Ep.14 Former LIGA MX Goalkeeper, Peter Prieto | Life through Sport Show

Our guest for today is former LIGA MX goalkeeper, Peter Prieto.
Like many of our guests, Peter often found himself looking to capitalize on an opportunity with the slimmest of outlooks. You’ll hear all about how he turned a trial with a second division team, into contract after a single match, to only a few months later be called up to Under 23 Mexican National team for their Olympic trials, to an eventual 10 year career in Mexico, playing in the countries top league, Liga Mx.
Peter saw preparation as imperative to success. He believed that, although it wouldn’t instantly change his situation, it could ultimately determine if he made the most of an opportunity. I’m excited for you guys to hear him tell his story, as he looks back on some of the best and most difficult moments in his career.
Time Stamps
0:00 Intro
0:30 Early influences
7:30 Leaves college early to start his pro career
8:20 “If we go back, we may never get this opportunity again”
9:10 “That 1st year, I only played one game - you have some regrets”
10:00 Tryout for Tecos Guadalajara (UA-cam Story Clip) - “I had to go back - I told myself I was going to do it for 2 years”
13:05 Scrimmage vs Chivas
14:30 “I negotiated my own contract with Tecos”
18:15 “9/10 players have to go through a killer process to make it”
19:28 First year with Tecos - “trained with the 1st team & played with the 2nd”
20:50 Call Up - Mexican U-20 National Team
22:18 “You’ve got to be prepared…You’ve got to be ready”
23:20 Being Mexican / American in Mexico - “people began to respect my game”
24:10 “the process is tough … imagine the all the talented players that could have made it”
25:20 Mexican U-23 Olympic Team
28:25 “Oswaldo Sanchez told me not to say anything about my knee injury”
29:20 Olympic Trials - Making the team
29:30 “Oswaldo was the best”
30:10 Getting cut from the final roster
31:10 Working with Osvaldo & Conejo Perez
32:40 “I had 12 coaches in 7 years”
34:10 My opportunity: Tecos sold their best players & went young
35:00 Liga MX: 2 seasons in one
36:20 “I felt that I proved I could be the #1”
37:30 “I should be playing over him”
39:30 Osvaldo & Conejo: Did you think you’d have the same career as them?
40:10 2nd Division “no ego”: Going down to get playing time
40:50 Moving to Queretaro
43:20 Losing motivation for the game
44:10 Favorite memory from tecos
45:15 “A parent told me to give up goalkeeping”
47:10 Final piece of advice

[@andres4andy]

Hey Omar. We met a couple of years ago. You trained my son Aidan for a couple of sessions, we’re from up in Northern California. I didn’t know that Peter was your uncle. I was a keeper the same time as your uncle. He was a local legend growing up around LA. It was really great to hear Peter’s story. Thanks for the great podcast!

[@progkacademy]

That's amazing!! Will relay this to my uncle! Hope you and Aidan are doing well!

[@abnerortiz6027]

These podcasts are great! Keep them coming please 🙌🏼

[@carlosa4552]

Great podcast and story

[@progkacademy]

Thanks Carlos!! Appreciate that!

[@Ryanonfire03]

Another great interview. Cool to hear your Uncle and kind of see where you got your inspiration and start from. 🙏🏼

[@progkacademy]

Thanks Ryan!!
I honestly didn't know a lot of those stories.
So it was nice to get some context on his life!