Orlando City’s new No. 9, who scored the first goal of the Lions’ 2019 campaign in a come-from-behind 2-2 draw against New York City FC last weekend, returns to his home city of Chicago this Saturday to face the Fire in City’s first away game of the season.
Mueller was born and raised in Schaumburg, Illinois, a suburb located about 30 miles northwest of Downtown Chicago. Schaumburg is home to the Chicago Sockers youth program, where Mueller developed into the player he is today. Mueller told me he first found the beautiful game at his bilingual school, where his classmates played soccer during recess while other schools around the area played mostly American football.
I asked Mueller if there was ever any consideration to becoming a Homegrown Player with the Fire, the route his Orlando City teammate Cam Lindley took, but surprisingly enough, Mueller told me there wasn’t any interest from his hometown club. In fact, Mueller only had two collegiate offers, and chose to go to Wisconsin due to the school’s profile and heavy interest from head coach John Trask.
Mueller blossomed in college, winning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year as a senior and going sixth overall in the MLS SuperDraft to Orlando City. He followed that up by leading all MLS rookies in assists, and he was named a finalist for MLS Rookie of the Year.
Mueller will be playing in front of a host of family and friends at Seatgeek Stadium in Bridgeview this weekend, including his grandparents, parents, and siblings. So while Orlando City will hope to send most of the home fans home disappointed, at least one section will be cheering for the new No. 9 in purple.
