Aiden Zarate is a senior soccer player for Alexandria MLS Next and The Potomac School, and we are happy to welcome him to The Current for a senior sports highlight. 

Editor’s Note: This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

1. How are you doing today?

I’m doing great. 

2. What were your general thoughts on the PBVS (Potomac Boys Varsity Soccer) season? 

It was a great season: I didn’t know what to expect when it started, but it kept growing into something more beautiful. Eventually, everything meshed, and it culminated into a great season, ending with us playing every game possible all the way to the state final. 

3. What was your favorite part of playing for our school this year?

I had a few favorites, to be honest. Being part of a Potomac team for the first time was a lot of fun. The amount of support from the school was really cool, [and] the amount of people who showed up and cared about a soccer game was also pretty awesome. Also, being able to support and get to know the new guys was an incredible experience for me. 

4. How did playing for your school and club differ from one another?

DC United is extremely professional with everything, from the time you wake up to the time you sleep. The culture is very competitive and even cutthroat at times. Everyone wants to get to the top. But people who are playing in high school are there for the experience; everyone is willing to be a part of a team and work for the betterment of one another. Everyone puts in effort, and even if you don’t win anything, you’re left with memories and friendships that mean way more than a trophy. 

5. How did your playing style change between club and school?

There is a level difference between my club and Potomac. I have to take less touches with my club team and move more off the ball. In club, there is a lot of strong buildup with fast passes stringing together smoothly. But on Potomac[‘s team], I am able to express myself a little more with the extra time and space I had on the ball. I was able to have a really big role for the team, and I was able to take control of the game in moments. 

6. What was it like playing with kids of differing ages and having lowerclassmen on the team? 

For most of my time playing soccer, I have been playing up, so I went from being the youngest to being the oldest. It was a shift that required getting used to, but in the end, I really liked it. Things like working on skills after practice and sharing my “wisdom” made the experience very rewarding. It was incredible to be a leader for everyone. 

7. Who is your professional player comparison and why?

In club, I think I play similar to Luka Modric, being able to get on the ball and create opportunities with passing and dribbling. But for high school, I did feel like Messi in a lot of moments.  

8. What is your dream club to play for?

I would love to eventually be in Barcelona. I am a big Messi fan, I like the city, and I would love for my journey to end up in La Liga. There is always a great culture and an environment centered around soccer there, which I would really enjoy. 

9. What is your favorite goal that you have scored for PBVS?

My favorite goal is the “Olimpico” I scored against St. Benedictine. For high school soccer, I needed to learn how to take corners, and through a lot of practice, I improved a lot. I have never scored an “Olimpico” before, so it was pretty awesome when it went in. My second favorite goal is my header to equalize with Flint Hill at home. I’m a smaller guy, so scoring headers is pretty uncommon. But I did it. I had an awful angle, but I still got it over the keeper and into the side netting. It was an important goal and very satisfying. 

10. How do you think your sport has played a role in your life in high school in general?

For the last three years with DC United, I was not allowed to play any high school sports, and with practices, I had to start homework at 10:00 P.M. with how late I got home. I would use whatever free time in my days and weekends to get work done. I had to lose  a lot of afternoons and weekends playing league games or practicing with DC United. I’ve had to miss a few good weeks of school because of tournaments, as well. I had not really been a part of the Potomac experience due to all the time spent with DC United. But this year, it changed: I got to play with my childhood club again. It was still a time commitment, especially with Potomac soccer at the same time. There was one stretch during the season with three high school game fixtures in the week, then two club games on the weekend, and then one high school game on the following Monday, all of which I played full 90s. Soccer was the reason I had been so absent from school life, but now, it is the reason why I am so involved this year. I am so grateful that I can be a part of it. I feel way more involved in the community now. 

11. What is one thing you can never go without on gameday?

Playing games right after school changed my routine a bit, but regardless, I can’t go on a gameday without 10 minutes of visualization, thinking of everything I need to do in a game. [That’s] something that has always been consistent across school and club. 

12. If you had to choose between commentating and coaching, which would it be?

I would choose coaching. I like to believe I have always been a good leader in all platforms. I always want the best out of everyone. I think coaching would be more rewarding and help me stay more connected to the game.

13. Ronaldo or Messi? 

Messi. Ronaldo is great, but Messi has always been levels ahead; it just took some time for others to figure it out. 

14. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?

I hope to be playing professional soccer somewhere, potentially in Major League Soccer (MLS), could be in the third division in Spain, I don’t know. But I want to keep following my passion. 

15. Do you think being a student athlete has helped or hindered your journey as a soccer player?

It has its benefits and drawbacks, but I ultimately chose to continue to be a student athlete, so wherever I go, I can be great at what I do–no matter what. No matter how many more hours I could’ve been on the field instead of the classroom or vice versa, Potomac has helped me in my journey constantly. 

16. What are you doing now that Potomac’s soccer season has ended?

I am trying to finish out getting recruited [for college]. I am leaving today for a showcase in Arizona that is really important, so I’m excited for that and hopefully whatever is next  to come. 

17. What else do you want to share?

How proud I am of the team’s growth. It has been beautiful to watch people step up in the big moments and not shy away in the bad ones. Everyone kept going and got better; each person played every game with everything they had. It was certainly something special to be a part of. I am really grateful to have played with such a great group of guys.