

Art by Futbol Artist Network | Illus: Skip Sterling | http://skipsterling.com | @skipsterlingart

By now, anyone following Major League Soccer is familiar with the sudden and storybook rise of Sporting Kansas City midfielder Graham Zusi.

But did you know that after signing his first pro contract in 2009, Zusi was embraced by the family of fellow SKC youngster Matt Besler, which took Zusi into their home and welcomed him like he was one of their own?

The latest episode of the Emmy-nominated series MLS Insider takes a look at Zusi’s childhood days in Orlando and his eventual move to Kansas City, and how he and Besler have rocketed to new heights as MLS Cup champions and key cogs for the US national team this summer in Brazil.

For more on Zusi, check out this 2013 feature from Overlap magazine, and don’t forget to catch up on previous episodes of MLS Insider chronicling the 2013 MLS Cup, the new look of Toronto FC, Landon Donovan’s pursuit of the league’s all-time goal-scoring record and more.