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Asheville High graduate Logan Meadows.
ASHEVILLE – Logan Meadows is a late bloomer as a pro soccer player.
A late bloomer is better than no bloomer at all.
Meadows said that he and Germany’s TSV Grolland have agreed to terms on a contact that will last the 2001 Citizen-Times All-WNC Player of the Year through May 2017.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Meadows said.
“And I intend to make the most of it.”
Meadows, 33, is a midfielder who played his college soccer at UNC Asheville. He had been coaching elite youth players in the Minnesota area prior to this signing. Meadows declined when asked to provide the financial specifics of his contract.
“I was mainly training with (Minnesota United and FC Fargo) just for fun,” Meadows said.
“I thought my (playing) career was over, and I was focusing on my coaching career and my personal development for young soccer players’ development.”
Meadows’ big break came when Andy Lorei, a former pro player in Sweden, saw him play. Meadows tried out for teams in Germany and had offers from four of them.
“(Lorei) saw me play and said that I could still play professionally if I were to really go after it and get in the best shape of my life,” Meadows said.
Meadows was a captain for the Cougars’ NCHSAA 3-A championship run 15 years ago. He led undefeated Asheville (26-0-1) in goals (21) and assists (33) that fall. Meadows’ 33 assists remain a single-season school record at Asheville.
Veteran Cougars coach Mike Flowe has fond memories of one of his best all-time players.
“He was awfully-good, and such a wiry athlete that it doesn’t surprise me that Logan is really good athletically as he gets stronger and older,” Flowe said.
“My hope for him is that he has a good time over there and gets to see a lot of the country.”
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