Taos standout Aidan Cserhat plans to head to Spain to take a crack at pro soccer

Aidan Cserhat, one of the nation's leading scorers, is nearing a crossroads in his young life.

The 16-year-old Taos High star will graduate Dec. 17 - three days after his 17th birthday - and move with his parents to Seville, Spain in an attempt to launch a professional soccer career. 

"We're going to move to Spain for a year," he said. "We're going to uproot our lives with the ultimate goal of (me) trying to play professional soccer. I have some connections, but it's kind of up in the air. I have to have an element of confidence. It really comes down to putting in the work and getting seen because there are some great players out there."

Cserhat actually spent his seventh-grade year in Seville, playing club soccer with his older brother, Niko, and learning to speak fluent Spanish. They will return to familiar surroundings in Seville as a starting point.

He explained the reason for the original trip: "My parents were bored and wanted us to have a higher quality of training. My mom talked the director (of a local team) to let us play. I developed as a player and in cultural diversity."

Before he leaves his hometown, however, the 6-foot-5, 185-pound forward has some business to settle with the Taos Tigers, who have a 14-2-1 record and are seeking a possible Class A-4A state championship. He not only leads New Mexico, but is No. 4 in the nation with 124 points and No. 5 with 49 goals.

Adding to the pressure he faces in every match as a top scorer, Cserhat has been named one of the top 60 senior athletes (all sports) in the country by USA Today.

"That (top 60) put some pressure on me that I wasn't used to," he said.

Despite the pressure, the Taos star has played brilliantly this year, scoring a career-high nine goals to go with three assists during a 12-2 mercy-rule victory over Bernalillo. He admitted, "I was kind of shocked. I didn't know I could ever do that. I expected that we would win 3-1, or 4-1."

He also dominated with four goals and one assist during a 5-3 victory over Santa Fe Prep.

Despite his prolific scoring, Cserhat displayed his humility when he stressed, "I have the easy part. They (teammates) deserve the credit just as much as I do."

Though the Taos star has a history with soccer dating back to age 3, he did not enjoy it at first.

He recalled, "I was told that I had a natural ability and gifts, but at first didn't like playing. I sat in a field and picked flowers. We played on a (bad) field that had dirt, sand and dandelions. It was a baseball park converted (to soccer) on Saturdays. I first started liking it at age 5."

Always a top student - he carries a 4.5 GPA - Cserhat skipped third grade and will actually graduate about a year and a half early.

Upon his return from Spain, he made the starting varsity lineup as an eighth-grader and scored 24 goals as a 12-year-old. His highlight game was scoring the winning goal in the closing seconds to beat Pojoaque 3-2 in double overtime.

"Even being so young, he was a dangerous player," noted Taos coach Michael Hensley, who has worked with Cserhat since he was around 5 years old. "He was a great goal scorer when he was 6. (Today) he is a big, strong, powerful player - an incredibly creative player - an all-around, really classy kid. He just needs 6 inches of space and can crack a shot. He is extremely unselfish."

At almost 6-6, Cserhat does not fit the stereotype of soccer players being small and fast.

Hensley agreed that normally "When we see a team with big guys, our eyes light up. It's going to be a fun day (to run rings around them). He doesn't fit what you think of as a typical soccer player."

The lanky Taos star explained, "I did a lot of early training on agility and the ability to control my body. With my size I don't lose many headers and can body people."

Cserhat's favorite memory from his freshman year was scoring one of 19 goals to nip archrival Robertson in double overtime. His sophomore year was a total nightmare, as he injured his back and grew 6 inches in 10 months and developing a painful case of Osgood schlatters. He was limited to just six games, though he did score 11 goals.

Recovered by spring, he helped the Rio Rapids 99 Boys team win the state championship, which the squad repeated the following spring.

That was a preview of his bounce-back junior year during which he scored 49 goals and had 19 assists in 20 games. His 117 points ranked fifth in the nation. Eight times he had three or more goals.

"I had no idea I was going to score that many goals," he added.

The Taos senior is quite cerebral and much more than a soccer player.

Hensley teaches art and has had his soccer leader in various classes. He said Cserhat is particularly good at fantasy art, drawing dragons and other creatures. Some of his artwork has been part of student displays shown at the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos and at the Mexico Student Art Show during the annual state fair.

In his earlier classes, Cserhat had to draw things such as humans, birds and animals and had to know the anatomy of each. He got bored, so the fantasy art turned him on and he particularly likes drawing dragons over the likes of fairies and goblins. Now he's doing oil painting, which he says is quite hard.

He said, "I've been told I'm a good artist, but I don't think I'm really good. They (the dragons) look real - if dragons are real. I have no idea what the art world is about, but I'm honored (to have some of his pictures on exhibit)."

He might even be a coach some day.

Hensley loves to tell the story about his senior star teaching a promising 11-year-old named Alex Waggoner.

Cserhat told him, "He (Waggoner) is so good, but he's such a pain (a competitor who argues about every little thing)."

Hensley was quick to point out, "They were exactly alike at that age. Both have a passion for the game. They love it. (Waggoner) isn't going to be as big but could be faster. Now he (Cserhat) is on the other end where he is the leader and mentor to younger kids."

Cserhat replied, "I love it. It's fun. They are goofy kids. I should pay back to our community. Now it's my turn to be a big kid. He (Waggoner) is a bit stubborn. He's a kid who never wants to be out and never wants to lose. As I've grown I've become more sportsmanlike."

Hensley believes his protege has a future in soccer, noting, "He's young enough and has the physical attributes to give it a try. He definitely has the skill and mindset if he can get the opportunity."

His club coach, Matt Gordon, said, "Aidan's game is much more than scoring goals. He creates a lot of things. He can go a long way in the game. He has the ability to adapt and learn. He certainly is a kid who can get to play at a high level."

What happens if Cserhat doesn't reach the pro level in Spain?

The thoughtful teenager replied, "If it doesn't work out, my plan B probably is going to college (to study sports medicine, economics or art) and college soccer. The picture becomes more clear as time goes on."