After getting sparse playing time in the season’s first half, Collen Warner has recently gotten to see serious minutes in a new role thanks to Minnesota United’s switch to a 3-5-2. But, true to his character, the savvy veteran has embraced the opportunity for a fresh beginning and has helped the Loons remedy one of their most glaring needs.
Warner made just three appearances in Minnesota’s first 14 games, but has started each of the last seven, including during their recent and franchise-best three-game winning streak. His chance came when Head Coach Adrian Heath opted for an injection of experience in his three-man midfield, albeit in a new position for Warner as a defensive-minded No. 6.
“We have had a really good run with him being in that position,” Heath said. “He is picking himself at this moment in time by his performances. When he goes out and crosses the white line for 90 minutes, can he do enough to make sure he is on the team for the next game? That is what he is doing at the moment.”
Rising to the moment to do what is necessary is not unfamiliar for Warner. For the last three years, he has volunteered part of his offseason to run a youth soccer camp in his father’s family’s native Anguilla. This past winter carried additional weight, though, with the island nation still reeling from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Irma.
“You don’t realize just how much that affects the people’s lives down there and how long it takes for recovery to happen,” Warner said. “I got down there in the winter after the hurricane in August and they were just getting power to the entire island.”
Warner’s camp was the distraction the local kids needed. Their school suffered significant damage in the Category 5 storm and needed to be torn down. Doing so was an all-hands-on-deck situation. The students were splitting time between learning at another school and working alongside their teachers to remove rubble, clean up and pave the way for the construction of their new building.
For a few days, though, the 80-plus campers were able to immerse themselves in soccer and take their minds off hardships elsewhere. Prior to arriving, Warner worked with club teams in his native Colorado to procure shoes, cleats, shirts and shorts to pass out.
“You could tell the kids really needed a little bit of a change up, so it was really fun,” Warner said. “They were just happy to be with us and enjoying soccer. The timing was great because it was basically on the New Year. We went there on December 31 and the camp kicked off on January 1. I felt it was a way to start anew, maybe a new beginning for the kids and a way to start a new year on a positive note.”
As the odd man out through 14 games, Warner himself had to start anew when Heath called his number. Throughout his decade-long MLS career, Warner has played as a more attacking minded box-to-box No. 8 midfielder, but he is now being asked to serve in the more rigid defensive No. 6 role. Warner’s natural defensive qualities — like covering ground, protecting attacking players and being able to both identify and confront danger on the pitch — have helped make it a smooth transition, but it did not happen overnight. As a traditional No. 8, Warner is accustomed to linking higher up the field with the strikers and forwards. Now he needs to read the run of play differently and has worked with Michael Boxall, Francisco Calvo and Brent Kallman to start seeing the game the way centerbacks do.
With Sam Cronin’s continued absence, the No. 6 spot has been a persistent hole in Minnesota’s midfield and Warner has filled it admirably. He still harbors an attacking mindset, but has eagerly embraced the challenges of his new position.
“This year I was definitely more open-minded to it,” Warner said. “In the past I have been pretty stubborn about wanting to be an eight and wanting to contribute on both sides of the ball. I still think I can do that from the six, but there are more responsibilities ahead of that I have to take care of.”
In the No. 6 role, Warner grinds in the shadows so that others further up the field may prosper. He is the one making hard challenges, recovering the ball and making passes out of the back to spring the attack forward. His stout presence has helped open the spaces that have made the MNUFC offense so lethal lately. It is a selfless, often thankless, role. Warner’s job is to work for the benefit of others, but maybe that’s why it suits him well.
