The date was March 27, 2010, the first regular-season game at Red Bull Arena. To add to the hype, it was also the coaching debut for the Red Bulls’ Hans Backe.
Everything went according to plan that day. Though the Red Bulls were outplayed much of the second half, they held on to beat the Chicago Fire, 1-0, on a 40th-minute goal by Joel Lindpere, sending a frenzied crowd of 24,572 home happy.
Lost in all the excitement was the debut of a defender who had signed two months earlier and played 90 solid minutes that day. Five years later, Roy Miller is the longest-serving player on the Red Bulls’ roster. Really, who saw that coming?
“It’s not easy to be the longest (serving) player in the team, but I am, so I am very happy,” Miller said following training Wednesday at the Red Bulls training facility. “For the coach to leave me in the team, first Hans Backe, then Mike Petke , now Jesse Marsch. I’m happy to be one more year with the New York Red Bulls.”
In Miller’s debut he was part of a back line that included Petke, Tim Ream and Jeremy Hall. Since then, all three head coaches have rotated defenders, with Miller being the constant. In the opener this year, Miller played alongside Chris Duvall, Ronald Zubar and Damien Perrinelle.
“Every year is new players, different things,” said Miller, who has done a nice job learning English. “(I’ve been) involved in every process, right now a new one with Jesse. I just have to do my best, enjoy the moment and do my best for the team. Every coach is different. Right now with Jesse, he’s an experienced coach. In the beginning we saw his character, how’s he talking to the players, everything about him. We try to help him, he tries to help us. We’re happy right now the way it’s going.”
Miller hurt his knee in training just after the opening game and hasn’t played since, but could be on the bench Friday at 7 p.m. when the Red Bulls play the San Jose Earthquakes at Red Bull Arena.
“At this moment I’m not 100 percent,” Miller said. “I need a couple of more days or a couple of weeks to train with the team. I trained with the team (Tuesday and Wednesday). I feel very good but we’ll see what Jesse decides. I think I need more days with the team.”
Far too many players have come and gone since 2010. When Miller returns he will be with two new central defenders, either Ronald Zubar, Perrinelle or Matt Miazga. Zubar made his Red Bulls debut in the opener but injured a hamstring in the second half and hasn’t played since. He could also return Friday but should at least be in the 18.
“That’s good for me and the team. It’s competition for everyone,” Miller said about the situation in central defense. “We have competition. I just try to do my job. Everyone knows players like myself want to play always. We’ll see when I come back what Jesse decides to do with the lineup.”
Miller admits it’s a different team this year. The stars are gone, replaced by a team concept that has shown surprisingly good results early in the season.
“For me, I miss those guys,” he said. “I played with Thierry (Henry) for a long time. I learned so much from him. It’s not easy. You can’t be all the time with the same guys. He decided to retire. I’m happy at this point with the guys around me. I decided to feel comfortable with everyone. Like the players said before, we’re a unit and that’s very important for everyone.”
With the CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer, Miller isn’t sure what his situation is with Costa Rica. He was part of the 2014 World Cup team that won Group D and made a historic run to the quarterfinals, only to lose to the Netherlands on penalty kicks.
“I don’t know (where I stand),” Miller said. “The last time they called me but I was injured with my knee. We’ll see what the new coach decides if he calls me, but I have to be fit and play (regularly) with the (Red Bulls). I want to always play with the national team.”
- Tickets for all Red Bulls home games are available by visiting www.newyorkredbulls.com/tickets.
- For more information on Autism Awareness Night at Red Bull Arena, visit www.newyorkredbulls.com/autismawareness.
- How to watch MLS in English on UniMás or Univision Deportes Network
Frank Giase has covered Major League Soccer since the league's inception in 1996. Follow him on twitter at @Frank Giase. He can also be reached at fgiase@gmail.com.
