Chasing the Dream!
Blog post description.
6/27/20263 min read
Chasing the Dream!
What I Wish Every Student-Athlete Knew Before Looking at Opportunities Abroad
Every year, thousands of young footballers begin looking at opportunities to combine higher education with the game they love. Whether that's in North America, the UK, Europe or elsewhere, the opportunities have never been greater.
Over the past decade, I've had the privilege of working with student-athletes, coaches and football organisations across the UK, Canada, the USA and China. More recently, I also experienced studying abroad myself as part of my BSc (Hons) in Football Coaching and Administration with the University of South Wales. Although I wasn't playing, I was fully immersed in the coaching, operations and business side of football while living in the United States. What made the experience so rewarding wasn't just the football—it was becoming part of the local community, embracing a different culture and seeing the game from a completely different perspective.
That experience reinforced something I've been saying to young players for years.
The students who benefit most from studying abroad aren't always the best footballers.
They're usually the ones who prepare the best.
Start planning before you think you need to
One of the biggest mistakes I see is players waiting until their final year of school before asking about opportunities. By then, decisions often become rushed and options can be limited.
If you're serious about studying and playing abroad, I'd encourage you to start exploring your options around the age of 15 or 16. Not because you need to make decisions immediately, but because you need time to understand the different pathways, improve academically, develop as a player and ask the right questions.
It's not just about football
Another misconception I come across regularly is that the decision is all about football ability.
It isn't.
I've met excellent players who struggled because they weren't prepared for university life, while others with slightly less ability flourished because they embraced every aspect of the experience. Recruiters and universities are looking at the whole person, not just what you can do during ninety minutes on a Saturday afternoon.
Your attitude, organisation, academic commitment and willingness to adapt often become just as important as your technical ability.
Know what you're trying to achieve
"I want to go to America."
"I want to play in England."
Those are destinations, not goals.
Instead, ask yourself:
What do I want my life to look like in five years' time?
Do you want to become a professional player? Work in football after graduation? Build an international network? Experience a different culture? Graduate with a recognised degree while continuing to compete?
Once you're clear on your long-term objectives, choosing the right pathway becomes much easier.
Be prepared before you speak to anyone
By the time you first contact a university, recruiter or agency, you should already have a football CV, recent match footage, your academic transcripts and a clear understanding of your own ambitions.
You don't need to have all the answers, but being organised demonstrates maturity and shows you're taking the opportunity seriously.
Don't compare your journey to someone else's
Social media has made it easy to believe everyone else has a scholarship, a professional contract or the perfect pathway.
The reality is very different.
Every student-athlete has different ambitions, different academic strengths, different financial circumstances and different opportunities.
The best decision isn't the one that looks impressive online.
It's the one that's right for you.
Prepare for life, not just football
Moving to another country is exciting, but it can also be challenging.
You'll experience different coaching styles, education systems and cultures. You'll probably miss home occasionally. You'll have to become more independent than ever before.
Looking back on my own experience, those challenges became some of the most rewarding parts of the journey. Living and studying abroad helped me grow professionally, but just as importantly, it helped me grow as a person.
Final thoughts
If you're thinking about combining football with higher education overseas, remember that your first conversation with a recruiter shouldn't be about finding the quickest route to another country.
It should be about finding the environment where you can genuinely develop—academically, personally and athletically.
Football might be the reason you start the journey.
The education, the experiences and the people you meet along the way are often what make it life-changing.
