Ashley Cardozo inks in deal with French Club
One of the most decorated athletes in USU Soccer history is going pro.
Midfielder Ashley Cardozo, who finished her Aggie career with a school-record 32 assists, announced last week she’s joining the French club FC Nantes. Signed until the end of the 2021-22 season, Cardozo will begin playing for the club immediately.
In a conversation with FC Nantes, Cardozo shared her feelings about the move.
“For me, it’s a dream come true,” she said in an interview translated from the club’s website.
“I’ve always dreamed since I was young of being a professional footballer one day. To see it come true today, in this very good club that is FC Nantes, it’s fantastic. I’m already ready to get to work!”
Cardozo earned All-Mountain West accolades all four years in Logan while playing in 84 total matches. In the fall of 2021, under first-year head coach Manny Martins, she led her team to a 13-6-3 record, including a 2-1 win over NCAA National runner-up BYU.
Cardozo had a knack for showing up in the clutch, scoring a sixth-best 23 goals and a school-record 13 game-winning goals for her career. Perhaps her biggest goal came in the 2021 Mountain West Quarterfinals when scored from outside the box to beat Colorado State 1-0.
SportsCenter top-10 for our #10!! @_ashleycardozo_ #AggiesAllTheWay #RunWithUs pic.twitter.com/tkwwHBT9O9
— USU Soccer (@USUsoccer) November 2, 2021
Now, Cardozo turns her attention to the professional level. FC Nantes is currently the second-best team in the D2 Féminine level and has an opportunity of getting promoted to the French top-flight women’s league.
USU head coach Manny Martins shared with the Statesman his thoughts on Cardozo’s signing via message.
“I am thrilled for Ashley as she gets to embark on this new challenge, and although her individual quality and decisiveness on the field are what most people see, I think the joy and passion she brings to every game, training session, and the locker room will be the keys to her quick adaptation to a new team, league, and culture,” Martins said.
Statesman File Photo
“I really received a very warm welcome from my new teammates, the technical staff and in particular the coach, Mathieu Ricoul,” Cardozo said in the interview. “Everyone is very attentive to me. It’s the first time I’ve discovered France and even Europe. I already feel that my adaptation will go very well!
“I think I can bring my style of play, my good mentality also to the team,” Cardozo added. “I want to be able to help them by being as decisive as possible, by scoring or delivering the last pass. What is also important, it’s being a good teammate, someone you can always rely on.”
In the interview, Cardozo was also asked about the “I Believe” chant, that was popularized by USU. “Of course I know this song! It was obviously very present in my university, in all the disciplines represented. Everyone sings it and I am also very attached to it.”