Team CSUSA

Melker Anshelm works as a Recruitment Associate from the Stockholm HQ. He graduated from James Madison University with a bachelor’s degree with a double major in communications and advertising while playing NCAA D1 soccer. He will mainly be working with recruiting Scandinavian athletes.

Melker attended James Madison University all his 4,5 years of playing college soccer. JMU plays in the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) in NCAA D1, previously JMU played in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). In his freshman season he played and started in 17 matches and won the CAA championship with JMU while earning a spot on the CAA All-Rookie Team as well as being named the CAA Rookie of the week 3 times. During his sophomore year he appeared in 19 matches and won the CAA for the second year in a row while earning a spot on the All-CAA Second Team and the All-CAA Tournament Team. During the reduced season as a junior (COVID-19) he became a captain and appeared and started in 9 games and won the CAA for the third straight year, making it a “3-peat”. He also earned himself a spot on the All-CAA First Team, CAA All-Tournament Team, All-VaSID First Team, and USC All-Atlantic Region First Team. In his 4^th year, as a redshirt junior, Melker was awarded with being the CAA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and finding his name on the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List. He played and started in 12 matches before an injury put an end to the season. For Melker’s last season in college, JMU switched to one of the best conferences in the country, the Sun Belt Conference. Melker helped and captained the team to an impressive run to the championship game against the #1 team in country, University of Kentucky where an unfortunate loss led to the end of his college career.

“I had the best 4,5 years of my life in college. To be able to study at high level simultaneously with continuing my soccer career was the best possible scenario. It exceeded all my expectations, even though they were high from the start. Earning a college scholarship enabled an opportunity that I thought did not exist. During my college career I’ve faced several challenges that have formed who I am today. I took huge steps with my academic ambitions while I was in the US and managed to graduate with a double major with a great GPA. On the field was a great success and sparked my love for the sport even more. I’ve met so many great people along the way and created memories that I’ll cherish forever. My college adventure prepared me in the best possible way for what life after has to offer.”

Favorite place in the USA

Tampa, Florida.

Favorite former college athlete

Joe Burrow (Louisiana State University)

Favorite moment in college career

Apart from winning three championships, I must say scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against our biggest rival, University of Virgina. Before that game, it was 39 years since JMU beat UVA in Men’s Soccer.

Favorite quote

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present.”