Charlotte FC defender opens up

English right back Nathan Byrne is a vocal leader on the field and private off of it. In a wide-ranging Q&A, he shares glimpses into his gamble to come to MLS, plus previewing Saturday vs. NYCFC

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Q&A: The usually private Nathan Byrne dishes on eating gator bites with ‘Westy,’ playing defense under Smith — and adjusting to life in a new country

Charlotte FC’s right back Nathan Byrne fires away. (Photo courtesy of Charlotte FC.)

Unless you sit close to the field at Bank of America Stadium, or watch closely when Apple TV cameras zoom in for tight shots of defender Nathan Byrne, you might not realize how vocal he is. On the pitch, the 31-year-old right back for Charlotte FC is a chatterbox.

Off the field, though, Byrne is different — at least with people on the periphery. He’s not big on in-depth interviews, doesn’t often engage on social media, and he is fiercely private about his family. In fact, he might not even tell you his favorite restaurant in town — and there are a lot of them he likes in Charlotte — because he doesn’t want a lot of people to show up. (We get that.)

But he opened up on a sunny afternoon at Atrium Health Performance Park. He was sitting at a patio table Wednesday after practice, still jet-lagged from a nine-hour flight back from London the day before. He had secured a green card to complete a month-long process that started March 23, when he rushed off the field at the end of the Columbus game to make a red-eye flight to London for a medical exam.

Byrne has missed the past three games, including two of Charlotte’s most lopsided losses of the season — in New England and last Saturday against Minnesota. He’s ready to go Sunday against New York City FC, after using the time away to nurse a hamstring injury back to health.

In a rare sit-down interview, Byrne shared some insights into adapting to life and soccer in America, getting his first taste of gator bites, busting on teammate Ashley Westwood for his “American” ways, losing luggage — and taking the biggest gamble of his life by coming to play for Charlotte FC.

Here are excerpts from that conversation.

Q. Now that you’ve got permanent U.S. residency, do you feel like Charlotte is a second home?

I love it. I love the city. I love the place, and I’m really enjoying it. When I came here, it felt like the right time to find something new, and I haven’t been disappointed.

Q. Why were you so ready for a change? (Byrne spent 15 seasons between the Championship and League One, the second and third tiers in English professional soccer.)

It got to a point the last year or two in the Championship, like “I could be playing for anyone.” It's the same (with) any team in the Championship. … I wanted to do something new — whether it’s the weather, whether it’s the conditions, whether it’s the people — just try something new.

So when it came up, I didn’t really know anything about Charlotte. I didn’t know what the weather was like. I didn’t know where it was in the country, anything. I just took a gamble, and thankfully it’s like it is. … I know now how lucky I got, even visiting other places in America, playing away and looking around on the way to the game, walking around the city. I know how lucky I got that this was the gamble I took.

Q. How did Charlotte FC general manager Zoran Krneta find you?

I think the first conversation they had was through Kamil [Jozwiak, former Charlotte FC winger]. We’d spent six months together with Derby [County]. A day or two before Charlotte reached out, Kamil messaged me on WhatsApp and said, “What do you think about Charlotte?” That was the first time I heard about it.

Q. Did you look at a map or go to Wikipedia? Or did that come closer to when you signed with Charlotte [on Aug. 4, 2022]?

My agent and me were just looking at other clubs around England to see what else was available. It was two days before I came, that we agreed [to a deal]. I had to rush to my flight here. … I just thought, “I'm just going to commit to it and hope for the best,” so no, I still didn’t have a clue about the place as a whole.

Q. How did you even know what to pack? Just soccer stuff?

I originally thought I was coming [just] to sign because I got told that I couldn’t play straight away because [of a visa]. I packed a small suitcase because I thought I was only going to be here for a few days. That suitcase actually got lost, and I never got it back. I arrived on a Thursday, and they played Saturday morning against DC United at home.

That Saturday morning, Ana [Kneisl], the player liaison, took me to [SouthPark] mall to do some shopping because I didn’t have clothes. I went to H&M. I got some white T-shirts. I’m a simple man, as you can see. [He was wearing a white T-shirt during the interview.]

Q. What were your first impressions of Charlotte?

I loved it. I thought it was clean, just the city in general. Coming from London, people understand that. There’s no trash or gum all over the floor when you’re walking. My sister actually came out a month ago. It was the first time she’d come, and we’re walking for food and the first thing she said was, “I can't believe how clean the streets are.”

I was like, “I know! I thought that as well.” … It’s quite friendly here. Everyone says “Have a good day” or “Have a good one” when you leave the elevator. It’s not like that in England. Everyone’s in their own world. When you’re on the train, [when] you’re in public areas, you don't speak to people. But then people said, “No, it’s not like that everywhere.” If you go to New York, it could be similar to London.

Q. What about getting to know your teammates? It’s a mix of international vs. U.S. players compared to England, where it’s more like 85% British?

It’s only improved as I’ve been here. The dressing room’s got closer, and everyone's more on the same page, and the mentality is similar. And they’re all good guys.

Q. Westwood says you’re “the best human ever.” As two Englishmen, did you two just click?

Very much. Not just because we get on. It’s more everything we know and what we’ve come from. It’s like a homely feeling. Very similar. Same terrible jokes, same stupid sarcasm.

Q. Who started calling him “Captain America”? Was that you or [Scottish midfielder] Scott Arfield?

It’s just grown. This year, we’ve come up with quite a few names for people. He is Captain America because I feel like I’ve bought into the culture, same as Scott, but we’re still who we are. We always tell Ashley we’ve lost him completely to the American dream.

Q. How so?

He’s very American in that he loves the camera, social media, wants to be seen, wants the weather, the hockey team top [a Carolina Hurricanes jersey]. He wants to throw the first pitch at baseball. He’s that guy. I got asked two weeks ago [to throw out the first pitch at a Charlotte Knights’ game].

Q. And what did you say?

No. I’m just not that way inclined. I like to be private, and I don’t want to be seen.

A 22-year-old Ashley Westwood (yellow) with Crewe Alexandra of League One taking some punishment from his future Charlotte FC teammate Nathan Byrne (red) then a 20-year-old defender for Swindon Town in a preseason matchup. (Photo courtesy of Westwood, who jokes about Byrne “trying to break my leg,” though in reality the two didn’t realize they’d faced each other back then until Byrne came across this photo.)

Q. Do you feel like Ashley’s hogged the captain’s armband in Charlotte? Could you be making a case for that? [Three times in England, Byrne was chosen as a player of the year by his teammates.]

He can have it honestly. I’m a reserve leader, I guess.

Q. Everyone says you’re very vocal on the field.

I am very vocal. I’m always talking. I just think the voice helps people, even if they’re not listening, just to be alert and be aware. Having a vocal team (vs.) not is a big difference in a 90-minute game. A lot of the talking does come from me and Westy. It’s way more important than I think people realize, to have some sort of leadership, even if the person who is hearing it doesn’t agree with what you’re saying.

Q. It felt like we didn’t really see the real you as a defender until you played your first full season in Charlotte last year. [Byrne signed in August of 2022 and played the first of five games that year on Sept. 3. after securing his visa.]

Yeah, it was quite a tough way to start, if I’m being honest. You’re three-quarters of the way through the season. I’d not been at a club since May. I hadn’t really been training with a group for months. … It’s obviously part of our job to be very adaptable and ready for change. But I’ve never dealt with so many things at a time moving [to a new] country, trying to find a house, trying to find furniture, trying to get in the team, trying to get fit, trying to play in crazy heat, which is probably the biggest difference for me. And playing on turf. There were a lot of variables.

Q. You told Apple TV broadcaster Lloyd Sam in an interview when you first got here that you were good with playing as an inverted fullback under coach Christian Lattanzio, making interior runs up the field. Does overlapping with wingers on the outside under Coach Dean Smith feel more natural?

It definitely feels more natural because this is the way I’ve played 80% of my career. It’s not really the system; it’s more that footballers just want to be able to feel free to make their own decisions to play the pass that they want to play. If you’ve got someone who’s tense or isn’t comfortable, like in anything, you’re not going to get the best out of them. [Smith] has given a lot of the players, especially the younger players, a lot more freedom to express themselves.

Q. I hear Lloyd Sam lives in a flat above you uptown. Is that right? Have you been disturbing him with loud music?

Yeah, I do play loud music. I do play during acceptable hours. He’s just got to play his louder.

Q. What kind of music do you like?

Country, R&B, garage house, soul music, gospel music, everything.

Q. We hear you’re a foodie. What do you like? Sushi, like a lot of the guys?

I eat everything. Any cuisine. Any country. I’ll try any food.

Q. What’s the most random thing you’ve tried here?

Gator bites. … We had the afternoon off in the preseason [in Miami], and I went with Westy and Scott. It was on the menu and we’re like, “C’mon, we got to try them.” No, it’s not very good. It’s like tough chicken.

Q. What’s been better about how Charlotte FC has played defense this year?

I think the biggest difference from last year is that we’re working more as a unit. We don’t have to be in a lot of 1-vs.-1 duels or battles, unless something goes wrong. Last year, the emphasis was having one more forward attacking wise, but it put a lot of pressure on the two or three left at the back, because you can’t make a mistake for 90 minutes. No one wants to make a mistake, but it’s football, it happens. Now, it’s the goalkeeper, four of us [fullbacks], one of the midfielders, and we’re all a unit. That’s helped us a lot.

Q. When it comes to protecting your privacy, is that something that’s grown the longer you’ve been a pro?

No, I’ve always been like that. I’ve never been one to post to Instagram and Tweet a load of stuff. Twitter — I don't like it, because I feel like a lot of people Tweet stuff when it’s been a good game or they’ve played well or the team’s won. And then you go on the losing streak for two or three games and nothing. I think the same thing of Instagram. It’s not real. It’s not someone’s life. It’s only the best bits. I use it to stay in touch with my friends and family members, but if someone wants to know about my life, they can just follow Charlotte.

Q. I saw a news story where when you were with Wigan Athletic, you had an opposing fan say something racist on Twitter. Is that what turned you off social media?

No, no. I just reposted it and let [other followers handle] it. Social media doesn’t really bother me or interest me. I do like TikTok, though. When you’ve got a spare 20 minutes, it’s a good time-filler. It follows stuff you like. Mine is all sorts of football, people racing motorbikes, animals doing funny things.

Q. What would you like to see happen here in Charlotte? Would you like to stay here for a while, or are you taking it as it comes? [Byrne is signed through 2024 and has an option for 2025.]

I would. I’m happy. I’m settled. I like the place. I guess it’s up to me and them. I’ve got to keep trying to perform, and they’ve got to do something about it.

Q. Just out of curiosity, does Dean Smith, as a Brit, favor the English guys? Do you do less running?

No, no, no. Don’t be silly. You can ask anyone. He’s onto me more than anyone in this team. I get the most banter aimed my way.

Q. What does he say?

I cannot repeat that in an interview. … I was in England, getting my green card, and he was still saying stuff about me in the meeting room when I wasn’t even there. … Our relationship is great, though, really good. He’s brought a lot of energy to the club, and I think most people will say the same thing.

Editor’s note: Dean Smith corroborated what Byrne said about the meeting room banter while he was in the U.K., saying: “We put pictures of him on a tour bus in London and Big Ben and a queue for the London Eye: ‘If anybody needs a tour guide in London, he’s the man there.’”

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Up Next: Charlotte FC (3-4-2) at New York City FC (3-4-2)

Bill Tuiloma’s header misses wide during Charlotte’s 3-0 loss to Minnesota. (Photo by Robert Taylor of The 5 and 2 Project.)

When/Where: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.

How to watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Find information about how to subscribe for the season here.

How to listen: WFNZ 92.7 in English, WOLS 106.1 in Spanish.

Notable:

• While country star Kenny Chesney plays Bank of America Stadium on Saturday night, Charlotte FC travels to play NYCFC at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y. Charlotte is still “smarting,” as Smith says, from a 3-0 loss to Minnesota last Saturday which ended a 14-game unbeaten streak at Bank of America.

• Charlotte FC is undefeated in five matches (four wins, one draw) against NYCFC, including a 1-0 win in the season opener at Bank of America Feb. 24.

• Midfielder Scott Arfield is still out with a hamstring injury, which forced him to be scratched from Charlotte’s lineups after pre-game warmups last Saturday.

• Fullbacks Adilson Malanda and Nathan Byrne are both expected back, giving Charlotte its starting backline together for the first time since playing Cincinnati March 30.

• Winger Kerwin Vargas practiced on the side this week while nursing a tight hamstring but is expected to be available Saturday. Vargas is close to signing a contract extension with Charlotte FC, which was first reported by TopBin90.com.

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Carroll Walton is a longtime baseball writer with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution now in her third season covering Charlotte FC. She would love to hear from you. E-mail her with questions, suggestions, story ideas and comments!

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