Welcome to the Nutmeg, each week, you can expect: Exclusive previews of major football events – Spotlight features on top football creators – In-depth analysis of trending football culture. Delivered as consistently as Beckham’s crosses.

Beyond The Game

We recently interviewed John Shin, a football content creator blending the game with fashion, culture, and comedy. His journey from a passionate Manchester United fan to a leading voice in football media highlights the power of authenticity and community. From celebrating iconic kits to tackling the highs and lows of the sport with humor, he’s redefining how fans engage with football. With new projects on the horizon, Shin continues to spread positivity and bring people together through the beautiful game.

Interview with John Shin

Role in Football: Content Creator

Q&A:

Q: Can you share your journey from being a soccer enthusiast to becoming a prominent content creator in the football community? What motivated you to start this path?

A: My journey in the world of football began in my birth country of South Korea. Growing up as a Korean in the 90’s into the 2000s and witnessing the 2002 World Cup on our home soil was beyond special. Unfortunately for my younger self, my family and I had just immigrated to the United States at that point, and even though Seoul was experiencing an unforgettable moment without us, supporting the “Bulkeunakma (붉은악마)”, or the “Red Devils” across the globe still meant so much to me and my family.

Park Ji-Sung is my hero: he’s shaped, motivated, and influenced my life in so many ways. It’s always been my dream to meet him. During my time in college, an online movement in the UK known as “fan cams” started to take off, where people just grabbed a camera and started speaking to fans outside the stadiums after football matches or started uploading videos of themselves talking about football through a webcam. As soon as I saw my favorite content channel interview Juan Mata of Manchester United, I knew then that content was going to be the way I’d be able to meet Park.

That was over 11 years ago, and while my fickle dream still is as relevant as ever, my goals as a content creator have evolved into something more:

1. Speak about my football club, Manchester United, in the most genuine way possible without spreading toxic energy and focusing on authentic takes.

2. Spread positive energy through football.

3. Help spread the love of football through culture, fashion, and comedy.

Q: Your content seamlessly blends football with fashion, comedy, and culture. What inspires this multidisciplinary approach, and how do you decide on the themes for your Content?

A: You might not speak Portuguese, but as soon as you hear the beating of the pandeiro, the slapping of the hand drums, and the piano build-up for “Mas Que Nada”, you can close your eyes, and I’ll bet you Ronaldinho whizzes past you with a ball, turns around, and give you the “hang loose” hand sign.

Many aspects of our culture, like music, art, and sports these parts of our lives have the power to connect people. But for me, football is so special because it’s the most exceptional at connecting the world in the simplest of ways – with just a ball and your feet. So, whether it be me speaking about the latest Manchester United match, or the newest special kit release by AC Milan, or the incredible charity football match hosted by the Sidemen, the themes write themselves really. At the core of it all, it comes down to what I feel most drawn to, what ignites the spark, and what I feel needs to be talked about.

Q: You’re known for your love of football kits but also for incorporating streetwear and lifestyle aesthetics into your looks. Is there a specific football kit that, in your opinion, transcends the game and belongs in the fashion Hall of Fame? And how do you think apparel influences the culture surrounding soccer?

A: I think the conversation when highlighting football kits from the scope of fashion should be more focused on “patterns” or “color schemes” rather than individual football kits because it’s the iconic styles or color palettes of national teams and football clubs that really hold their place in the world of fashion in general. For example, the Germany kit from 1988, the Bauhaus-style flag with prominent black, red and yellow features (technically, it’s West Germany). At varying points in the past few decades, this color pattern, the combination of Adidas and the German national football team, it played a part in not just the streetwear scene but also the skateboarding and breakdancing scenes.

Another example would be Barcelona’s shirt design patterns, generally stripes of maroon and blue – a combination so iconic in the world of football kits. You’ll see people rocking around in Barcelona kits from any generation, but before you even see the logo, you’ll know it’s a Barcelona kit. The same could be said for the white and black stripes of Juventus, the purple of Fiorentina, or the pink of Miami.

Of course, that’s not to downplay individualism with specific football kits – for example, you can look at the electric Arsenal 1991/92 away kit or the beautiful green patterns of the 2022 Nigeria home kit. I can’t write about football kits and not mention Manchester United kits, as any of the “AIG” sponsored kits or even the “Vodafone” sponsored kits also come to mind.

So many iconic kits. Maybe we can host a competition at Socceroof to see who can come ball out in the most fire football kit, ha!

Q: Being a Korean-American in NYC, you’ve mentioned how your cultural background and the city’s diversity shape your perspective on football. Are there any personal moments or experiences where you felt this intersection of identity and football the strongest?

A: Every football-loving New Yorker knows that any international tournament means there’s a chance to see flags out in the streets. I don’t even need to step outside of the “World’s Borough” of Queens to feel the celebration of diversity when football is on because all it takes is one win from a national team in a country, and their representatives are out in the streets in full force. You can see it, you can hear it.

I can tell you this because I did exactly the same thing! When South Korea advanced to the knockout stages in 2010, I was so happy that I took my half-broken bicycle, tied a Korean flag to my book bag, and paraded down Northern Boulevard with fellow Korean Americans, honking horns, singing chants – vibes were off the roof.

South Korea didn’t make it past the group stages in the 2018 World Cup, but thanks to Korea’s shocking win against Germany, Mexico was able to advance as runner-up in the group. That day was so bittersweet because while Korean Americans were sad about the elimination, it was so hilariously amazing to see the Mexican American community shower random

Koreans on the streets with love. I remember seeing videos of groups of Mexican fans just singing and vibing and dancing with a random Korean man who clearly felt out of place, but as soon as they offered him a tequila, he downed it and danced along. That’s what football is about. Being in the moment. F**king love that.

Q: Your admiration for Park Ji-Sung is well-known among your fans. Beyond his work rate and tactical intelligence, what is it about him that makes him your ultimate football idol? If you ever got the chance to interview him, what’s the one question you’d absolutely have to ask him?

A: Park Ji Sung isn’t the tallest, the fastest, or the strongest on the pitch, and he might not be the most handsome or the most well-spoken, but he is the only human being outside of my family to make me cry in every chapter of my life. He inspires me in so many ways, but it all stems from his footballing career.

Park Ji Sung’s early life when trying to break into the world of football was difficult – he was so slim and small-framed, so much in fact, that his father fed him all kinds of herbs and meats to help him grow. He wasn’t even favored by many fans, coaches, and media as South Korea was leading up to the 2002 World Cup, but against all the odds, he took his chances and made them count.

What he lacked in physical attributes, he poured his heart into EFFORT and DETERMINATION. Like my parents, Park taught me that working hard, staying diligent, and giving it your 110% will eventually bring you success – not just any success, but the success you want. Now, he has a beautiful wife and children and just works hard to provide for his family and continues to work hard for the Korean football community. It might sound cheesy, but I love that. He’s not flashy, he’s not sexy, he doesn’t spread negativity or say anything controversial, he’s just Park.

When I interviewed Park, I had a few questions that I wanted to ask him, but one of the questions I can share with you is: “Outside of football, when was the last time you felt proud of something that you did?”

Q: Your name, “GoodVibesJohn,” has become synonymous with positive energy in the football community. But we’ve seen you touch on deeper topics, like the stress of content creation and maintaining authenticity. Have there been moments where it was tough to keep the ‘good vibes’ going, and how do you handle those moments behind the Scenes?

A: Absolutely – one example of the struggles right now is my Manchester United. It’s been a “relatively” difficult road since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, but the level of decline and the struggles that United fans have faced in the last 18 months or so have been unprecedented, new levels of low.

I stress massively how important it is to be authentic in any videos that I record because I think genuine positivity is so important. If positivity is “faked” or “artificially generated”, it prevents your audience from being able to genuinely develop a connection with you as the creator and the message you’re trying to convey. For me, being able to connect with my community is very important. That trust is so important to me. It’s also why I stress that it’s completely normal and OK to feel and sound a bit negative at times because that’s just part of life. It can’t always be happy, sunny days – you know?

In the last 18 months, I’ve also tapped more on the comedic side to heal our sorrows, and I think that this style of content has helped me continue to deliver a smile, at the least, to a group of fans that’s been starving of good vibes.

Q: Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you’re excited about? What can your followers look forward to in the near future?

A: Yes! I’m currently preparing to launch my new content series (Title TBD), where we interview people in our football world from every corner of the community: from fans to kit enthusiasts, from former players to current football personalities in mainstream media – we want to interview these folks, hear their stories, and give them a chance to win prizes and be able to win something for charity.

I also hope to visit as many cities as possible to collaborate with other creators and brands during the FIFA Club World Cup and the Premier League Summer Series – USA’s about to eat with football happening everywhere here in the States!

Q: How do you perceive the growth of soccer in the United States, and what role do you believe content creators like yourself play in its development?

A: From consumption to appreciation, from marketing to community presence, football has grown tremendously in the past two decades here in the States. As the love for football continues to grow here, it’s only natural that we’ll see more activities and presence from football clubs around the world making their mark in the States – something that I think can be quite beneficial for all parties involved.

Unfortunately, I have not had the luxury of finding myself learning about the incredible leagues here in the USA (MLS, NWSL, USL, and USL Super League). As a full-time employee and a part-time content creator, it’s been extremely difficult to find time to juggle my personal life and the content life, but it most definitely is a goal of mine to learn more about US soccer and to find ways to connect my community with these aforementioned leagues that also have incredible supporters, incredible athletes with incredible stories.

The presence of foreign football continues to grow here in the States. We’ve seen foreign markets invest more of their resources and time in the States: The Premier League has now established a pre-season tournament (Summer Series), you see Serie A continuing to invest heavily in having a presence here, you see La Liga readying up to host one league match here in the States. Clubs like PSG are opening megastores here in NYC, too! At the end of the day, as long as I do my part in providing entertainment and bringing smiles to folks in the world of football, I’ll know I’ve played “my part”.

Q: You’ve always had some interesting takes when it comes to football culture, from kits to player legacies. What’s one opinion about modern football (or football content creation) that you hold but feel isn’t widely accepted yet?

A: I think five-a-side, or indoor football - football that isn’t 11v11, parents need to understand that each type of game presents a different type of challenge and benefits to young footballers. Far too many times, I’ve coached kids and spoken to their parents who were so adamant that the only way for their child to improve in football or to find joy in football was to run on a team that was 11-a-side. That’s simply not true.

Younger players from all skill levels can benefit massively from small-sided games, whether it be with turf shoes indoors like at Socceroof or just a pair of sambas running on concrete. I once coached a U-10 player who LOVED playing football - he was SO skilled – and clean, had a high football IQ for his age, and was left-footed (just like me!). But years later, I ran into him, now a high school student, who told me that he fell out of love with playing football because after leaving my class, his parents wanted him to play 11-a-side to prepare for his high school team. He hated it. It doesn’t matter what level, it doesn’t matter what pitch size. If the young baller finds joy in playing football, let them play how they want to play.

Q: What advice would you offer to individuals looking to merge their passion for soccer with content creation? Are there key lessons you’ve learned that you’d like to share?

A: Hmm. My only advice would be to START. You’ll always have reasons not to do something. If you want to pursue content creation because you want to, then don’t look back and go for it. If you want to make content because you want to satisfy your creative itch, don’t look back and go for it. If you want to make content because you want to talk about your football opinions that you feel provide substance, don’t look back and go for it.

If you want to do footy tricks and skills because you think you’re good and you’ll get a lot of followers because that’s what you want, don’t look back and go for it. Your journey doesn’t have to start with a fancy camera and a crazy microphone. It’s about what you want to do, who you’re making the content for, and understanding if you truly want to commit to this “passion” of yours. Don’t hesitate and wait for the stars to align – just clear your throat, tie your boots up, and hit record.

Also, I learned that originality is so important. You can react to clips and follow trends all you want, but until you develop your own style, unless you curate your own creativity, what you don’t own won’t last. It’s so important to find your style and your own color and present that to your audience consistently.

Q: If you could assemble a dream 5-a-side team comprising current and past players, who would make your lineup, and why?

A: I’d have Rio Ferdinand because not only was he the greatest Premier League/Manchester United center-back, but he was also one of the first former United players to show me love and support. For that, I’ll forever be grateful. I’ll take Sergio Busquets as my midfielder – I was always in awe watching his football – pressure never got to him! His calmness as a holding midfielder is something I found so incredible. I’ll take Ronaldinho; he’s my favorite footballer ever (Park’s not on my list of footballers; he’s on a different list). Then it’ll be Zinedine Zidane – what a baller he was. And last but not least, it’ll be Son Heung Min. That’s my guy right there. Yes, there’s no keeper. Just vibes. They can score 10 on us; we’ll score 11. Apologies in advance to Rio, but he’ll probably have to wear the gloves just in case, haha!