Erick Torres is only 28 years old — young for a professional soccer player, especially a striker — but already he is working toward the second act of his career: management.
Torres, when he has time after Atlanta United’s training sessions, is working with strikers in the Under-15, U16, U17 and U19 age groups on finishing drills.
Torres hopes to soon start working on his coaching A and B licenses in the U.S., which would complement the ones he has already spent 18 months learning at a school in Tijuana when he played in Mexico. In that country, he can train players up to U17 teams and was working on his licenses to coach first- and second-division teams when his education was postponed because of his move to Atlanta United.
“It’s something that I’m passionate about and wanted to take advantage of the opportunity,” he said.
If Torres communicates his points as a teacher the way he does when being interviewed, his pupils should learn quickly. Torres is thoughtful and provides long, detailed answers to what can be basic questions.
He mentions that he’s also working with the younger players on Atlanta United’s team. He said Jackson Conway has caught his eye because they do drills together.
“Pretty cool that younger players are asking me for advice,” he said. “It’s good for them to have confidence and trust in a player who is a professional.”
Torres described Conway, who scored his first professional goal to seal Atlanta United’s 1-0 win over Club America in the second leg of last year’s Champions League quarterfinal, has a presence and is a good finisher. Torres said he has that noticed Conway, who is 19, does some of the things that he used to do when he was a young professional. So he respectfully tries to provide tips, such as how to use his hands and arms in the penalty box to create separation from a defender.
“He’s taught me a little about getting away from my man in the box and to always first contact after receiving the ball,” Conway said.
Torres’ goal is to one day manage a first-division club. He said he’ll probably be slightly less intense than Gabriel Heinze.
“Great opportunity here to keep learning and transmit what I’ve learned to other players,” he said.
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