Soro Coach Zizou, in his own words. Published close to verbatim.I started playing soccer at the age of 3 in Aubervilliers, in the suburbs of Paris, and joined my first club at the age of 4. After moving to the East of France, I joined FC Yutz, where I played at the regional level until the age of 13. I then moved to USAG Uckange, competing at a higher regional level for two seasons.
After returning to Paris, I was recruited by the Quimper Kerfeunteun FC academy (west of France), where I began competing at the national level. During this period, I had the opportunity to be coached by Ronan Salaün. This experience introduced me to a much more demanding and competitive environment and taught me the importance of discipline, consistency, and mental toughness.
After returning to Aubervilliers, I continued developing through different trials and academies, including the AC Milan Camp in Milan, PSG Academy tryouts, and FC Miami. I eventually joined Amnéville FC, competing at the National 3 level in France. During a match, I was recruited by SC Bettembourg in Luxembourg, where I played semi-professionally under contract for 10 months, with an option to extend if the club reached the professional division.
Following this period, I spent several years training independently and pursuing opportunities internationally. I traveled to Algeria, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, and Switzerland, participating in different trials, camps, and competitive opportunities. These experiences, including both successes and setbacks, helped me develop resilience and a deeper understanding of the mentality required to pursue soccer at a high level.
I later pursued opportunities in the United States, attending training camps and trials with organizations including the Portland Timbers and Philadelphia Union. After the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted that process, I returned to France before eventually receiving an opportunity to play college soccer in the United States.
My U.S. college career began at a junior college in Kansas. After one year, I transferred to a community college in Virginia, where I helped the team win both the district and conference championships and qualify for the national tournament.
I then continued my career at Temple University (NCAA Division I) before transferring to Doane University in Nebraska, where I competed at the NAIA level for two seasons while completing my degree.
After graduating, I moved to San Diego and continued my soccer journey while beginning my coaching career at North County Soccer Park (NCSP).
My playing career has taken me through youth soccer, regional and national competition in France, semi-professional soccer in Europe, international trials, and college soccer in the United States. Because of this journey, I understand both the technical and mental challenges young players face when trying to reach the next level.
Home > Coaches
Meet the coaches.
Two coaches. Both on the field, every session.
Soro Futbol runs on two people. Coach Ray founded the academy and leads group training. Coach Zizou is the private training specialist. Neither of them sends someone else to do the session.
Coach Ray
Founder and Head Coach · Group TrainingCoach Ray grew up playing in San Diego. He played in Sweden, Germany and Spain, then came home and started coaching skills sessions at North County Soccer Park. He went out on his own with a handful of players. When NCSP put in its turf fields, he brought Soro Futbol back there for good.
He places players by experience and pace of play, not just age. That is the argument the whole group program rests on, and it is why a session works with a real range of ability in it.
“I truly love my job. Helping young players improve, gain confidence, and reach goals they once thought were impossible is what makes Soro Futbol so meaningful to me.”
“I'm not only a futbol coach. I believe that futbol relates to life, and with that being said, I always give my best effort on and off the pitch.”
“Can you show up and give your best? Can you stay on task? Those are the only two requirements I really have with my players.”
Coach Ray, on who gets into the program
“They knew I was going to show up and I was going to be there doing the work most of the time, like from the owner.”
Coach Zizou
Private Training SpecialistCoach Zizou started playing at three years old in Aubervilliers, outside Paris, and joined his first club at four. He came up through FC Yutz and USAG Uckange, then was recruited into the Quimper Kerfeunteun FC academy, where he competed at the national level and trained under Ronan Salaün.
He went on to Amnéville FC at the National 3 level in France. He was recruited out of a match by SC Bettembourg in Luxembourg and played there semi-professionally under contract for ten months.
He played college soccer in the United States at Temple University in NCAA Division I and at Doane University in Nebraska, where he competed at the NAIA level for two seasons while finishing his degree. He moved to San Diego after graduating and began coaching at North County Soccer Park.
“As a coach, my goal is to use those experiences to help players develop their technical ability, confidence, discipline, decision-making, and understanding of the game, while also teaching them how to handle setbacks and continue improving. I want players to understand that development is not always a straight path, and that every experience positive or negative can become part of their growth as a player and as a person.”
“If I could not become the professional player I dreamed of being, I want to help develop the players who can.”
Coach Zizou, from his own write-up
Why I coach
From the moment I started playing soccer, my dream was always to become a professional player. I dedicated a huge part of my life to that goal, constantly pushing myself, moving to different clubs, attending academies, traveling to different countries, going through countless tryouts, and competing at different levels in both Europe and the United States.
I experienced opportunities, successes, injuries, disappointments, and many moments where things did not go the way I hoped. I was never afraid to start over or take another opportunity, because becoming a professional soccer player was always the goal. Unfortunately, despite all the work, sacrifices, and years of dedication, that dream ultimately did not become a reality.
However, I don't see my journey as a failure. Everything I experienced taught me valuable lessons about the game, but also about discipline, confidence, resilience, preparation, and what it truly takes to pursue a career in soccer.
Today, my goal has changed: if I could not become the professional player I dreamed of being, I want to help develop the players who can.
I want to use everything I learned throughout my journey to help young players avoid the mistakes I made, understand what it takes to reach the next level, and most importantly, believe in themselves.
Read his full story
One of Coach Ray's first ten players is now a U.S. Youth National Team player.
Kayleigh Cabigon started with Soro Futbol in its very first year. Coach Ray has worked with her ever since, and watching her development has been one of the proudest parts of his coaching career. It is proof to him that the vision behind Soro Futbol was possible. She is now a U.S. Youth National Team player, a Nike athlete, and a UCLA commit.
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Soro Futbol trains front and center at North County Soccer Park. Parents watch from the sideline. Come by, or start with a free trial.