Unlike most soccer players, D.C. United midfielder Josh Gros doesn’t call himself a soccer fan. He almost never watches it on television and he has little more than a passing interest in the World Cup.
“I followed it only because Brian Carroll is my roommate [on the road] and he had it on,” said Gros. “There were two televisions in the hotel room where we were staying. He was watching the game, and I was watching ‘Hoosiers.’”
But on the field, the former fourth-round draft pick’s dedication to his sport is unmatched. Gros is one of D.C.’s most consistent and reliable contributors, easily the fittest and arguably hardest-working player.
“He’s a great guy to have in the squad because whatever happens, he’s ready to roll every single day,” said D.C. head coach Peter Nowak. “He never gets tired — of course, he gets tired, but he never admits it.”
Gros (two goals, three assists), now in his third year,has played every minute of D.C.’s 13 matches this season. Last year he finished second on the team in minutes played, behind only Carroll. But as soon as the final whistle blows, the former Rutgers standout makes soccer take a back seat.
“He’s definitely a guy you want around when you want to get away from the game. When a soccer game’s on, he’s the first one to turn it to cartoons,” said goalkeeper Nick Rimando, who rents a room to Gros. “There’s a lot of things that go on other than soccer, and he has a lot of things in his life that interest him a lot more off the soccer field.”
Gros didn’t grow up watching soccer, didn’t have an idol or a hero, but from the start was blessed with running ability.
“He’s not the typical soccer player,” said United defender Bryan Namoff. “He doesn’t have to run one day in the offseason. He can come in and be fit right away.”
When he’s not wearing out opposing midfielders, he’s outlasting his own teammates.
“Once you win a sprint, and they know you’re the most fit, you sort of can’t lose anymore,” said Gros. “That’s been how I’ve approached the game my whole life. If I scored six goals in game growing up, and I was lazy, my dad would yell at me. It’s always been work ethic for me.”
Gros never expected his soccer career to last this long — “When I first got drafted, I expected to try out, get cut, and then go the Marines,” he said — but Nowak sees great potential from his blue-collar midfielder.
“I don’t want to go over my head or his head and say he’s national team product,” said Nowak. “But as we polish a couple of things — the crossing, the finishing — it’s going to give him a great perspective for the next couple of years.”
If only he could get Gros to watch the game tapes.
