TULSA – On November 20, 2020, Jorge Luis Corrales took the pitch in his first-ever MLS Cup Playoffs match as a starter for CF Montréal.
Now just 10 weeks later, he’s a member of FC Tulsa’s 2021 roster.
Just how did a USL Championship club poach a regular MLS starter still very much in his playing prime? According to Corrales himself, it starts with 2017.
“One of the biggest reasons that I came back to Tulsa was the great memories that I made here,” said Corrales. “I think that 2017 was one of the greatest years of my career, speaking about friendships, memories, everything. I really enjoyed soccer that year. That’s one of my biggest reasons for returning, was that I wanted to enjoy soccer. I wanted to be happy on the field. I want to laugh, I want to win games, I want to achieve something great. I think that Tulsa is the opportunity to do that. That’s why I’m here.”
As a 25-year-old coming off his first professional season in the U.S. in NASL with the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, Corrales signed with then-Tulsa Roughnecks FC prior to the 2017. At the time, Tulsa was the USL affiliate for Chicago Fire FC in MLS and Jorge was hoping that his move to Tulsa would jumpstart his career.
What he found when he reached Tulsa however, was a second home. Here he met his wife, former a bond with then part-time assistant coach Michael Nsien and had the most enjoyable season of his career. His play stood out, and he received his MLS chance when Chicago signed Corrales to an MLS contract after watching him excel in Tulsa.
Over the next three seasons, Corrales’ stock rose in MLS. After being a rotational player for a year and a half in Chicago, Corrales finally seemed to stick in Montréal in 2020. He started more than half the club’s matches in 2020, including three CONCACAF Champions League fixtures and the aforementioned MLS Cup Playoffs match. Despite the success, Corrales kept in touch with Nsien, the now head coach of FC Tulsa.
“We have had quite a few conversations over the last few years,” said Nsien. “Most of them stemmed around us wanting to work together again one day. It was just checking in about how life and football were treating us. I tried to watch as many of his games possible, during his time in MLS.”
Those check-ins proved fruitful when Corrales’ contract expired with Montréal following the 2020 season. Despite other offers for his services, Nsien pushed hard to bring Corrales back to Tulsa.
“I’m not sure what other clubs were in for Jorge, but in terms of talent and professionalism, of course he had suitors in various leagues,” said Nsien. “There are so many variables in player recruitment. One of the most important variables for me is: can we work together and trust each other? That’s a dynamic Jorge and I already had from the past.”
For Corrales, it wasn’t a matter of if, but a matter of when he’d come back to Tulsa and play again under Coach Nsien.
“I never lost the desire to come back to Tulsa, ever since I left,” said Corrales. “I always wanted to come back and play good soccer. Life gave me that opportunity to grow in MLS, but now I’m here, and I’m going to bring everything that I know, that I learned in MLS, to help the team. I’ll try and help my teammates, but I can also learn a lot. We have one of the best teams in the league here in Tulsa, and my mind was always on the opportunity to come back.”
Corrales’ signing in Tulsa not only showcases his commitment to the city, but it’s another example of just how far FC Tulsa has come in the last 18 months. From the Crafts’ purchase of the team in August of 2019, FC Tulsa has reached new heights as a franchise, both on and off the field. The infusion of new life into the club has helped Nsien tremendously in offseason player recruitment.
“Players want to feel valued and be in a place where they can enjoy what they do,” said Nsien. “There are a lot of positives when you are able to retain your top players from the previous seasons. Jorge has had the opportunity to experience the game at the highest level in the U.S. For him to feel like Tulsa is where he should be, speaks volumes about our club and our city.”
Now, Corrales is back home, and while he doesn’t know where his soccer career could take him, he’s hoping he can stay right here in Tulsa.
“You never know where life will take you, or where I’m going to end up,” said Corrales. “But if [FC Tulsa] and the city give me the chance to retire here, I would love that. We’ll see, but I would like to spend many years here with you guys and enjoy what we’re doing. I would love to retire here.”
TULSA – On November 20, 2020, Jorge Luis Corrales took the pitch in his first-ever MLS Cup Playoffs match as a starter for CF Montréal.
Now just 10 weeks later, he’s a member of FC Tulsa’s 2021 roster.
Just how did a USL Championship club poach a regular MLS starter still very much in his playing prime? According to Corrales himself, it starts with 2017.
“One of the biggest reasons that I came back to Tulsa was the great memories that I made here,” said Corrales. “I think that 2017 was one of the greatest years of my career, speaking about friendships, memories, everything. I really enjoyed soccer that year. That’s one of my biggest reasons for returning, was that I wanted to enjoy soccer. I wanted to be happy on the field. I want to laugh, I want to win games, I want to achieve something great. I think that Tulsa is the opportunity to do that. That’s why I’m here.”
As a 25-year-old coming off his first professional season in the U.S. in NASL with the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, Corrales signed with then-Tulsa Roughnecks FC prior to the 2017. At the time, Tulsa was the USL affiliate for Chicago Fire FC in MLS and Jorge was hoping that his move to Tulsa would jumpstart his career.
What he found when he reached Tulsa however, was a second home. Here he met his wife, former a bond with then part-time assistant coach Michael Nsien and had the most enjoyable season of his career. His play stood out, and he received his MLS chance when Chicago signed Corrales to an MLS contract after watching him excel in Tulsa.
Over the next three seasons, Corrales’ stock rose in MLS. After being a rotational player for a year and a half in Chicago, Corrales finally seemed to stick in Montréal in 2020. He started more than half the club’s matches in 2020, including three CONCACAF Champions League fixtures and the aforementioned MLS Cup Playoffs match. Despite the success, Corrales kept in touch with Nsien, the now head coach of FC Tulsa.
“We have had quite a few conversations over the last few years,” said Nsien. “Most of them stemmed around us wanting to work together again one day. It was just checking in about how life and football were treating us. I tried to watch as many of his games possible, during his time in MLS.”
Those check-ins proved fruitful when Corrales’ contract expired with Montréal following the 2020 season. Despite other offers for his services, Nsien pushed hard to bring Corrales back to Tulsa.
“I’m not sure what other clubs were in for Jorge, but in terms of talent and professionalism, of course he had suitors in various leagues,” said Nsien. “There are so many variables in player recruitment. One of the most important variables for me is: can we work together and trust each other? That’s a dynamic Jorge and I already had from the past.”
For Corrales, it wasn’t a matter of if, but a matter of when he’d come back to Tulsa and play again under Coach Nsien.
“I never lost the desire to come back to Tulsa, ever since I left,” said Corrales. “I always wanted to come back and play good soccer. Life gave me that opportunity to grow in MLS, but now I’m here, and I’m going to bring everything that I know, that I learned in MLS, to help the team. I’ll try and help my teammates, but I can also learn a lot. We have one of the best teams in the league here in Tulsa, and my mind was always on the opportunity to come back.”
Corrales’ signing in Tulsa not only showcases his commitment to the city, but it’s another example of just how far FC Tulsa has come in the last 18 months. From the Crafts’ purchase of the team in August of 2019, FC Tulsa has reached new heights as a franchise, both on and off the field. The infusion of new life into the club has helped Nsien tremendously in offseason player recruitment.
“Players want to feel valued and be in a place where they can enjoy what they do,” said Nsien. “There are a lot of positives when you are able to retain your top players from the previous seasons. Jorge has had the opportunity to experience the game at the highest level in the U.S. For him to feel like Tulsa is where he should be, speaks volumes about our club and our city.”
Now, Corrales is back home, and while he doesn’t know where his soccer career could take him, he’s hoping he can stay right here in Tulsa.
“You never know where life will take you, or where I’m going to end up,” said Corrales. “But if [FC Tulsa] and the city give me the chance to retire here, I would love that. We’ll see, but I would like to spend many years here with you guys and enjoy what we’re doing. I would love to retire here.”
