Hometown favorite Jared Odenbeck is coming back to the Charlotte area to bring his professional experience to the new Stumptown Athletic team. Odenbeck graduated from Charlotte Christian and Wake Forest, then played for the Charlotte Independence before heading to play in Sweden and New Zealand.

When did you start playing soccer?

We lived in Milwaukee when I was little, and I played every sport except soccer in my backyard – I really wanted to be the next Brett Favre. When I was five, my mom sent me to a week-long summer camp with the Milwaukee Wave and I loved it. I was hooked. I knew I wanted to be a professional soccer player when I was 12 and started watching Champions League on TV.

When I was in high school at Charlotte Christian, I was a NCSAA First Team All-America selection, as well as First Team All-Southeast and NCISAA All-State, all-region and all-conference.

When did your soccer career take off?

I played club soccer with the Charlotte Soccer Academy and was a captain for three years. We qualified for the USSDA National Playoffs in 2011 and advanced to the USSDA National Finals Week in 2012.

I also played soccer in college, first for a year at Georgetown, then for three years at Wake Forest, where I played in 47 games in three seasons. I’m proud of my team and our success, which included being the 2016 National Championship Runner Up, 2016 ACC Tournament Champion, 2016 and 2015 ACC Atlantic Division Champion, and the 2013 Big East Champions. When I was a senior, I received the 2016 Walt Chyzowych Leadership Award, presented to the team’s top leader, which was a big honor.

When did you start playing professional soccer?

I signed my first pro contract in 2017 with the Charlotte Eagles. From there, I played for Lindome GIF in Gothenburg, Sweden, came back to the U.S. with the Tormenta FC in Georgia, then played with IK Kongahälla in Kungälv, Sweden. Most recently, I played with the Western Suburbs Football Club in Wellington, New Zealand.

Who do you admire?

There are really too many people to name, but some of the top people who I admire include Ray Fraser and Patrick Daka from the Charlotte Soccer Academy; Philip Poole from CSA and Wake Forest; Jeremy Gunn from Stanford; Jay Vidovich from Wake Forest and now the University of Pittsburgh; Eder Quintenilla from Wake Forest and now the San Francisco Earthquakes; Luke Helmuth with the Charlotte Eagles, and Troy Lesesne from the Charlotte Independence.

What made you sign with Stumptown Athletic?

I signed for Stumptown Athletic for a couple reasons. First, I believe in Mark Steffens and Patrick Daka and could not say no to the opportunity to work with both of them again. Second, I love Charlotte – it is home for me. I have been all over the world since I finished at Wake Forest and now was the right time and the right opportunity for me to come home and invest in a project that excites me.

What should fans know about you?

I would like the fans to know that I am so grateful for their support on the field and off. I enjoy interacting with them and look forward to meeting them. I will always give my best for the club and for the city of Charlotte! 

What do you do when you’re off the field?

I like to read, write and cook. And – this may surprise many people – but I also speak Swedish!