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When the Dream Became Reality: The journey of a professional soccer player, and the push for meaning, purpose, and contentment
"A brutally honest look into the journey of an elite athlete trying to navigate himself to the top. Bobby confronts not only potentially career ending obstacles, but his own inner demons, while giving you an intense but refreshing vantage into the not so often seen life of a professional soccer player in America."
— Herculez Gomez
US Men's National Team, World Cup 2010
ESPN analyst
A young soccer player dreamed of playing professionally. Or, better said, he dreamed of doing something great. He wanted to be someone or get somewhere—for his life to mean something—and soccer became his path. When he heard his name called in the 1st Round of the MLS SuperDraft, he expected his life to change forever. What he found, instead, was much of the the same fears, insecurities, and internal conflicts, except now with higher stakes.
When the Dream Became Reality is the story of a professional athlete’s path and evolution, as a person and athlete, from childhood through six professional seasons. In this heartfelt memoir, Bobby Warshaw recounts the moments we rarely hear so honestly from athletes, including disagreements with coaches, personal mistrust of his own ability, doubt about his sexuality, and the aftermath of loss and failure.
Warshaw experienced incomparable highs—game-winning goals; championship games; wearing the captain’s armband—but he rarely felt like he was living the dream that everyone suggested. Beyond the usual self-doubt, he struggled to come to terms with the paradox at the root of the the intersection of a ruthless business with a children’s game. To achieve his goals, Warshaw discovered at a young age he would have to live with two conflicting parts of his life, the athlete and the human. The former Stanford University captain opens up about his efforts to maximize his ability as an elite player and a compassionate person despite their often-clashing demands; the constant frustration that he never performed either as well as he would have wanted; and the subsequent struggle to like himself, as either an athlete or a person, along the way.
When the Dream Became Reality is not the story of the glitz and glamour of a famous superstar, but rather the everyday emotions and decisions of an average pro pushing to be remembered. Warshaw writes the story that pulls back the curtain on the life and emotions of America’s professional athletes. Sometimes there is more than giant contracts and big trophies on the line.
It’s a common thought to chase our dreams. Do we ever stop to think what happens when we get there? When the dream no longer remains a dream, but becomes reality.
— Herculez Gomez
US Men's National Team, World Cup 2010
ESPN analyst
A young soccer player dreamed of playing professionally. Or, better said, he dreamed of doing something great. He wanted to be someone or get somewhere—for his life to mean something—and soccer became his path. When he heard his name called in the 1st Round of the MLS SuperDraft, he expected his life to change forever. What he found, instead, was much of the the same fears, insecurities, and internal conflicts, except now with higher stakes.
When the Dream Became Reality is the story of a professional athlete’s path and evolution, as a person and athlete, from childhood through six professional seasons. In this heartfelt memoir, Bobby Warshaw recounts the moments we rarely hear so honestly from athletes, including disagreements with coaches, personal mistrust of his own ability, doubt about his sexuality, and the aftermath of loss and failure.
Warshaw experienced incomparable highs—game-winning goals; championship games; wearing the captain’s armband—but he rarely felt like he was living the dream that everyone suggested. Beyond the usual self-doubt, he struggled to come to terms with the paradox at the root of the the intersection of a ruthless business with a children’s game. To achieve his goals, Warshaw discovered at a young age he would have to live with two conflicting parts of his life, the athlete and the human. The former Stanford University captain opens up about his efforts to maximize his ability as an elite player and a compassionate person despite their often-clashing demands; the constant frustration that he never performed either as well as he would have wanted; and the subsequent struggle to like himself, as either an athlete or a person, along the way.
When the Dream Became Reality is not the story of the glitz and glamour of a famous superstar, but rather the everyday emotions and decisions of an average pro pushing to be remembered. Warshaw writes the story that pulls back the curtain on the life and emotions of America’s professional athletes. Sometimes there is more than giant contracts and big trophies on the line.
It’s a common thought to chase our dreams. Do we ever stop to think what happens when we get there? When the dream no longer remains a dream, but becomes reality.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 17, 2017
About the author
Bobby Warshaw
1 book19 followersBobby Warshaw played for US Men’s Youth National Soccer Teams, earned All-American honors while captain of the Stanford University team, and was drafted in the 1st Round of the MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas. He played three years in Dallas before moving to Sweden, then Norway, and finally finishing as captain of his hometown team, Harrisburg City Islanders. He has also contributed over 50 articles online about world soccer, US soccer, MLS, and life as a professional player. He is currently looking for a place to settle down, ideally one with quaint, local coffee shops.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 11, 2017
As far as football books go, this isn't my favourite one by quite a long stretch. Bobby Warshaw bares his feelings for us and opens up about the hopes, disappointments and day to day life of a professional football player. Whilst he does so in a very frank manner, I sometimes struggled to understand how he dealt with important situations: for someone who made his strong personality into a career as a professional athlete, Bobby is guilty of not advocating for himself or taking the easy way out time and time again.
I know the book should be judged on other criteria, but I just couldn't get past the apparent mismatch between what is preached and what actually took place. I really enjoyed the first part of the book though and reading about Bobby's rise through the ranks to reach the MLS was very interesting. On a side note, I also found myself wondering what some professional mentoring/support/specialised counselling may have offered Bobby in terms of providing him with the tools to overcome some of his inner demons which appear to have held him back throughout his career.
All in all not a bad book.
I know the book should be judged on other criteria, but I just couldn't get past the apparent mismatch between what is preached and what actually took place. I really enjoyed the first part of the book though and reading about Bobby's rise through the ranks to reach the MLS was very interesting. On a side note, I also found myself wondering what some professional mentoring/support/specialised counselling may have offered Bobby in terms of providing him with the tools to overcome some of his inner demons which appear to have held him back throughout his career.
All in all not a bad book.
August 3, 2017
This book provides a depth and real-life look at what many American soccer players go through. Bobby provides an unfiltered and raw look at the life off the pitch and inside the team room. His writing ability is outstanding and the book leaves you feeling as though you got to experience a little bit of what he did. While the emotional glimpse is written about soccer I think it's fair to say that the emotions shared are what every hyper-competitive individual feels no matter what their field or area of expertise.
July 25, 2017
The author's podcast The Play is one of my favorite podcasts, so I figured I would enjoy this book quite a bit and it did not disappoint. The soccer stories are great and provide a unique insight into the day to day of what it's like to be a professional at the highest levels of the game, and it's a great read from a purely soccer perspective. But even more than that, Warshaw puts his heart and soul into his writing and the book resonates on a deeper level for anyone who has struggled with finding meaning and challenging themselves to be a better and stronger person.
August 1, 2017
On several levels, this isn't a typical sports biography. Even hardcore soccer fans may not know Bobby Warshaw, who played recently in MLS and Scandinavia, so this isn't the usual how-a-superstar-was-made treatment. But sports fans and others will appreciate the introspective honesty as Warshaw re-traces his career. The journey itself is interesting, but the book is as much about the mental side of life as the physical aspects of soccer. Warshaw provides insight into how professional athletes think and feel, in ways that will resonate with anyone who's interested in succeeding. His words often have a brutal veracity rarely found in sports biographies, echoing the Andre Agassi bio "Open" that he references multiple times. I can't think of a better book about the sporting life outside the limelight.
September 27, 2017
‘When The Dream Becomes Reality’ illustrates exactly how the traits that make elite athletes successful (aggressive competitiveness, unwavering commitment, the unrelenting drive to succeed), translate off the field and into daily life. Most impressively, the author manages to reflect on it all with true insight, showcasing a rare degree of introspection and openness.
In the context of the highest level of athletics, the questions that Warshaw faces in this book are ones that everyone has experienced at some point in their lives. While providing plenty of details to entice the hardcore soccer fans out there, this book is simultaneously relatable, thought provoking, and entertaining to anyone that reads it.
In the context of the highest level of athletics, the questions that Warshaw faces in this book are ones that everyone has experienced at some point in their lives. While providing plenty of details to entice the hardcore soccer fans out there, this book is simultaneously relatable, thought provoking, and entertaining to anyone that reads it.
January 21, 2019
I think that this book was very inspirational, because I am a young soccer player myself. It really helped me see a lot of things that could and will happen to me while playing soccer. This book is pretty short, but it has a lot of information inside. The main character, Bobby, goes through a lot of hardships, including determining his own sexuality, taking the captain position, even being not wanted. He also while playing has to maintain a relationship with his girlfriend, when he is halfway across the world. This book is a biography, and is about 200 pages long. Without have reading this book I wouldn't have known nearly as much about playing pro as I did now.
August 27, 2026
Mostly so I don’t forget, I was reading this book when I found out Dolly Parton had died.
Because Bobby is not a “real” author, this book felt very conversational and easy to read. He was probably my favorite contributor to MLSsoccer.com when he was there, and I haven’t enjoyed their content nearly as much, since. This book told the fascinating tale of most professional athletes who don’t become stars. The hometown hero who made it to the big time and lived his life. I very much enjoyed this and would suggest anyone who wants to be a professional athlete read this book.
Because Bobby is not a “real” author, this book felt very conversational and easy to read. He was probably my favorite contributor to MLSsoccer.com when he was there, and I haven’t enjoyed their content nearly as much, since. This book told the fascinating tale of most professional athletes who don’t become stars. The hometown hero who made it to the big time and lived his life. I very much enjoyed this and would suggest anyone who wants to be a professional athlete read this book.
September 15, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. It was not your typical pro soccer player auto Bio book. Some ways it was more a coming of age, who am type book. It provided some great insight to being a pro soccer player in the US and in some lower leagues in Europe. I enjoyed the book and plan on reading it again.
July 16, 2026
i have read many books and this is unironically the best book i have read (maybe I am biased since I am interested in all things soccer), thanks for writing this. It is vulnerable, funny, easy to read (i ahve read many times) and a fascinating glimpse into the life of a journeyman soccer player and i wish there were more books like this
November 16, 2019
A really good look at what it's like to aim for and then eventually make it as a professional soccer player. I admire Warshaw for going in depth on both the good and the bad. He really goes deep on the psychology of it all.
January 20, 2018
Loved it. Page turner. Read it over two days. It’s a roller coaster of a ride and interesting even if you’re not a soccer player.
July 13, 2018
As a non-athlete I would have never picked this book from the shelf so I'm glad that it was recommended to me. "When the Dream Became Reality" is relevant and relate able regardless of your interest in sports or experience as an athlete. Through Bobby's candid self examination he reflects in a way that provokes thought and maybe even makes you question your own reality.
Despite that Bobby's professional soccer career has ended I hope that he writes another book from a new perspective.
Despite that Bobby's professional soccer career has ended I hope that he writes another book from a new perspective.
July 28, 2018
I have never been an athlete and do not read much about sports aside from daily results. I read this book because it was highly recommended on some blog and had such an enthusiastic goodreads.com response. Maybe you have to be an athlete for this book to have the best chance of landing positively.
I do enjoy soccer and watch a fair amount of the game, mostly at the international level. I had hoped to become better informed as a fan from reading Warshaw's book, but that for the most part did not happen. Rather, I read a young man's therapeutic journal about being an athlete and trying to be a better person, and too often found the result whiny and boringly introspective.
A major problem for me as a reader was that everything is inevitable described here from the author's perspective. I found myself wondering with increasing frequency as the book progressed whether the reporting was accurate, though it was certainly earnest. Is this an athlete frequently betrayed by coaches, management and teammates who do not give their all, or is it a series of complaints by a self-centered guy who needs a course in anger management? I wish there had been a way for me to have encountered more of what other people think about Bobby as the story unfolds.
Warshaw himself says that athletes "make up whatever truth gets us through the day" and "When we failed, we tell ourselves whatever narrative we need to keep the confidence intact." I believe he has written the truth as he sees it, but find myself wondering how accurate his vision and memory are. He could well have been a centering influence on at least some of the teams on which he played, but he could also have been just an immature pain in the neck. A number of times as I read this I found myself thinking of John McEnroe, which is not a compliment.
The book has led me to reflect on the role of sports in American life. There are too many examples of bad writing in this book; at its best it is written at the level of someone who is still in high school. Yet the author attended the hardest university in the US to gain admission to. There is almost no reflection in the book that he became a better-educated person as a result of four years at Stanford, and I find myself thinking about the students who do not get admitted to places like Stanford despite being both academically better qualified and having broader non-academic interests. Admittedly, I realize I cannot know Warshaw's admissions credentials from his book, but from what he has written, this is the impression I end up with. I do find it surprising that a Stanford graduate has writing ability as limited as what I experienced reading this book.
And there is a message here, perhaps, for young athletes. Fame and success in sports are incredibly elusive and achieved by a miniscule percentage of the individuals who aspire to them. At the end of the book, the author is essentially about to begin his adult life while in his late twenties. His dedication to soccer is moving and impressive, but I wonder what he missed along the way and what he has ended up with for all that work, frustration and self-criticism.
I do enjoy soccer and watch a fair amount of the game, mostly at the international level. I had hoped to become better informed as a fan from reading Warshaw's book, but that for the most part did not happen. Rather, I read a young man's therapeutic journal about being an athlete and trying to be a better person, and too often found the result whiny and boringly introspective.
A major problem for me as a reader was that everything is inevitable described here from the author's perspective. I found myself wondering with increasing frequency as the book progressed whether the reporting was accurate, though it was certainly earnest. Is this an athlete frequently betrayed by coaches, management and teammates who do not give their all, or is it a series of complaints by a self-centered guy who needs a course in anger management? I wish there had been a way for me to have encountered more of what other people think about Bobby as the story unfolds.
Warshaw himself says that athletes "make up whatever truth gets us through the day" and "When we failed, we tell ourselves whatever narrative we need to keep the confidence intact." I believe he has written the truth as he sees it, but find myself wondering how accurate his vision and memory are. He could well have been a centering influence on at least some of the teams on which he played, but he could also have been just an immature pain in the neck. A number of times as I read this I found myself thinking of John McEnroe, which is not a compliment.
The book has led me to reflect on the role of sports in American life. There are too many examples of bad writing in this book; at its best it is written at the level of someone who is still in high school. Yet the author attended the hardest university in the US to gain admission to. There is almost no reflection in the book that he became a better-educated person as a result of four years at Stanford, and I find myself thinking about the students who do not get admitted to places like Stanford despite being both academically better qualified and having broader non-academic interests. Admittedly, I realize I cannot know Warshaw's admissions credentials from his book, but from what he has written, this is the impression I end up with. I do find it surprising that a Stanford graduate has writing ability as limited as what I experienced reading this book.
And there is a message here, perhaps, for young athletes. Fame and success in sports are incredibly elusive and achieved by a miniscule percentage of the individuals who aspire to them. At the end of the book, the author is essentially about to begin his adult life while in his late twenties. His dedication to soccer is moving and impressive, but I wonder what he missed along the way and what he has ended up with for all that work, frustration and self-criticism.
August 24, 2017
Honest autobiography by an honest man
Bobby Warshaw does not hide his emotions and feelings at all and puts it all out there. He tells his story as he remembers it and does not shy away from the embarrassing/shameful moments.
While not the greatest writing, it is emotional and thoughtful and gets to the heart of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be taking some lessons from it.
Bobby Warshaw does not hide his emotions and feelings at all and puts it all out there. He tells his story as he remembers it and does not shy away from the embarrassing/shameful moments.
While not the greatest writing, it is emotional and thoughtful and gets to the heart of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be taking some lessons from it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews