Raimo de Vries didn’t play or live in Philadelphia during his soccer career but the city he now calls home factors in heavily in his history both on and off the soccer pitch.
De Vries came to the U.S. from the Netherlands to pursue an education and play college soccer at Wake Forest for Philly soccer legend Walt Chyzowych, who played at Temple and for the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals and coached at Philadelphia Textile (now Jefferson University) as well as the U.S. men’s national team.
“It would take a long time to describe my emotions and my gratitude for Walt,” Raimo said.