Former Mexico national team players Gerardo Torrado and Omar Bravo are the type of athletes who have squeezed every last drop from the natural talent that was bestowed on them.
Professional, thoughtful and ultracompetitive, they have had as many highs and lows as you'd expect from two international stars with over 200 El Tri appearances between them. But when the former Cruz Azul teammates look back at their careers, there probably won't be many, if any, regrets.
Those careers, however, are still in full flow north of the border, with 37-year-old midfielder Torrado signing for the Indy Eleven from Cruz Azul back in June and 36-year-old striker Bravo leaving Chivas in a shock move to the Carolina RailHawks just before the start of the Liga MX Apertura 2016.
Now that both have experienced and adapted to life in the North American Soccer League (NASL), ESPN FC caught up with them to talk about their present and future and pick their brains on a few other issues.
Initial impressions of the NASL after a couple of months in the league?
Gerardo Torrado (Indy Eleven): It's very competitive; each team can beat any other. The league's standard is high, there are good players, good infrastructure and I'm happy I made the decision to come.
Omar Bravo (Carolina RailHawks): In my opinion, it is a competitive league, very similar to MLS, where I had the opportunity to play [for Sporting Kansas City in the 2011 season]. I'm adapting to each scenario -- the weather, the opponents, etc. -- and I've felt good.
What are some of the differences from MLS?
Bravo: The marketing is different. MLS has more visibility and designated players who come from big leagues to enhance it.
Can NASL compete with MLS in the future?
Bravo: I think there are some teams in this league that could compete in MLS. It's a question of infrastructure and budget, as well. I'm not saying it would be easy, but I think that there are four or five teams that could be in MLS.
Torrado: MLS is much more structured now on an organizational level and economic level, so it's difficult to compare. ... I see great potential in this league. I hope it keeps growing to be able to compete with MLS in a few years.
What was it like playing each other back on Aug. 8? (It was a game in which Bravo scored a late penalty to hand the RailHawks a 3-2 victory.) Did you get a chance to talk?
Bravo: It was a good, even game that was decided by the penalty. Indy Eleven, Carolina, New York Cosmos, Minnesota and other teams could compete against any team in MLS. ... [We spoke] before the match. [Torrado] was a teammate at Cruz Azul, and we talked not just about football, but also about what's going on in Mexico, style [of play] and life in the United States.
With the Liga MX's 10/8 rule appearing to limit opportunities for Mexican footballers in some teams in Mexico's first division, do you think NASL is a realistic option for Mexican players?
Torrado: Without a doubt. I am convinced that it could be a good option for footballers ... younger or a little older. I'm convinced they could shine and be important for their teams.
Bravo: It depends on personal decisions. Obviously, there are fewer opportunities [in Liga MX] with that rule, but the federation will have their reasons.
Omar, you left Chivas all of a sudden, on the eve of the season. Could you explain how the move to Carolina happened?
Bravo: [It was] after taking into consideration that I wasn't a part of some people's plans there [at Chivas]. Not the coach [Matias Almeyda], who did have me in his plans. When the opportunity came up here, I preferred to come on loan, because you have to enjoy football where you are wanted and valued. I always felt like that at Chivas, but in the end I wanted to take a different path.
And what did you think about the recent signing of striker Alan Pulido with Chivas, reportedly for a huge fee?
Bravo: I'm not in the know about amounts [of money]. ... In Mexico, [the press] put amounts that aren't real, that come from agent, or promoters. ... Those that really know about the amount are the directors in Chivas and the player.
Playing with Mexicans can be an advantage or disadvantage. depending on how they see it in Chivas. I haven't followed Alan Pulido's career of late. I don't remember a game [of his] in recent times. We'll have to follow him at Chivas and hope he does well.
Obviously things haven't gone so well for the Mexico national team over the last few months. If you could change one thing in the Mexican game for the benefit of the national team, what would it be?
Torrado: Right now there is the foreigner [10/8] rule. Let's see how it works out. Right now there are many young Mexican players that seem to have been left without a team and stranded without playing.
For right now, [I'd change] some of the kickoff times of games. Most matches could be played at night so that there is a higher rhythm and the spectacle is better. They could also water the pitches, which sometimes they don't. That influences the style of play. You can play much more dynamic football on quicker pitches.
Bravo: Respect processes [on the national team]. It's easy. Let them work. The Mexican press, not all, always wants to get rid of coaches and put others in. Why? Because it's their game, it gives something to talk about in the day-to-day. I think there has to be a watershed moment, a line drawn in respecting the process and letting the coaches work. When they see something they don't like, some Mexican media outlets always want to get rid of the coach and break and cancel the project in their first two months. That's been the defect in Mexican football for many years. The Mexican media is also involved, as well as people in the federation, who let themselves be influenced. For me, the processes should be respected.
When you do hang up the boots, what are you thinking of doing?
Bravo: I'm still not clear, but it will definitely be in football, because it has been my life for so many years. I still have energy, I still like coming to train, and [retirement] isn't in my head yet.
Torrado: I'm preparing to get my coach's certificate. I already have one in Mexico, but I want to prepare more. I'm studying a course online, and when my contract ends here, I'll probably go to Europe [Spain] to take another course.