It is commonly known that the best soccer players in the world come out of the development programs offered in Europe. Think of players like Ronaldo, Kroos, Piqué, and Neuer. Now, take a moment and consider if there are any players from Canada or the U.S. who have similar reputations – past or present. You will be hard pressed to name one. For some time now, many experts have been asking ‘why’ while trying to piece together mediocre solutions to fix the North American problem.
Those who know the game from both sides have a clear message to share with fans …
- Andrea Pirlo: “Issues in North America begin at the youth level, where young players aren’t taught the necessary technical skills to thrive so that when players become professional, there are still some gaps that need to be filled.” (theScore)
- PSV Eindhoven: “PSV has scouts all over the world watching games at numerous levels hoping to identify players … throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. They have none in North America because they feel that players possess bad technique, and that the level of play is poor.” (PSV Eindhoven Journal)
- Eric Imler: “Why is it that most inexperienced coaches immediately gravitate to game tactics? Why is it so hard to recognize the basic building blocks necessary to play simple soccer? … (This) reminds me of a teacher wanting kids to understand algebra before ever learning basic arithmetic.”
Eurostar is an OSA Recognized Non-Club Academy serving in the London region by offering a year-round soccer training experience with the goal to develop strong players for the future. The program is managed by Technical Director Luka Shaqiri (UEFA A). Visit Eurostar online for more information: www.eurostarsoccer.com
Story submitted by Eurostar Football Academy
