How to be Scouted for a Professional Soccer Club
Our agency has been working with soccer players for many years. Some have gone on to play professionally in Division 1 and 2 clubs in Europe, the MLS or US universities. The world of soccer is very competitive and scouts are always looking for talent around the world. According to FIFA, from January to September 2018 there were 15,049 international transfers of male players with fees totaling US$7.1 billion, and 577 international transfers of female players for US$493,235. The road to becoming a professional soccer player is long but can be very rewarding.
Below are our suggestions to help you prepare to be scouted:
1. Your Mental Game Comes First
From a young age, many soccer players put a lot of pressure on themselves. When they see players like Cristiano Ronaldo getting signed at 18 years old and becoming the most expensive teenager (transferred from Sporting CP to Manchester United F.C. for £12.24 million), or how Messi got signed to FC Barcelona at a very young age, they start to think that by 18 they should be in the same position. Very few teenagers receive these kinds of offers and it is certainly not the status quo. Young athletes are already feeling so much pressure before even stepping on the soccer field. The idea is to focus on your game, your mind and keep growing. Work hard on your game. Don’t be too hard on yourself but be honest about what you need to work on. Build confidence and be fearless, but also be respectful to your teammates and coaches.
2. Film your Matches
It is important to have 2-3 full match videos. Usually soccer players record only highlights of the game and it is not recommended because scouts prefer to get a full picture. You don’t have to have a professional camera; you can just ask somebody to film your game with a smartphone.
3. Create a Professional Resume
Create a resume with all your information and results. Scouts and coaches always appreciate a one-page document with your information. Include your full name, height, weight, results, clubs/academies where you’ve trained, and nationality, Make sure to include if you have dual citizenship.
4. Join a Soccer Academy
Many scouts and coaches come to soccer academies to recruit players. We recently published an article on how to choose a soccer academy on the News page of our website. Soccer academies have everything a player needs on site. They provide schooling, training, fitness, meals, accommodation, scouting, etc. Players have access to a whole team of experts to help them pursue their goals while also learning to live in a professional environment with players from around the world.