Louisville City veteran midfielder George Davis IV joined Soccer City Radio on 790 KRD Saturday to talk about the suspended season, his impressive fitness routine, his nickname and more.
Davis IV, a consistent contributor since joining Louisville City from Richmond in 2016, was ready for his fifth season with the club before the season was suspended after the first match of the season.
“That is tough because we are all so hungry to get going on the season and get out there with our teammates,” Davis IV said. “We got through preseason and we got just a taste of the season – thankfully we got those three points – and then to have it suspended has been tough.”
Davis IV is renowned on the team for his level of fitness. As players have transitioned to in-home workouts and isolation due to social distancing, Davis IV said staying fit has required adapting to a new routine.
“It has been a challenge, that’s for sure. You go through the off-season and all you have is yourself to keep you accountable, then we got into pre-season and we were all so excited to get back to playing,” Davis IV said. “The season started and then we got suspended. You can only put in so much work on your own, but, to put it in perspective, I am happy that I am healthy and still able to play.”
Davis IV and the rest of the Louisville City players get daily workout routines from trainer Stuart Wright. The workouts are focused on keeping the players fit while in isolation.
“It varies from day to day, some days we’ll have a longer-distance run and other days it is shorter sprint work,” Davis IV said. “I am very familiar with the bridge crossing the Ohio now. Some days we’ll be on the field, working on interval runs and sprint work and that type of fitness work. And then on-the-ball, it’s all about what you can do on your own. We will sometimes have another teammate there who can offer some passes or serve a ball to you, but we know we have to keep our distance. There’s definitely enough for me to keep myself fit and for us to stay hungry for when we can start playing again.”
Davis IV said he is looking forward to opening Lynn Family Stadium when the season suspension is over.
“There’s a lot to look forward to – there still is, we just know we have to be patient,” Davis IV said.
It isn’t possible to make it to a decade of professional soccer without being able to handle challenges. After completing his college ball with Bowling Green State and the University of Kentucky, the Lima, Ohio, native played for the Dayton Dutch Lions, the OC Blues, Orlando City SC, and the Richmond Kickers before coming to Louisville City in 2016.
Davis was one of three players to help lead the team in 2018 when James O’Connor left for Orlando City. Davis IV, Paolo DelPiccolo and Luke Spencer helped played and coached until the club hired John Hackworth as the new coach a seven matches later.
“I know me and Paolo and Luke get a lot of credit for the triumvirate period,” Davis IV said. “But any number of players put into that situation to lead a locker room and to have that level of success, we have to give full credit to our teammates, the real credit goes to the entire group.”
Davis IV surpassed 200 matches in the USL Championship has over 250 appearances when USL Championship Playoffs and Open Cup matches are included.
“When I came into the league it was filled with players just trying to make a name for themselves, and then to fast forward 10 years later and I am still able to play,” Davis IV said. “Then to be able to step into a position to lead and coach my teammates (back in 2018), it has really been an honor. I really appreciate and respect the people around me who have allowed me the opportunity to play and score goals and be a leader for our club.”
Davis IV is one of many Louisville City players with a nickname. Known as Cuatro (Spanish for four) to many of the fans, Davis IV says he began adding the IV to his name as a young man.
“I was fortunate to spend time with my great-grandfather and he asked me what I put on my papers at school for my name,” Davis IV said. “I told him ‘George Davis’ and he told me that he’s George Davis. He said ‘You are the fourth.’ And ever since then I have put the IV on my papers because even though we are all named George Davis, we are each our own man. We are each unique in our own way. I take pride in my name and my family, and I have been George Davis IV ever since.”
