Author: ISAFA

ISAFA is a not for profit association that helps people in need.

Famous Fathers & Sons

Posted on by ISAFA in Fans, Teams

 

Paolo and Cesare Maldini

paolo-maldini-and-his-father-cesare-maldini
Cesare Maldini is a former Italian centre half and captain of AC Milan. He later went on to coach the national U-21 team. Prior to that, he proudly wore the national soccer uniform for 14 years, making his debut in the year 1988. Cesare retired in 2002 with 126 caps and 7 goals to his credit. His son, Paolo Maldini, was one of the best defenders of all time. He shares the record for most caps in the Italian national team. Paolo spent 25 seasons of his career playing for AC Milan, during which he won seven Italian Serie A championships, five UEFA Champions League Cups and one FIFA World Cup. He is remembered for his lightning pace, precise tackling and strong influence, both on and off the pitch. Paolo captained Milan to the 2003 Champions League Title, a feat achieved by his father forty years ago…

Franz and Stephan Beckenbauer

Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer or The Emperor, helped Germany win the World Cup back in 1974. Regarded as the greatest German footballer ever and one of the best footballers in the world, he was known for his precise passes and cool-headed play making. Beckenbauer’s pet name recalls the way he dominated the football pitch, much like an Emperor! After retiring, he took on the job of coaching the German national team, which went on to win the 1990 World Cup. Beckenbauer is said to have invented the role of the modern sweeper or libero. Having made 103 appearances for West Germany, he won the World Cup as captain in 1974, and again as manager in 1990! Beckenbauer found a place in the National Soccer Hall of Fame and was voted second, behind Johan Cruyff, in the European Player of the Century election in 1999. Beckenbauer continues to be an influential figure in German and international football. His son, Stephan Beckenbauer, began his career with Bayern Munich, before transferring to TSV 1860 Munich. He is now back with Bayern Munich, this time as coach, and that’s his soccer uniform.

Frank Lampard, Senior and Junior

Lampard
Frank Lampard Senior played left back at West Ham United for eighteen years. Thereafter, he became the assistant coach of the Hammers, while his son, Frank Lampard Junior, began playing for Upton Park. Frank Junior now plays for the Premier League club Chelsea and the England national team. He is Chelsea’s top goal scorer with 130 goals, the most by any midfielder in the club’s history! With more than 190 goals scored to date, Frank Lampard Junior is the highest scoring midfielder in Europe, and continues to make his mark…

Wlodzimierz and Ebi Smolarek

Smolarek
Wlodzimierz Smolarek, Poland’s greatest striker, played a key role in his country’s third place slot in the 1982 World Cup. His son, Euzebiusz aka Ebi, named after the great Portuguese soccer star Eusebio, trained under his father as coach. A regular in the Polish national team, Ebi has already played one World Cup. During the UEFA Euro Cup 2008, he rose to become Poland’s top scorer, as well as Group A’s, with nine goals to his credit, beating Cristiano Ronaldo! Ebi happens to be the first Pole to have scored a goal against Portugal in 20 years, the previous goal being scored by his father!

By: Giorgio Pirelli

International Football Academy Tips: Preparing For British Football

Posted on by ISAFA in Teams, Youth

Football AcademyDo you want to attend an international football academy in England? Well, be ready:  you may find yourself in over your head. The English game is very fast and physical as compared to American and European soccer. If you aren’t in peak physical condition, you might not be able to keep up.

However, with proper preparation, you can be head and shoulders above the rest of the players who haven’t taken the time to get ready for the trials they’ll face. Here are a few tips to get you ready for playing English football!

Tip #1: Work on your upper body strength.

British players are much physically stronger than North Americans, and we’ve seen many players struggle to keep up. At some international football academies, the first few weeks are spent doing a lot of fitness training on the track and in the gym, building core stability and conditioning.

Start working on your abdominal and your upper body strength now. Core stability is important for any athlete, and a strong upper body will help you fend off other players. The game in the U.K. can be very fast and furious, so you have to be strong, first.

We’ve seen many football players fail in England because they haven’t got the strength they need to compete there. If you’ve already started building your upper body strength before beginning a football program in the UK, then you won’t be one of them!

Tip #2: Increase your speed and endurance.

As we mentioned earlier, English football matches are both faster and more physical than soccer games elsewhere in the football-playing world. In addition to building your strength, you should also be working on your speed, agility, and endurance.

If you can, train with hurdles, poles, and ladders, in addition to doing sprints and endurance running. The more you practice your physical fitness beforehand, the more ready you’ll be for the fitness program you’ll undergo at a UK-based international football academy.

Tip #3: Regulate your sleep schedule.

One of the major adjustments we see players having to make is adapting to the rigid schedule of an international football academy. When you’re doing a 9-5 program that includes academic and physical discipline through the day, it’s important to get into the routine.

Before you ever set foot on the plane, start getting your body used to the schedule. Go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning. That way, your body won’t have to go through the same period of adjustment when you’re trying to get used to all the other things that come with attending an international football academy.

Bonus Tip: Here’s what English coaches are looking for.

There are four things that most English coaches ask us about when it comes to players: attitude, athleticism, ability with the football, and commitment. They’re looking for players who aren’t just talented, but who have the right attitude and discipline to make it with a football club.

Players who are consistently late to practice, who do poorly in their academics, and who have disciplinary problems aren’t going to be picked for professional trials, no matter how talented they are. You have to bring more to the table than just talent.

Follow these tips, and you’ll excel not just in English international football academies, but in any international football academy you wish to attend.

Author: Joey Bilotta