A Conversation with New York City FC midfielder Richy Ledezma
Courtesy: NYCFC
I remember the first and only time I watched Richy Ledezma play before reporting to New York City FC on loan from PSV in Holland in March.
It was November 16, 2020, his first and only senior cap with the U.S. Men’s National Team. He was a substitute in the 68th minute – time enough to assist on two Sebastian Soto goals in a friendly versus Panaman.
I remember thinking, ‘this kid is good.’
A month later at the age of 20 he started for PSV in the Europa League versus Omonia Nicosia – the current home of former New York City players Mix Diskerud and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi.
The Phoenix, Arizona native, Ledezma, would tear his ACL – a massive set-back in his journey – which has now led him to NYCFC in full health and ready to contribute and play again on the international level.
He was named Man of the Match in his first start with the club in the 2-1 victory over Nashville SC.
I sat with Ledezma after training recently for this conversation which has been edited slightly for clarity.
Glenn Crooks: I’d like to go back to your Phoenix days and the development stage. Your
parents are of Mexican descent and I don’t want to just assume but I would think that’s played a
role in your love for the game.
Richy Ledezma: Oh yeah, for sure. Ever since the first day I touched the ball with my dad, I still
remember the day. I was six-years old, we went to a park right across the street and my dad
made me fall in love with the sport and ever since that it’s just part of my life now.
Glenn: So, you remember that day. You go across the street and you’ve got just one ball, he’s
got a bag of balls, what’s going on?
Richy: Just one ball, one ball and we just started passing the ball around, and ever since then I
just fell in love with the game.
Glenn: As you grew older and became more serious about it, who were your first influences
there?
Richy: I want to say my dad and my uncle, they helped me become the player I am today, and I
trained with them every day, and you know, even like clubs that I used to play with, they also
helped me, my coaches back then. And I feel like, a lot of credit to them for making me the
player I am today.
Glenn: I worked for a long time in a community, New Brunswick, New Jersey with a large
Mexican population. One thing I noted is there was just so much pickup going on. And on
Sunday mornings or afternoons, it was always like a festival. Is that what you remember
growing up?
Richy: Yeah, I started off playing Sunday league with smaller clubs like Mexican little teams you
know, playing on Sundays like you say in the morning or in the afternoon or tournaments even,
and that’s where I got recognized by small clubs in Arizona, and my career just took off from
there.
Glenn: Eventually, you went on to the RSL Academy which, here in the states because of some
of the people that have been produced, is a highly regarded academy. What are some of the
things that you started learning there about the game? You’ve got skill, you’ve played in these
different environments where maybe it wasn’t quite as organized as the RSL Academy.
Richy: When I went to Real Salt Lake Academy it was a different environment obviously, it was
a more professional environment I want to say, and for me it was something new that I had to
work on my physique, I had to do a lot of things to become a better player and they helped me a
lot physically and my game technically and me turning and driving at players. They helped me a
lot with that also and I feel like it’s just determination at the end of the day. I did that and I put
my head down and worked and you know, I made it.
Glenn: Turning and driving - I think that was what was evident in your starting debut for New
York City FC against Nashville. Before we get to New York City let’s talk about PSV. In March
you re-signed with them - congratulations, I know that’s a big deal for you and you were
involved in their youth program a little bit too. When I think Dutch I think 4-3-3, you’re a
midfielder so you’re either the 6, 8, or 10. Is that pretty much the way it was instructed?
Richy: The way you said it was perfect, I came from the Academy, I went to the Academy under
19s and I worked with Ruud van Nistelrooy which is the coach now at under 19s, and you know
I had him as a coach and he helped me with part of my game a lot also when I played like five
games under him, and after that I just went directly to second team of PSV and I wasn’t really a
starter in the beginning and after like six games I made my start, I began starting games with
the second team and you know that helped my confidence a lot. And yeah, within a year and a
half I went to the first team, and ever since that I mean I had a big injury with my ACL and my
knee, and you know injuries happen, but there’s always a step back to come back stronger the
next year.
Glenn: I want to get back to van Nistelrooy because he’s one of my favorite players to watch
over the years that I’ve observed the game. Can you describe some of the things that you took
away from him? He was a goal scorer, so I don’t know how much time you spent with him
finishing, but he was legit.
Richy: No yeah, he was legit. Even in training sometimes, he would just join and it was just
incredible to see, you know just watching him do that even at his age now, it’s not normal for me
at least - I’ve never seen anything like that. But yeah, he’s a great player and a great person
and a great coach for sure.
Glenn: Anything that you can remember that you took away from him that is still something that,
the light bulb goes off “that’s what Van Nistelrooy said.”
Richy: For me it’s his mentality he always had - even as a coach. I can imagine as a player also
but as a coach - just his winning mentality was just amazing, something that motivated me. So,
that’s what I try to do every day on the pitch, even on training or even in the game would be to
just have that winning mentality no matter what.
Glenn: And did you know who he was when you got there?
Richy: Of course.
Glenn: I figured. So, you’re a student of the game. Do you have a team that has inspired you
and a player?
Richy: Oh yeah, I think Barcelona when they had Iniesta was good, so I feel like that was the
best for me, at least.
Glenn: What, you’re like ten, eleven years old?
Richy: Yeah something like that and then obviously my father, my dad told me about the older
Real Madrid, like when they used to meet Barca you know like all those players and I looked
them up on YouTube one day and that’s how I know about Ruud Van Nisterooy and it was just
amazing. My favorite player is Iniesta despite everyone else. No one compares to him for sure.
Glenn: And, you have a similar role on the teams you play in, right? Do you kind of model
yourself after him?
Richy: I mean yeah. I wish I would play like him but yeah, I try to be similar to him like in his
decision-making and his calmness on the ball and the turning and all the passing he does, it’s
amazing to me for sure.
Glenn: Was New York City FC a destination that made sense to you because of the way they
play – similar to PSV?
Richy: When I heard about the rumors, when my agent told me about the rumors, I was excited
because I wanted to play and when I saw that you guys play similar to the way we played at
PSV, I was buzzing to come here as fast as I could, and for me it’s just the way you guys have
possession of the ball and try to keep it - just to create chances for your forwards and your
midfielders or your wingers. Anything like that and that’s what really made me come here. You
know, to have that same chemistry as I had over there at PSV, same formation and everything
like that, so for sure, that was one of the reasons I came here, because of the playing style.
Glenn: For many of us, the only time we’ve seen you play was that one appearance with the US
Men’s National Team, we’re going back to 2020 right? You played less than half an hour and
still managed to get a couple of assists. I remember thinking ‘wow’, and I know there’s been an
injury since, and trying to earn your minutes back, but what I remember is a dynamic player out
of the midfield. Is that what you like to really feature when you play?
Richy: Yeah, when I made my debut and I try to show myself obviously - everyone’s watching
so I try to show everyone what I can do and that’s me driving and crossing and passing the ball,
trying to move and for me that’s just like very important to me. The National Team is just so
important to me, you know? Because it’s meaningful, and it means something to my family, you
know it’s something that motivates me to keep going, you know?
Glenn: And your family is Mexican and you were born in the states. So, you’re a dual national
and there’s always discussions about dual nationals. And your name’s going to come back up
now once you start getting regular minutes most likely, so how is that all going? You know there
was a story in ESPN about a year ago saying that the rumor was you were committing to
Mexico and then you hear another thing about the US, so how does that work in your head?
Richy: Like I said before to everyone else, I still have the doors open for both sides. I haven’t
made a final decision and as you guys know I haven’t been with National Team [lately], so we’ll
see what comes in the next months I guess and I’ll make my decision there.
Glenn: I’m assuming you were watching USA-Mexico, the Wednesday night friendly, so there’s
got to be some emotions going on since you’ve got blood on both sides.
Richy: Yeah for sure. It was a good game and I watched it because my teammate James
Sands, you know of course I had to support him and he played well. I think he was one of the
best players on the pitch. It was a good game to watch. I mean, Mexico-USA you can never go
wrong by watching that game.
Glenn: It is quite a rivalry, and it’s interesting that you’re kind of on both sides of it, in a way.
Richy: Yeah, you’re right.
Glenn: Can you give an indication of how you will ultimately decide? Will it be something that
you feel in your heart? Obviously, maybe one national staff will desire you more than another,
that could be a factor. What are going to be the factors for you?
Richy: For me, it’s just about making my decision, what comes from my heart and obviously to
talk with my family about my decision. I know they’ll support me no matter who I choose or who I
play for, so at the end of the day it’s up to me to decide by my own.
Glenn: One other thing we learned about you watching training and the matches - you can
strike a ball on a set piece. You got your first assist for the club - your first goal contribution for
New York City on the (Maxime) Chanot full volley that turned out to be the game-winning goal.
Set that up for us because (Coach) Nick Cushing indicated that originally that Braian Cufre was
supposed to get on the end of that corner kick.
Richy: Yeah, it was supposed to be to Braian, and we worked on it in training and even if it
doesn’t get there it’ll fall there to anyone who’s there. Initially Braian was open, so maybe if he
would’ve let it go Braian would’ve had a chance, an opportunity for a goal. But like you said, I’m
glad it got to Chanot. He scored a great goal.
Glenn: You had a massive smile on your face, and I’m sure you were just happy for the goal but
it seemed like it even had another dimension to it or something. I read later that Chanot gives
you a hard time in training. So, you two are close?
Richy: For sure - I’m close to everyone on the team - I try to be at least and it’s just a funny
thing that a center back scores. For me at least I just think it’s really funny and especially
Chanot, like you said, he gives me a hard time in training. But I was smiling because I told
Braian that it was for him and that out of nowhere we just scored and he was like ‘don’t worry
about it’ and we were just laughing on the field. So, that’s why I was laughing and smiling so
much.
Glenn: Well, there were a lot of people shocked by the Chanot finish. I don’t know if he’s done it
in training, but certainly in a game he’s never come up with something like that.
You and Santi Rodriguez on the field at the same time has been interesting. I talked to Nick a
little bit about the false nine and how you two connect. Have you ever played in that sort of
shape or system before?
Richy: Me and Santi get along on the pitch, even outside the pitch, and I feel like we have good
chemistry so I feel like if the coach makes that decision to play with the false nine, I wouldn’t
mind at all to play with Santi. He’s a great player, amazing with his feet, technically he’s there.
And yeah, for me it’s an opportunity to get assists and goals from him. I have played a false nine
before myself so I’m pretty used to it and if he (Cushing) puts me there I don’t mind going there
either. So, at the end of the day if he can figure out how to put us together I mean it’s great for
both of us and for the team. We’ll see what happens.
Glenn: Whether it’s him or you there, it would seem like you‘re going to have opportunities to
get closer to the goal because if he moves himself out of there - whether he’s checking or
drifting - that gives you an avenue to run through.
Richy: Oh yeah for sure. That takes a factor in the game also because we have to understand
each other. if he’s going to go out, I have to stay on top so we have to be communicating a lot
and that’s what we do. The good thing is that I know Spanish and we speak like that, it’s the
way we speak. And not even just speaking - the rhythm of the game we just understand each
other good.
Glenn: I saw you chatting with Santi a little bit after the game, were you discussing how it was
all going, or just happy about the win?
Richy: I was just telling him that he played well and I told him that he should’ve scored the
chance he had in the game and it was a really good chance he created himself, so I was just
giving him a hard time just like he gives me a hard time.
Glenn: What’s a specific Chanot example of giving you a hard time?
Richy: Just like things in the locker room, saying that I need to get bigger in the gym because I
have a small body and I’m just like ‘I don’t need the gym, Chanot’. Just stuff like that, small little
comments he makes to me.