Former RSL defender Carlos Salcedo takes unique road toward prominence with Chivas, Mexico
Bright lights and big stages always factored into the plan for Carlos Salcedo. He followed the road far less traveled, but he always kept those dreams in the back of his mind. He thought one day he might reach those lofty heights. Those ambitions always drove him, always pushed him to place himself on that path.
No one expected Salcedo to ascend quite this quickly, though. The promising, 21-year-old defender now features prominently in Mexico’s long-term plans after winning his first cap against the United States earlier this month and stands on the cusp of making his SuperClasico debut against Club América. It is a rise fueled by his ability, his ambition and his willingness to take the necessary steps toward those overarching objectives.
Salcedo reinforced his faith in himself through the choices he made during his teenage years. He proceeded through the youth academies at Chivas Guadalajara and Tigres UANL before making the unexpected leap to the Real Salt Lake youth academy in Arizona. His father, Carlos Salcedo, Sr., played with RSL-Arizona director Martin Vazquez at Atlas and trusted Vazquez to shepherd his development.
The move paid off quickly as Salcedo revealed and burnished the innate tools necessary to climb toward the upper echelons of the game. He always boasted the size and the mobility to cope with the physical rigors of the position, but he also relied upon his awareness and his distribution to fit into the possession-oriented ideals espoused through the RSL ranks. He spent only a matter of months with the Academy side and trained with the first team during that period, but he impressed observers along the way.
“I first encountered Carlos when I was coaching in college (at Washington) and watched him play at the RSL Academy,” RSL technical director Craig Waibel said. “That’s when I first saw him. I didn’t bother recruiting him because he was clearly going to be a pro. I guess that’s a pretty good first impression.”
Salcedo featured 25 times for Real Salt Lake after joining the RSL-Arizona Academy in 2012 and spending two years with the first team in 2013 and 2014
More than a few young players make an initial splash, but the ones who endure back up their talent with the necessary application required to make the best use of it. Salcedo -- according to several people familiar with his time at RSL, including coach Jeff Cassar and former assistant coach and current technical director Waibel -- committed himself completely to the task.
Salcedo learned from the experienced heads around him and soaked up his surroundings. RSL reaped the rewards from having a developing, technically sound center back in the squad. The corresponding strides -- Salcedo appeared 25 times over the past two seasons and entrenched himself in the Mexican youth national team setup as he scrapped for first-team minutes at RSL -- reflected the successful partnership.
“I think he’s been in a development stage for a while now from when he was playing in Mexico, then the RSL youth system and then with us,” RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando said before Salcedo made his full Mexico debut in the 2-0 defeat to the United States on April 15. “He was always a guy - at the end of his career with us -- he was getting some minutes, getting some sniffs at starting and doing really well. It’s no surprise to me where he’s doing and that he’s getting called up (to the Mexican national team).”
Those forays into the starting XI established Salcedo as a potential cornerstone for the future by the end of last season. Budgetary pressures and expansion draft considerations led to the departure of Nat Borchers to Portland after the end of the season. Salcedo’s presence offered RSL some comfort despite the loss of its defensive linchpin.
“The future was bright for him without a doubt,” Cassar said. “We were getting to a place where we were going to have a nice rotation of center backs and never have a drop off in quality. He was heading in that direction.”
The plans changed as Salcedo grappled with the frustrations of spending last season behind Borchers and Chris Schuler in the pecking order. He expressed his displeasure at various points through social media and eventually posted a letter saying he wanted to leave the club at the end of the season.
Salcedo’s actions piqued the interest of other parties carefully monitoring his situation. MLS and RSL fielded offers during the close season, even though Salcedo stood to emerge as a potential starter after the inevitable comings and goings in Utah. Chivas Guadalajara eventually emerged as the primary suitor and haggled with MLS and RSL before securing Salcedo’s signature for an undisclosed fee prior to the start of the Clausura.
“In the end, this is a business,” Waibel said. “Players have to make tough decisions. Clubs have to make tough decisions. That’s what happened here. All parties had to make a tough decision. Ultimately, I’m proud to say that we were able to work with Carlos to get him to a place that he wanted to be. I would have loved to still have him here, but, in the end, this move has obviously worked out for him. I couldn’t be happier of him and prouder for him.”
There is ample reason to take pride given Salcedo’s success over the past few months. It’s hard to quantify the influence of a club in a player’s development or suggest what factors propelled a certain player onwards. The progression isn’t linear and it isn’t scientific, particularly when viewed from the outside.
What is clear is how well Salcedo adjusted to the opportunity afforded to him in Guadalajara this season after his time with RSL. Chivas manager José Manuel de la Torre showed his belief in him by thrusting him into the starting XI quickly. Salcedo responded with a series of consistent performances designed to highlight the importance of the foundation laid over the past few years.
Salcedo made his first appearance for Mexico in the 2-0 defeat to the United States on April 15.
“First of all, he put in the work himself,” RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. “He’s got a good head on his shoulders. He really worked hard to improve each year. So I think it’s a testament to his hard work. He wanted to go back to Mexico this year, and I think that also accelerated the process. It’s good for him and I wish him all of the best.”
The combination of inherent ability and visible toil prepare Salcedo for the challenges placed in front of him. He received praise from Mexico boss Miguel Herrera for his display in the first half of the defeat against the United States. He won admirers in Mexico and in Europe over the past few months for his performances for resurgent Chivas during the Clausura.
Everything is coming together for Salcedo now. His faith in himself allowed him to pursue an unorthodox road to the highest echelons of Mexican football. His current perch serves as his reward for the work expended over the past few years and as his motivation to maintain those standards as his climb continues.
