Kara
0:19
Welcome, Jere. We're on Queen's pitch. It's lovely to have you.
Jere
0:23
Thanks. It's nice to be here.
Kara
0:25
So not everyone might have read your recent interview that's out right now with Sam Spencer for the Queen city nerve. But can you share? For those who haven't read it just a little bit about your soccer journey and then how you came to play for Charlotte FC?
Jere
0:38
Uh, yeah, I'm getting up to age, so I've been doing this thing for for quite a few years now. I think my first professional year was 2012. Didn't make my professional debut 2011 already with my team in Finland. But then, uh, it was it was still just a hobby for me, you know, besides going to high school. So then it just had a few good games and, and and started my, started my journey in and around Europe, quite surprisingly, not least for myself and, uh, I'm, I'm still on that road. And, you know, I've gone through a few countries in Europe that I've had a lot of nice experiences. There are a lot of not so nice as well, obviously, because that's part of the game. And, uh. Then we got this opportunity to come to the other side of the big pond and, uh, decided to decided to come here and, uh, and kind of jump into and to unknown, uh, do have a lot of friends who play in MLS. So I knew about the league. But, you know, for that, uh, to get to live in a different continent, it's always kind of difficult to know what to expect. So, uh, we decided to come come in away and, um, being really happy, it's, uh, it's been really nice at least the first six months. And
Bridget
1:52
we're glad you're here. So we we enjoy it. I bet the weather is much nicer here anyway.
Jere
1:58
Yeah, actually, I've flown to my bed. Like to normally I call my dad in the mornings when I'm driving, driving to the training because I got a lot around 15 minute drive. So I call him and there's this is just asking about the weather. Weather. So I think it was Wednesday, one of those holidays yesterday, like how's the weather? And I was like, yeah, it's going to be around 30 Celsius. I think it's like 80 something. So, uh, it's going to be a hot day. Like, what about back there in Finland? And I was like, yeah, it's going to be at zero. You know, that crazy crazy going. So and there's the expecting more snow this weekend. So uh, it's it is a big plus like and
Bridget
2:33
so how does playing animal as differ from the other leagues that you played in especially like the Champions League in those experiences.
Jere
2:41
Yeah. It is quite different than any league that I've played to be honest. I think it's more tactical in in Europe, especially in the national team. When you play playing those games, it's it's really tactical, a bit faster there as well. But it's, it's, it's a little bit more open, a lot of a lot of individual quality. I have a feeling it does turn into a basketball game every now and then. Also, which is probably a lot of fun for the for the people watching the game, because a lot of things happen. But when you're when you're a player that it can get quite, quite tough when you have to have those like ADR sprints back and forth. So it's not. Yeah. Um, yeah. So it's, it's really open and that, that gives, you know, at least the defenders a lot more, a lot more problems and a lot more questions in other units to solve there. But at the same time it's a nice challenge. So it is a really fun league, really, really fun league. I've enjoyed
Kara
3:41
it. And so you came last summer and you kind of had a tough transition coming mid-year in into this. Like we'd already been halfway through the year for us. And so how was it compared to now I guess to come into the team?
Jere
3:58
Yeah, I mean, that team was really, really different when I, when I did come here last year, you know obviously different manager always has different different uh tactical ideas and how I used to play the game. So uh, so in that regard it was really different last year. So the way we played last year was really demanding of the players and something that I wasn't used to either. So it took me, it took me a while to get to get the handle on what the what the coach wants to do. And uh, that combined with the, with the heat. So. I was almost even happy that it took to go out for my visit to get get accepted, uh, that I had few days that just because the first trainings were were really close thinking, like, where have I come in? I can't, I can't breathe, and this is but luckily your body gets adjusted really, really quick. And uh, and now obviously after the full, full preseason with the team, you know, you are on the on the same level with the guys that I've been here longer. So as well I'm more comfortable now. Obviously, the more you spend time with the guys, the closer you get. So yes, it's been fun.
Bridget
5:06
I didn't even think about the transition of you coming from over here, you know, with the heat and everything last year. We're just, like, expecting you all to come over here and pick it up and play. And we're like, what's the what's the what's wrong with them? But we don't we don't realize that, like, that temperature is going to affect you in a big way.
Jere
5:22
Yeah. Because there's all kinds of things. And then what was also kind of tough is that you always had those international games September, October, November. So flying back and forth one, while they're trying to adjust everything here, it's not really ideal. I felt bad about it, but the good thing is that, you know, when you know that you have only a few months to go through it, just you're just pushing through. And then that that part of the season, now that the season is done and then it can be the new one.
Kara
5:47
And we've read that it was important to you and your family to be happy where you live and play. And that's part of the reason why you came to Charlotte. How has it been for you and your wife, Minta, and your two small boys to adjust to a new country and a new city? You know, it's a pretty big deal. Yeah,
Jere
6:02
but it's been by far the easiest. That is for us to kind of adjust and move into think especially for me and my wife. The language is a big factor. She's also really social, and I can say that she enjoys spending time with the with American people, because I feel like people here are a lot nicer, kinder, you know, more social at least than than in Europe and especially and not so and so from that, that aspect, you know, it's it's really nice because, you know, you can have a conversation with anyone about anything, even if you know them or you don't, and still kind of blows my mind in a good way. And I'm here and, uh, and my oldest one knows a little bit of English. So for him, it was also nice that he doesn't have to pick up new language because he's learned some French in France, he's learned some German in Germany. But when you know a little bit, you know, you can't really get any kind of conversation with anyone. And, uh, and, uh, he loves cars. He loves big cars. So he loves these pickup trucks here. Loves these big trucks, big cars. Everything is big. And so, so he told me that when he when he came here, like, after after the holiday, I was like, yeah, daddy, I missed you a lot. Visit America even more. So
Bridget
7:20
you'll have to take him to the monster truck rallies and we take him to one of those. Yeah.
Jere
7:24
Uh, we actually have to go to the Monster Dam on Saturday. Oh heck yeah. Yeah, that's his birthday present. Uh, so I guess to say, it gets to say monster trucks. So they're kind of.
Bridget
7:34
He's going to love that. Yeah, he's going to look well into the South. Here we go. Yeah. Um. Well, Cara, she's a sucker for a love story. And she also met her husband young. So she wants to see if you would expand on your love story with your wife, Minta, and give us a little bit of backstory behind that. We
Jere
7:50
were 15. I don't know, just like back home, we have it's called like a confirmation camp. I like all confirmation that ends in this kind of a camp, a little bit like outside where you spend five days and you do all kinds of stuff, and then then you have like the, the final party and then that's it. But I don't know if you have this, this kind of,
Bridget
8:11
I think we call them like Bible camps or things like that around
Jere
8:14
here or not there with the church. Yeah. So so we met there. Uh, normally you go, you know. To the to the grove. Uh, within the area of the city where you live. All my friends were were living in another part of the town. So my mom asked if, uh, if I could go, if I could have an exception and go to the the whole confrontation with the with the other, other church. And they said, it's fine. And she was there. Uh, that's when we met. And, uh, and then, yeah, after the camp, we kind of started dating almost directly and, and, and here we are, uh, 15, 15 years later. So, yeah, I have been kind of past that thing. We were dating two few weeks after we really got to know each other, so. Yeah. Yeah, a long time. That's awesome. Y'all are a true love story. She's not you. Since you've grown up. She's going through all the awkward stages with you then. 1s Yeah,
Bridget
9:13
and she still loves you, so that's good.
Jere
9:15
Yeah. Uh, the last of my. Something must be wrong with her.
Bridget
9:19
No, no.
Kara
9:23
I'm gonna have to go tell my husband that because something must be wrong with me, too. 2s So, in our opinion, you know, support might come from the fans, but we really know it's important at home. So what would you say about your wife's support for you, especially through all these transitions?
Jere
9:38
It's like I've gone through everything with her, but I still can't really understand how tough it must be. Uh, even though I've seen it with my own eyes. You know, the thing is, like when you move as a player from a country to another one, you know, you get there. But then the same day that you land or you arrive to the new city, you are working directly, and you might have an away game the next day and then you're gone for two days. But she's the one who then stays in the hotel with the kids. Especially when our baby was like, I think it was. Well, four months weren't five months when we moved from from France to Germany. So, you know, with with the baby like that, the live in the hotel. We there alone find the the right house that you like for the for the kids and for us. Uh, organize the move. I would say decorate the arm and, you know, get the right things there. It's just so many things, uh, that I really don't know how to do. So that that's all on her. On top of raising the kids and and taking care of them. I mean, obviously, I'll. I'll do my best at home, and, uh, but the dads aren't all that good off, you know, raising them. I'm good at playing with them and getting the energy out of them and cooking food for them and putting them to bed. But I'm not good at, you know, the, the important stuff. So it's to it's the same thing with everything else. I would love to say football wife, but basically it doesn't matter. The sport is the same thing, you know, for for the athletes. You, you you move and you go straight to work. And then basically everything else is for the for the wives and for the women. So it's just incredible how well one person can handle all of that and, and make it look easy because, uh. As my my mom would just blow from all that information. So. So yeah, it's it means everything. And because of that, you as an athlete, you can you can focus on the on the on the most important thing because everyone knows that the first weeks are the most important to integrate, to start on the right field. Because if you start, if you start bad, then it's more difficult to pick up, you know, and then then your confidence goes down and then then you lose your quality. So all those things, they matter more than, more than people think they do.
Bridget
11:51
Okay, I'm going to jump around. We're going to start asking you some fun kind of questions, okay? It's taking everything I can. I ask you this from the time we got on here. So what are your game day rituals? My mom. I try
Jere
12:02
to take a nap. I never nap except game day, so maybe I'll say naps.
Bridget
12:08
Okay, now, here it is. This is the thing. So do you have a reason that you always wear the pink shoes? Because I'm in love with that.
Jere
12:14
No, I do love them as well. I should change them already because the new color came and it's orange now, but they don't feel as good. It's just whatever the newest color that they sent me, I shouldn't play with them, but I've kind of stuck with the pink because I like the color of them a lot, but I might have to change them. So now,
Bridget
12:31
unfortunately, there's not a big reason. But honestly, I thought you did it so you can stand out and we could see you running around on the field and oh, okay, well dang it, where's
Kara
12:39
your has a thing for shoes?
Bridget
12:41
You run, you run my
Kara
12:42
whole dream.
Bridget
12:44
What are some of your favorite things about Charlotte?
Jere
12:46
Well we spoke about the weather. That and I know people don't think here that Charlotte is a big city for me. It's massive. For me, it's really a big, big city, which means that you have so much to do, so many things to see. And we we haven't really even been to places around Charlotte that we've just been in the, in the city center and like close by. But yeah, there's there's so many parks, so many playgrounds for the kids. Obviously they, they love going there. But yeah, there's tons of things to do. Uh, I know and the restaurant, the amount of good restaurants that you have, uh, we really love the south and area just walking around there and and going to different restaurants as well as. Yeah, you know, you're never bored because there's so much to say. That's true. I think Charlotte's a big city, too. I'm, I live out in the country like so about an hour outside of Charlotte. So Charlotte's a big city to me too. So I understand,
Kara
13:42
especially when you're coming from the north versus the south. The county like it just you're going to take an hour. Yeah. Sometimes. Didn't used to be that way, but it is. It is now. But one of the things you should definitely take the kids to do is like the Lazy Five ranch in Mooresville, where you can, like, drive through with your car, and it's like a small farm. So there's like giraffes and zebras that you can just drive by and feed
Bridget
14:07
them out of your car. If you want. The slobber all over your car and stuff doesn't have to go to a car wash afterwards. But yeah, it's fun,
Jere
14:14
but there's something.
Kara
14:17
That's one of the things my kids really loved. But yeah, if they're scared of animals, don't don't do that. So what do you like to do on your days off?
Jere
14:25
Nothing special. Probably. Again, the same boring answer. Go. Go outside. Get the energy out of the kids. On your marks. We do love all kinds of parks and playgrounds. Love spending time there. So, yeah, those things. Or then sometimes we do quite often also like just drop off my wife at the South Park Mall or somewhere like that, and then just I'll go with the kids so she can have some, some free time by herself and some shopping, and then we can go with the kids and just, you know, do the bad things. We take it and just go headfirst everywhere. We
Bridget
15:01
scored points in our book. We like any person that's going to drop us off at South Park Mall. Let's go shopping.
Kara
15:08
Yeah, that's her quiet time.
Jere
15:10
If I'm two days in an away game and she's there with that because I know, I know. Yeah. 1s So then it's like, okay, I'll give you one afternoon if you're stuck with it for two days.
Bridget
15:21
I think it's great that you're a family man. I think that it's awesome that you like to spend time with your kids, so that's good.
Kara
15:26
Smart man. Giving her some time to to have her brain not ask 12 questions. Yeah,
Jere
15:33
acceptable. 1s We know how that is makes makes
Kara
15:36
us a little crazy. Right, right. So what would you say to someone that has a dream of playing soccer professionally? Um, any
Bridget
15:45
sport that they want, you know, that they
Jere
15:46
loved, you know, in this world. 1s I mean, I would say not to. First of all, take any sort of pressure or, like I have to do that, I have to do that, have to be good enough. Because, uh, yeah, for me, it's like when you're just relaxed, kind of like loving what you do. You're with a happy mind and with a clear mind. You're at your best. So I've always liked my whole childhood. My whole youth. Like, I always loved football. Uh, but I never went to, you know, like, train specific things on my own. I just always took my friends, and we went to play. Or we had a shooting competition or or kicks the ball for this competition. Or who runs fastest with the ball, you know, like, we're just competing, like, just to have fun. Uh, there was never like, you know, putting some cones and building them or, like, proper training. Uh, I don't believe in that thing when you're young, okay? When you get to, like, teenager and teenage years and and all of them, you have to start doing those trainings. But like I say, in Finland, at least, like there's young kids under ten years old, uh, where they're. Just doing all kinds of training. And I'm like, you know, just like I want to see the fire and never gets inside of, like, love for the for the game. And you know just how fun it is to play. So I work for me. But everyone is different. So don't listen to me. Just tell me.
Bridget
17:12
How I'm going to like my kid. We our kids play soccer. My kid plays on Saturdays, so she's older, so she plays with the Jere5 team. But we get to go watch the little kids sometimes when we're going to our games. And it's just it's I love the innocence in those kids. They're just out there playing. They're just chasing the ball and they don't care if they score the wrong goal. It's just they're just having a good time. Yeah, exactly. It's a lot different than going to our games where the parents, I think, put a lot of pressure on me. Included on the kids were like, you know what to do, you know? So I think I agree with you. We should loosen up a little bit.
Jere
17:42
I mean, that's what I said to my wife. Also my my oldest one is going through his football training like twice a week. And I just I love to go there. See, like, you just have this group of 20 little five year olds running after that one ball, like, you know, like one big ball chasing that one small ball. It's just like they said, the innocence. It's just makes me so happy.
Bridget
18:04
We like it when they do it. We don't like it when y'all do it. Okay? So don't do that. I don't know, I was scared, I wanted to get older than that. It gets really tactical. And then, you know, you have time to be serious with the game also. Yeah, I just
Kara
18:16
I think mine's still in a stage of, of my middle one is is throwing dirt. So yeah they said 2s God bless
Jere
18:25
him 2s I'm like please
Kara
18:27
don't harm a child. But you know. So where does your positive, optimistic attitude come from? Because we noticed that like all the time when you're playing, you always have a smile. And I mean, sometimes even when you're fouled or a little frustrated, like you really try to be positive.
Jere
18:42
Gotta go back to what I was just saying because I know myself, you know, if I start to clench my fists and like, you know, I have to do better, I know I was just gonna go down here and like, I also know that there's not one person in this in this whole world that's harsher towards myself than me. Like deep down inside in the middle of the game is not the right time to think about those mistakes, because they will have been like two to all of us. And then for me, it's like after the game, maybe even the next day, or maybe even the next day out of that, like two days after the game, uh, when when I'm writing myself to get there and, and, you know, learn from those, but not in the middle of the game. Uh, then that is when I need to be in my happy place, because I know that I'm not going to get tired as fast. When I'm there. I'll feel faster, stronger. I feel like no one can get past me and I can do whatever I want. So that's just something that I've learned throughout my career. And, uh, someone said to me, like, how can you how can you smile when you play again? Like, don't you want to win? And I'm sure I want to win back. That's that's what I mean. That's all I can help my team. And, you know, it doesn't mean that I won't take it seriously. Like I'll do anything to win that game, but it's just something that works for me.
Bridget
20:01
You can enjoy the game while you're playing it, you know, with everything and all the passion in it. So I don't think that's a problem. We like seeing your smile out there. We know that when you're smiling, you're doing a lot of good things. So we're we're enjoying it. You play against a lot of tough opponents. So you know Messi Bernardeschi I can't say their names right. So if I mess them up but you play against a bunch of tough players. How do you mentally prepare for those games. Because I know my kid. When she's ready to play a tough team, she's already in her head before we ever play the game. And I'm like, you can't get in your head. So do you play these world renowned players? How do you keep from psyching yourself out?
Jere
20:34
I'll just try to flip it around like this. Another chance for me to get better. That's another chance for me to show that I'm on a player, that I have quality. I just kind of take it as a as a challenge. But then again, it's never about one player against another player on what we have is always 11 against 11. So I do know that now when we play Toronto, we know everyone knows who's their best player and he happened to play on the right. And now for me that's a really, really big challenge and a good one. I also know that, okay, you might get past me sometimes because he is so good player. But then again, I know that I have my goalkeeper helping me. I know that my my teammates on the field helping me. So it's it's never, you know, just you that's that's the beauty of playing a team sport. So. Yeah, it's just the challenge, you know, you like to challenge yourself. So it's just. It's just nice to see how far you
Bridget
21:33
can go. They say to be the best, you have to beat the best, right? Exactly.
Kara
21:37
Do you have a favorite saying from a coach or teammate that kind of stays with you and encourages you?
Jere
21:42
I actually thought about this. I have one thing that stuck with me. We we had when I was in Belgium, we had a Dutch coach, Albert Sternberg, who's now in the staff of Arsenal with with them. And it was really smart. It's such a smart football mind. And he always said like, just control the control. Uh, and that was like, you know, on the field and even off the field. But I don't I shouldn't worry about what my goalkeeper is doing or what their defender is doing, like just worry about my things. And I don't control the things that you can. And I think that's that's one of them. And then the other one is like, just, just know that the most difficult thing about playing football is to give the simple like the doing the simple things can be the most difficult things. And that's something that I tried to get with me, especially on my position. And then I'll let them. I'll let the attackers do the flashes and, and, and you know that, that they can be themselves and, and just, you know, supporting them. So maybe they'll say,
Bridget
22:44
what's your favorite home cooked meal?
Jere
22:45
Hey, kind of those, you know, in seasons, uh, whenever my wife feels like having because she's more than like those people that if she. If she gets a good steak or good tortilla then or whatever, then she wants to eat that same meal every every day. Then she gets really bored. I do that
Kara
23:01
with you.
Jere
23:05
I would say 1s the moment is like, good. They let me stay at home with some with some roasted veggies, or then I always make the same salmon pasta, uh, before the home games. Pretty much. Uh, so that's a simple one that's been with us for, I think, more than ten years that I would cook that at home. So. Awesome.
Bridget
23:30
That's great. I like a good filet mignon, too. There's nothing wrong with that. 2s And you say the best answers, by the way, like, if your wife listens to this, like you're gonna get all the points, all the brownie points and everything because your answers are like, right on.
Jere
23:46
She says that unlike you, but over her seasons. Because they come and go.
Kara
23:52
Um, so if you could have any food. What? Sure. Can't resist food.
Bridget
23:55
Well, that could be like food. Or can I just be basically chocolate? Yeah. Chocolate is a
Jere
24:00
food. Yeah. In our book, I mean, it's not really a food usually in it. But 2s that's for me. Um, like, I love sweets in general, but like, if there's one thing, it's always it's always
Kara
24:16
the
Bridget
24:16
chocolates in Finland, right? I don't
Kara
24:18
know, am I wrong? I
Jere
24:20
do think that they are good, but it's kind of dangerous for like the job that I really love is one of those that you can eat a lot before you get in the world. Like it's not that filling. Uh, so it's. Yeah, it's not a good fit.
Bridget
24:33
That's why you're in a good mood. Now we know. We know. You're always eating the chocolate.
Kara
24:37
That.
Bridget
24:40
Go to your coffee. I think we know we can see what you're drinking, but for everybody,
Jere
24:46
100% that, uh, that's a little bit too many. Too much that. I didn't 1s think so. I must have gotten.
Kara
24:54
And how do you take it?
Jere
24:55
Uh, with a little bit of both.
Bridget
24:57
No sugar just now? No, it's just milk. And then I feel really weird that a lot of people put, like, cream. Mhm. Or even half and half. I think that's really like both. Not for me. It just, it has to be a. Straight now.
Kara
25:13
Yeah. And lastly, what would you want to say? Like if there's anything personal to this Charlotte fans
Jere
25:20
keep on being you because it's it's just, you know, when those things play out on the my, my I just said it a thing before last game to someone. We were on the field and and the music started playing and, and the crowd started jumping and I was like, this is this was always my, my favorite part of the league because it just gets such good vibes for the game. And you can see that I really everyone like what I was there, just 35,000 that, you know, we we all are there for the same reason and we all believe the same thing. Um, I'm fighting for the same, same thing, which is those three points. So it's just really a pleasure to play in that stadium. And I haven't experienced nothing like that in any of the away again. So that's, that's this that says that that's
Bridget
26:03
something we enjoy you a lot. Thank you so much for coming on here. And we're we're big fans of yours every week. We we we do our rafts and favors just who we, you know. And it's like this week. Yeah. This week Jerry. Jerry did another good job. Jerry did another good job. So we're just in awe of the fact that you do the Kronos, you do the building, you do anything that they have on their free kicks, anything. They're they're doing it. So we appreciate your drive for the team. And we we thank you for coming on here and talking to us.
Jere
26:29
And yeah, this was fun. Thank
Kara
26:31
you. Thank you so much. And best of luck on Sunday. And I hope everything goes well with your outing to the monster trucks with your family. So wish them well as well. Yeah. Uh, we
Bridget
26:43
hope to score on on Sunday. So, you know, to your former teammates. So that way you can score on them and be like, look, I did it. Well,
Jere
26:51
it's about time now. It's really about I don't need those bragging rights and
Bridget
26:56
more cheering for you. Thank you again.
Jere
26:59
Thanks guys. Thank you.