By Hannah Barricks
Photography by Carlos Fernandez
Michael Grimm has traveled a long way from Southlake to play soccer — about 5,000 miles, give or take a few time zones.
These days, home field is in Andorra, the tiny country tucked into the Pyrenees between France and Spain, where the 2021 Carroll Senior High School graduate plays professional soccer as a midfielder for Club Esportiu Carroi.
But trace Grimm’s route to Europe backward, and the landmarks quickly become familiar.
There were years with the Dallas Texans, where Grimm served as a team captain. There was Carroll, where he became a three-year letterman, captained the varsity team as a senior and earned team MVP honors. Then came Southwestern University in Georgetown, where he developed into one of the most decorated players in the program’s recent history.
By his final collegiate season, Grimm was a two-time captain and three-time First Team All-SCAC selection. He recorded career highs in goals, assists and points in 2024 before being named Southwestern’s Male Athlete of the Year and the SCAC Man of the Year in 2025.
Then came the leap he had been working toward: professional soccer.
Grimm moved to Andorra and joined CE Carroi, trading Texas for a European microstate with a population smaller than many North Texas suburbs. Yet Southlake remains home — not only because his family is here, but because soccer remains something of a family affair. Younger brother Mason plays at SMU, while Anderson, the youngest, plays in the FC Dallas Academy.
We caught up with Grimm from across the Atlantic about making the jump from Southlake soccer to the professional game, adjusting to life overseas and what he has learned since leaving 76092.
76092: Did you imagine growing up in Southlake that soccer could someday take you all the way to Europe?
MICHAEL GRIMM: Ever since I can remember, it was a dream of mine to be a professional soccer player. Growing up, I constantly had a ball at my feet, and I was willing to do whatever it took to make that dream a reality. I’m surrounded by amazing mentors and an incredible support system, so I always believed it was a real possibility for myself. The bigger question was “how.”
76092: What did growing up and playing soccer here give you that you still carry with you?
MG: Southlake has a standard of excellence second to none. I believe that a winning mentality is something I cultivated during my time at Carroll, and I’ll carry it with me for the rest of my life.
I also believe my faith grew substantially while playing for the Dallas Texans. My coach, Clint Craft, used every showcase tournament as an opportunity to share the gospel. We had team meetings at the hotel after our games, and he would read us a Bible verse before discussing our thoughts. I learned that soccer doesn’t define me, but what does is my relationship with Christ.
76092: You went from Carroll to Division III Southwestern rather than following what people might imagine as the obvious route to professional soccer. What did that path teach you?
MG: My collegiate career was a transformative period in my game. The Southwestern coaches taught me lessons far beyond the game itself. Through soccer, they showed me how the smallest details can make the biggest difference, and how discipline and consistency create the fine margins that ultimately separate you from your competition.
I treated every day like a pro, working out in the morning before class, training with my team after, staying late to keep improving and watching game film before bed. After every team training session, I’d take at least 100 free kicks, rep after rep, sometimes alone, sometimes in the dark. In six months, I took over 5,000 free kicks, preparing for just a few key moments.
Playing soccer at the collegiate level taught me how to live like a professional before I had the title.
76092: What did signing your first professional contract actually feel like?
MG: It was an amazing feeling to sign my first professional contract. I still have a long way to go, but achieving the first step in my goal is something I’ll never forget. I was in Andorra for the 2025 preseason, and the first people I spoke with were my family. They’ve sacrificed so much time and energy, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them.
76092: Was there a moment when becoming a professional suddenly felt real?
MG: It was an honor to make my professional debut and start in the first game of the season. Typically, soccer players don’t have their names on the back of jerseys until they make it to the professional level, so seeing “Grimm” on the back of my jersey for the first time and being able to wear the number 21 after my brothers have both worn the same number at the youth level was a special moment I’ll always remember.
76092: What does a normal week as a professional player in Andorra look like?
MG: A typical week consists of practice and gym work five times a week, followed by a game on the weekend and a rest day. Taking care of your body off the field, both physically and mentally, is crucial for peak performance on the field. Proper nutrition and hydration, combined with good sleep and recovery habits, are equally as important as training.
The atmosphere around the sport is phenomenal. It’s really cool to see kids playing soccer in the park wearing a jersey for a team in the Andorran league.
76092: What has surprised you most about building a life so far from home?
MG: Immersing myself in a new country and culture challenged me to step far outside my comfort zone and grow both personally and professionally. Training and competing daily alongside teammates from diverse backgrounds, languages and perspectives taught me the true value of communication, adaptability and teamwork.
People don’t always mention the reality of playing professional soccer in Europe. This journey has also required meaningful sacrifices, missing holidays, weddings, birthdays and graduations, and pushing through injuries, all in pursuit of a lifelong dream.
76092: What do you miss most about Southlake?
MG: Europe is definitely quite different than Southlake in most facets. It’s always nice to come home and be surrounded by familiar people, places and things. Andorra is located in the Pyrenees, so the cold weather can take some getting used to, as can the language barrier, although I’m improving my Catalan through daily classes at the moment.
I also miss the food back home. I never thought I’d crave Tex-Mex more than I do after moving overseas, but chips and salsa have never sounded so good!
76092: There are kids playing soccer in Southlake right now who want exactly what you have achieved. What would you tell them?
MG: Never quit; keep putting in the work day after day. I was never on the best club team as a kid, nor did I attend a Division I school. Your dreams aren’t supposed to be easy, but if you’re passionate about something and you want it bad enough, anything is possible. Don’t be discouraged by rejection, and reach for the stars!
For Grimm, Europe may be where the next chapter is unfolding, but Southlake is still part of the story. His path began on the same fields where another generation of local players is practicing now — and where his two younger brothers are already busy writing their own versions.
As for where Michael Grimm’s version goes next?
“I’d love the chance to eventually return to the United States and play in front of my family and friends in the future,” Grimm says. “I also hope to play alongside my brothers at the professional level someday and use my platform to inspire the next generation!”