FC Barcelona
Lionel Messi
Of note
(2nd place) Andres Iniesta
(3rd place) Xavie
** All 3 players play for Barcelona FC
Messi is officially the most popular player in the world. His name is on the tongue of every player that aspires to be great. Every club is trying to figure out how they can create the same magnificence as Barcelona. As much as we all like to think the US is great at everything the development of world class players, clubs, and coaches is not our thing.
Over the next year I hope to take an up close look at the US Youth Soccer scene through the eyes of someone who is in the daily grind of trying to develop players at the highest level. The ups and downs, ins and outs, immovable governing bodies (and their fights with each other), culture of the kids we coach, culture of the kids who don't play soccer, parental support (good and bad), clubs, coaches, parent coaches, Olympic Development Program, ECNL, USSF Development Academy Program, camps, college recruiting, tournament revenue, costs associated with youth soccer, professional soccer in the US, and many more topics.
I encourage you to join us on the daily/weekly/monthly excursion in this blog and I also hope to hear from you with your thoughts and comments on any and all of these topics.
Ultimately if we can help push everyone involved in youth soccer toward a better understanding of total club, coach, and player development the sooner the US will become the nation known for development of world class players....... Project 2010 has come and gone and we are no closer to winning a world cup than we were 10 years ago..... If we don't change the culture now at the grassroots level it may never happen....
