For most of the US National Team players streaming into MLS over the past two years, it’s just a return stateside. But for New York City FC star Mix Diskerud, coming to the city is a journey to the home he never got to live in.
The 24-year-old midfielder was born in Oslo, to a mother from Arizona and a father from Norway. He chose to play with the national team of his mother’s homeland, though he had never lived in the United States.
Now he’s accepted the challenge of playing here, after signing in January to be – along with David Villa – one of the faces of expansion club New York City FC.
“[US coach Jurgen Klinsmann] has talked about getting out of your comfort zone,” Diskerud told The Post. “I’ve never been here. It’s a challenge for me, a way to develop your game.’’
Diskerud won’t be completely uncomfortable in New York. He has loved visiting the city every year, and has spent most of his life collecting Yankee caps.
“I grew up in Norway, and they don’t sell a lot of baseball caps,” Diskerud said. “You have to have the NY logo, the coolest one. You can’t have Boston. I have over 70 Yankees caps.’’
He gets to play in Yankee Stadium when NYCFC debuts March 15 against New England.
“That’s even better. That’s going to be crazy. I can wear a different [cap] every day at Yankee Stadium,’’ Diskerud said. “I need to get [Norwegian duo] Nico & Vinz to sing the national anthem at a home game. I need to work on that.’’
Diskerud has worked his way back from a recent bout of food poisoning, scoring an 80th-minute goal in Wednesday’s 2-1 preseason loss to Houston. But afterwards he said the team needed to show more “grit.”
That’s always been a term that comes up with Diskerud. From Norwegian teams Stabaek and Rosenborg to his MLS move, his skill was never questioned, only his steel. He made the World Cup roster in 2014 and earned the No. 10 shirt that had been worn by Landon Donovan, but he was only player on the US team not to get any minutes. Klinsmann challenged him to be a tougher defender.
“Mix has done a terrific job from the first moment, shown a willingness to work extremely hard. We’ll try and add some toughness in his game,’’ NYCFC coach Jason Kreis said. “Jurgen has challenged him to do it, and it’s an area he needs to improve upon. He’s shown he’s capable of it.’’
Diskerud has been diligent in working on that area of his game.
“Jurgen has spoken to me about it, one of the things I want you to work on,’’ said Diskerud. “I’ve been told Jason is a guy who can help me out with those things. I want to develop, win more tackles, have more bite, until it’s something I have. It’s something I’ve been moving forward on since the World Cup ended.
“I have my own personal trainer. For the past five months, after seeing how the level is on the top class, I got inspired and went and got my own personal trainer three, four times week, working on every muscle group in body. Not to get bigger, but to get it where it counts, for soccer, not just the summer season on the beach.’’
The Post confirmed a published report that NYCFC plans to bring in defender Shay Facey, on loan from parent club Manchester City, and midfielder Pablo Alvarez.
Armas joins Red Bulls staff
Brooklyn-bred former U.S. National Team player Chris Armas was added to the Red Bulls coaching staff as an assistant Thursday. Armas played alongside head coach Jesse Marsch in Chicago.
“Chris is a man I know well, and that I grew up with in this league,” Marsch said in a statement. “He sees and understands the game at a high level. I think his experiences as a player are invaluable, and his attitude towards competition and style of play are in-line with the environment we are building here.’’
Armas played two years with the Long Island Rough Riders of the USISL before getting picked by the L.A. Galaxy in MLS’ inaugural draft in 1996. He and Marsch were both acquired by the expansion Chicago Fire before their first season in 1998, going on to win the MLS Cup-U.S. Open Cup domestic double, and forming a friendship that has lasted for years.
He retired after 2007, serving as a Chicago assistant under Dennis Hamlett, who is now also on the Red Bulls staff. Most recently, he’d come back to New York and was coaching the Adelphi women’s team.
“Chris knows what it takes to win in this league, but more importantly, he understands how to take everything he’s learned in his career and transfer that knowledge to develop players and maximize their potential,’’ said sporting director Ali Curtis.
