By Ryan Makuch
AFC Ann Arbor is no stranger to having professional talent in its ranks. But, prior to this MLS season, just two men had been alumni of both AFCAA and an MLS side: Knox Cameron (Columbus Crew) and Boyzzz Khumalo (DC United).
On February 26, 2022, Azaad Liadi joined that exclusive club, making his MLS debut with DC United. Liadi created his own exclusive club with his appearance, becoming the first player in AFC Ann Arbor history to play in the top tier of American soccer after their first appearance with The Mighty Oak.
Liadi came off the bench for a nine-minute cameo in a 3-0 victory over expansion side Charlotte FC. Liadi performed in the role of central striker. Serving as the man through the middle is a role that AFCAA fans may not be used to seeing Liadi play after his outstanding stint on the wing in the 2018 season, but it has suited him well on the professional stage.
The 2021 USL League One season proved extremely fruitful for Liadi, especially down the stretch. Liadi scored six goals in his final six appearances of the season, with the high point coming on October 10, with a hat trick against Fort Lauderdale FC that earned him Player of the Week honors for the league.
Liadi had taken the next step up following a strong first professional season with FC Tucson. He had now conquered USL1. He was ready for something new, and that suited his mindset, as he shared with the club. “I’d rather be a guy that jumps in the deep end to see if I can swim rather than stay where I’m at,” he said. And in looking through his footballing career, it’s easy to see that pattern form for the home-state hero.
As Liadi acknowledges, “I wasn’t the biggest name coming out of high school.” A native of Sterling Heights, Liadi remained in-state to attend college, making to jump to Saginaw Valley State. Liadi had cemented himself as a regular starter as a sophomore, but the best was yet to come. It was at this point that Liadi flickered onto the radar of AFC Ann Arbor’s coaching staff.
“I remember when we identified him in our last preseason match back in 2018, and he was one of the last additions that we made to our side,” Eric Rudland, then Men's Head Coach and current Club Sporting Director, said about Liadi. Indeed, Liadi starred for the Cardinals in a 2018 preseason match that SVSU played against The Mighty Oak just a couple of weeks before the season. He impressed Rudland enough to join the side for the 2018 campaign, and the final preseason match is where Liadi shone enough to make him a mainstay for the club.
Liadi had a massive breakthrough with the club in 2018, scoring four goals and notching three assists in one of the most successful NPSL campaigns in league history. A dominating defense, featuring Joseph Okumu and Jack Cawley, among others, allowed a free-flowing attack to run roughshod over the league's weak and strong. Liadi would be the only player on that side to appear in every single NPSL league match, and the summer experience suited Liadi terrifically as his junior campaign with SVSU was his finest yet.
Liadi’s Cardinals made the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Tournament, with Liadi’s attacking prowess aiding them greatly. Nine goals and four assists for 22 points was the final damage done by Liadi, and it was a season that allowed him to do what he’s always desired and continue pulling himself up the soccer pyramid. After that was a leap to Georgia Southern to finish his collegiate career. Next was his first professional season with FC Tucson, getting his feet wet in USL1. Every step of Liadi’s still-young career has seemed to build off the previous. And it’s been able to take him to the highest level of American soccer.
Liadi remains in and around the team, even if he is still technically a member of Loudoun United of the USL Championship. As DC United owns Loudoun, Liadi is able to train with the first team while dropping down to Loudoun for games. However, Liadi continues to impress DC United, and Liadi would earn another appearance on the list of substitutes for the 3/19 match in Toronto against Toronto FC.
That experience has allowed Liadi to enhance his game in more ways than one. “Just to kind of be around those guys that obviously are where you want to end up … it helps that you can just learn certain things from the guys by talking with them or hanging out with them every day, from eating lunch and breakfast with them to doing workouts, so you just kind of learn from the older guys.”
Being around the more experienced players of DC United means learning professional tips and tricks from the likes of American national Bill Hamid, Peruvian national Edison Flores, Norwegian national Ola Kamara, and Australian national, and ex-Liverpool and Bournemouth man, Brad Smith. But that professional mindset is something Liadi has never lacked, as those who know him best can attest to.
Club Chair Bilal Saeed, who knows Liadi as well as anyone, has been able to attest to Liadi’s positive impact on his community. “His pride for his Nigerian heritage, and care and concern for young Black youth in Michigan, shows that his love exceeds his athleticism and I admire that greatly because the kid is a baller,” Saeed said.
Liadi was an active and engaged participant in the virtual Community Kicks camp despite the fact that Liadi was in Tucson going through his first professional season in a completely new environment. His ability to remain “comfortable being uncomfortable” has allowed him to be effective in new environments and with new groups of people no matter who and where he may be.
Boyzzz Khumalo described Liadi quite effectively: “AZ is one of the good guys that I always liked.” Khumalo hailed Liadi’s progression and noted one of the most important teachings that he felt Liadi took to heart over the course of his career. “Being a professional player does not start with signing a professional contract, it starts with you living a professional life. Wherever you go, that’s what it’s about.”
Khumalo would continue, saying, “And one thing I like about AZ is that you can see his progression throughout the years, and also his dedication. You can see he’s still going, he never gave up. You can tell AZ is a guy that has a passion for the game. He loves it.”
There is also the connection between Khumalo and Liadi through DC United, meaning the two of them now have an even deeper connection in the world of football. “Man, I was excited!”, Khumalo would exclaim when discussing his response to Liadi’s debut with his former club. “I hope he keeps pushing and keeps pushing, and keeps pushing, and keeps playing for many more years to come.”
Liadi’s focus for this season remains on helping his team in any way that he can. Personally, he shared that he would like to score as many or the same amount of goals this season with Loudoun as he did last season with Tormenta (seven). However, his DC United adventure is a happy and exciting secondary trail that may take from Liadi the opportunity to score USLC goals, but it gives him a once-in-a-lifetime chance to grab and seize an opportunity in the MLS.
One of the finest one-season talents ever to grace Ann Arbor, Liadi’s consistency and quality were his two hallmarks. Liadi continues to grow and develop as a player and person, and it’s easy to trace his roots back to The Mighty Oak.
About AFC Ann Arbor
Association Football Club Ann Arbor (AFC Ann Arbor) was founded in 2014 and competes in USL2 (men’s) and USLW (women’s) national amateur leagues. We are a community-based club, focused on equity, justice, and anti-racism. We consider all of our stakeholders, including supporters, players, staff, and ownership to be part of the #AFCAAFamily. Come On You Mighty Oak!