Zidane Yanez
Chapter 1: Zidane Yanez
The FIrst Chapter in our Footballing System of Development
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Once upon a quiet time, in a world that was moving fast, a little upside down, a young boy named Zidane came into a coach’s life and changed it forever. Before we even had a curriculum, a brand, or even a logo there was just a coach, who loved football and loved teaching the game. I had a dream and the fire to coaching the game of football, but no Navigational system in place. Just the process of my professional playing career and the courses and knowledge shared over 2 decades, I never took my opportunity for granted, so I studied hard to gain my coaching license to become a Professional football trainer. Goals of becoming a professional team coach. My football needed a system, a system that would put us on the Map of football. This is our story together, Zidane and his coach. A journey that has had wonderful memories, trials and tribulations, but we are here to share with you.
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One day, it all changed for me as a coach.
Zidane showed up to my program one afternoon. Six years old. Didn’t say much. Good evening, Coach Roger. My name is Zidane and off to the ball. He started juggling. No warm-up, just him and the ball. That was his thing, his relationship with the ball. Nothing could separate them.
His parents named him after the football legend Zidane. Yes, that’s right. Zi-Zou. One of the players I’ve admired dearly coming up as a player. Our first session was fun, the most important day is day 1 and the first impression we want to leave on you in learning the game.
On that first day I would do that. We made the connection, that connection was felt and to this day, we still laugh about the journey and how much we found out about ourselves together, I would love to learn this type of football. This is what my program is about. Creating an authentic space of development where it felt connected to you on a personal level.
Our Day 1: The Tied Shoe-Laces Test
When I was a player, my coach had one rule that always stuck with me: “Respect the game by how you tie your laces.” It sounds small, but it’s everything.
Sloppy laces? Sloppy mindset. But Zidane? His boots were always tied tight. One thing I can always remember, he was on time every day and excited to learn. His kit clean. Shirt- Shorts – Socks – Shoes. This is how he carried himself. He carried himself like a quiet storm, respectful, joyful, serious without saying a word. I noticed. And more importantly I felt it.
This kid wasn’t just talented. He had graceful. Humble. A quiet obsession. And in coaching him, I started to re-discover my love for the game. Not through perfection but through presence.
Our Day 2: Test the Player’s Mental Strength
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Zidane would stay through every session. Not just his. The next one. And the next. His dad would shout out, “Z, we gotta go mom’s waiting!” and he’d smile, wave, and ask for five more minutes. Five more touches. Five more juggles. This became the norm. Sessions ran late always. We never finished on time.
Mentally what I looked for was the player’s ability to comprehend and listen. How well did you listen? What did you understand?
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These two strengths showed a lot about a player’s ability to grow. And I began to prepare each day not because I had to but because he would show up excited about what is Coach Roger going to teach today. Happy. Ready. Focused. He reminded me why I started coaching in the first place
With Every Year Forward I kept demanding more of myself and Zidane. We continued our journey to hard work in the game we love so much, we created a team called the Braves together and it was the first team he played on, I built the team from scratch and coached using my footballing knowledge.
Joining the Team -Four Year fast forward we entered the Pandemic. A moment we will all remember. At this time Zidane was playing with Ironbound and Red Bulls. He was now 10 years old. Full of joy and loving football.
The Pandemic Plan: A Live Session that Changed Everything
One day, during a global pause, he whispered, "Coach, let’s go live. Let’s show players we can keep working hard despite our circumstances. “Four years later, in the middle of the pandemic, Zidane had an idea: Instagram Live. Let’s teach people about football your way.
I agreed. But here’s the truth, I saw it as a chance to showcase myself. My methods. My talent. My program. My Ego kicked in. That’s what I brought into the session. But Zidane? He brought joy.
We planned out the session together. He wanted to start with juggling. I agreed, “Let’s do that first,” he said. It mattered to him. So, we started there. Juggling(A) – Warm-up (B) – Ball Mastery(C) – Finishing (D)
THE LIVE SESSION: Nerves, Sweat & My Ego
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His dad Claudio holding the phone recording live. His brothers watching from the side. His mom, Lisa offering water and quiet support. And me? Sweating indoors with the air conditioner on. Nerves on fire.
The room slowly fills. First 10. Then 50. Then 85. Then 200+.
Zidane starts juggling, messes up a bit. I panicked. I start coaching immediately. Let’s focus on smaller touches, show your creativity more with your freestyle ability. Show off a little, so the viewers can feel engaged.
Great start. Everyone’s engaged and commenting. Now it’s time to implant my new idea. Let’s go to the warm – up and we are going to focus on movement without the ball and how we are going to use the movement to align with the ball mastery in what’s coming next. Zidane looked at his dad recording and asked, can Coach repeat what we are doing?
Yes! I created a new pattern of movement called the Zig Zag. Which is now aligned in my system of movement.
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15 minutes into the Session. The Zig Zag movement was born
On the spot, I called an audible, “Let’s draw a double Z on the field for your next exercise, movement without the ball, scan and then feints at every cone so your movement isn’t predictable. Repeat it 3 times
Focus on moving slow so everyone can see the details with my work and your ability.
Zidane paused. Looked at his dad. “Can you tell Coach to say it again?”
Claudio calmly translated the drill, step by step. Zidane nodded. And he executed it like a symphony. That’s when I realized: this wasn’t my masterpiece, It was ours.
The intensity of the session grew as viewer kept commenting. No water break. No pause. Just me, recreating everything I planned out and changing it all on the spot. While the 10-year-old, remained calm and continue to follow my directions.
30 minutes into the Session. His Mother, Lisa His Father, Claudio. The Defining Moment
His mother Lisa whispered to him, “Just have fun, Z.”
Coach Roger, Breathe. You’re doing great. It was as if she could sense my nerves and found a way to calm me down, it was as if I was being coached that day.
His father stepped in, always ready to help when Zidane asked for clarification. He translated my frantic instructions with clarity. He’s such a great supporter always. What an incredible individual.
They helped me. Mom was so calm. Dad was so clear. The Coach. The one who was supposed to have it all together. I didn’t!
As we progressed further into the session, my nerves grew further. This wasn’t about training. Or ego. Or even about being seen.
The Queen’s Way was being created Live.
As the viewers grew to over 200, I was a mess, fumbling my words, forgetting my coaching points, panicking in front of the screen. But Zidane? He was present. Joyful. Composed. It was a great lesson for me in humility.
THE LIVE SESSION: Nerves, Sweat & My Ego
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Puerto Rico, Chile and United States. He chose to represent Chile, where his father was born. He went on to win the Golden Shoe for the most goals in South America at 16 years old. He was later signed to the NYCFC first team with terms to move overseas by 18 years old.
Chile just qualified for the Youth World Cup and Zidane played a role in helping Chile qualify by leading in goals for the second time around the world for youth players.
This is Zidane’s story. The young boy who is living his dream. The family who help me find my way. We built an honest relationship, and 11 years later I am able to still get a phone call to say hey Coach. I am going to come to the younger class to give back what I’ve learned and share my story with the kids in the program.
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We are all unique in our own way and with our process of Slow is fast. We’ve been able to create more stories of success and remain humble because of the Queen’s way.
Our Motto was born:
We, not Me.
Slow is Fast.
Grace over grind.Joy over ego.
Graceful hearts. Prepared laces. Fearless play. This is how we found The Queen’s Way.
What started as a pandemic training session turned into a philosophy, a system, a new way of teaching football through purpose, vision, routines and grace.
We displayed a session for 45 mins live, while everyone watched, commented and critique everything possible. A system was born from the truth. We are all looking for direction in football. A clear Map where we are not constantly lost. The ability to unlock your kid’s true potential with key training methods. And find success in what you love and stay humble by respecting the game and how we can leave it better than we found it. The Queen’s way.
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