A young soccer player dreamed of playing professionally. Or, better said, he dreamed of doing something great. He wanted to be someone or get somewhere--for his life to mean something--and soccer became his path. When he heard his name called in the 1st Round of the MLS SuperDraft, he expected his life to change forever. What he found, instead, was much of the same: the same fears, insecurities, and internal conflicts, except now with higher stakes. When the Dream Became Reality is the story of a professional athlete's path and evolution, as a person and athlete, from childhood through six professional seasons. In this heartfelt memoir, Bobby Warshaw recounts the moments we rarely hear so honestly from athletes, including disagreements with coaches, personal mistrust of his own ability, doubt about his sexuality, and the aftermath of loss and failure. Warshaw experienced incomparable highs--game-winning goals; championship games; wearing the captain's armband--but he rarely felt like he was living the dream that everyone suggested. Beyond the usual self-doubt, he struggled to come to terms with the paradox at the root of the profession: the intersection of a ruthless business with a children's game. To achieve his goals, Warshaw discovered at a young age he would have to live with two conflicting parts of his life, the athlete and the human. The former Stanford University captain opens up about his efforts to maximize his ability as an elite player and a compassionate person despite their often-clashing demands; the constant frustration that he never performed either as well as he would have wanted; and the subsequent struggle to like himself, as either an athlete or a person, along the way. When the Dream Became Reality is not the story of the glitz and glamour of a famous superstar, but rather the everyday emotions and decisions of an average pro pushing to be remembered. Warshaw writes the story that pulls back the curtain on the life and emotions of America's professional athletes. Sometimes there is more than giant contracts and big trophies on the line. It's a common thought to chase our dreams. Do we ever stop to think what happens when we get there? When the dream no longer remains a dream, but becomes reality.

What is the “I Want To Become a Professional Soccer Player” Book About? It is NOT just another “soccer” book. It is NOT just another "how-to" For soccer players. Though it will help aspiring soccer players that want to know the secrets within this book to become a professional soccer player. It is NOT a book for soccer players that just want to have fun. Though it will help aspiring soccer players that have the willingness to put in the hard work, time, and effort to start training and thinking like a real professional soccer player. It is NOT just about playing soccer for free. Though it will help aspiring soccer players to turn their dream into a professional career to get paid and make money for what they love to do. This Book is A SHORTCUT This is not a book about “playing soccer for fun”... But, if your child does what it says, they will definitely GO PRO sooner than you can think. Why can I say that? Because this IS a book about how every aspiring soccer player can use the secrets within this book to start training and thinking like a real professional soccer player... No matter what age or level your child is playing at! If your child has ever been frustrated by a lack of confidence, lack of skill, or lack of inspiration… This is the book you’ve been looking for!

Many youngsters dream of becoming a professional footballer. But football is a highly competitive world where only a handful will succeed. Many aspiring soccer players don't know exactly what to expect, or what is required, to make the transition from the amateur world to the 'bright lights' in front of thousands of fans. The Footballer's Journey maps out the footballer's path with candid insight and no-nonsense advice. It examines the reality of becoming a footballer including the odds of 'making it', how academies really work, the importance of attitude and mindset, and even the value of having a backup plan if things don't quite work out. Filled with real life stories from current, and former, professionals across different leagues, The Footballer's Journey provides honest guidance and practical tips on what is required to give yourself the best possible chance of turning the dream into a reality. Learn: - How likely a professional career really is - The importance of sacrifice - How commitment and focus will pay dividends - The value of education and having a back-up plan - Why rejection is not the end of the world, and how disappointment can drive you forwards

An anecdote-driven narrative of the classic footballer's ‘DOs and DO NOTs’ from the ever-popular Arsenal legend and football pundit Paul Merson, aka ‘The Merse’.

America’s first true European soccer champion and the captain of the U.S. men’s national team relates his journey from Hershey, Pennsylvania, to the pinnacle of world soccer. Pulisic’s rise from his childhood in Pennsylvania to captain of the U.S. national team in the coming World Cup and Champions League glory is ultimately a story about a lifelong determination to realize a dream. Growing up in an area without role models, Pulisic would look to European stars for inspiration and to European soccer as his ultimate goal. In this book Pulisic talks candidly about his journey so far, revealing the extraordinary excitement of fulfilling some of his goals and the great challenges involved. He also shares experiences from behind the scenes playing for club and country, his most memorable career moments, moving to a new country without knowing the language, training drills he’s used over the years to hone his skills, and his daily life as a soccer player. Photographs from his family albums and some of the world’s best sports photographers document Pulisic’s path from his first visit to Chelsea at age seven to signing for the club for a record transfer fee when he turned twenty to his defense of the Champions League title and preparation for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Featuring dressing-room anecdotes and heartwarming stories, this fascinating look into the world of a quiet American boy turned soccer star is the real-life story of every aspiring young American soccer player’s dream and the perfect book for anyone with a passion for the beautiful game.

What separates most young soccer players who make it into a professional league from their peers who stop playing in high school or college is desire and passion. But if you want to join the ranks of professional players, you'll also need to master some fundamental skills. Author Pedro Alves, who grew up in a family of semiprofessional and professional players, delivers inspirational advice and practical guidance in this manual. You can learn how to - develop or instill the confidence needed to succeed;- recognize mistakes that prevent players from reaching their potential;- schedule training and manage time;- select the right position, coaches, and mentors; and- live a balanced life as you work toward goals. This guidebook takes you through an entire regimen of training, from age four to age nineteen and beyond. It's also laced with examples of people who dared to dream big and succeeded. Whether you're a coach, supportive parent or young athlete seeking to become a better player, you can find a treasure trove of advice and information in The Journey to Becoming a Professional Soccer Player.

Sports psychology, exploring the effects of psychological interventions on important performance-related outcomes, has become ever more popular and prevalent within elite level soccer clubs in the past decade as teams look to gain psychological as well as physiological advantages over their competitors. The Psychology of Soccer seeks to present the detailed understanding of the theories underpinning the psychological issues relating to soccer, along with practical insights into effective psychological interventions and strategies This book uses contemporary theory and research to elucidate key concepts and applied interventions. It includes world-leading expert commentaries of contemporary theoretical and applied approaches in understanding critical issues in soccer, and provides practical implications and insights into working effectively in soccer-related contexts. The Psychology of Soccer is an evidence-based resource to guide research and facilitate practice and will be a vital resource for researchers, practitioners, and coaches within the area of sport psychology and related disciplines.