FOR QUAKES & COUNTRY: Philip seys' JOURNEY FROM SAN JOSE TO Belgium

By San Jose Earthquakes

June 19^th, 2018

Let’s talk about your connection to Belgium. What has your journey been like to the U.S.?

“I was born in Belgium and I immigrated around age 30 and my passion was soccer. It’s a bit of a different system back home. It’s very competitive: If you’re good, you’re in. If you’re not, you’re out. You play against other regional teams. It was a fun time for me growing up because it was all for free basically, so you get sponsored from cleats, to shirts, to trainings. That’s my connection with Belgium and soccer. And of course, everyone back home supports the national team and we used to have a really good team that played the same style as Germany. Now, similar to the Netherlands, we have a group of really good individual players but we can’t put it together and I think Belgium is going through that crisis now.”

How long have you been a Quakes season ticket holder?

“Well, it’s only been four years for me, but I’ve actually been attached to a friend of mine even before the move to Houston. I even went to the MLS Cup in 2003 when the Quakes beat the Chicago Fire. I would say I’ve been coming to games regularly since I moved to the United States. When I arrived, they weren’t called the Quakes, they were the Clash.”

FOR QUAKES & COUNTRY: Philip seys' JOURNEY FROM SAN JOSE TO Belgium

How did you first fall in love with the Quakes?

“If you’re into soccer, you’re a fan. I like to support the local team. Nothing bad about other teams, but I support the local team and that’s how it started with the Quakes.”

As a Belgian living in America, what was it like for you watching the United States vs Belgium last season?

“I was at the viewing party in downtown San Jose. There were probably two of us Belgium fans in attendance. That was a nail biter, but we really deserved to win that match. The U.S. were in it until the very end and if they did win I wouldn’t have been mad because I also support soccer in this country. We’re a big country and there’s a lot of possibilities.”

What are your hopes for the Belgium National Team in this summer’s World Cup?

“I would be happy to see them in the semifinals. As you know, a lot of our team plays in England and it may be one of the highest paid teams in the tournament, but you have to form a team. That is a little tough to do. I hope they advance far in the World Cup, but we’ll see.”

Is there a strong Belgian community in the Bay Area? If so, do you guys meet up often?

“I know a couple of Belgian fans in the area and it’s funny, the people that I do know aren’t interested in soccer at all. You’re either passionate, or you’re not at all. But yes, the one’s that I know live here in the South Bay.”

Favorite Belgian player and favorite Quakes player.

“My favorite Quakes player has to be Danny Hoesen. I remember when we first signed him, I told my son that this player can really change a game. I really like his style. For Belgium, I’d say I like Kevin De Bruyne from Manchester City.”

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