On top of his summer
commitments with N.D.G., Julian is also captain of the Vanier
College soccer team.
But it doesn't
stop there. Not even close.
When he's not
hitting the books in an attempt to complete his pure-and-applied
science degree at Vanier, and when he's not sleeping, Julian
gives back to the grass roots of soccer that cultivated
his love for the game.
He serves as
an assistant coach for the indoor women's soccer team at
College Andre-Grasset, but his most gratifying extra-curricular
work comes from helping kids in his home town. He runs an
athletics program for an hour a week at Cartierville's Francois-de-Laval
elementary school, and he also coached an Under-15 boys'
team in the Salaberry Soccer Federation.
"That's
the soccer association that raised me," Julian said.
Though his own
coaches at N.D.G. and Vanier are begging Julian to stop
coaching and concentrate on his own career, he refuses to
listen, because his soccer career is thriving, anyway.
Last year, as
part of the Quebec all-star team that was competing in the
national All-Star Championships, Julian grew up as a soccer
player. By his own admission, the pressure of the national
stage got to him at first, and it affected his play.
But in the tournament
final, with the game going to penalty kicks, Julian was
tabbed by his coach to be Quebec's final kicker.
With Quebec up
by one goal, Julian put his penalty in to clinch the title,
although the gravity of the situation escaped him at first.
"I just
turned around and thought: 'Great, I scored.' I didn't realize
I had just won us the national championship," he recalled.
"But then I saw all my teammates running toward me,
and I realized what happened."
Being awarded
the Ballon D'Or this year, however, was even more special
for Julian because he won it despite having the league's
leading scorer - Esi Shehaj - on his team.
For Julian, it
was a validation of all the intangibles he brings to a team
as its last line of defence, a role that is valuable, but
often overlooked.
"I'm basically
the director, because I can see all the players, so I'm
there to tell everyone what's going on," he said. "There's
a lot of pressure on my position, you have to deal (with
the fact) you can't make any major mistakes."
In the eyes of
the kids he coaches, it's doubtful Julian makes any mistakes
at all.
To see Alejandro
Julian in action, click
on this link. (High-speed internet required.)
© The Gazette
(Montreal) 2004
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