Two weeks ago I decided to retire from playing the sport I love. I’ve had nothing but the most beautiful memories. Words can’t express the gratitude I have for the people who have played a part in me achieving my dreams of becoming a professional soccer player. Dad, Thank you for teaching us everything we know about soccer and for having the vision to get us to where we wanted to be. Every time I stepped onto a field I knew you were right there with me. Louie, Thank you for... being so supportive and putting up with all of our tournaments/practices/games/events as a child. Kathy and Brian, Thank you for being some of the best fans a player could ask for by traveling to away games, watching all of our matches on tv and keeping me updated with what was going on in soccer when even I had no clue. Mom, I could write a book of all the things I’m thankful for that you have done for us so I will leave it at “thank you for being our number one fans and for truly teaching me what the word sacrifice means.” Gabriel, I almost always use we/us/our and that’s because I lived almost every step of this journey with you. Thanks for always being there for me and pushing me to get better. Who would have thought we would both have the opportunity to be playing in front of full stadiums 20 years ago playing 1v1 in our backyard? And Alazne, Thank you for being so understanding. People don’t know how difficult it is to share your life with a footballer. You never once complained and instead you told me to do whatever made me happiest. What always made me happiest was to see you before and after trainings, games, and away trips. Thank you to Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga Mx for making my dreams come true.
To tell the truth, if I would’ve had the chance to play even one game as a professional footballer I would've been able to walk away from the game happy. I had the opportunity to do things that I couldn’t even dream of as a child. I stood on the podium to give a speech with my mom in the room after being drafted by Philadelphia Union, I was paid to chase a ball around a field with my friends for 6 years, I lined up beside my twin brother on the same professional team for over two years, I scored a goal against Real Madrid with 60,000 people and my dad in the stands, I was named a Rookie of the year finalist, I played in an MLS All Star game vs. Chelsea with the Sons of Ben in the stands, I played in the Mexican first division, I played alongside or against David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Pirlo, Kaka, Eden Hazard, Landon Donovan, Giovinco, Robbie Keane, Tim Cahill, Christian Chaco Gimenez and so many other superstars, I scored a goal for every professional team I had the opportunity to play for, I was sponsored by Nike Nike Football for my full professional career, and most importantly I made friendships that make me wake up with a smile every morning.
My whole life has revolved around a soccer ball ever since I could remember. What I have learned is the more competitively you play, the more deeply engrained the phrase “Soccer is Life” becomes. In the past few years I have come to realize there is more to life than just soccer. With no regrets, I’m ready to start a new chapter in my life and that is to travel the world with my wife for a year starting with a one way ticket Bangkok, Thailand. We would love for you to come on this journey with us by watching, sharing and subscribing to our youtube channel http://goo.gl/gtbXOn
Much Love
