Man Marking - Episode 23 - Thomas Rongen

Episode 23

"The purity of football."

Thomas Rongen played with Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer, but ultimately his love and belief in football stands him apart even from those legends. 

Thomas was the star of the 2014 film Next Goal Wins, a film about the journey of American Samoa, known at the time as the worst team in the world, as they sought their first ever win. 

Thomas loves football, and he embodies the purity of football. He has experienced loss, trauma and grief, beyond the realms of most people. His journey with American Samoa, allows him to cry in front of people for the first time in a long time. 

We talk to Thomas about where his relationship with football began, his thoughts on the purity of football, and of course everything he experienced with American Samoa.