‘It was a bit surreal’: Michael Olise drops into New York pick-up game in socks | OneFootball

Bayern Munich and France star Michael Olise stunned players by joining a pick-up game at the Gansevoort Peninsula Athletic Field in Manhattan, playing in socks.

According to NY Times, this came days after England beat France 6-4 in the World Cup third-place match in Miami. There, Kylian Mbappe became the record men's goalscorer with 22, scoring twice from Olise assists.

Four days later, the 24-year-old arrived in an orange shirt and chequered trousers, wearing only socks. He joined in and gave amateurs a tale to savour.

Images and clips posted by pick-up platform GoodRec spread quickly on social media, showing Olise gliding past players in his socks as onlookers crowded the touchline.

GoodRec was founded in 2020 by Jeff Estes with Lewis Black and Midori Koide, aiming to make sport accessible anywhere. It now runs in 60 cities, with 3,000 to 4,000 daily players, New York and Toronto its biggest markets, and football about 90 percent of usage.

It sometimes partners with organisers to handle game-day details, from start times to supplying bibs. Pick-up sessions have flourished in the city this summer amid renewed electricity around football.

Peruvian American Jeff Castaneda, 30, who often rides in from Garden City for stronger games, landed on Olise's team and praised his silky close control.

Source: NY Times

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”