Ethan Kohler went to Europe as a teenager and now at 20 years old, he has grown as a person on and off the field.
Kohler was transferred to Werder Bremen in 2023. He featured for the German club's U19 side and second team but struggled to break through to the first team. The defender was loaned to SC Verl in the third division in Germany.
“My time overseas was not trivial by any means," Kohler told media. "I think what I got most out of it was learning how to deal with hardship and struggle. Being in a foreign country where you don’t know anyone and you don’t speak the language, you have this sense of isolation, and your struggles go beyond just the football part. It kind of made me grow up a bit quicker. Outside of all the football things I learned and the technique I learned trying to emulate the players playing at the highest level, I think my biggest takeaway was learning how to deal with adversity. So, coming here, I’m in a country where I speak my first language and culturally it’s very similar and I understand the people and how they operate a lot better. I just have this sense of confidence that whatever gets thrown in my way, because I’ve already dealt with a lot in my past two-and-a-half years overseas, I can take it in stride. There’s not really going to be so much of this up-and-down and I’ll be able to maintain a more constant rise upward.”
Now in New England, Kohler will look to regain his form by reuniting with Marko Mitrovic and returning stateside. The defender played under Mitrovic in the United States Youth National Team setup.
“Marko [Mitrović], for me, it goes beyond being just a football coach," Kohler said. "He’s very personable. I feel I have a genuine connection with him on a human level. I’m sure as you all know, football isn’t just about what you do with the ball. Players feel secure under Marko. He has a high standard, but he takes the human aspect in as well. For players, that’s what you want. You want someone you know will push you as hard as you can, but if you trip or fall he’ll be there to pick you back up. I think really that’s one of the main reasons why guys are so drawn to him. I think the guys throughout the season will really come to enjoy that and really appreciate that. But for me, that was massive.”
At least for the beginning of the preseason, Kohler looks like he will be a depth addition at outside back. The defender told media that for the first 10 days of training he had been working at right back.
But Kohler could easily be called into action. Peyton Miller continues to be linked to a move to Europe and Kohler also has the ability to play center back. While Mamadou Fofana had a quality start to his Revs career, he struggled in the latter part of the year, meaning that Kohler has the potential to jump into the starting XI.
Every young soccer player dreams of heading to Europe and competing in the top leagues. While Kohler's journey might not have gone to plan, he was able to grow as a person and a player. The lessons learned will prove valuable in New England and at 20 years old he has plenty of time to grow.
And who knows, Kohler could get a second shot at Europe if he performs well for the Revs.
