It's been a whirlwind few days for Christian Ramírez. After several days of wondering where he'd land after being waived by the LA Galaxy, he found out Austin FC was his new home at 3 pm Pacific time on Thursday.
By 8 pm, he was on a flight to Central Texas.
"I got in and I had medicals and everything done Friday," he explained after Sunday's 1-0 win over D.C. United, in which he scored less than 15 minutes after coming on as a sub and providing a much-needed breakthrough. "I had a light training session yesterday. It's been hectic, but one thing with this game, it brings people together."
Ramírez acknowledged that while it's been an emotional week — starting with being waived from the Galaxy shortly after starting in their Feb. 19 Concacaf Champions Cup match in Panamá — he's grateful for the new opportunity.
"That's probably the toughest thing, not knowing for basically a whole week before, where we're going," he said, noting that he didn't let his kids know until they had a new destination set. (They appeared on the field with him after the match for the Man of the Match ceremony, but won't make Austin their official new home until the school year concludes.)
"So holding that thing onto your chest with you and your wife, a lot of emotions every night, a lot of what ifs, where at, looking at different locations, and then a sense of relief," he said. "I've earned everything that's come my way in this career, and continue to be humbled in every aspect, and I'm really excited for this journey."
Austin FC head coach Nico Estévez, during his post-match press conference, acknowledged that he didn't have much time to get his new striker acclimated, but felt he was needed as a 68th-minute sub given the game state.
"The way that the game was going, we felt like we needed someone like him," Estévez said. "I think the center backs were marking Myrto [Uzuni] really well, and it was difficult. I think having another forward will free another one. And sometimes life is this way. This is why soccer is so unpredictable and so beautiful, that a player that has trained one day with us and we signed came in and helped the team."
