We were lucky to catch up with Christian Marin Diaz recently and have shared our conversation below.
Christian, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
My confidence didn’t come from scoring goals as a kid—it came from surviving tough situations. At the Málaga CF Youth Academy (Cadete and Juvenil), I was playing at a high level, but at age 16 I suffered a serious injury. In professional academies, if you stop, your career can be over, so I kept playing through the pain until my body finally broke down at 19, leaving me with a chronic injury.
By that point, I had already played for Puerto Malagueño, the second-most important club in Málaga, competing in the Juvenil División de Honor division, the highest youth level in Spain. At 18, I was with the first team of UD Fuengirola, but after my injury I was forced to take a year off.
In 2004, I moved to the U.S. chasing opportunity. I didn’t speak English, I had no family here, and money was always short. I worked as a valet parking for Gladstones in Pacific Palisades, carried cables at a TV station for Telemundo, and played semi-pro on weekends with L.A. Blues and Orange County Blue Star just to earn something. Still, there were nights I didn’t know where I’d sleep. I’ll never forget one stretch of 21 days sleeping in my car with only $20 in my account, surviving on instant soups and McDonald’s cheeseburgers.
And then came one of the scariest moments of my life: a black widow spider bite while I was sleeping in that same car. My arm swelled up so badly I could barely feel it, and the poison was spreading. Without health insurance, hospitals here refused to treat me. Some asked for hundreds of dollars just to see me. In the end and a week later, a good friend of mine drove me all the way to Tijuana to buy penicillin so I wouldn’t end up in even worse condition.
That’s where my confidence was built—not in lifting trophies or scoring goals, but in knowing I could survive all of that and still keep moving forward.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I started Elite Soccer Personal Training in 2007, while I was still in college, and later rebranded to Elite Soccer PK in 2015. We’re based in Encino, CA since 2010, and focus on private 1-on-1 training and soccer clinics in the San Fernando Valley.
What excites me most is that I’ve taken all those struggles and turned them into motivation to help kids. Some of my players want to go pro, some just want to make the school team, others need soccer to build discipline and confidence. Today we train over 25 private clients weekly and 50+ kids in clinics, and I’ve personally coached more than 1,000 players.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
• Resilience. Life will test you, and it will knock you down more than once. I’ve had injuries, setbacks, and times where I literally had to sleep in my car, but I never gave up. That toughness is what’s kept me moving forward.
• Adaptability. Moving to a new country with no English, no family, and no safety net forced me to learn fast. I had to adjust to a new culture, a new language, and completely different systems of soccer and education. That ability to adapt is what allowed me to survive and later succeed.
• Purpose. I am teaching at LAUSD, so coaching isn’t about chasing money. I coach because I truly care about developing kids as players and as people. Parents see that. They know I’m not just trying to sell them something—I’m invested in their children’s growth. That trust makes all the difference.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
For me, the ideal client isn’t about talent level. At Elite Soccer PK, we welcome all kids—whether they’re recreational, club, or special education. What matters most is effort and attitude. Some players come in with natural ability, others are just starting, and some need extra patience and different teaching methods. That’s fine. The beauty of coaching is adapting to each kid instead of forcing every kid to fit one system.
The best families to work with are the ones who trust the process, give us time, and understand that development is a marathon, not a sprint. Growth in soccer takes years of consistent work—footwork, conditioning, decision-making, and building confidence all take time. When parents understand that and support their kids without piling on extra pressure, the kids thrive.
On the other hand, toxic environments don’t last here. Parents who scream from the sidelines, kids who aren’t willing to put in the effort—those things go against our values. We want kids who are curious, hungry to learn, and willing to make mistakes along the way. We want parents who let us do our job and focus on encouragement instead of criticism.
At the end of the day, the “ideal client” is any player who truly wants to learn and any family that supports the journey. Whether the goal is to make a high school team, play club, prepare for college, or just build confidence and live healthier—we’re here to help them. Everyone deserves a chance to learn the game the right way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.elitesoccerpk.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elitesoccerpk/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EliteSoccerPK/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ8HmXAlXCaecRnmRgVE68g
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/elite-soccer-pk-encino-5
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
