Alouettes’ Jose Maltos glad he never abandoned dream of pro football

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This past May, on the night of the Alouettes’ lavish Grey Cup ring ceremony, backup placekicker and full-time real-estate agent Jose Maltos closed a deal on a property in Mexico.

The 32-year-old football journeyman, who has paid his dues over a pro career that began in 2013, now had two reasons to celebrate. And when it comes to real estate, Maltos and every other agent will attest that there are never enough hours in the day.

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“I never look at my watch … I don’t have time. It’s 24/7,” the affable Maltos told The Gazette this week. “Sometimes, I’m here at practice and I’m closing a deal.”

Maltos, who hails from Monterrey Nuevo León, has been in real estate for more than a year, an employee at the Ciudad Mayakoba firm, overseeing the Playa del Carmen region and the luxurious Riviera Maya resort area. His clients are Canadians, Americans, Europeans and native Mexicans, and Maltos boasts he oversees the best Latin American resort area, filled with sand, surf, golf courses, hospitals, schools, shopping and gated communities.

“I’m a seller,” he said. “I’m trying always to let people know what I do. Sometimes they’re not ready now, but will be in three, six or 12 months.”

He even sends rental properties on a regular basis to Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia, Maltos said with a laugh, adding he’s prepared to cut his boss a deal.

Maciocia doesn’t dispute the story.

“I have a good time with him,” the GM said. “He sends me listings of condos that are available; he’s trying to get me to buy one, too. He’s a beauty. I’ll say this — there are some nice properties. When we talk deals he’ll say: ‘I’ll give you the same deal you gave me.’ ”

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On the field, Maltos finally is getting his 15 minutes of fame after a decade of hardship.

When David Côté, Montreal’s starting placekicker, suffered a lower-body injury during the pre-game warm-up last Saturday against Calgary, Maltos was pressed into emergency duty. One of Montreal’s designated global players, Maltos came off the practice roster and kicked three field goals. He even made a tackle on kickoff coverage.

Côté has been placed on the six-game injured list (right quadricep), providing Maltos with full-time employment until he recovers. While Maltos missed a 39-yard field goal Thursday night against Toronto, he later connected from 50 yards in the Alouettes’ first loss this season, 37-18. Montreal has a bye in the schedule next week before entertaining Saskatchewan on July 25.

Maltos played soccer back home, part of a third division club, before switching to football at age 16. Three years later, he represented his country at the 2011 IFAF football world championship, kicking a 56-yard field goal against Australia. A mechanical engineering major in university while playing football, he was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and subsequently released.

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While spending three seasons playing for his hometown Monterrey in the Liga de Fútbol Americano, Maltos tried out for B.C. and played in two exhibition games before being released. After the CFL mandated teams carry global players, Maltos was drafted second overall by Ottawa in 2019. Most of his time was spent on the practice roster, although he played in an exhibition game against Montreal. Maciocia signed him when he became free last season.

Maltos played in two games last season, making seven of nine field goals, the longest from 50 yards.

“There has been no shortage of perseverance in his case,” Maciocia said. “We told him, if the opportunity ever presented itself, we’d have no reservations going to him. We have no problems trotting him out there and asking him to do it.”

CFL practice roster players generally receive $750 per week or $15,750 over a 21-week regular season, meaning they must find additional resources during or after the season. While with the Redblacks, Maltos was the roommate of Mexican receiver — and real-estate agent — Guillermo Villalobos. The seed was planted.

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Maltos took a three-month course last year, but has plenty of time to study and increase his knowledge of the profession. He lives in a one-room downtown student residence occupied by many of the Alouettes’ practice roster players. Maltos sees a correlation between both his occupations.

“Patience,” he said. “The two are linked and connected. Be patient. It’s the same in real estate. I’ve been told ‘no’ plenty of times in my short career, but I know after 10 no answers there’s a yes. And I had that plenty of times in football … you can’t … you’re not the kicker here … we need to release you, cut you. We need to move on.”

It would have been easy for Maltos to abandon his dream of playing pro. He dated a woman back home for four years. They were engaged. She told him to choose between football and her — Maltos picked football. He doesn’t regret his decision.

“I’ve sacrificed a lot,” Maltos admitted. “I was engaged … not seeing my family. It’s part of the process for me. I want this. God put this dream in my mind. I’m just following this process and enjoying it, whether I’m on the practice or active roster. I love this lifestyle. I feel good.”

hzurkowsky@postmedia.com

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