Matthew Hoppe believes sacrifices and the sound advice of ex-Manchester United hero Michael Carrick can help him at Hibs and put him on a path to World Cup 2026.
The young American is penning a fresh chapter in his European adventure story having already been with Germans Schalke and Spaniards Mallorca. Having joined Middlesbrough, honest discussions with Riverside manager Carrick led to the Easter Road switch. The Boro boss stated he’s watching his progress under Lee Johnson having encouraged him to head out and make an impression in the Scottish Premiership.
Hoppe said: “He knows how to get the best out of players and it is nice to know that he is still keeping an eye on me. I would go up to him a few times a week to ask what I could do to improve, what I could do to get on the field. He could see I was hungry and didn’t want to hold me back in any way, so he said if I wanted to stay, I could stay, if I wanted to go, I could go.
“So it was a mutual agreement because as a player I want to get out on the field. He was once a player, fairly recently, so he understands everything I went through and I think he appreciates that I want to take these steps to advance my career and develop as a player.
“As a young player, an American in Europe, I think you have to do more than other players are doing. It is important to have a good relationship with the coach and figure out what you can improve because even if you’re not playing, there are always ways because you have a career ahead of you and other games to play
"It is important to find out what you can do. The biggest reason behind coming here was the game time, to be able to get minutes here has been amazing and it has allowed me to see aspects of my game that I have to work on or I’m a bit rusty on.
“I just need to sharpen those up. Maybe get a few more goals and then we will see what happens, I have to focus on what I’m doing here, doing the best I can with this club.”
Hoppe’s grounded approach will serve him well and he continued: “In Europe, there is the best soccer in the world, so to be in this environment every day it pushes you to be better. It is important to be here.
“All the clubs I have been to have been really supportive of me. At Schalke they put me in a good team house, at Mallorca, Middlesbrough and here, they have taken care of me and made me feel at home.
“It is hard to be away from the States and away from your family all the time, but, at the same time, it was my decision and my sacrifice and I hope to become the best player I can and make as much of an impact as I can in any time I’m at or any community I’m a part of.
“I have learned a lot about a whole bunch of different leagues, playing styles, formations. I can now adapt to a lot of things. In Spain things are really technical, in Germany they are really tactical, here and in England things are a bit more physical so there are a lot of things I have taken with me throughout my career and I think that will help me at the end of the day.”
Asked if it was time find a long-term home, Hoppe added: “It would be nice, but this is the life of a soccer player. You’ve got to be ready to go at any time and a lot of things aren’t in your control so you have just got to keep doing the work every day. That is the most important thing, staying consistent, no matter where you go.”
Capped eight times by the USA, it is natural for Hoppe to be looking long-term as his nation hosts the World Cup Finals in 2026. He said: “It is in three years and things can change within a week. When I was in Germany, I was in the second team, my contract was going to end in the summer and I think I had one start in 20 games.
“But then I hear I am training with the first team on the Monday and then I was starting for the first team on the Saturday, so it all changed in the space of one week. If it is meant to happen, it will happen. I’ve just got to keep putting the work because I can improve a lot in three years and, hopefully, can get in the squad.
“That is a goal of mine, especially because it is in the United States. So it is in the back of my mind, but I have bigger things to focus on.
“The team is pushing for top six and once we get top six we can then push for top four. I want that for the team and the fans.”
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