NEXTGEN: David Vazquez

Photography by: Colleen Claggett

The future is theirs. In our NextGen series, we take a look at the latest wave of players chasing the ultimate dream. From their greatest doubts and challenges to their inspirations and goals, we dive into what it’s like for these promising youngsters to climb through the soccer ranks.

In our second installment, we caught up with USMNT U-17 and Philadelphia Union Academy player David Vazquez to get some insight on his journey to make the professional level.

Why are you chasing this dream?

It’s been my dream since I was three years old. I fell in love with the sport super early, and I’ve been chasing this so I can someday provide for my family. I want to get them the things they’ve always wanted, and I want to help my parents retire when they get older. That would be amazing because then they could come out and support me every game. We’re far away from each other now, but maybe things can be different if I make it at a high level and can get them out with me. 

Who would you say has been your biggest support through this whole journey?

It’s definitely been my parents and my family. There were many tough decisions that we had to make as a family for me to pursue my dream. Moving alone to Philadelphia was a whole process, and my family really had to weigh whether it was the right decision or not. It’s been quite a process, but I think it’s worked out so far. It was hard for them – and for me too. Moving all the way from LA to Philly means that I don’t get to see them too often, which is tough. But my parents understood that it was the right step to take to get me closer to my dream, so I think they’ve really been my biggest supporters. 

Take me back to when you all made that decision. Because I heard you were also being sought out by many academies and even Mexico. 

It was difficult. I had to decide if I wanted to stay in California with teams like LAFC or the Galaxy, or move away and put my full attention into soccer with the Philadelphia Union. I ended up going with the latter. GA Qualifiers were happening at the time, and some scouts from the Union saw me, and, after the showcase, they invited me to go train with the U-17s for a couple of weeks. It was my first time training at an MLS club. It was something I’d always dreamed of because I always thought I could push myself to a higher level if I moved to an MLS team. I was really shocked that they invited me. I told my parents I wanted to try it out, and they were all for it.

We went out to Philadelphia, and immediately, everything was different. When I got there, it was snowing – it was awful. But as soon as I got to the facility, I fell in love right away. They had indoor fields, a great gym, training pitches, everything. Apart from that, it felt like a brotherhood right away as soon as I stepped on the field with all my teammates. Everyone was so welcoming. I felt like I had made the right choice. The longer I was there, the better I got. Not only that, but I became a more hungry player. Every day I stepped on the field, the motivation to make it grew even more. 

It’s clear that by that point you were already dead set on trying to go pro. But when did that first notion come to be? When did you first realize this is what you wanted to do with your life?

It really switched on for me when my club made it to MLS NEXT. I knew that was my time to shine and get the exposure I wanted. We did really well as a team, and I think I was able to show that I was capable of being on an MLS team. Seeing that there was a tangible chance to get to the pros really motivated me to chase that dream with more intent. That’s why I ended up taking the route of moving across the country to try my best at making it pro. 

What would you say is the best piece of advice you have received as a youngster?

The best advice has always come from my coaches, and all of them have played a big role in my adventure so far. The best advice I got, though, was that I can be super talented but without hard work, I won’t be able to reach anything. You have to work hard and sacrifice a lot to accomplish what you really want, especially when it comes to soccer. There are a lot of talented kids, but if you don’t do your best to outwork yourself and everyone around you, then your talent goes to waste. That’s the best advice I’ve received. While you’re not working, there are people somewhere else working ten times harder than you. But with talent, hard work, and faith in God, I know I can make it really far. That’s what’s been in the back of my head for a while now. 

Who’s been your biggest idol growing up?

Messi, for sure. He’s a lefty just like me, so I think sometimes I make similar movements to him here and there. I’m not saying I play like Messi at all, but us lefties just have a certain way of playing I think. I grew up seeing him play for Barcelona, and I obviously dreamed of playing like him, so I would definitely say he’s my idol. 

What’s some advice that you might give others chasing this dream?

This applies to any dream, but I think you need to make sure you commit 100% and just go with it. There are gonna be bumps, but you need to stay focused on what you ultimately want to achieve. There will be a lot of people that will try to tell you it won’t work out or that it’s too risky, but you need to stay committed to what you want to do. There will always be doubters, but maybe it’s good to have them because they can be great motivation to try to prove them wrong. But in the end, dream big, and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. 

What are your goals for 2023?

My goal is to hopefully get to that U17 USYNT roster for the World Cup in November and bring the trophy home. The World Cup is something huge, and if I can help win it and bring it home, I think that would do a lot for soccer in the United States. It would be a testament to how much the sport has grown and show that we have future generations ready to make an impact. It already meant a lot to be able to help us qualify, so it would be awesome to take it one step further. 

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I would want to see myself playing pro. It would be nice to be doing it in my hometown of LA, but if the Union give me an opportunity with the first team, I will of course take that offer. I think in the next five years I could definitely see myself becoming a professional if I just keep working hard and chasing my dreams. I think I can really accomplish something important. 

What about ten years?

I’d love to be playing in Europe. Who knows, maybe the Prem or La Liga. I know it’s a big leap from MLS, but like I said, it’s important to dream big. 

What’s your most rewarding accomplishment?

I would say my biggest accomplishment is winning this 2023 GA Cup with the Union back in April. That was huge. But I would say playing with the National Team is a great achievement too that I cherish a lot. I’m really thankful to have been able to represent this country, so that’s a special one. Apart from those, I think training with the Union’s first team sometimes is also a little accomplishment that just hits me sometimes. It keeps me pushing forward so that one is rewarding too, for sure. 

If you weren’t trying to become a pro soccer player, what would you be doing?

If I wasn’t trying to go pro, I would open up a business. I love shoes, so I would sell sneakers. Back in LA, I have a really big shoe collection. I only have eleven pairs here in Philly, but back home I have a crazy amount. If – God forbid – soccer doesn’t work out, I would definitely try to open up my own business to sell sneakers because that’s definitely the second thing I love most. I’ve been around sneakers for a while, and my older brother has been into shoes ever since he was little too. He always had Jordans. My uncle is also a big sneaker person, and so is my cousin. He actually runs a little business as well through Instagram. We talk about that stuff a lot, so I definitely see myself leaning into that world. 

Obviously, moving across the country is pretty daunting, but what have you enjoyed about being in Pennsylvania?

I love going to downtown Philly. It’s definitely very different from where I grew up. I just enjoy the buildings everywhere and the overall vibe of it. I still haven’t really found any sneaker stores, but I usually go out for cheesesteaks around here and there are always cool activities to do. It’s never a dull time. Don’t get me wrong, I still miss California a lot, but I’m really enjoying this city and the new stuff I’ve been able to experience away from home.