COMMERCE CITY — Rapids midfielder John Neeskens scored his first MLS goal last weekend in a . After the game he received texts, tweets and Instagram well-wishes from family members and friends. He even got a phone call from a former World Cup star.
“He told me great job and congratulations and that he had seen my hard work but was sad we didn’t get the win,” Neeskens said through a translator.
On the other end of the call was Neeskens’ father, Johan Neeskens, whose playing career was about as accomplished as it gets. Johan scored a goal against West Germany in the 1974 World Cup final. A center midfielder, he played a pivotal role in leading his native Netherlands to two World Cup finals (1974 and 1978), but lost both times.
“He always supports me a lot. He calls me, gives me a lot of advice, which is always great,” Neeskens said. “But he always tells me to play my game and to do the best I can, and everything will come with hard work.”
Neeskens, 20, was born in Oklahoma and has Dutch, Spanish and American citizenship. He played in the Villarreal and FC Barcelona youth systems, and he conducts his interviews primarily in Spanish.
A natural left-footer, Neeskens said while growing up, his father would play goalkeeper as he practiced his shooting. “I would shoot and hit the post and he would say ‘No, my friend, you have to shoot at the net,’ ” Neeskens said.
, he is focused on making a name for himself by doing things his own way.
“Sons of great players, we have a goal in sight and we are going to compare ourselves a lot,” Neeskens said. “But I’m a different player than my father and I plan to play my game and I’ll succeed that way.”
With the Rapids’ 12-game winless streak etched on the 2014 season’s tombstone, coach Pablo Mastroeni has had the opportunity to open the stables and evaluate his young roster before the season ends.
That’s good news for Neeskens, who made his second MLS start (first since June 4) last weekend against Chivas USA. Thirty minutes in, he scored the game’s first goal on an overlap run down the left side, taking a feed from 19-year-old Charles Eloundou and beating goalkeeper Dan Kennedy to the near post.
Listed as a defender on Colorado’s roster, both of Neeskens’ starts this season have come in the midfield. His favorite position?
“I like playing on the outside, usually the left, or wherever I’m needed. I like having the ball at my feet and getting lots of touches,” he said.
Neeskens has a contract with MLS for next season, and though he’s had only limited opportunities with the first team this year, he plans to keep working hard and taking advantage of his chances when they come.
“If Colorado decides to take my option, then I’ll continue here,” Neeskens said.
Daniel Boniface: 303-954-1104, dboniface@denverpost.com or twitter.com/danielboniface
