For many boys and girls, it’s their dream to make it as professional soccer players. Naturally, they want to compete in the best leagues around the world while playing in front of huge crowds – and most of them are willing to do anything to achieve it.

How difficult is it to become a professional soccer player?

The reality is this: turning pro is really hard. It’s a highly competitive industry where only a small percentage succeed, as millions of young people from different countries are looking to achieve the ‘impossible dream.

However, it is possible to make it as a professional soccer player through hard work, determination, and a portion of luck. Here are some tips to help you along the journey.

1. Get experience in Europe:

Europe is the heart of soccer and should therefore be your focus if you truly want to make it on the world stage. Thankfully, getting experience in Europe isn’t as difficult as it sounds – there are many accessible options, such as this soccer training camp in Europe.

By playing in Europe, you are increasing your chances of getting scouted. The best scouts are scattered around Europe, so your objective is to get the opportunity to show them what you can do. If they like what they see, they’ll approach you and ask you to trial for their club.

2. Train hard off the soccer field:

A lot of soccer players think all that matters is training hard on the field – from practicing freekicks to passing drills. Although this is the most important factor, you shouldn’t forget that training hard off the field is important, too.

Make sure you spend a lot of time in the gym, focusing on cardio and fitness. You won’t be able to become a pro soccer player if you can’t last 90 minutes of non-stop running in a game.

3. Study the game:

There is a lot to study when it comes to the beautiful game of soccer (or ‘football’, as they say in England).

Firstly, there are the players. From current professionals like Cristiano Ronaldo to legends from previous eras like Zinedine Zidane, the players to learn from are endless. Every player has a different style that you can analyze and make improvements to your own game from.

For example, if you want to improve your long-range passing, players like Steven Gerrard and Pirlo are great players you can study.

Secondly, there are tactics. Tactics are constantly evolving in soccer as managers and coaches create new ideas and philosophies. To be the best, you need to study popular tactics in the current world of soccer, like intense team-pressing.

Lastly, there are the rules. Soccer rules, like tactics, experience frequent changes. For example, right now, VAR is causing controversy surrounding certain rules, like what factor can be classed as handball. It is vital that you stay up-to-date and knowledgeable about the rules of soccer, or you will struggle to make it as a professional.

In conclusion, stay persistent:

If you want to be a soccer player, you have to deal with your fair share of injuries. No great soccer player has been able to save themselves from bouts of serious injuries. Post the injury, you need to go for physiotherapy in Singapore to ensure that you are able to make a full recovery.

In soccer, there are good and bad times – the key is to not be discouraged and to stay persistent on your journey to become a professional player. Ensure that you always give 100% in training and matches, and your dream of signing for a major club could become a reality.