Alex Ramos, son of U.S. Soccer legend, Tab Ramos has left Iona College to sign professionally for Pachuca of the Mexican first division. As a sophomore at the New Rochelle, New York based college in January of this year, Ramos decided it was time for his next move.
But Ramos is no stranger to the professional soccer environment. Ramos is the son of current U20 U.S. Men's National Team Coach, Tab Ramos. After a decorated career at NC State, Tab moved on to play most notably for, UANL Tigres of Liga MX, NY/NJ Metrostars of the MLS, as well as Real Betis of Spain, who gained promotion to La Liga while Ramos was at the club.
Pachuca's newest signing out of the U.S. will look to leave his own mark on the game regardless of his father's career. #CollegeSoccerExposed caught up with Ramos to get his thoughts on his new life in Mexico.
Is playing professionally everything you expected?
Playing professionally is everything that I expected and more. There is no better feeling than getting paid to do what you love. Everything from the great grass fields, to the clothing/cleat sponsorship, to the facilities, doctors, gym, and just overall atmosphere around me is something I have always dreamed of. The speed of play and the level of players that I have played with here in Pachuca has already helped me improve tremendously. I really enjoy being in an environment where every person has the same goals and the same passion for futbol that I do. Now I am able to focus just on staying healthy and my performance on the field all hours of the day. This is everything that I have ever wanted and truly a humbling experience.
What are some of your goals moving forward in your career and do you plan on finishing your degree?
Some goals that I have going forward are: Make my debut for the 1st team here at Pachuca and play in Europe as well as returning to the US at some point to play in the MLS and of course representing my country in a World Cup. I do plan on finishing my college degree. Right now I am just focusing on getting to the highest level that I can on the pitch but a degree is something that I have always wanted to have and will have when the right time comes.
Why did you leave Iona?
Having a father who is very well known in this sport has been very helpful to me throughout my career. I am sure that there are people who expect more from me or assume that I am going to be something that I may not be. I try not to think about those kinds of things and just focus on what is important. This is something that I have dealt with my whole career so far and at this point it is normal to me for the bar to be set high. I have been given many opportunities to prove myself because of my last name and for that I am very thankful. But overall the pressure that I feel is not as high as some may expect. My dad has accomplished so many great things in his soccer career and now is my chance to make the best of my career. As of right now I am just focused on creating my own identity and working as hard as I can to improve.
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Leaving college was not a very difficult decision for me because it just was not where my head was at. I did enjoy the thought of getting a great education while continuing my soccer career at the same time but my dreams had gotten in my way. Soccer is so much more than a game to me. It is something I have been able to rely on from the day that I was born. Fortunately for me I have seen what the life of a professional soccer player is like first hand for my entire life and I have never for one second thought I've wanted to be anything other than that. No matter how good or bad things are going for me I have always been able to rely on soccer to assist me in forgetting about the world and just enjoying myself. On the field is where I feel the most comfortable. I could not say no when the opportunity to fulfill my dreams was given to me.
What kind of presumptions come with your last name in regard to soccer?
Stayed tuned for the next edition of the "Skipping College" series where we expose the reasons young professionals leave college for the pro's as told by the players.
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