‘This man is insane’: Former UConn soccer star Cyle Larin has become an instant sensation in La Liga

From the moment he saw him, former UConn men’s soccer head coach Ray Reid knew that Cyle Larin was going to be a star.

But playing in the World Cup? Winning the MLS Rookie of the Year award, becoming an instant sensation in Spain’s La Liga? Would Reid have ever imagined that?

“Yes,” Reid said.

Oh. Well ... okay then.

Larin, a native of Brampton, Ontario, arrived at UConn as a freshman in 2013, and two years later he became the second straight Husky (after goalkeeper Andre Blake) to be chosen No. 1 overall in the MLS Superdraft.

Fast-forward seven years, and the former Huskies’ star has become a cult hero for Real Valladolid in Spain, having scored three goals in four games since his arrival on a loan deal from Club Brugge in January.

His scoring impact has been so stark and dramatic that he’s become an instant fan favorite, with Valladolid’s social team running out of ways to describe his greatness.

“This man is insane,” a Feb. 20 tweet read.

Another has him depicted as The Hulk, with the caption “Cyle in Valladolid is a BEAST.”

“It’s impossible to do better,” read another.

Larin’s scoring spree has helped lift Real Valladolid out of the relegation zone in La Liga, with two wins and a draw since his arrival. In the five previous games before the former UConn star got there, the team hadn’t scored a goal.

Two of Larin’s tallies were eventual match winners, coming after he had been subbed in from the bench. He’s in the starting lineup now and the team is up to 15th in the 20-team standings.

So what is it about Larin, who was an immediate starter at UConn and scored 23 goals in two seasons, that made his success so easy for Reid to predict?

“He dominates the game so much. He’s so physical. He’s got soft feet for a big guy. He’s dangerous in the box. He knows how to play,” Reid said. “He’s got the whole package.”

At 27, Larin is right in the middle of his prime, with plenty more success seemingly on the horizon. He was part of a golden generation in Canada that helped the country reach the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, their first appearance since 1986. After winning MLS Rookie of the Year in 2015 and bashing in 43 goals in 87 appearances in three seasons with Orlando City SC, Larin moved on to Besiktas, one of the most renowned and successful clubs in Turkey, before landing at Belgium’s Club Brugge, a Champions League mainstay, in 2022.

As part of his January loan move, Real Valladolid has an option to permanently purchase Larin’s contract for around $2 million, which has been described as “a bargain.”

It doesn’t get much bigger than playing in La Liga, but Reid doesn’t see this as his final career stop.

“I have a feeling eventually he could end up in the Premier League,” Reid said. That would certainly be good news for Connecticut soccer fans, as EPL games are ubiquitous on USA Network and NBC on the weekends.

It’s been a meteoric rise for Larin, and he’s come a long way from his days kicking the ball around Morrone Stadium. Asked how he felt seeing his former player succeed at this level, Reid didn’t hold back.

“Oh, we’re very proud,” Reid said. “We’re proud of all our student athletes, but guys like him and Andre Blake, Chris Gbandi, guys who have went on and played around the globe and been very successful, we’re extremely proud of them.”