Kelvin Yeboah exclusive interview: Messi, Tony Yeboah, injuries, MLS growth

There is a slight twinge in the eyebrow that flashes on the face of the broad-smiled footballer sitting in front of me, a bright blue Minnesota sky reflecting his warmth and eagerness to be chatting football. “My injury affected the results, affected the game, so, yeah, it can be quite frustrating”, he says, explaining away the momentary grunt in his facial lines, the injury in question a hamstring issue that has kept him out for the run-in of the MLS regular season for United.

“But if you look at the positive side—and there are many—you get to mentally rest up and prepare for the playoffs.”

The playoffs are the target, and they’re secured. Minnesota have thundered towards the top of the Western Conference, sitting comfortably among the top-scoring teams in the division, a lot of that down to the Ghana-born 25-year-old currently out of action.

Kelvin Yeboah, nephew of the great Tony Yeboah of Premier League fame, admits that he is “day by day” when it comes to recovery: “you don’t want to rush it and risk pulling it again, because then it takes even longer. I’m trying to be cautious.”

While recovery is the immediate aim, it doesn’t stop him from reflecting on what has been a solid return so far: 9 goals in 22 games, making it 22 in 47 total appearances. For someone so young who has been at seven different teams already, it feels like Kelvin has taken a key leap forward in his development.

“It’s come together really well. As a striker, this year showed me a lot about the other parts of the game where you have to sacrifice. Apart from scoring, our coach demands a lot from the strikers—we press from the top every game. I’ve improved a lot working with Coach [Eric] Ramsey. As a striker, you always focus on goals, but I’ve learned to appreciate helping the team defensively too. That’s led to great results—at the end of the day, we’re second or third, so it’s been really good.”

“I learned a lot from him—discipline, dedication, professionalism”

Kelvin comes from footballing royalty. The name on the back of his shirt will evoke memories for not just fans of Leeds United, but the whole Premier League. His uncle, Tony, burst into the English top division in 1995, scoring 32 goals in just 66 games — including those strikes against Liverpool and Wimbledon — before departing as quickly as he arrived.

“We’ve always admired him,” Kelvin admits of his uncle, “he was the one in our family who reached the top level. I learned a lot from him—discipline, dedication, professionalism. My dad used to remind me, “When me and Tony trained, this is what we did—so you have to do the same.” He’s been a huge reference point and a great mentor.”

“He never tells me exactly where to be or what to do. He just says, “Go and be yourself.” He knows football is about confidence—especially as a striker. If you’re not confident, even with an open goal, you can miss. Confidence and belief in your ability make all the difference.”

Kelvin admits to “only complaint” of life in the U.S.

Feeling confident and comfortable in a new place once again has been a large factor in his development. Playing for so many teams at such a young age has its positives, but feeling wanted and finding a home, having that “arm-around-the-shoulder” coach in tough times also helps with adaptation.

Until now, Europe had been where Kelvin plied his trade, growing up in Italy and developing in the academies of Monza and Gozzano before a move to the West Ham youth setup. From there, Tirol Innsbruck and Sturm Graz came calling, before a return to Italy with Genoa. A trio of loans — to Germany, France, and Belgium — saw little return in front of goal. Then came the US. “It’s definitely different from anywhere I’ve lived before,” he admits. “But I adapt quickly.” While there are “so many” positives, the smile flashes again: “The only complaint I have is the food!”

On the culture, Kelvin calls it “a big jump” going from the tranquility of European plazas to the dynamism of wide sidewalks and diners. But at the end of the day, “people are people” and “once you connect with teammates, neighbours, locals—it feels familiar again.”

The football experience is also different, too, including the way fans experience it from the stands. In the US, “it’s more about entertainment”, whereas playing in Italy, “you can feel the frustration from the stands if you’re losing.”

“Here,” he smiles, “fans are behind you no matter what. They see it more as entertainment. Even at basketball games, when their team is losing, people stay positive—it’s just a different energy.”

I ask how he would compare the game in MLS to Italy when you’re on the pitch: “You can’t really compare Italy to anything else,” he quips back, quickly.

“Italy is very tactical—slow-paced, analytical, with lots of structure. Physically, it’s less demanding. MLS is more like France—more athletic, more about talent and intensity. Honestly, the MLS might even be slightly above Ligue 1 now in terms of competitiveness because it’s growing so quickly.”

Kelvin adds that he “definitely” took a lot from his younger years in Italy in terms of his understanding of the game. “I grew up there; I started playing when I was a kid, so it’s where I learned football. My little brother plays for Juventus now, and he tells me they’re still doing the same tactical drills we did years ago. In France, at Montpellier, it was different—more freedom, less structure. You have to adjust.”

France has more natural talent, though,” he believes, somewhat surprisingly. “In Italy, you have less freedom: you’re told where to be, what to do. In France or Spain, it’s more instinctive, more flair. Ideally, you need a mix of both.”

“I’ve never been in a league where you can literally see it evolving year to year”

Despite the differences, MLS and the general feeling around soccer in the States is something that Yeboah feels every day: “you’d be surprised how many football fields there are—even just in Minnesota. I don’t think Italy has that many! People here really love soccer. The league is growing fast—like, even compared to last year, you can see the difference. I’ve never been in a league where you can literally see it evolving year to year like this.”

That growth, we can all admit, is largely down to one name: “you can see he reads the game seconds before everyone else. Same with Busquets. They might not run as much anymore, but they’re always one step ahead. It was a great experience.” You know who we’re talking about.

Next up, potential national team football. Kelvin has experience with both the Italian and Ghanaian youth teams, but that elusive first team call-up awaits.

“I grew up with both,” he says. “Both are in my heart — one is where I’m from, and the other is where I grew up and got a lot of my culture.”

While the decision is not fully taken on where his national team allegiance lies, Yeboah is calm. “I’m not going to drive myself crazy over it. Sometimes overthinking before anything happens can be counterproductive.”

Of course, the smile is still there, through the recovery: “I try to look at it like when I was 11, just playing with my friends. I still find joy in it that way. My whole life is built around football. Sometimes when it becomes work, it can take the joy away, but I try to focus on enjoying what I do rather than seeing it as just work.” The words of Uncle Tony ring loud in his ears: “Go and be yourself.”