I want to be very clear as well… YOU DON’T HAVE TO EVER PAY FOR AN OPEN TRIAL. The best route to the pro game is by performing at the semi-pro level and using your success to obtain opportunities with agents, scouts, and pro teams. Most pros get to the pro level this way… But if you want, paying for an open trial can be a good way of getting more opportunities and I personally know many pros who kickstarted their careers from open trials or combines.
Rule of thumb is if you’re not good enough to excel at one or two levels above the level you’re trialling for you’re not needed at the club because you likely won’t add any value. Get better and turn heads at the highest level you can and you’ll get attention. Nobody ignores the best player at a decent standard.
Well the best route to the professional level is actually playing for the academy, as a kid, of a professional team where you can move up the ranks and be developed with the purpose of moving to the first team. That is by far how most players end up playing professionally at the highest level throughout the world. But for those past 18 then your advice is probably right. It's also naive to assume there is no politics at all in soccer. We are human and "politics" (money, nepotism, connections, etc.) are influential in any workplace, school, or government.
This is the mentally Everyone has to have ... no mater how many times you get rejected ... continue to send out hundreds of emails, txts, call, etc. all you need is one coach to believe in you 🤝
Exactly. It happens to a lot of job seekers in the real world who interview for countless jobs and keep getting “no” for an answer. My dad has told me that you need to create 10 potential opportunities for maybe one to come through.
This was an amazing twelve minute tuesday Matt. It’s important for semi pro grinders to be optimistic but realistic and you laid that out very eloquently and convincingly.
Perfectly said Matt!! A Perfect breakdown, “ all it takes is that 1 coach that accepts you” That’s where I have to keep praying that God puts me in the right place and the right time in front of the right people !
@@CoachOlali just like Matt said football is essentially a game of opinions. This is why quite often you'll see the same player rated differently by 2 different coaches with 2 different styles of play etc.
Bro Brandao is a perfect example of this. Played professionally but struggled to find a contract but after 30-40 No’s, he has a contract now. Just remember that you only need 1 opportunity
@@SJ-vx2hr Iceland 2nd division.... Maybe 500-1000 euros a month... Also housing maybe. It's a small club like literally.. You can see on Google maps... But he still made it.. Happy for him
@@arenabola8134 Yeah, its still a good level. There are former england U18 internationals currently playing in Iceland's third division. Judging by his instagram stories, he gets free hotel/meals from the club.
It is very sad that people take advantage of the most beautiful sport to make money in the wrong way. Scams will always exist but I hope that young footballers are smart enough to recognize scams and real opportunity. Thank you for this video Become Elite since it can be life changing🙌⚽️
It is 100% true, im currently playing at the 6th level in Poland which is an amateur level, however my team is like a semi pro team, we train 4 times a week, got contracts, pretty nice facility etc. AND still a lot of players tried to get to that team and got rejected, it is not always easy even at the lower levels, to make it pro you almost have to experience a miracle, sometimes even hard work cant get you where u wanna be, but you have to do as much as you can to make that miracle a little bit more possible.
Great video! At 47, I'm just an amateur player now with a huge passion for soccer and try to keep myself in the best shape possible in order keep playing in local tournaments/leagues here in Italy. Your videos are truly inspiring and help me be super prepared for each game that I play ..I .wish I saw these 30 years, when I had half an idea to play soccer for a living (I lived in Canada at the time). Keep up the great work!
f**k, that hit different I don't know why but it did. it just made me realise how important it is to not get dragged into make excuses but to focus on myself and my game. thanks Matt
Talent is everywhere. Opportunities are not. This apply to all industries so footballers looking for 1st pro or semi pro team/contract, just keep focusing, working hard and keep knocking on doors. Look at the perfect example of Brandon Diau.
The problem is the tiktoker used the word "scam." But nepotism and ageism certainly exists, and is a fair concern. For example, you might be the best RB trying out, but if the current RB is a well liked guy at the club and almost as good as you, it might be hard for someone to pick a total stranger over their friend. Or if the current RB is younger and almost as good, he'll be seen as having more room to grow.
@@mightymoeish actually you didn’t comprehend what I wrote and the point of the video. In order for any new player to replace a current player, he/she must be a whole lot better, not just a little bit better; otherwise why would any teams bring in someone who may be a bit better during a short time trials when the current guy already knows the coaches, staff, and the teammates and they already know what he/she can do.
@@mightymoeish look, these are businesses they are running, therefore the management will do what they can to put the best product out there to win. Other than talent, there’s also chemistry and team-cohesiveness they management has to consider, therefore unless the new comer is considerably better, they aren’t likely to make changes
Be a great team player. Great players make their teammates better... Great players solve puzzles and contribute when they step on the pitch. Do not focus on individual skills as 99.9% of you are currently focused on. Soccer is 11 v 11. Find where and how you can impact the drill, the training , the match every time you step into the pitch.
Matt, this video helped me a lot and I’m sure it helped many others too. I saw that tiktok you’re referring to a while ago and it made me think that there must be a big political problem within football in the US. However, after watching this video I have realised that players need to concentrate more on exhausting all their possibilities and opportunities before throwing a tantrum. Big fan, love the vids 🤟🏼
I really needed to watch this. I just went to a college ID Camp and was not selected or scouted. Although I had that feeling that I played amazing and all my motivation was just down the drain. Thankfully this video helped, thank you.🙌🏾
Heads up mate! Some of the best players in the world have been cut from teams/rejected. There's always another chance around the corner. You should also check out Ryan Tafazolli's channel on RU-vid. He's a pro footballer at a high level in England. Think you could benefit from his stuff! 👍
It's the same thing for every kind of job. It's either salary-limited, or position-limited, and people compete with each other for those jobs and only the best ones win. People really need to cry out less and do more. Improving yourself is the only sure way to succeed in whatever you're doing in your life.
This video is so raw information. Such a tough world. It’s really tough for those to succeed with financial hardships or lack of support. It’s one of those things about just the general aspect of life and it’s lack of fairness. But like you said. The world was and won’t ever be fair. Incredible video!
Agree with everything you said, unfortunately a lot of entitled people think just because they might of played good or think they deserve it is so wrong, football is ridiculously competitive and what people don’t realise when your chasing a contract you have a 0.0001%of getting one or need crazy luck, simple as that
I’m just getting into the recruitment game for college and a lot in the video can be applied. Granted the odds are better but the principles are the same. Thanks Matt.
Football is 100% a game of opinions. Just look at Serge Gnabry and how a few years ago a coach like Tony Pulis didn't rate him one bit at West Brom and now he's one of the best wingers in the world at Bayern. Same thing when you're trying to make that step up to the pro level, one coach may think your qualities don't suit his team but another coach will, shouldn't take it too personal if you get rejected because it simply wasn't the right opportunity for you💯
Its like professional clubs don't want to mess up with their recruitment process so they go for certain qualities that will give them bang for their buck I feel like the goal for a player is to get connections in the case that you don't get signed
Love the advice.. Can you make a two minute Tuesday about sports drinks? (specifically Body Armor because a bunch of athletes are “sponsored” with them)
Don’t think of it as politics, think of it as a bottleneck. If you continue resisting and grinding, you’ll get through the bottleneck. If not, you’ve already lost
Matt I really like this video as you were very real with everyone and you helped ppl understand that they need to focus on themselves and have an open mindset good video
I liked the part when u frankly spoke about ,,some players who totally have no connection whatsoever...like here in Africa (Zambia to be precise).many players work hard for the "unknown" ..the MAYBE kind of thing...am a perfect living example of that aspect u highlighted..thanks Matt,,u taught alot🙏🙏
*So Basically life is tough* Unless you know someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone.... ⏳
the difference between people complaining about not getting picked and not getting a pro contract and the people that keep grinding to get to that contract or academy
Just in case you do find this tiktok don’t leave stupid hate comments saying that they’re dumb or stuff. Just spread positivity and maybe recommend this video im sure Matt means no harm or hate just education
There’s definitely politics in football. To say there isn’t, means you are a coward. How can you excuse it for the high competitiveness of a contract? This is why so many agents & consultancies have scammed players. In England, there are proper ballers in London. They have a chance to play in a trial at a CAT 1/2 academy & majority don’t get in became of their ‘mannerisms’ & because their from a certain background.
Hey Matt,how do you manage your food and lifestyle on away game trips? Would be happy if you'd let us know more about the typical schedule on away days
you can't beat the facts of math. Politics might be there but up near the top (not the very top), there is no real need. There are so many great players as you say. We have all seen great players/athletes that just couldn't crack the pros. There really is a lot of talent out there. I was told once about how 'goon' role players in hockey would still be able to look like Gretzky compared to near-pro level players, for example. One bit of advice a coach once told me was to look at the teams you want to try out for (or who might be there at a combine) and the team has a full stable of players with some in reserve for your position then that is not the team or coach to try out for (unless you a some sort of phenom but then odds are you would have been discovered/signed already), Sports are a pyramid in shape as you have shown. It must feel great for yourself when you do this type of video to realize how small a group you are actually a part of. Great video as always. Keep up the great work.
Strong. Everything that Matt’s just said can be applied to every sphere of our life no matter of the country and the culture. I live in Russia and see hundreds of people crying and blaming everybody and everything around them. They blame Americans, their native politicians, climate, soil, traditions in their private problems. They want somebody to solve them because they’re too weak and lazy to lift their f...ng lazy ass to do the first step and look at themselves critically. And even if they do it they quit and say “I’m a loser, so let it be”. I hate it! We have only one life, so go and try!
