How to Become a Professional Soccer Coach

Becoming a professional soccer coach is one of the most demanding career paths that one could possible choose in sports. There are several avenues open at various levels that one could investigate in order to become a professional coach at any level. However, in order to become a top level coach in the highest level professional leagues, a lot of skill, experience and luck needs to come into play.

Instructions

1. Gain experience. The more experience a coach has, the better he or she is able to deal with any incident, small or large, that may come up in the day-to-day operations of their club. Experience usually begins by taking on low level coaching positions, and then working up the ladder towards the highest level of coaching.

2. Gain qualifications. Whether the coach is in Europe, South America, the USA or anywhere else, there is usually a coach licensing system in place. Typically, the licensing system is measured alphabetically, and top coaches are expected to usually hold the "B" or "A" licenses, the "A" license being the highest. In Europe, in order to become a manager of a top club, a coach is also required to hold a UEFA Pro License in order to be able to manage the day-to-day affairs of their team.

3. Start coaching a team. It's difficult to become a coach when that person is not actually coaching, so accepting any position with a view to moving up the ladder is important, even if that first position is coaching an Under 8's team for free. The more a coach's reputation grows, the more chance he has of being offered a better position in the future.

4. Cultivate an image of success. In order to get noticed at the lowest levels, it is important to become known for achieving success. This is not always measured in wins, but also in how a coach develops players, the style of soccer his teams play, and his ability to get the best out of their players.

5. Be prepared to be flexible. In order to become a professional coach, at times it might be a good idea to coach in different environments. This might also include moving to a different country, or coaching at a particular level, e.g. it is possible to become a full-time professional coach at the collegiate level in America, or even a Director of Coaching. Avram Grant was a Director of Coaching at Chelsea before he was offered the position of manager. There are a lot of full-time Academy coaches at the youth level in England, and although most will never be famous, they will, nevertheless, be able to earn a good living doing something they love.

6. Apply for every position that might suit your talents. Even if it means dropping a level in professional terms, the ability to gain more exposure can often be more important than coaching at a higher level. As a lot of luck is involved in gaining professional coaching positions, for any ambitious coach, the more exposure, the better the opportunities in the future.

Tips & Warnings

• It is not necessary to have played as a professional to become a professional coach, but some playing experience is crucial.

• Be prepared for setbacks - sometimes positions don't work out, or you don't get the position you really wanted.

• Always continue your coach education - there are always new developments in coaching methods.

• Remember that coaching is about the players, not the coach.

• Don't be tempted to cheat in order to gain a position or a result.

• Take care of your health - sports coaching can be incredibly stressful.

Resources

• UEFA.com
• NSCAA.com