The top 5 qualities to become a professional football player

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ICEF International Center of European Football - Boarding soccer academy in Europe

Are you dreaming of becoming a professional football player? You may even be planning on winning the Champions League, or the Copa America and why not a few World Cups?

Let’s see if you have what it takes because it is not always about the football skills… we would even say that skills are the easy part. As an elite pro residency academy in Europe, preparing players to reach the highest level, we place a big emphasis on football skills, but we are also well positioned to know that it is not everything we must take into consideration! So, if you plan on being successful, make sure to work on both your skills and on the following essential qualities:

Discipline

Do you have a messy room? Eat junk food? Stay up until 3 am, binging a series or play Call of Duty more than you do your homework? If you answered yes to any of these, forget about it… you don’t have the discipline that it takes to reach the next level.

Discipline is key for any athlete who wants to perform, improve, and develop as a professional player. Start today to:

Respect the rules, the referee’s decisions, the coaches’ instructions and advice, your teammates and of course your opponents;
Remain level-headed and think before acting to win your place in the starting lineup;
Sacrifice and shift your lifestyle: less leisure time, better diet and hydration, professional physical preparation.

Focus

Hello, are you still there?! Ok we thought we lost you…

Another important quality successful players need to have is focus. This is how you learn how to be efficient and to progress on and off the field. You have to learn how to leave all matters off the field when you are training or playing. Same thing for your education, when it is time to study, you must focus on your homework.

When it is time for you to perform on the field, there is no other option than to work hard on your objectives, and focus. When the game or the training session is over, that is when you can release the pressure and enjoy… Until the next training session, of course!

Intelligence

Football intelligence, also referred to as Football IQ is something that you cultivate by watching professional games, by listening to strategic talks about football and also by paying attention to the small details on and off the field. And let’s be honest, your only chance at becoming a professional football player is to play smart, to have a distinct ability to read and understand the game. This way, you will always be a step ahead of your opponents and be able to create opportunities for your team.

Teamwork

You are not alone on the field!

There are 10 additional players on the field, in your team, a few more on the bench, and a technical staff working with you. So be fair with your teammates and follow your coach’s instructions. No one shines alone… ok maybe Messi. So, there is only one player in the world who may not need as much of a team as the others. However, put Messi alone on the field and you will see what happens…

To become a professional football player, you must learn how to rely on and work with your teammates and develop strategies to become stronger as a team using each player’s individual abilities.

Humility

If you don’t have a good attitude, you will never make it as a professional player. Quite frankly, there are too many good and smart players out there for a professional club to hire or scout one player who, they know, will bring problems to the team. It won’t happen.

Humility starts with listening to what the coach says. He knows what he is doing. He knows your capabilities and limits and his role is to push you through those limits to reach your highest potential. A positive attitude is the reflection of someone who wants to grow and who wants the team to succeed. It shows an understanding of the true values of football. It is a must, no questions asked.

At the International Center of European Football, we prepare, develop and expose distinct players capable of making a difference in all phases of the game by:

Seeing everything (because they are focused)
Adapting fast (because they are smart)
Reacting fast (because they are skilled)
Finding creative solutions together (because they are team workers)

We gather the highest ranked UEFA /FFF licensed professional coaches and youth development experts to provide the necessary foundation for a bright future on and off the field.

Our professional programs, are based on the excellence of the European methodology, and work on all aspects of the game. We provide them with unrivaled football experience and maturity to become professional players.

Learn more about ICEF’s 10-month Pro Residency Program