So you want to be a Pro...

For youth players and parents/guardians of those players, the 'Chasing the Dream' video series by Sky Sports News provides terrific insights into the realities of making it as a professional footballer. 

It's always been the way: the elite of the elite making it through to a professional contract and career. The first episode opens with these stats from England: 

1. 1% of youth players make it to a pro football club's academy (there are 92 pro league clubs). 

2. 9% of those make a first-team appearance. 

3. 1.5% of Premier League academy players make a first-team appearance. 

So yes, it's very difficult to make it, but players do all the time. The challenge is to be the best of the best, consistently. Below, I outline key aspects that these players possess. 

 Chasing the Dream episode 1 - The Elite Manager - YouTube 

So yes, it's very difficult to make it, but players do all the time. You simply have to be the best of the best, consistently. Below, I outline key aspects that these players possess. 

Passion for the Ball at Your Feet 

Do you feel like you can’t wait for school to end so you can get out to the park, street, or wherever you play and kick a ball around? Do you feel happy and in the zone when you’re kicking a ball against a wall or dribbling in and out of shoes, rocks, or whatever you use as cones? If this is you, then yes, you have the passion for football. It’s the most valuable ingredient for becoming a footballer. Why? Well, simply because the more the ball is at your feet, the more your brain will learn and allow you to coordinate, control, manoeuvre, and master it. 

As a kid, I’d spend endless hours annoying the neighbours with the thud of the white plastic ball hitting the backyard or street walls, from my left and right foot shots and passes—the sound reverberating between the houses. If it was raining, which it often was in Ireland, I’d practice in the garage, between the car and the step into the house, a space of no more than one metre. Tap, tap, tap—I’d practice different controls and spins on the ball. 

When I was 14 years old, this practice shone through while on trial at Chelsea Football Club. The coach asked all of the older 16-year-old apprentices to stop and watch how I was able to control the passing and receiving of the ball in a practice session against the famous Shed Wall at Stamford Bridge. Nice moment! 

So, if you don’t feel the urge to get outside with a ball every day and make it your best friend, perhaps the idea of reaching the heights of professional football is not for you. If you do, well, double down, because you’ll know there’s nothing quite like that feeling of the ball at your feet. 

Internal Instinctive Motivational Drive 

"My teammates may be better at skills or better players than me, but I’m going to be the best player. I’m going to compete and practice to be at the top." 

"It matters what the coach thinks of me because I want to be picked to play. I want to be man of the match." 

Are these thoughts yours? If they are typical of how you think as a young footballer, you are on the right track. You will need to be the best—not only amongst your local friends but importantly at each tier as you progress: district, state, country, pro club junior, youth, U21, etc. The chances of becoming a professional footballer are slim. Think about it: if you want to be a professional, you have to be the best at each tier of progression to be selected.  

Over my years of coaching and guiding young players, I’ve advised: “Hey, trial at the top clubs. If you are outstanding, they will want you and will select you. If you are not outstanding and you are not selected, learn from the experience. Be honest with yourself, acknowledge what you need to improve, and go practice. Develop until you are excelling.” 

This is where the majority of players falter and fall away. Those who have that persistent, instinctive motivational drive to succeed will find a way to improve and reach elite levels. 

By the way, elite isn’t for everyone, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with just wanting to play and compete at the highest level you possibly can while enjoying the magic of the game. 

Athleticism 

Imagine playing against France’s midfielder, N’Golo Kante, who in the Premier League covers an average of 11.9 km per game and is one of the quickest players in the league. Or how about Holland’s Virgil van Dijk, who at 193 cm (6 ft 3 in) also clocks a sprint speed of 34.5 km/h—lightning quick, as fast as attackers like Real Madrid’s Vinicius Juniper or Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sané. 

Wow, right? Okay, I don’t want to scare you off here, but it’s good to look at the top players and think, “Okay, that’s the level I need to compete with. What do I need to do?” 

Scouts for pro clubs look for many things: ability, touch, intelligence with the ball, gameplay awareness, teamwork, attitude, and yes, athleticism. 

A Mental Awareness to Overcome Nerves, Fear of Judgment, and Rejection 

Do you get nervous in a trial, a bit scared, or anxious? Perhaps you don’t know anyone in the dressing room, or you’re worried you may not be good enough and will be rejected? Sound familiar? The good news is you’re not alone. This is most likely happening to everyone at the trial, even if they don’t show it. 

Nerves are a natural state to get you prepared. Your brain is firing off a chemical called cortisol to make you fully alert for what is about to occur. 

A tip is to simply be aware that this is happening. Embrace the nervous feeling and prepare your mind for the trial, practice, or game ahead. Visualize what you want to do, how you’ll do it, and then just do. 

One technique used by professional footballers and top athletes is called neutral thinking. You’ve probably heard of positive thinking and negative thinking, right? The challenge with positive thinking is that, let’s say, you’re taking a penalty and telling yourself, “It’s all good; I’m going to smash it into the top right corner no matter what.” If you haven’t prepared properly or are overconfident, you increase your chances of missing. 

Similarly, if you approach the penalty with negative thinking—*“I’m going to miss”—*the goalkeeper may look like a giant in the goal, the goal might seem to have shrunk, and nervously you’ll fluff the run-up or shot and miss. 

In both circumstances, you haven’t been mentally balanced in your approach, and you’ve reduced your chances of scoring. 

Neutral thinking is a method where you approach the task with: “I will concentrate, focus on the steps I need to take, and do my best. If I score, great! If I miss, it’s okay; I did my best.” 

This approach relieves pressure and helps you perform in a balanced and effective state of mind. Try it next time in training when you feel nervous or anxious. It works! 

Support 

Surrounding yourself with positive mentors and coaches is an excellent way to help you grow as a player and person. Learn from those who’ve been there and done it. They can guide you, but remember, a mentor won’t kick the ball for you or run 10 km in a game for you. Imagine going on a road trip: you’re the driver of the car, and the mentor shows you road signs to help you get there. It’s your choice to use the advice or not, and your actions will determine if you reach your destination. 

Keep positive relationships close to you, whether they’re family or friends. The road to becoming a footballer is not easy. It requires consistent physical hard work, day in and day out. When you think you can’t move through stiffness after a game or hard training session—guess what? You have to! 

It’s also mentally taxing. You must compete against teammates to secure a place in the team and impress coaches daily. You also need to compete against opponents in games and again impress the coaches to be selected for the next game. Having family or friends to chat with and be open with can be brilliant support. 

Medical support and guidance from excellent sports science specialists and physiotherapists are vital. You need to stay playing and training as much as possible. Injuries are a curse for athletes—they disrupt progress. Many young footballers lose their careers to consistent injuries. Know your body, know your limits, and don’t be afraid to speak up if you feel something isn’t right physically. 

Learn and Research 

Watch your favourite players on YouTube or wherever you can. Stop, rewind, and watch again and again. See how they position themselves, control and pass the ball, and move off the ball. Observe their defensive techniques and offensive runs. 

Then practice these skills in training and games. The more you absorb and learn from watching and listening to great players and coaches online, the more information your brain will have to draw on to improve your game. 

Becoming a professional footballer is an incredibly challenging journey that requires passion, discipline, persistence, and a willingness to learn and grow continuously. Whether or not you achieve the ultimate goal, embracing the process will help you develop skills and characteristics that will serve you well both on and off the field. 

One2Pro: 

The use of video with a coach review is fantastic for honing skills and performance. In our One2Pro online coaching app, "Techniques of the Stars" are broken down step-by-step for players to follow and practice. 

 Download and subscribe to work with your One2Pro coach on all 92 skills. 

Be the One!  

Aaron Tighe 

Founder, One2Pro