As the 2015 season dwindled to a close during a disappointing NASL Championship semifinal defeat, Minnesota United began to lick their wounds and reassess the roster. During the season, injuries forced Manny Lagos into cobbling together a backline with midfielder/captain Aaron Pitchkolan drafted into the role. The team sorely needed to find a centerback who could be penciled in for every match.
As luck would have it, their best option was already on their roster. Enter Brent Kallman.
Damion Lowe has proven to be a threat in attack and a strong mark on defense during his loan stint from Seattle Sounders. Tiago Calvano, meanwhile, was having something of a renaissance in recent weeks (before a post-match red card last week). Yet it is last year’s back-up who has been the most consistent defender on Minnesota United’s roster in 2016.
After being a four-year starter with Creighton Bluejays and playing a stint with the PDL’s Des Moines Menace in 2012 (scoring two goals in six matches), Kallman signed with Minnesota United FC in May 2013. Playing time was hard to come by early on, as he made just four starts between 2013-14.
“My first NASL match made me realize how much I needed to learn and improve on with my game. We won 3-2 at Tampa Bay, but I felt a step behind the entire match.”
Kallman remembers his first couple of years very well. “I was still somewhat raw when it came to playing centerback. I predominantly played as a defensive midfielder in high school and college, so I had to learn the position quickly. My first NASL match made me realize how much I needed to learn and improve on with my game. We won 3-2 at Tampa Bay, but I felt a step behind the entire match.
“It was clear that players are much more clever in this league than I was used to playing against in college. Without many game opportunities, I had to learn a lot on the training field. My teammates were the best resource. Playing with really experienced guys on a daily basis helped me grow a ton. I would watch guys like Tiago and Pitch and pick up on things. I’m still learning from those guys. The Swansea City friendly in 2014 was vital for me. After that, my confidence was sky high and I could feel the improvements made in a year since my NASL debut.”
That Swansea match was notable for fans as well. Kallman made one major gaff (though Swansea didn’t capitalize), but otherwise put in a remarkably strong performance against a Premier League opponent.
As Cristiano Dias fell out of favor in 2015, Kallman slowly found favor and made eight starts. However, by the time the fall season wore on, Manny Lagos showed a tendency to pair Aaron Pitchkolan and Tiago Calvano as his centerbacks.
“I really wanted a shot (at MLS) coming out of college and I didn’t get it. I’ve been working toward that goal for my entire career, and I’m lucky enough that there might be an opportunity to achieve that with this club in the next year or two.”
With a new head coach and more experience under his belt, Kallman has been able to carve a regular starting spot at last. After missing the opening match of the year with a toe injury, Kallman has started the twelve remaining matches, playing 1040 minutes along the way.
“I’ve been forced to learn things a lot quicker with regular playing time,” Kallman admitted. “I’ve made mistakes so far this season, but we run back the film in training and I’m able to see what I need to work on much clearer that way. In reality, it’s really hard to get better without playing.
“This year, working on communication has been big for me. Being on the same page as the guys around me and making sure we’re in the right positions to set up the defense is important. Otherwise, I’ve been working on being sharper playing out of the back and making smarter passes.”
The numbers back up his focuses. Kallman has completed 83.0% of his 464 attempted passes this season while being in position to make 38 clearances and 35 intercepts on the year. His passing accuracy is even more impressive in his own half, making a clinical 89.5% of his attempts in United territory. This puts him neck-and-neck with some of the leagues best centerbacks, like FC Edmonton’s Papé Diakite (79.7% / 92.2%), Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Tamika Mkandawire (74.6% / 89.2%), and Fort Lauderdale Strikers’ Gale Agbossoumonde (81.3% / 90.0%).
While there’s no statistic for communication, the eye test shows that he’s paired well with both Calvano and Lowe. This year, Minnesota has been able to catch strikers in offside traps with Kallman and co. working with the double-6 midfield to create a solid foundation in front of goalkeeper Sammy Ndjock. Kallman also made his first career NASL Team of the Week in the 1-0 road defeat at Indy.
In the following week’s match, Kallman was again given the tough task of marking Eamon Zayed, Indy’s best striker. Keeping a tight mark, Kallman limited the amount of space Zayed had to operate in. In turn, Zayed (who has 7 goals on the year in 13 matches) was limited to two shots (both off-target) and seven passes in the attacking half, none of which went into the box. It may have been Kallman’s best performance yet and set the tone for an impressive shutout to end Indy’s thirteen-match unbeaten streak.
All-told, this has been a breakthrough year for the 25 year-old from Woodbury. He’s been able to keep his head down and play his best soccer yet. Kallman’s contract is up at the end of this season, leaving plenty of questions for what lies ahead.
As far as Kallman’s goals? “I would like to play at a higher level. It’s everyone’s goal to play at the highest possible level, and in this country that would mean MLS. I really wanted a shot coming out of college and I didn’t get it. I’ve been working toward that goal for my entire career, and I’m lucky enough that there might be an opportunity to achieve that with this club in the next year or two.
“Nothing is ever handed to you, but that’s what I’m working toward this year. Playing for an MLS team in my hometown would trump anything else.”
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