Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Gonzales.
Hi Sam, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always been passionate when it came to the Sport of Soccer. I began playing recreationally at the age of 5, played with my first club at age 9 with SoCal United, at age 14 I changed clubs and began playing with Los Angeles Rampage, where we won multiple championships including; CalSouth Premier league, state cup, national cup, Dallas cup. Some of the most prestigious championships in the nation were conquered by our soccer team. These championships opened up the opportunity for me to play with the LA Galaxy. I played 3 amazing, exciting years for the Los Angeles Galaxy until the tragic late evening that changed my life forever. I suffered a career-ending knee injury. I tore my ACL, ruptured my tendon, tore my meniscus, and dislocated my knee. All in the blink of an eye!
I was in a medically induced coma for two days, in order to perform the surgery to repair most of my knee. The recovery process was excruciating, painful, and very tough to deal with, but with support from family & close friends, the impossible seemed possible. During my recovery process, I didn’t want to leave my favorite sport. I started reading a lot more to understand the game from a different POV, and the idea to coach soccer rang in my head.
A year and a half later, after I slowly began to walk, the opportunity to coach a girl’s HS team presented itself and the rest is history…
Now, a few championships later (Thanks to the amazing coaching staff Israel A Garcia/ Sarah Altamira) all credit to my coaches for the unconditional support and patience, in the club and high school level, I coach professionally for the Los Angeles Galaxy, I am also a Head coach for the Paris-Saint Germain soccer academy in Los Angeles, and I also coach girls soccer Varsity soccer at Fulton College Prep.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
This adventure, that still continues, has been the toughest but yet most delightful ongoing journey. I’ve been faced with many obstacles that I’ve had to overcome, I’ve dealt with adversities that would have caused most to quit. I’ve fought battles in the dark that most never saw. The most impactful struggle was learning how to walk again and to truly understand to not take our most basic way of living for granted!
After surgery, what felt like a nightmare had begun. I couldn’t do something simple as walk, shower, or go to the restroom. I felt hopeless and useless knowing I could not do anything for myself. I couldn’t stand, I couldn’t move, let alone have any type of feeling on my right leg/knee. I felt like my dream, my life was over. Drs said I would be lucky if I came close to “Walking Normal” again. They said the chances of me being able to run let alone play soccer again were less than 5%.
At that point, I felt like my life was over. I felt like giving up. Like I had nothing left. Slowly, the idea to coach sparked and into a fire it started to grow. At that moment, I knew that if I can get through this, I can help and teach other people how to over life-changing injuries.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am currently a Professional Youth Development Coach with the Los Angeles Galaxy. I specialize in individual and small-group elite training/development and talent acquisition. I am known for having a very strict/disciplined program and style that sets me aside from other coaches. The Paris-Saint Germain academy has the same vision and ideas as I do when it comes to soccer and youth development ideas, which is the reason I joined one of the most exclusive and premier youth soccer clubs in the nation. The same professionalism and dedication I have with the Los Angeles Galaxy & Paris-Saint Germain academy, I carry over to my girls high school varsity soccer program.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Personally, I don’t think luck has played much of a role in my life. I am a firm and strong believer of hard work, discipline, and commitment. We get the opportunities that we work hard for.
I wanna thank my mentor/coach/friend EB Madha!
