Interview #35- Carlos Gómez

Carlos Gomez is a Spanish professional soccer player currently playing for the Greenville Triumph of USL League One. Gomez, born and raised in Spain played for many clubs during his youth. These clubs include the likes of CD Leganes, UD Sanse, and AD Alcorcon. Gomez moved to America for college soccer where he played for Young Harris College. Gomez then went on to score 32 goals in 54 games for Young Harris. The crafty Spanish midfielder was then signed by the Greenville Triumph and he has had a huge impact of Gomez, an integral piece in the team that reached the finals of USL League One. Gomez, a versatile midfielder, has his eyes set on the USL League One Championship, hoping to bring silverware back to Greenville. 

The Carlos Gómez Interview

1. Growing up in Spain, what was your youth career like?

I started playing in the streets and parks of my hometown, Algete. From 5 to 9 I played futsal for the club of my hometown, Chendo Algete Futsal that unfortunately disappeared 10 years ago. It helped me a lot to acquire certain skills needed in Soccer, and compete in the highest tier of Madrid's region. Now I look back and realize how important that stage of 4 years was for me. It's something I would recommend to every kid who wants to be a soccer player, to play futsal in the beginning. When I was 9 the academy of a professional club, Rayo Vallecano invited me with other children from different parts of Madrid to do a tryout. They liked me and I started playing for their youth system. It was the happiest spell of my youth career without a doubt it's the club I support right now as an adult. We were regional champions 3 years winning against youth teams like Real Madrid, we went to different international tournaments and we won one in Nantes (France) against top teams of France like Monaco, and I grew up a lot in every aspect of the game, during those five years. Unfortunately, I had a bad experience with one coach during my last year probably because I was not mature enough to understand certain decisions and I left the club to sign for a "La Liga" team youth system, CD Leganes. I spent 2 years there, It was a good spell and I kept growing up as a player, and then my father and I decided to go to a closer place to my hometown that could provide me both, the opportunity to play in a high competitive level and the chance of keep studying the last two years of high school that are tough in Spain and it's difficult if you train 4 days a week and spend 45 minutes to go to the training complex, (It is how far Leganes is from my hometown) 2 hours of training there, and 45 minutes going back home. So I was 16 and signed for the Under 19 team of UD Sanse, a team that plays in the 3rd tier of Spanish soccer pyramid. I spent two years there. Those were two really good years for me where I learned a lot from older players in the team since I was the youngest. I was able to finish high school in the right way and start university in Spain so I decided it was time to find again a new challenge and I signed for AD Alcorcon U19, a professional team that is in the second tier of Spanish soccer. It was a good spell but I wasn't able to stay more than 6 months because I had to go by bus and I had to take 3 different buses, It was 2 hours from my hometown and I didn't have time to study, so I went back to UD Sanse to play for their second team and finish that last year of youth career.
 
2. How did your opportunity with Young Harris College come about?
 
I was playing for UD Sanse and one teammate talked to me about an agency in Spain, AGM, that provides this opportunity for Spanish players, so I started all the process and coaches of different schools contacted me, and the one who showed more interest was Mark Mckeever. He presented the project to me and when I saw that 6 players had become pros in the previous years I decided that was the place I wanted to go to.
 
3. How was your transition from Spain to America?
 
It wasn't that hard, to be honest. I remembered I struggled with the language in the first year. I remembered the first day in class I thought I would fail every class because the professor spoke so quickly and I couldn't understand him, but after two weeks it was much better. The transition was not that difficult because some teammates spoke Spanish so they could help me to understand some expressions and improve my vocabulary. I'll always be thankful to them for that. In terms of soccer, I adapted quickly and scored a lot of goals during my first year.
 
4. While at Young Harris, you made 54 appearances and scored 32 goals. What did you learn in your time as a college soccer player?
 
I learned a lot of things, but I would say that the most important thing is that soccer is about today, you need to perform well every day, you need to have that desire inside to win and play well every weekend. I improved so much in terms of mentality.
 
5. What’s your most memorable collegiate memory?
 
Collectively I would say the Regional Championship we won in 2017 or the 2018 regular-season championship with a 15-0-0 record. Individually I chose a goal I scored my senior year in Overtime with only 9 seconds left that sealed the regular-season championship, that moment was the perfect definition of madness.
 
6. In the summer of 2017, you made an appearance for the South Georgia Tormenta. How was your time with South Georgia?
 
I didn't play a minute for them. I played 15 minutes during a friendly game against Charleston Battery, that's it. I made some friends and training sessions were good I felt really good while training, but I didn't have playing time. Since I was international I decided to leave and go back to Spain to reset my mind with family, friends, and girlfriend and get ready for the Fall season. Sometimes it is good to get away from soccer to get back stronger.
 
7. In 2019, you signed your first professional contract with the Greenville Triumph. How were you feeling after signing your first professional contract?
 
I would say it was the happiest day of my life. I achieved what I had been dreaming of since I was a child when I saw the contract I said finally! I fought so much to become a pro. There was another amazing moment. I was in the airport, few hours before taking a flight back to Spain after my last semester in college and I received a call from John Harkes who told me that he wanted to sign me for Greenville Triumph, maybe that day was even happier than the day I signed the document, it's a tough one.
 
8. How was your first professional season with the Triumph?
 
It was really good, I learned a lot of things and grew up so much as a player. The group of players around me was special and the coaching staff too. The coaching staff was patient with me, because I came late due to problems with my VISA and it took me a while to find my game and the right shape, but after I felt so good on the field.
 
9. What has stood out to you in your jump from college to professional?
 
It is exactly how I imagined all my life and I love it. The rhythm of the game is higher and you have to adapt to it and get ready to compete against fitter and more experienced players. I think it is easier to develop better as a player because the only thing you have to do is to play soccer, rest, have a good diet and hydration. All these things were difficult to put together in college.
 
10. Who’s your greatest role model and why?
 
I would say, my parents. All I am today is thanks to them that helped me since the beginning and showed me that things require hard work, dedication, and patience. In terms of Sports, my biggest role model is Rafael Nadal. He is the greatest Spanish athlete of all time and a big example of sacrifice, hard work, and a strong mindset.
 
11. What’s your biggest advice for youngsters working to become a professional?
 
I would say to keep working hard even when no one is watching. There will be tough moments, they will have to give up certain things, but it is worth it.
 
12. If you could say something to yourself from five years ago, what would you say?
 
I would probably say to him to work harder off the field, have a better diet and hydration, rest more than he does, trust himself more and not to give up no matter what happens.
 
13. Who’s the best player you’ve ever played against?
 
Saul Ñiguez, he plays for Atletico Madrid in La Liga. I played against him at the youth level, and he had all the attributes needed to be a top player as he is now.
 
14. What are your main goals for the future?
 
I'll try my best during the rest of my career to reach my best potential and see what is the level where I can get to. I try to take care of myself as much as I can and I think now I have the right mindset so we'll see! After retiring I would like to be a coach, hopefully at a professional level as well.
 
15. What’s your ‘why’?
 
It's soccer. All my life I've been playing it, watching it and it's my passion. I'm fortunate now it's my job, I can't explain how beautiful it is when your passion is also your job. 
 
16. Any last words for the readers?
 
Thanks for your attention and keep watching soccer!

Chris Dailey

Founder, The Sports

Big thanks to Carlos for the amazing interview! Keep up the great work and best of luck next season!

photo via https://www.instagram.com/carlosgoemez10/