In the latest edition of The Sovereign, we featured Real Monarchs forward Ricardo Velazco. Shortly after publication, he was signed to Real Salt Lake, becoming the first player to follow the path from the Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy to Real Monarchs to Real Salt Lake. The following is the feature story that appeared in the gameday program with a slight modification.
Ricardo Velazco had a big year in 2015. In his first professional season, he was among the leading scorers for Real Monarchs all while learning the demands of playing the No. 10 position. For all his successes, though, he still had a lot to learn if he was going to make a career out of soccer.
This year, he has grown leaps and bounds and while there are tangible reasons on the field for his improvements, he points to a dramatic change in his life off the field that has driven him to new heights – the birth of his daughter Skarlett.
“It changed me like I’ll never imagine. She changed everything for the better. It gave me a calm that I didn’t have before – something to go home to,” he said, emotion exuding like he’s scored the biggest goal of his lifetime. “I have something bigger to play for that I never did before.”
Prior to his daughter’s birth in April, Velazco loved playing soccer. From the time he was young, he had a ball at his feet and a smile on his face while he pursued his dream. Signing a pro contract with the Monarchs in 2015 after a collegiate career that included stops at Cal State San Bernardino and Louisville, the fun didn’t cease. He was around a fledgling group of players, many of whom he had played with at the Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona. They were young, talented and driven, but it didn’t always translate to results on the field.
This year, he has learned what drive and determination really means – the extra step that he needed to truly be a professional.
He wasn’t only playing the game because it was fun or because he was fulfilling a dream. Those factors still exist. But now, it’s a means to feed his family.
“That’s more pressure and it’s made me grow,” Velazco said. “I can’t be any more grateful for the gift that I got with my daughter.”
His newfound spirit has shown palpable results on the field and Monarchs Head Coach Freddy Juarez sees a direct connection to the rapid maturation that comes with becoming a parent.
“Having his baby daughter, it’s not about Ricardo anymore. It’s about the family,” Juarez said. “That’s when you see players mature. That’s important.”
The change in his life off the field also came at a time when he made a transition on the field back to his more comfortable position on the wing.
While the No. 10 was a challenge that provided some hurdles in his first season, he also was able to use the experiences – good and bad – to aid in his development.
“I had never played the position so I was always trying to adjust. The USL is very fast, so it was hard for me to settle down and find good positions,” Velazco said. “That’s what helped me develop even better. Now I’m able to read plays better and come inside when I have to and that throws teams off.”
The decision to play him as a No. 10 in his first season wasn’t an easy one for Juarez, but it was a situation that his former Academy coach knew Velazco would be able to handle and would further his career if he was able to use the experience to his advantage.
“We knew he wasn’t a 10, but he was probably the better 10 for our team last year and there were some things he learned. It’s the most complicated position and it worked on his speed of play and his ability to receive the ball in tight areas on the field,” Juarez said. “He’s also developed his shooting and he’s getting goals. He’s adapted to where he’s still creating chances for himself, but he’s creating chances for teammates as well.”
The goals continue to come for Velazco, who had seven goals and five assists through 21 games.
And as his maturation on the field continues to mirror his maturation off of it, it was just a matter of time before he is sporting the first team jersey – which he earned when he signed with RSL earlier this month.
