From the NPSL to Published Author: The Story of Carlos Mojica
Former NPSL Communications Coordinator Carlos Mojica has had quite the journey in the beautiful game. He has done so much in his career, and the past 13 years have been packed full of soccer at every level. Today, Mojica is also a published author, with Goal!: Awesome Soccer Stories and Fun Facts for Kids coming out earlier this month. The book, published by becker&mayer! Kids, is a culmination of an illustrious career in soccer.
“I think my main motivation for writing the book was being able to pass some of what I’ve learned over the years in soccer down to the younger generations,” Mojica said. “I’ve been lucky enough to witness the sport from different vantage points: as a kid playing soccer, as a supporter from the stands, a beat writer from the press box, as a communications manager, a press officer, a media officer. It has allowed me to really absorb the game over the years.”
Mojica spent four years as a beat writer and English editor for CentroDeportivo, covering MLS, U.S. Soccer, and international matches from 2013 through 2016. It was just the beginning, as he learned the tools of the journalism and media trade.
During 2015 and 2016, Mojica worked in media relations and Hispanic community outreach with NPSL side AFC Cleveland. He was there when the Royals claimed the 2016 NPSL National Championship in front of a sellout crowd in Independence, Ohio. This game was a pivotal experience for Mojica.
“That’s just a moment that will always be special because it was the first time that I got to experience winning a championship with a team, actively contributing to the club. We hosted the match, so we did all the work behind the scenes. We won 4-2 against the Sonoma County Soland, and it was just a fun day. Our fans loved it.”
Mojica’s experience in the NPSL was valuable, providing him with foundational skills that would definitely be put to use later in his career.
“The NPSL gave me the chance to try different things, try different ideas and see what worked and what didn’t work. It also gave me a chance to experience what it was like to be with the team, traveling with the staff, being around the players. It taught me that no matter what level you’re at, you have to take everything with seriousness and treat it professionally.”
Mojica would join the league office, spending one year as Communications Coordinator before joining the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer (MLS). He would hold this position for almost six years. His championship ways continued with the Crew as they claimed the 2020 MLS Cup.
“There are a lot of l significant memories that I have from my time with the Crew, some of them off the field. I think the one that’s in my head is obviously winning the 2020 MLS Cup because we were able to win in a year that was marred with a lot of off-the-field issues. COVID just provided a challenge to everyone in every sport and every facet of life. So, to be able to win that game at Crew Stadium in what was going to be the last full season there, was very, very special. It felt very cathartic, and standing on the stage when we were awarded the trophy was a once in a lifetime experience. I didn’t think I would get to do that, and I can still remember [Crew President and General Manager] Tim Bezbatchenko telling me to go up there. I still have my winner’s medal from that.”
Mojica was a beloved member of the Crew’s front office staff and a favorite among players and media alike. His professional demeanor earned the respect of everyone he interacted with at the club.
Mojica was also part of important events like the 2021 Concacaf Champions League and 2021 Campeones Cup. He helped launch Columbus Crew 2, the Crew’s MLS NEXT Pro side. And the launch was successful to say the very least.
“Launching Crew 2 was unique because I got to oversee every communications aspect of launching this new side,” Mojica said. “That was very rewarding, and the fact that we won the MLS NEXT Pro Cup that year made it even more memorable.”
After leaving the Crew, Mojica would continue to work on high-profile events like the Gira Tres Estrellas/Tres Estrellas Tour, Leagues Cup, 2024 MLS All-Star Game, and Concacaf Gold Cup. He has remained a vital part of the Columbus, Ohio community, and has served as Communications and Marketing Manager for Columbus Recreation and Parks Department for over three years.
Giving back to the community has always been a major part of Mojica’s life, and writing the book is just another way to do just that.
“I felt sharing something, writing something for kids would be a good way to contribute to the sport,” Mojica said.
Writing a book is something Mojica has always wanted to do. And it’s satisfying crossing it off his bucket list at such a young age.
“When I was in high school and college, I always wanted to be a writer. I had the opportunity to contribute to an academic textbook a couple of years ago called Advertising in America. It’s written by Dr. Danielle Sarver Coombs, and I wrote an article about the importance of multilingualism in advertising. So that was my first opportunity to contribute, but I didn’t know I would be publishing my own book a few years later.”
Mojica’s immense success in soccer made the next step of writing a book about soccer a logical choice. One of the challenges behind Goal! was selecting the key players to be featured in the book. It’s a daunting task selecting players from all over the world and from different parts in history.
“When it came to choosing the players, I think that’s a list that I’ve been working on since I was a kid,” Mojica said. “Whether you work in sports or not, if you’re a sports fan, you have your list of who you think the greatest players are, who the most influential players are. And while Goal! is not a definitive list of the greatest soccer players of all time, the players in the book provide a good sample of some of the greats of the game that have captured the imagination of supporters. I included players from all over the world, both men and women, to truly represent how global the game is. It was definitely hard to narrow it down.”
His past experience as a journalist helped him through the process of actually writing a book.
“As far as the transition to being an author, I think having been a journalist before helped me a bit. During the writing process, I had to be very regimented with my writing. I had to set time aside and not do other things or pursue other projects and make the book my top priority. I think it definitely taught me how to edit more because my original manuscript was a lot longer, but you only have so many pages. The Quarto Group team did a great job providing me feedback and supporting me, and ultimately, I think that this is a book that’s true to my vision.”
Mojica’s book is geared towards children, and the best part is that this text will spark discussions between children and their parents or even their friends.
“There were some players that I really liked that maybe didn’t make the cut,” Mojica said. “But I think that’s part of the beauty of the game – it sparks those conversations. A player that I consider to be in my top 10 may not be in your top 10. And so those debates begin. I remember being a kid and telling my dad how much I liked Paolo Maldini. And he would say, Maldini is great, but I think Franco Baresi is better. So, we would have those debates. Both players are featured in my book, so hopefully my dad will be happy about that!”
His love for soccer is a longstanding passion that began in his early years.
“I remember being aware of the 1994 World Cup in the U.S. I was still in El Salvador, but I remember it being on TV,” Mojica said. “Although I didn’t watch it, it sparked my interest. I began to pay attention to the sport, and a few years after that, there was this Brazilian guy named Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, and I recall just being mesmerized watching him.”
“Around that time, I began to play in the streets,” Mojica continued. “I would come home and put the Champions League on after school, although originally I was actually upset that they would play that instead of cartoons. But I started watching it, and I really liked it. I remember watching the Juventus team from the mid-to-late 90s with Alessandro Piero and Zinedine Zidane, the Real Madrid team before the Galácticos era, and so that really fostered my love for the sport. El Salvador had an ultimately unsuccessful campaign to reach the 1998 World Cup, and I remember watching those matches and talking about the national team with my dad quite a bit. He would tell me about who he used to watch, we would watch games together, so that’s where my passion for soccer began.”
Releasing Goal! in a World Cup year is a no-brainer, as the interest and hype surrounding soccer has never been stronger in our country. And having Mojica write it was also a no-brainer. His journey in the game should serve as an inspiration to anyone who finds the beauty in the beautiful game and anyone who dreams big. NPSL alum Carlos Mojica had big dreams when it came to soccer, and he has achieved those dreams and experienced great success in the game he loved so much.
Photo Credit: Ric Kruszynski and Brent Durken
