At 21, Diego Aspiras is just beginning to chart his football career. His passion and competitiveness are fueling his drive to succeed.
When he was only seven years old, Diego Aspiras found out the hard way just how competitive he was. He and his best friend were playing a card game, and his friend won. Incensed by the defeat, Diego demanded that they play again. The friend handily beat him again.
“I didn’t speak to him for like three weeks,” Diego laughingly told The GAME.
It’s this mindset that has helped Diego get to where he is today. He turned pro as a teenager, eschewing the usual path of playing in the college ranks before making the jump to the Philippines Football League (PFL), and recently had a three-month stint for a club in Spain. If he hadn’t chosen the path less traveled, if he hadn’t let his desire to win at everything dictate his career choices, he might have been stuck in mediocrity.
“I’ll do anything to win,” he said. “I mean, end of the day, that’s what I need to do when I play football. The reason I play is to win. I feel like that’s what I am, and even at a young age, I feel like I can offer a lot in terms of leadership already, and just having that mentality to continue pushing.
“I mean, that’s how I am as a player and as a person. Even if you do good, you could always do better. Obviously, it’s good to celebrate those small wins and to think of you’re good, but at the same time, to always just grow.”
Make no mistake, Diego Aspiras does have talent as a football player. You wouldn’t make it to the PFL as a teenager if you didn’t. But the killer instinct, the need to win everything, all the time? That’s what distinguishes good from great.
“My hunger, I’d say, is what sets me apart. I hate losing, even in the small things, even when it’s just my friends and we’re playing or whatever. I hate losing.”
Must be the genes
Diego’s single-minded pursuit of perfection could be partially explained by his parents, both of whom are overachievers in their own right and who have excelled in their respective fields.
Edu Manzano, of course, is one of the most accomplished actors of his generation, while Reggie Aspiras is an award-winning chef and best-selling author. Both have been very supportive of their son’s fledgling football career, as evidenced by their Instagram posts celebrating his achievements.
Diego will be the first to admit that his parents aren’t of the garden variety, which makes their support all the more valuable.
“It means a lot,” he says. I mean, I say it’s a good thing too, because I think they understand that. I wouldn’t say they have normal jobs. I’d say my dad’s job is not really like an office job or something. It’s their passion. It’s both of their passions. My mom… She’s a chef. She loves what she does. My dad, too. So I’d say that support that they give feels very valuable, because they know what I feel towards what I love to do, which is football. So I feel like that support just helps me.”
For a youngster like Diego who was living alone in Barcelona, this support proved invaluable.
“It drives me, and I mean, it’s a good foundation for me, because it feels like I always have someone behind me. Because football can be lonely at times, especially if you’re abroad, and you’re alone and doing those things. Football can take a toll on you mentally as well. And just knowing that you have those people behind you, it means a lot.”
A touching moment occurred earlier this year that illustrated his parents’ devotion to him. Diego was facing the prospect of turning 21 all alone in Spain, as Edu and Reggie were initially unsure if they would be there for their son’s coming-of-age.
“I spent my birthday in Spain, and I didn’t know if I was seeing them for my birthday or not. My mom, I think I knew she was coming, but I wasn’t sure. And my dad called me like a week before he came, and he was like, ‘Oh, I’m going there for your birthday.’ I was like, okay, that’s nice. So I was lucky enough that they visited me on my birthday, and they watched one of my games, and they watched my training too.
“So that for me meant a lot, because I was alone. I was living alone there, and I was obviously getting used to the culture and everything. But I mean, them being there and going out of their way, despite them being very busy, it meant a lot.”
Upon seeing him play, both his parents cried.
The future is now
The Philippine under-23 men’s team recently competed in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U23 qualifiers, falling just short of qualifying for the main tournament next year.
Diego Aspiras was not part of that team, although it was by choice.
“I was invited to go, but I felt like it was not the right decision for me at that time. I agreed with my club team that I think it was best at that time for me to just get ready for the season because there were other factors that were not accounted for, I’d say.”
Getting run time in such a high-profile international tournament would have been beneficial for Diego, but ultimately it wasn’t meant to be.
“There were a lot of things to it. And obviously I would have wanted to play for the U23s this campaign, but I just felt like at that time it wasn’t right for me to do it.”
There’s still one more big international tournament before the year ends, though, and Diego is hoping he’ll get a call-up for it. The Southeast Asian Games will be played in Thailand in December, and the Philippines has perhaps its best chance ever at a podium finish in men’s football.
“That for sure is something that I will push for,” he says. “And without a doubt, I’d say it’s a priority for me. To get this year, it’s a priority for sure. I mean, for sure, 100%.”
Ever since the inception of the SEA Games nearly 50 years ago, a medal in men’s football has proven to be elusive for the Philippines. The country’s best finish was fourth place in 1991 when Manila was the host. No Filipino male football player — not the Younghusbands, not Neil Etheridge, not Norman Fegidero, not Chieffy Caligdong — has ever had a SEA Games medal draped around his neck.
But judging from the U23 team’s spirited performances in the AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers, this year could finally be a breakthrough. The SEA Games men’s football competition is largely an under-23 affair, with only two or three slots available for senior players. Diego is confident about the country’s chances of making history.
“We already proved it in AFF,” he says, referring to last December’s prestigious regional tournament where the Philippines booked its highest-ever finish of third place. “The team proved it in AFF what the team could do. And now I think it just proves it even more.
“The capabilities of the country are incredible. Obviously, a lot of foreign talent, which is good, which just shows that we have players capable of playing at a really high level abroad. But at the same time, it also gives a chance for the locals to be able to see what they need to do, people that play here, to see what it takes to reach that level that the others play in abroad.
“So I feel like with this type of momentum that the team’s been on now, if we just continue to carry it on, I feel like getting a medal in SEA Games is more than possible. If ever that happens, it would be historic. For sure.”
Since the 2025 SEA Games will be hosted by Thailand, which has won the gold medal in men’s football a staggering 16 times, the rest of the field will likely be playing for silver and bronze. Second place would be a huge achievement, but even third place could see a major impact on the sport in the Philippines.
“I just feel like it’s going to wake people up in the sense that people can actually realize what this country can do on the field,” Diego says. “The Philippines is very basketball- and volleyball-oriented. Those are the main sports of this country.
“Football isn’t as big as it, I think, should be. And I feel like having those historic moments and showing and medaling in the SEA Games will just let this country know that it’s something that we can do, something we’re good at, and something people should pay more attention towards.”
The SEA Games are still three months away, though, and in the meantime, Diego has club duties with the UMak Aguilas in the PFL.
“It was formerly Davao Aguilas,” he explains. “It’s a top team. They have a lot of history. It’s a team that the Younghusbands used to play for.”
Diego has been absorbing all he can from the club’s new coach, German Jörg Steinebrunner.
“He’s coached all over Asia, and I’ve been learning a lot under him. It’s a good experience to be in this team now because it’s like a new chapter for me. And at the same time, it’s nice because I get to compete again. Come back home, obviously, for a bit. Then compete and play at a high level and grow as much as I can, and hopefully see where I can go from here.”
The Aguilas lost a close one to defending champions Kaya FC the day before this interview, giving up a header early in the second half. Diego came on as a substitute and put in some good minutes in the midfield.
“I played pretty well with what I had, and I feel like it’s just the beginning. We have 20-plus games more to go in the season, so we’ll definitely bounce back.”
Staying the course
Diego is comfortable playing in the PFL right now. It is, admittedly, not as top-flight as other professional leagues in Asia, but the competition gives up-and-comers like him a chance to go at it against foreign professionals and more experienced locals.
“Back then, it was the generation of the Younghusbands. That was mostly their group playing at that time, and now I feel like it’s a mix now. The younger generations coming in, like myself, then we still play against some of the older players that was in that group or that year.
“A lot of the players have come back, have played abroad, like for example players from (Patrick) Reichelt, who just came back from playing from Thailand. He’s in Taguig now. So there are players like that who have come back. So it’s a nice thing to have a nice set of youth and at the same time experience.”
While the PFL is giving him a good venue to fine-tune his game, Diego Aspiras already has his ducks lined up in a row. The seven-year-old whose crazy competitiveness first surfaced during a simple card game is now aiming for bigger prizes.
“I’m just trying to do everything that I feel like is going to get my career forward. I mean, right now, obviously, I can only focus on the now.
“What I’m looking forward to this season is with Aguilas…Hopefully, winning the league and making AFC Champions League 2, and competing. And at the same time, do well this season and hopefully see where that takes me, performing well enough to hopefully get that call-up, the U23, and MNT.
“That’s the only way I’m thinking of going about it.”
Text SID VENTURA
Photography JUSTIN REYES assisted by RAPHAEL GOÑO
Creative Direction CAS ASEOCHE
Hair and Makeup HANNA PECHON
Sittings Editor ANNIKA CANIZA
Production Coordination ANTHONY MENDOZA
Special Thanks VP GLOBAL ATHLETE MANAGEMENT