Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Valdivia Jr.
Hi Anthony, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve played soccer my entire life. I started playing when I was three years old and I still play today. My dream was to be a professional soccer player. I worked very hard when I was young. I trained constantly. With whichever club team I was playing for at the time, with my brother or with my parents, and often alone at Fred H. Rohr Elementary.
Despite the hard work and success at the club level and in high school, the top level alluded me. Although I was able to play on very high-level amateur teams. Teams with former, current, and future professional players. That Next Step just proved out of reach.
I decided that if I could not play at the highest level, I would share my passion and love of the game with the next generation. All my life I watched my mom and my dad be there for kids who had no one else. My mom ran a daycare and my dad was a coach of baseball and soccer. Seeing the impact they had on young people is what ultimately made me want to be a coach. That’s when my journey as a coach began. I started the US soccer license pathway in 2006 when I enrolled in the E license class. I met Manny Neves, Director of coaching for Coronado FC. Manny quickly became one of my biggest soccer mentors and I still use so much of what he taught me. Also in 2006 I joined the coaching staff at Coronado FC.
I enjoyed two terms with Coronado FC. From 2006 until 2014 and again in 2019 until 2023. During the break in the middle I had the opportunity to partner with Greg Williams in creating San Diego‘s first faith base soccer club Trinity F.C. I served as a Director of coaching for this club for five years. It was a labor of love and to this day, one of the most rewarding Soccer experiences of my life. Through this program, we saw many young men achieve success in many avenues. Not just on the field. Many players experienced their grades rising, their home life improving, and support from teammates and coaches that was not in their life previously. For me personally, I received endless support from Greg and his wife Sarah alongside Trinity FC when I was diagnosed with cancer in 2014. Phone calls and get well cards, meal trains, and even financial help. They were there for me in a really tough time and I’ll never forget it. I was very blessed to be cleared of cancer only a few months later and continue in my Soccer journey.
In 2021 my wife Shelby and I were blessed to welcome our son Hendrix. With this new responsibility I had to make some tough decisions. Do I follow my heart and my passion and trust that I can maintain a full-time position in Soccer or do I try for more stable and conventional career. My biggest blessing in life is my wife who believes in me and trusts me to follow through. We decided to roll the dice and continue trying to be a professional full-time coach. Only weeks after making that decision I received an opportunity of a lifetime . Coach Billy Garton, formally of Manchester United, current director of Surf Soccer academy Called me and asked me to interview for a full-time position. The call came in on a Monday, I interviewed on Tuesday, I ran a training session for the club on Wednesday, and on Thursday I was signing my first professional full-time contract. I can’t explain how proud I was to be signing for such a prestigious club, at this point I have been coaching for roughly 15 years and knew how important this club was to the Soccer community locally and globally.
When I think about being at this point in my life, I’m so grateful for so many things. Mostly the people in my life who’ve sacrificed so that I could be where I am. My wife and my son who I have to spend time away from due to the unsociable hours of being a soccer coach. My parents who did everything they possibly could for me to play for the best club, to have the best gear, taking me to endless trainings, tournaments, games, to my brother who works so hard with me training in the backyard or playing against neighborhood kids, my sister who was dragged to soccer games against her will but is still so proud of me. All my fellow coaches who’ve put time and effort into sharing their knowledge with me so I could add it to my arsenal of coaching knowledge.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My biggest obstacle in my coaching life was in 2014. I was told that Coronado would not be renewing my contract. I was devastated at the time. I was at a crossroads as a coach and was very unsure where to go next. I was offered a couple part-time coaching positions, but none of them felt like they were the correct next move. Also, this year I was diagnosed with cancer and obviously there is a ton of heartache associated with even a short bout like I had. I think this year was one of the biggest turning point of my life because I was forced to rely on others. I also had big decisions to make, and this was the first time I really had to bet on myself, I truly had to walk by faith. This is how and when Trinity F.C. was founded.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a soccer coach. I currently coach at San Diego Surf Academy in Delmar. I am also a youth talent scout for the PDP Southern California regional team. I love my job. I’m so blessed to be able to spend my days at a soccer field teaching the next generation the intricate parts of the game. I’m just shy of 20 years in coaching. In that time I’ve seen players play in the highest levels. I’ve had former players enter the professional circuit, I have multiple players playing in various divisions of college, but I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve been able to build. When a player calls me and tells me their latest success it brings so much pride that they still remember and reach out to me. Getting invited to weddings or graduations or to meet a new baby. Those are the best moments of coaching , because something I did or said, made an impact on these players to the point where they think of me in moments of their life and I don’t think it gets any better than that.
As a coach, I pride myself on being proficient in teaching the technical side of the game. There is a whole fraternity of coaches who came up under Manny Neves who will tell you how important it is to be able to teach the basics immaculately.
I think the driving force for continuous success would be my willingness to be a student of the game. I don’t think it’s possible to come to a point where you figured it all out. The game is constantly changing and involving, so there’s always something new to learn. That’s exciting, that drives me. I owe a lot to the soccer mentors that I’ve had. Manny Neves, Greg Williams, Jerry Ruiz, and Billy Garton. Without these guys I couldn’t do what I do.
What makes you happy?
My family makes me happy. Spending time with my wife and my son is the best part of life. My son is 2 1/2 and is already falling in love with the game. He comes to watch me coach, he comes to watch me play sometimes, and always wants to be involved. It brings me a ton of joy to see him kick a soccer ball. Time will tell if he is as passionate and in love with the game as I am, and I think it’s important to let him choose his own course.
I believe the most important thing in life is balance. It’s important to make time for family and friends and have a life away from the field. I’m very close with my parents and siblings still so anytime spent with them helps me to have a balance life.
Last and definitely not least is getting to spend time with my wife. We are very lucky to have a lot of support around us so we are able to take a date night here and there. Whether it’s a comedy show, a concert, traveling, or a local trivia night there’s nothing like spending time away from everything with my wife
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @anvalsoccer
Image Credits
Xavier Hernandez
For the headshot
