CARSON, Calif. – Jose Villarreal introduced himself to Major League Soccer with a world-class goal that set the league abuzz with anticipation about the youngster’s potential.
With a single left-footed shot blast into the top corner, the 18-year-old seemed poised to begin his ascent as one of the promising young forwards in the United States. However, five years on from that stunning finish, Villarreal is still fighting for his place on the team and determined not to let the mistakes of the past let his potential go to waste.
At 23-years-old, Villarreal says it’s now or never.
“The window for my time is closing. I’m getting older compared to when I was just an 18-year-old,” Villarreal told LA Galaxy Insider. “Soccer doesn’t last that long, and you have to take advantage of it. The mentality that I have right now is that it is now or never.”
But how did it get this far for a forward once trumpeted as one of the most promising attackers in the league?
After some needed self-reflection, Villarreal points to two reasons for his struggles. At first, there was his loan deal to Mexican giant Cruz Azul at the start of the 2014 campaign.
Sent to Mexico with high expectations after making 22 appearances and scoring twice in 2013 for the Galaxy, Villarreal saw no time with Cruz Azul, failing to play a single game for the first team during his stint. The Inglewood-born striker was limited to stints with the team’s U-20 squad as well as their lower division side Cruz Azul-Hidalgo, but once the club dissolved the affiliate, Villarreal was able to return home.
Although the forward does not regret the adventure in Mexico, he does believe that his time there should serve as a warning for those interested in plying their trade south of the border.
“I feel like Mexico was a situation where I went with the mentality that I was going to experience something new and hopefully get some playing time and experience the soccer that I’ve been watching my whole life. That was really exciting to me; I saw the politics of soccer in Mexico. It was an eye-opener.
“That was another learning experience. I don’t like to regret anything that I do, and I believe everything happens for a reason. I didn’t get a chance to play down there, but I got a feel for it, and I came back right in time to win a championship here,” he added. “But there’s so many kids right now [in Mexico] that are in the situation that I was once in.
“I just want them to know that the Galaxy and the rest of the soccer teams in California are teams that offer you a really good opportunity to learn that professionalism and grow.”
Heading into the 2015 campaign, all signs seemed to point to Villarreal finally taking his place in the Galaxy starting XI. Landon Donovan had retired in the offseason, and the forward even opened up the season with a goal and two assists in the team’s opening two matches.
However, the forward’s progress was offset by repeated injuries that caused Villarreal to take a long look in the mirror for answers why he was struggling. And after his self-assessment, Villarreal realized that it was his nutritional habits that were leaving him behind and once he corrected that, there was a path back to first team minutes.
“There was a part of me where I didn’t know what it meant to be truly fit. That was always a trouble for me, in terms of nutrition. I don’t want to make excuses, but it’s tough growing up here as a Hispanic kid in L.A. knowing that your opportunities aren’t as easy as other kids,” Villarreal said. “It’s about learning. Growing up, the nutrition wasn’t an option for us. Whatever was on the table was what we ate. You grew up with that, but obviously, there are so many resources, and the Academy has a school here now. It’s about learning and getting informed, and I feel like this is the season for that.
“Regarding everything else that happened, the team had players they needed to play, and that is the bad luck. It’s a learning experience, and I got to see that. I think I know a little bit more about how things are run around here and I have to just find my way in there and get some playing time.”
Now beset with lessons and eager to prove that he can bring his goals to fruition, Villarreal believes the time is now to fight for his place.
“This is my fifth year. I’ve been with the Galaxy for about seven years. I definitely feel older even though every year there were veterans coming in and I’m still the rookie on the team,” Villarreal says. “But, I feel like that the time hasn’t slowed down for me. I need to keep it going, and I need to try to do as much as I can.
“Curt Onalfo knows me, and I have known him for some time now. It’s just about continuing to improve and being consistent with the game. I know that he’s going to give everyone a shot and it’s about how you take that opportunity. I’m ready to come out and just play the game I love.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at www.LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
