Athlete-Entrepreneur: Lessons from Pro Soccer Player Sebastian Avanzini

Professional soccer player and entrepreneur Sebastian Avanzini shares his incredible journey.

Watch the Interview with Sebastian

The mentorships that made the man

Athletic careers are often remembered for the typical moments: the big contract, the championship, the endorsement deals. But Sebatian's trajectory was shaped by two fundamental themes: a relentless persistence and powerful mentors.

Sebastian’s ascent was slow and full of rejections. In a sport where most professionals are noticed earlier, he finally had his breakthrough at age 23.

Two people were key in that breakthrough. At age 15, a coach who taught him how to manage his emotions, and at 22, a coach who saw something in him no one else did.

Those two relationships, combined with Sabastian's competitive drive, galvanized in him a deep confidence that kept him playing soccer at a high level while pursuing an ambitious entrepreneurial path.



Coaching the whole person

At age 15, Sebastian met a coach who was really more of a life coach, helping him manage his temper, and find focus. This coach provided the kind of guidance that a strong-willed teenager needed. It was holistic coaching: how to sit still in school, how to speak respectfully to people, even how to navigate first romantic relationship.

The lesson here is to seek mentors who care about the whole person. These types of mentors build character and unlock potential that athletic training alone can't reach.



The lie that opened the door to success

One of the most striking stories Sebastian shared was how he showed up to a tryout pretending to be left-footed so he could get a spot on pro team. Needless to say, he was exposed, embarrassed, and expected instant rejection. Instead, the coach laughed, admired Sebastian's audacity, and offered him a place on the team. Eleven months later he was playing in one of Europe’s top leagues.

"Anybody who would come here, lie to me, pretend to be left-footed and still go for the tryout, that's the man I want to go into war with."

—Sebastian's coach

That moment was about more than Sebastian's audacity. It was about someone believing in his capacity to adapt and fight. That belief became internalized and accelerated Sebastian's career.

Channeling anger: emotion as energy

Anger is a double-edged sword for competitive people. Sebastian calls it an asset as long as it is used intentionally. Early in his career his temper closed doors. Over time he learned to "catch" his anger, taking a breath, listening, and converting the emotion into focused execution.

He describes the internal dialogue as two forces: the demon who wants an immediate reaction and the angel who wants a positive outcome.

Sebastian shared some practical techniques he uses to manage his emotions:

• Breath control: Ten deep breaths to de-escalate the immediate reaction.
• Reframe energy: Treat anger as fuel to execute rather than a reason to react.
• Role awareness: Remember the mission of the team before serving the ego.



The playmaker mindset: a model for athletes and entrepreneurs

One of Sebastian’s most useful strategies is to be "the playmaker." Instead of taking the glory for himself, he creates conditions for his teammates to succeed. And he credits his coachability for allowing him to evolve into this important role. Being a coachable player and a reliable performer outpaces raw talent in the long run.

"I made my football career from being the most coachable player."

— Sebastian Avanzini

This idea translates directly to business. In companies, the playmaker is the person who connects talent, clears obstacles, and creates leverage. You don't have to be the one who closes every deal to be the most valuable person in the room.

Building while playing: the entrepreneur’s timing advantage

Too many athletes wait until retirement to think about what comes next. Sebastian’s approach is different. He started building a business while still in the prime of his athletic career.

He noticed an unmet need in the business world. There was a lack of high-quality mentorships. So, inspired by his own mentors who helped him, Sebastian co-founded Eduvo.

Eduvo focuses on curated, premium mentorships for ambitious founders and entrepreneurs. Sebastian curates world-class experts to share their knowledge on the Eduvo online platform.

Eduvo’s mission is audacious: educate one billion people. The platform distributes tailored mentorship both to individuals and corporate clients who want the kind of expert-led learning that actually moves the needle.



Actionable steps for athletes and entrepreneurs

After my interview with Sebastian, I was inspired to create the following action list for the athlete-entrepreneur who might be reading this article. Take a page from Sebastian's playbook and make the most of your career, both on the field and off.

1. Invest in your future now. Use your playing years to build skills, networks, and business ventures.
2. Find at least one mentor. Seek out people who will be honest and hold you to high standards.
3. Be coachable. The ability to implement feedback wins in the long-term.
4. Channel emotion into execution. Develop a ritual to convert anger and frustration into positive focus.
5. Curate your brand. Leverage your unique message to create an enduring brand that echoes into the future.

Where to connect and what to remember

Learn more about Sebastian's work.

Eduvo Mentorships: eduvo.io

Sebastian brand page: Sebastian Avanzini

What makes his story so powerful is not that he became successful in two worlds. It's that he used the same principles in both: mentorship, and the willingness to bet on himself.

Sebastian's core advice is deceptively simple: define your why, stay coachable, and build systems to take your experience beyond yourself.