Meet Christian Marin Diaz | Soccer Coach/Trainer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christian Marin Diaz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christian, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
For me, the most important factor is honesty. I’ve worked hard, been resilient, studied the game, but the truth is I have a good heart and parents and kids feel that. I don’t coach for money—I coach because I care about every kid I train. I want them to improve as players and grow as people.

I was born and raised in Fuengirola, Málaga, Spain, and I started playing for Atlético Fuengirola at just 5 years old in the Pre-Benjamín and Benjamín divisions. At 10, I moved to UD Fuengirola and played Alevín. At first, I was terrible. I was fast, so they put me in defense, but I spent a lot of time on the bench and I remember crying because I wasn’t playing much.

At age 12, in Infantil, my coach Chico gave me my first real chance—he laughed when I asked to play as a striker, but that laugh pushed me to prove him wrong. In my first year as a forward, I scored 15 goals and we won the league. The next year, I scored 30 goals and we finished second, right behind Málaga CF. That same year, I was selected for the Málaga State Team (Selección Malagueña), where I scored two goals in the Andalucía youth championship that we ended up winning. In that team were players like Juan Rodríguez, who later played for Málaga CF, Getafe, and Deportivo de La Coruña.

At 14, I signed for Málaga CF Youth Academy (Cadete division), where I played two years. At 16, I moved up to Malaga CF/San Félix (Juvenil Liga Nacional), then at 17 joined Puerto Malagueño (Juvenil División de Honor), and at 18 played for the first team of UD Fuengirola. At 19, I suffered a big injury that forced me to stop for nearly a year.

In 2004, I moved to the U.S., played semi-pro for L.A. Blues and Orange County Blue Star until 2007, and then earned a full scholarship at California Baptist University, where I played until 2010.

That journey taught me that development beats natural talent every time. That’s the same philosophy I bring to my business, Elite Soccer PK, where we run 1-on-1 soccer training and clinics in Encino, CA and the San Fernando Valley.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Elite Soccer PK is a true player development training academy. We don’t just take advanced players to look good—we work with everyone. Recreational players, pre-club, club, and even kids with special education needs. The goals are not the same for every kid. For some, it’s transitioning from recreational programs like AYSO to club level, preparing for tryouts, making the high school team, or even getting ready for college soccer. For others, it’s simply about building coordination, confidence, and living a healthier lifestyle.

Our philosophy is simple: we focus on making good people first, then well-balanced players. And if a player has the level and talent required to go to the next stage, we’ll polish them for it. But we don’t take shortcuts—we build strong foundations. Every player is different, so we adapt to them, not the other way around.

I started back in 2007 as Elite Soccer Personal Training, while I was studying and playing soccer at California Baptist University. At the beginning, I had just one private client a week. In 2015, we rebranded as Elite Soccer PK, and now, as of 2025, we train more than 25 private clients (1-on-1) every week and run seasonal clinics with 50+ kids in Encino and the San Fernando Valley. Over the years, I’ve personally coached over 1,000 players.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d start with the basics—Venice Beach, the canals, Santa Monica, and maybe a hike to the Hollywood sign. But honestly, whenever family or friends visit, I always end up taking them on a road trip. Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, San Francisco, and if we have more time, Big Sur or Sequoia National Park to see the redwoods and the giant Sequoias.

California and Nevada have some of the most beautiful nature in the world, and most people don’t take advantage of it. I’m a nature lover myself—I go camping at least twice a year. Being outdoors, disconnected from the craziness of LA, gives me joy and helps me recharge. That’s why whenever friends visit, I take them with me into nature. It’s the best way to slow down,

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A few coaches shaped me in very different parts of my life.

In Spain, it’s Coach Chico. He trained me for 2 years from age 12 to 13 in Infantil. He gave me the opportunity to move forward and trusted me. In just two years, I went from crying on the bench to signing for Málaga CF Academy. Without him, I would’ve never gotten that shot.

In the U.S., it’s Coach Shayon Jalayer and Coach Auggie at California Baptist University. They gave me one of only four full-ride scholarships that year. At first, I even turned it down because I just wanted to play soccer, but Auggie convinced me how important a degree would be. Looking back now, I’m so thankful I listened. Shayon gave me my first coaching experience running small clinic groups. Auggie gave me a team to coach, free equipment, and introduced me to 1-on-1 training. Without even knowing it, they planted the foundation for Elite Soccer PK.

Website: https://www.elitesoccerpk.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elitesoccerpk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EliteSoccerPK/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/elite-soccer-pk-encino-5

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ8HmXAlXCaecRnmRgVE68g