Jose Gallegos starts most weekdays training with San Antonio FC at the team’s practice facility across the street from Toyota Field.

After a quick lunch, he travels nearly half an hour south to downtown San Antonio for classes at Central Catholic.

Gallegos, an 18-year-old senior, has been balancing the life of a high school student with daily training since he joined San Antonio FC on a USL Academy player agreement last April. The demands only grew when he signed a multiyear professional contract with the club last week.

Instead of sharing a normal seven- or eight-period day with his classmates, Gallegos said he spends three class periods covering the basics like math, science and history. With the Buttons’ fourth consecutive state title already secured, Gallegos has one less activity to fit into his day.

Still, Gallegos’ schedule will require some juggling until he graduates in May, with San Antonio FC set to open its season with a matchup against Real Monarchs SLC at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Toyota Field.

“It definitely is tough, especially on days like this when it’s a little more work,” Gallegos said. “But if you want to succeed in soccer, there are things you need to do.”

Knowing he would face an abbreviated academic day during the year, Gallegos earned one of his English credits last summer.

Central Catholic soccer coach Edward Cartee said he never asked Gallegos to push through SAFC and Buttons practice on the same day, especially knowing Gallegos still had homework and other responsibilities.

“It took a lot of maturity and responsibility for him to take advantage of the opportunity he was provided,” Cartee said. “A lot of time, people focus on the glamour of, ‘Oh, he had this unique opportunity,’ and he did. But not everyone who even does have a comparable level of talent would’ve been able to handle himself the way Jose did.”

Gallegos was involved in San Antonio FC’s Elite Training Program since the start of his time at Central Catholic, meaning he would miss one or two Buttons practices per week to train with some of San Antonio’s other top talent in the club’s developmental system.

After Gallegos moved up to daily training with the San Antonio FC first team under an unpaid academy deal last season, he rarely participated in Buttons practice. Instead, Cartee met with Gallegos to bring him up to speed on Central Catholic’s formations and tactics.

Cartee said Gallegos showed humility through his opportunity, making the situation easier on his teammates. When Gallegos scored, he typically sprinted over to the bench area to celebrate with the rest of the Buttons.

He had plenty of opportunity to do so, scoring both goals in Central Catholic’s fourth consecutive TAPPS state championship last month.

“I don’t know that it would’ve worked with a team that doesn’t have as strong of a chemistry as ours or someone who has a different personality than Jose,” Cartee said. “Everyone knows that he was deserving of the opportunity he was being given. It’s not like he was slacking off. While they were working, he was working, so everyone accepted it. It was a really unique, but very successful, dynamic.”

Gallegos earned his first taste of professional soccer last season, playing 600 minutes across 14 matches for SAFC and tallying one goal, one assist and 11 chances created.

First-year San Antonio head coach Alen Marcina, who was an assistant on last season’s staff, said Gallegos adjusted to the challenges of practice with the first team much quicker than most players in his position.

Defender Joshua Yaro said Gallegos proved that his impact was much larger than his 5-foot-6 frame, even if Gallegos admits he felt some nerves.

During a match against Reno on June 8, Gallegos checked in at halftime with San Antonio trailing 2-1. SAFC drew even in the 61st minute, and Gallegos netted the game-winning goal one minute later.

“He has that kind of talent to be able to change games,” Yaro said. “There’s no doubt if you see him, he’s a special player. You see him play, and you wouldn’t think he’s as young as he is. ... He’s earned everything he’s got, and he always comes here with the right mindset.”

In San Antonio FC’s practices ahead of the 2020 season, Yaro can see that Gallegos has improved because of the confidence that comes with last year’s experience.

Marcina, too, said Gallegos has “been progressing at a very fast rate,” scoring three goals during San Antonio’s four preseason matches and holding his own when placed opposite MLS squads.

“We see not only can Jose contribute to SAFC, but we see a bright future ahead of him that he can progress in his career beyond SAFC,” Marcina said.

For a time, Gallegos considered the college route, saying N.C. State was atop the list of potential schools. But after talking the decision over with his family and Cartee, Gallegos said he made the “tough call” to choose the professional ranks, which allow for more hours of training alongside more seasoned players.

He already sees himself playing faster and more tactically than when he first stepped on the pitch for SAFC — a development process he hopes to continue after signing his first contract last week.

“It’s something I’ve always dreamed of as a kid, and for it to finally come true is just a blessing,” Gallegos said. “This is hopefully just a stepping stone for me. Who knows what comes next in the near future.”

greg.luca@express-news.net

Twitter: @GregLuca