{"id":572827,"date":"2020-11-21T07:14:34","date_gmt":"2020-11-21T12:14:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=572827"},"modified":"2020-11-21T07:14:34","modified_gmt":"2020-11-21T12:14:34","slug":"jack-harrison-leeds-inited-english-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/11\/21\/jack-harrison-leeds-inited-english-abroad\/","title":{"rendered":"Jack Harrison: Leeds United Winger Says More English Youth Players Should Consider Moving Abroad"},"content":{"rendered":"

Leeds United<\/a> winger Jack Harrison believes more English youth players should move abroad instead of staying with academy setups in England.<\/p>\n

As a 14-year-old, Harrison was a member of Manchester United<\/a>‘s academy, but he left in order to study in the United States. After impressing at high-school and college level, he signed for MLS outfit New York City, playing under Patrick Vieira.<\/p>\n

Jack Harrison Urges More Youngsters to Try Move Abroad<\/h2>\n

MLS Experience<\/h3>\n

Speaking to BBC Sport<\/a> of his decision to move abroad as a teenager, Harrison said: “I would recommend people to do the same.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“It’s not just the football. You don’t get these types of opportunities in England. I have tried different sports, met people from all over the world and have travelled all across the US with football.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Once I wrapped my head around the idea of going and ignored a lot of people that were saying a lot of bad things about going to the US to play football, it was a great decision for me.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Having been the first overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, he was team-mates with international stars at New York City, sharing a dressing room with David Villa, Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo.<\/p>\n

The 23-year-old is currently in his third season on loan at Leeds<\/a> after swapping the MLS for Manchester City<\/a> in 2017.<\/p>\n

Harrison Says It Was ‘Unreal’ to Have Played With So Many Stars<\/h3>\n

In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Harrison stated: “It was a real honour to play with those three [Lampard, Pirlo and Villa] and be coached by Vieira. I will always be grateful for that experience.”<\/p>\n

When Villa described him as “something special”<\/a>, the Leeds winger revealed: “It was incredible. I was pinching myself when he said it.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The first time we beat the New York Red Bulls, he scored the second goal and there’s a picture of him pointing to me at the fans.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It’s unreal to have played with them and they are great people as well. I still speak to them now. Football is a small world and you can meet people from all over the world and stay in touch.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>