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What is your favourite sport, and why is it football? Haven’t we all attempted to imitate our favourite footballers at some point in our lives?

Football is one of the most popular sports all over the world. According to FIFA’s Big Count survey from 2006, there were 265 million active soccer players worldwide, accounting for roughly 4% of the world’s population.

It is not practised or dominated by a single country. This means that 1 in every 25 people you meet is directly involved with football, and the number grows by 2 or 3% every year. Football is a World Sport. It transcends differences such as race, language, age, and gender.

Do you aspire to be a footballer or are you just exploring the field? In either case, you’ve come to the right place! This blog discusses the skills required, the academies to enrol in, the salary, and what else it takes to become a footballer. Follow the step-by-step guide in the blog about how to become a footballer.

Who is a footballer?

A footballer is a professional football player. Professional football is a physically demanding and highly competitive sport. Only a few talented individuals become professionals, and even fewer become top international players. In football, there are four basic types of players. Goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, and forward.

Learn more: How to become a Sports Manager?

How to become a footballer? [4 Step Guide]

Step 1: Educational qualifications

Despite the fact that no formal education is required to play football, it is recommended that you complete as much education as possible as a backup in case you want to pursue another career. Qualifications are also useful when a player’s football career comes to an end and they need to pursue another career. In addition, some football academies require students to have completed their 10th or have a basic education.

Step 2: Certification courses and project courses

A few certification courses are listed below:

  • Introduction to Football (Soccer) Tactics
  • The Ultimate Soccer Guide | Play Like A Pro Soccer Player
  • How to Analyze Football (Soccer) – Basics
  • The Essential Guide To Developing Technical Soccer Players
  • Soccer Conditioning: Test and Improve Player Fitness Levels
  • Fundamental Soccer Tactics: 7v7, 9v9, 11v11
  • Train 2 Dominate | The Ultimate Soccer Training Routine
  • Learn How to Be a GREAT Soccer Player

Step 3: Choosing an Academy

Once you’ve decided to pursue a career in football, enrol in a professional academy. These academies play a significant role in pointing you in the right direction for becoming a successful footballer. Your coach, mentor, and the experience you gain will all aid you in reaching your goal.

  • Top academies to become a footballer in India:
Name of InstitutionLocation
Bhaichung Bhutia Football SchoolsAcross 12 different cities
Premier India Football AcademyMumbai
TATA Football AcademyJamshedpur
Indian Tigers Football AcademyMumbai
DSK- Shivajians AcademyPune
Reliance Foundation Young ChampsNavi Mumbai
Barca Academy IndiaDelhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru
Boca Juniors Football SchoolBengaluru
Paris Saint Germain Academy IndiaDelhi-NCR
Arsenal Football SchoolsDelhi
Source
  • Top academies to become a footballer abroad:
Name of InstitutionLocation
La MasiaSpain
Athletic BilbaoSpain
Santos youth academyBrazil
Sporting LisbonPortugal
Ajax youth academyNetherlands
RSCA Football AcademyBelgium
GNK Dinamo ZagrebCroatia
FC Bayern Munich Junior TeamGermany
Atletico River PlateArgentina
FK Partizan AcademySerbia
Source

Also read: Career As A Footballer

Step 4: How to prepare to be a professional footballer?

  • Start young: While it is not required to begin playing football at a young age in order to make it professionally, it certainly helps. If you’ve had ten years of deliberate practice or coaching since the age of seven or eight, chances are you’ll have the skills and knowledge base needed to succeed in football.
  • Join the school/college/club football team: Football, as a team sport, cannot be fully learned by simply honing your skills. You must also work as a team. Your school/university/club teams will assist you in understanding team dynamics, which is a critical aspect of beginning a football career.
  • Healthy diet & smart exercise: Footballers expend a lot of energy during training and matches, so finding a happy nutritional balance in your meals, which includes getting enough protein, carbohydrates, and fluids, is essential. You should develop the fitness to last at least 90 minutes on a pitch, but ideally, you should be able to last longer – in case of extra time!
  • Find an agent: Agents play a variety of roles, but their primary responsibility is to find suitable clubs for their clients and ensure they receive a fair deal.
  • Trials: Going on trial with a club can be one of the most important experiences in the career of an aspiring footballer.

21 most important skills for becoming a footballer

  • Ball control
  • Dribbling skills
  • Passing accuracy
  • Body Control
  • Spatial awareness
  • Tactical knowledge
  • Risk assessment
  • Self-Confidence
  • Patience
  • Balance and coordination
  • Strength and power
  • Speed
  • Passion and love for the sport
  • Commitment and Dedication
  • Composure and mental strength
  • Passing and receiving.
  • Shooting
  • Decision making
  • Heading
  • Touch and ball control
  • Running off the ball

Salary of a footballer

Salary in India

An entry-level football player (1-3 years of experience) earns an average salary of ₹3,35,854.

Source

Salary abroad

The following is a list of the highest salaries paid to international footballers by their respective countries:

PlayerAnnual Salary
Kylian Mbappe (PSG)$62 MILLION
Lionel Messi (PSG)$41 MILLION
Neymar (PSG)$36.5 MILLION
Cristiano Ronaldo (MANCHESTER UNITED)$36 MILLION
Oscar (SHANGHAI SIPG)$34 MILLION
Andres Iniesta (VISSEL KOBE)$31 MILLION
Eden Hazard (REAL MADRID)$26 MILLION
Mohamed Salah (LIVERPOOL) $26MILLION
Kevin De Bruyne (MANCHESTER CITY)$24 MILLION
Erling Haaland (MANCHESTER CITY)$24 MILLION
Source

Top Football Tournaments in India

  1. Durand Cup
  2. IFA Shield
  3. Subroto Cup
  4. Santosh Trophy
  5. Indian Super Cup
  6. Indian Super League (ISL)

Source

Top Football Tournaments in the World

  1. FIFA World Cup
  2. UEFA Champions League
  3. UEFA European Championship
  4. Copa America
  5. Copa Libertadores
  6. UEFA Europa League
  7. Africa Cup of Nations
  8. FA Cup
  9. Confederations Cup
  10. Copa del Rey

Source

More about footballers?

If you’ve arrived at this point in the blog, it can only mean one thing: you enjoy football and may one day become a footballer yourself! As a bonus, a few football documentaries are included here. Check them out and have fun exploring more!

  • Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In (2021)
  • LFG (2021)
  • Diego Maradona (2019)
  • Footeuses (2020)
  • Take Us Home: Leeds United (2020)
  • Women’s Football In India (2018)
  • All Or Nothing Series (2018-Present)
  • Bob Marley Legacy – Rhythm Of The Game (2020)
  • Shame In The Game – Racism In Football (2020)
  • Rooney (2022)

    Want to learn how to further enhance your sports career into an enterprise? Try out our JuniorMBA Entrepreneurship program to learn the required skill needed to build a branded enterprise.

Know more: Career as a Cricketer

Millions of children aspire to be professional football players, and many excel for their school or weekend teams. To outperform your competitors, devote yourself to the game, practise regularly, and fine-tune your skills. Give it your all in every match while remaining calm. Most importantly, always enjoy your football and have fun when training or playing matches. Best wishes on your path to becoming a footballer!

How to Become a Sports Journalist

FAQs related to how to become a footballer

What qualifications do you need to be a footballer?

Ans: Although no formal education is required to play football, it is recommended that you complete as much education as possible as a backup in case you wish to pursue another career. Enrol in a professional academy once you’ve decided to pursue a career in football.

How do you start being a footballer?

Ans: To begin your career as a footballer, follow the steps outlined below.
1. Start young
2. Join a team
3. Work hard & be willing to sacrifice
4. Healthy diet & smart exercise
5. Create a football CV
6. Find an agent
7. Trials
8. Look for college scholarships
9. Keep working hard

What are the 4 main skills you need to become a footballer?

Ans: You will need the following 4 skills:
1. Passing and receiving
2. Shooting
3. Dribbling
4. Touch and ball control

How do I join a football club?

Ans: The All India Football Federation runs a scouting programme across the country with the help of a network of scouts. Scouts look for players based on the needs of the respective Indian National Teams’ coaches (both male and female across age groups). Coaches may invite players to the national camp for additional trials based on scout recommendations.

Is it too late to become a footballer?

Ans: There are numerous factors that influence one’s ability to become a professional player. However, because soccer is a sport that requires progression through various stages, becoming a professional player after the age of 23 is generally too late.

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