For many Soccer players, young and old, their dream is to put one in the top corner of the goal in the Champions League final. While this may be a nice dream, the reality is that only around 1% of people who play the game will earn a living from it and an even smaller percentage will play the game in the top flight.

Although these statistics only give players a slim chance of making it to the big leagues, most of us play for the love of the game.

Still, many of us are still sold on the dream of becoming a professional footballer. So, what does it actually-take to make it?

Well, first of all it is important to stress luck!! This could be argued with the old-adage ‘we make our own luck’ and I would agree. This luck tends to be made with two key things: Hard Work and Dedication.

Ultimately, from my own experience of working professionally as a Soccer Coach and based the many opinions of Soccer players and coaches who far my superior, there seems to be four key components which all top player must possess to make it:

Technical Ability: I put this first as I believe it is the most important attribute a Soccer player must possess. Technical skills must be developed and perfected from a very early age and continuously worked on throughout one’s career. Accesses to quality coaching is vital to this but young players must become obsessed with having the ball at their feet if they want to play at the highest level.

Honing the fundamental skills of the game such as passing, cutting and close control are the basis in which the game is played. Quality coaches can advise the best ways to specifically develop certain skills.

Physical Fitness: Top players must hold a high level of physical fitness. In contrast to technical ability, physical fitness is something which must be developed a little later in a player’s development. Of course, a lot of people are born with biological advantages or disadvantages, physical attributes which can affect performance.

When you think about what you would want in a player in terms of their physical ability, high levels of speed, strength, acceleration, agility and power would be top of the list.

These are all things which can be improved with the right training and nutrition. Getting the body to work to its optimal ability is a balancing act of training, recovery and nutrition. So, accesses to S&C coaching and dieticians is an aspect which not be overlooked and is proven to give player an edge on the field. You only need to look at players at the highest level. Ronaldo puts much of his success and longevity down to his dedication to Strength and Condition and nutrition.  

Tactical Awareness: Tactical awareness is more important now than it ever has been. The modern professional footballer must have a natural aptitude for marking, team tactics, making space, counter-attacking and a great many more tactical skills.

Knowing when to make a pass and when to stay in possession is often what separates good club players from the professionals, and although this is something that can be developed over time through great coaching and minutes on the pitch, it is often an attribute that players either have or don’t have.

Of course, the very best professionals are tactically aware in all areas of the pitch. As the game is now intrinsically tactical, footballers lacking in this attribute will find it very difficult to make it into the professional game in any position.

Mentality (Psychological Attributes): The top players are not only gifted; they possess mental strength and determination that sets them apart from the tens of thousands of gifted players that never make it as a professional. The ability to concentrate is crucial in the modern game where tactics are so significant.

Concentration must also be maintained under extreme pressure. The ability to perform on the training field is indistinguishable from the ability of doing it under the big lights, and all the ability in the world counts for nothing if you cannot show up when you are needed!

Determination, single-mindedness and elements of aggression are also required of the modern-day footballer, as well as sound communications skills.

The ability for a player to manage their emotions to make good on the field decision is highly important to a player. They must be always looking for ways to improve and setting goals.

In Closing

The ultimate cliché is practice makes perfect but in this case, its true. As I mentioned at the start you are going to need that little bit of luck if you are going to make it, but you can make smart decisions you can put yourself in the best position of having your talent seen.

Training with industry professional who have pathways and networks to professional clubs is the best way to start.

In 2019, KIKKOFF will be launching the PRO PACKAGE which will target players wanting to strive for elite levels of competition. Taking a holistic approach of developing: TECHNICAL, TACTICAL, PHYSICAL and PSYCHOLOGICAL aspects of the game KIKOFF aims to help players take the necessary steps to becoming a professional footballer using their highly qualified and experienced team of coaches and professional Soccer network.

Watch this space.