Melissa Tancredi is still in the prime of her career but she’s already planning for life after soccer.
Tancredi, 32, ranks sixth all-time in scoring for the Canadian women’s national team with 22 goals in 89 appearances since making her debut in 2004. Four of those goals came at the 2012 Summer Olympics, where she played a major role in helping Canada win a bronze medal.
Upon returning from London, the Canadian women’s team were heralded as heroes and basked in the glow of the bright media spotlight. Some players made the most of the opportunity, promoting themselves and the national team program in order to maintain the public’s interest in the women’s game ahead of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be staged in Canada.
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Tancredi, however, did something different. Instead of capitalizing on her Olympic fame and increasing her profile, she took time off from the national team and returned to school full time at the Logan University College of Chiropractic in St. Louis.
“I was at my peaking playing-wise and as a team we were as well. But I started at Logan in 2006. I just knew that if I didn’t finish [the chiropractic program] in this cycle of World Cup and Olympics, I wouldn’t finish it. That was one of my goals and I knew I only had a year and a half to two years left, so I called the school and asked if they would take me back and they did,” Tancredi told Sportsnet.
It was a bold move. Canada was coming off great success at the Olympics and competition for roster spots increased with the 2015 World Cup on the horizon. Tancredi new she was risking her future with the national team to finish school.
“Honestly, that’s life. I needed to get this done and there wasn’t anything that was going to stand in my way,” Tancredi says. “I started this with the goal of finishing school and then working my butt off to get back onto the national team, and if it didn’t happen it didn’t happen. I’d still have my other career.”
Lucky for her, Canadian coach John Herdman was understanding and supported her decision.
“It was for my future career and he realized there’s life after soccer, so he was all for it. He’s been great,” Tancredi says.
Tancredi has classes until June 20, at which point she’ll resume her professional soccer career and officially join the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League. She won’t be the only member of Canada’s national team on the squad, joining Karina LeBlanc, Rachel Quon and Adriana Leon.
Before that happens, she’s been recalled by Herdman into the Canadian national team training camp and could see action this Thursday when the Reds host the United States in an international friendly in Winnipeg.
Tancredi hasn’t played for Canada since last summer in a 3-0 loss to the U.S. in Toronto, and she’s had fun reuniting with her teammates.
“I feel that the time has flown by for me. It’s been a year and I didn’t even realize it. These people are my family, so it’s good to be reunited with them. I’m trying not to be overwhelmed and I’m just embracing the moment and I’m happy to be back in and know that from now on I’ll be more involved,” Tancredi says.
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The Hamilton native has continued to train during her sabbatical, but Herdman admitted she’s not fully match fit and won’t play a full 90 minutes against the U.S. Instead, look for her to come off the bench.
“She’s close to returning back to professional football in the NWSL and to be back full-time with Canada so she’ll come into this squad a little bit behind the eight-ball but Melissa’s presence is always felt,” Herman says.
That suits Tancredi just fine and she promises to continue to play in her physical and combative style.
“I’m going to bring a lot of energy and a physical presence. I want to prove to myself and my team that I can still contribute,” Tancredi says.
As for life after soccer and when she plans to begin her chiropractic career, Tancredi is taking a “wait-and-see” approach.
“My aim right now is to play in the 2015 World Cup, and then I’ll go through a total evaluation after the tournament on my body, my mind and see how I’ll be for 2016. If I think I can contribute to the team, then I’ll stick around. If not, I’m onto my next career.”