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Full Day Excursion in Lyon and Ligue 1 Game

oday, our residents visited Lyon and went shopping in the historical town center, before attending a professional Ligue 1 game.

They were lucky to visit the Olympique Lyonnais Stadium before supporting our partner soccer Academy Olympique Lyonnais, playing against Dijon FCO.

At the International Center of European Football, we inspire and encourage our student-athletes to watch games and give them tools to build their soccer culture whether on TV or in stadiums. It is an important part of the player development program, equally as to what is done on the training field. It was an amazing experience to feel the ambiance of a European stadium, and for some, it was their first time attending a professional soccer game. Back at the center, they analyzed the game with their coach, learning more in depth what playing at the professional level in Europe was like!

The International Center of European Football has a strong relationship with Olympique Lyonnais and will provide maximum exposure to student-athletes throughout the season.

About the Olympique Lyonnais Football Club

  • Commonly referred to as Lyon or OL, Olympique Lyonnais is a French professional football club that plays at the highest professional division, French Ligue 1. Olympique Lyonnais’ youth training center is rated amongst the top 5 in Europe after Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, having developed numerous soccer stars worldwide such as: Karim Benzema, Anthony Martial, Hatem Ben Arfa, Alexandre Lacazette, Samuel Umtiti and many others…
  • The club has broken a record in the Feminine Champions league, winning the title six times, totaling more than any other club in history.
  • Additionally, Olympique Lyonnais has broken another record in France, having qualified for top level European competitions seventeen years in a row.
  • The club won its first Ligue 1 Championship in 2002, starting a national record-setting streak of seven successive titles. Lyon has also won 8 Trophées des Champions, 5 Coupe de France titles and 3 Ligue 2 titles. Along with Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais sets the highest standards in French and European football.

Humanities Teacher (History, Geography, American Government)

Claire Watts

Claire holds degrees in Archaeology, French, and Biological Anthropology from the University of Oregon, along with a linguistics minor and an SLAAT certification. She has been teaching in international schools and privately in France for the last decade.

Since September 2021, she has served as Head of the Humanities Department at PSG Academy Pro.

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ESL Teacher

Simone Thompson

Simone is a native English speaker from Australia, residing in France since 2023. With over 10 years of experience in education, she has a diverse teaching background, working in schools, zoos, community outreach programs, and private tutoring.

At PSG Academy Pro, she utilizes her broad skill set to support students through tutoring and English lessons, helping them succeed in their core subjects.

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French Teacher

Héloïse Evans

Heloise is a native French speaker, who studied French language and literature at University in France before moving to the UK.  While living in the UK, Heloise pursued a teaching qualification at Brighton University and went on to teach languages in a variety of schools in the south of England.  Heloise has 15 years of experience teaching students from a young age through to the end of high school as well as taking on pastoral roles.

Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Junior Science Teacher

Emma Newman

Emma is a British teacher with 20 years of teaching experience across all phases of education. Her background includes 10 years teaching high school and junior school in London, where she held Pastoral and Departmental Leadership roles. She then spent 9 years at a London university, training graduate and postgraduate students to become teachers themselves.

Emma relocated to France in 2021 and joined the PSG Academy Pro teaching team in 2023.

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Math, Physics & Chemistry Teacher

Hans Kolster

Hans Kolster, from the Netherlands, has had a long and distinguished career in teaching. His passion for education started during his student years when he tutored mathematics, leading to a lifelong commitment to helping young people achieve their goals.

He served as Head of the Dutch School in Cobham, England, an institution created for Dutch expatriates in London. Later, he became Head of Mathematics at the British School Muscat in Oman, a prestigious British international school with over 50 nationalities.

Since September 2022, Hans has been supporting student-athletes at PSG Academy Pro in mathematics, physics, and chemistry.

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English Teacher

Barbara Hill

Barbara is a native British English speaker with 20 years of international teaching experience. After earning her Bachelor of Education from Manchester Metropolitan University, UK, in 2005, she taught in the United Kingdom, Australia, and now France. She has worked in diverse school environments, including public, private, and international schools, as well as both single-sex and co-educational institutions.

Academic Director / Spanish Teacher

Leandro Cruz

Leandro, a native of Brazil, had a professional career as a football player before transitioning into education. With 15 years of experience in the French school system, he has dedicated his career to guiding student-athletes toward both academic and athletic excellence.

Beyond the classroom, he plays a crucial role in securing college placements for high school graduates, ensuring they successfully transition to higher education while balancing their sports commitments.

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