Clarke Central High School freshman Patrick Madrid’s soccer career took off after his year long stay in Spain. He has played on Athens United since 2008, and his considerable experience has brought him to where he is now. “The coaches and players have been the biggest reason I have the skill level I have today,” Madrid said. Photo by Julie Alpaugh.
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By OWEN CHURCHWELL – Staff Writer
At age six, Clarke Central High School freshman Patrick Madrid moved to the southern region of Sevilla, Spain, which changed his life forever.
At age six, Clarke Central High School freshman Patrick Madrid moved to the southern region of Sevilla, Spain. By introducing him to a new culture, the move changed his life forever.
At the age of six, Clarke Central High School freshman Patrick Madrid left his hometown, Athens, Ga., along with everything he once had for a year and a different lifestyle across the Atlantic Ocean.
His new life began when Madrid’s father took a job in a country halfway across the world in Sevilla, Spain. That day changed Madrid’s life forever, especially with the introduction to a new sport, fútbol.
“I was leaving behind my friends (who) I saw every day. I was mostly sad and nervous, but also kinda excited to see how life was going to be in a completely different country,” Madrid said. “When I first went to Spain, the most different thing was the city itself. The whole lifestyle was very different to America’s.”
During Madrid’s year in Sevilla, he discovered his desire for the internationally popular sport of soccer or “fútbol,” as they say in Spain.
“When I moved, soccer became a huge part of my life. Instead of being distracted by other sports like football and baseball, there was only one sport which people were interested in–(soccer),” Madrid said. “It was the only thing I focused on. I was in an atmosphere where people were really passionate about the game, and that’s grown on me.”
With his first season as a CCHS Gladiator approaching, Madrid is looking for ways to improve his abilities as a player of the game.
“For the upcoming season, I’ve made an effort to go to most of Coach Aiken’s workouts. It’s a good way to show the coach that you’re dedicated to the team and are interested in playing,” Madrid said.
As a freshman in high school, Madrid thinks about his former country almost everyday, in addition to favoring them over the US in soccer tournaments.
“I’m planing on moving out there and living there for a while again in the future,” Madrid said.
