Moments before the opening whistle of last Sunday's game against FC Dallas, Chivas USA midfielder Gerson Mayen was nervous. The Los Angeles native was about to make his debut in the Red-and-White's starting XI.
Mayen had been working hard with the team all preseason and had even played well in scrimmages, but this was an official game; this one counted.
"I was a little nervous, but after a few minutes I got over it," said Mayen. "I was just happy to make my debut. I've worked really hard this last year and to be with the first team is a dream come true."
Mayen set his sights on a first-team appearance with Chivas USA when he joined the team's youth system back in 2006. A standout for two years on head coach Sacha van der Most's U-18 squad, Mayen was invited to preseason with the first team in 2008. Strong performances there earned him a developmental contract with the Red-and-White just before the start of the season.
Born in Los Angeles to El Salvadoran parents, the 20-year-old Mayen has spent his whole life playing soccer in southern California.
"I grew up playing in L.A. on dirt fields," he said. "One year, I played in the state cup and some Olympic Development coaches took a look at me. That's where I got my chance to start playing somewhere else."
Mayen spent most of his first season with the Red-and-White reserve team where he made 10 starts and played in 12 games. This year, he has made great strides toward challenging for a spot in the starting XI.
"At the end of last season, the coaches told me to get stronger and I'd improve," said Mayen. "So I got a personal trainer and stayed in shape in the offseason. This year, I see the results from the hard work I did."
Mayen isn't the only one to see marked improvement in his game.
"He's been developing and we've been very patient with him," said Chivas USA head coach Preki. "This year he's actually been working extra hard to get himself fit, to get himself in shape, and it's a good thing to see a young player like that step into his first game in his professional career and contribute, and the team wins -- it's really nice to see."
Mayen is pleased with a debut performance that saw him notch an assist on Eduardo Lillingston's opening goal in the 2-0 victory, but he has no plans to rest on his laurels.
"I'm conscious of the fact that I haven't earned a permanent spot in the staring XI," he said. "But I'm going to keep working hard and hopefully I will soon. I think my assist in the first game was a good start."
While Mayen may still have a lot to learn, he has proved to both himself and his teammates that he has a bright future.
"For a young guy, Mayen has really stepped in," said Chivas USA captain Jesse Marsch. "He came from our youth system a year ago and you could see he was a talented kid.
"This year specifically, throughout preseason and through the beginning of the season now, he's kind of impressed a lot of guys on our team and shown that he deserves to be here and is going to challenge for spots on the field."
Jeffrey King is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
