself really well. I know what to do and what not to do in [stressful] moments. I feel like music helps me a lot, so I like to listen to music before games and that gets me relaxed.”
If you weren’t playing soccer semi-professionally, what do you think you’d be doing instead?
“I’d probably be back home studying.”
Why did you join ECFC?
“My coach at UIC told me about [Edgewater’s] team. He told me that Edgewater has a very successful summer league team and that it would be good for me to play here during the summer. As a soccer player that plays during the fall, you don’t want to not play in the summer when everyone else is playing and getting fit. Preseason, since we have a short preseason for two or three weeks, it’s hard to get the conditioning you want back in such a short amount of time. When [my coach] told me about the program, I wanted to play during the summer anyway. He told me how good the team was and that it would be a good environment for me. I accepted the challenge. I also had a couple of teammates for UIC joining [Edgewater], so I thought it would be good for me.”
What has been your favorite memory with the team?
“I’ve been lucky that ever since I’ve joined, the team has been doing pretty well. We’ve been winning most of our games, not all of them. I would say the game we played against the [Chicago City] Dutch Lions. Everyone played well during that game.”
What is your favorite pregame song?
“‘Skrilla’ by Kodak Black.”
Who’s your favorite soccer player?
“Cristiano Ronaldo.”
What’s your favorite pregame meal?
“Chipotle, even though I don’t eat it often.”
What advice would you give to young players who want to continue playing soccer in their adult life?
“They got to do it because they love the game, not because they’re forced to play. Adversity is normal in life, everyone goes through it, especially in soccer. This is a sport that's very competitive. Get used to adversity. Don’t look at it as a failure but as a step toward success.”
