MEET THE COACHES: WALTER ALTAMIRANO
You’ve seen him on the field, and you may have chatted with him after practices.
But did you know Joük Founder and Head Coach Walter Altamirano is also a visual artist and a former marathon runner? Or that he made it onto a professional soccer club’s junior team when he was just 8 years old?
Read on to find out more!
Coach Walter playing futsal in the streets of Guayaquil, Ecuador as a child
Growing Up:
FROM:
California
HERITAGE:
My mother is from Honduras and father from Ecuador.
My grandfather played soccer professionally in Ecuador, and he passed on his passion for futbol to my father, and then to me.
He was also the first to notice I had a knack for futbol, and took me at 8 years old to try out for Filanbanco, a professional club in Ecuador.
Wanting to make my grandfather proud, I managed to make the team, along with 17 other footballers, out of 250+ participants. That was my introduction to competitive soccer.
Photos below: Coach Walter as a small child/ His first and favorite team, “The Warthogs”/ Practicing in his family’s yard/ With the Pumas-UNAM team he played on during high school.
Coaching Soccer:
Walter founded Joük in 2018 after coaching at various public and private schools and a non-profit in New York City.
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT COACHING IS…
Interacting with children and helping them unlock their unlimited potential as footballers.
WHAT I STRIVE TO TEACH KIDS IS….
Confidence in their own ability to achieve their goals and dreams.
Soccer Favorites:
FAVORITE SOCCER PLAYER OF ALL TIME:
Messi, Ronaldo, and Hagi
FAVORITE LANGUAGE(S) FOR PLAYING SOCCER:
Spanish and English
SOCCER MUSIC:
Salsa and merengue, but any music that moves you is perfect for futbol.
FAVORITE SOCCER MOVIE:
As a kid, my favorite movie was “Victory,” because Pelé starred in it.
If you watch it, don’t mind Sylvester Stallone as a goalkeeper!
FAVORITE SOCCER MOVE:
Messi Sidestep
FAVORITE PLACE TO PLAY SOCCER:
I can play soccer anywhere as long as there are other footballers around.
FAVORITE FOOD TO EAT AFTER PLAYING:
My Mom’s caldo de res with white rice on the side, or yuca with chicharrón.
FAVORITE GAME OF ALL TIME:
My father would play futsal in Fontana, California with a bunch of retired footballers, including some ex-professionals. I remember watching them play a championship game against a much younger team and beating them decisively.
What impressed me the most and has stuck with me all these years, was the team synergy and jovial approach to the game. I could hear them joking and laughing, addressing each other by nicknames, and really having fun.
At one point in the game, something incredible happened, Alvarado, a large man, 5’11” and near 200 lbs, past his “prime”, ex-professional footballer, received a pass near the opponents goal, trapped the ball, turned to face the defender, and fake shot three times, every time making the defender flinch. Then he casually flicked the ball up to the defender’s face, making the defender instinctually catch the ball with his hands in the penalty area, drawing a penalty kick. The crowd went crazy and all I could hear was Alvarado in his deep booming voice laughing, knowing very well his “picardía” had won the day. Amazing!
(Picardía= a Spanish futbol word that expresses creativity mixed with playful trickiness).
IF I WERE IN CHARGE OF FIFA, I WOULD…:
Invest more into educational programs to help children around the world reach a higher level of literacy.
WORDS OF WISDOM:
“Live in the present, be grateful, and enjoy the journey.”
One of Walter’s paintings
OTHER HOBBIES:
Walter has also run marathons, and loves cycling and swimming, as well as cooking delicious meals.
He’s a visual artist with a current fellowship at the Newington Cropsey Foundation. (See his art on Instagram @Waltamirano_fineart, and here.)
Last but not least, he’s a big fan of hanging out with his family’s puppy, Odin. Oh, and Odin also has Instagram! @odinthebichon
Now that you know more about him, come out and meet Coach Walter on the field this season!
