How to become a great soccer player. How to build a great soccer player. Arsene Wenger tells us what makes a great soccer / football player: desire, physical ability, and technical ability. Talent, intelligence and motivation. I think one think that’s not mentioned is dedication.
Soccer take time and effort if you want to become great. You have to master the soccer ball. And you also have to overcome adversity – there will be ups and downs. You’ll get cut from a soccer team or go through spells of injuries or not playing as much as you want to. Yes, even incredible soccer players were at first dismissed from teams or spent long stretches on the bench.
Even player like Kevin De Bruyne didn’t find the right team to play for immediately. At first he was signed by Chelsea but then loaned out and eventually ended up at Manchester City where he’s grown into a world class player.
It’s about fighting through that and playing your best because you love the game. Even if one soccer coach doesn’t play you doesn’t mean there isn’t a team where your skills and ability will be more appreciated. However, it’s key to take criticism from soccer coaches and try to improve upon what they think your game is lacking.
However, at the core, maintain a confidence in yourself and don’t beat yourself up if you’re going through a rough patch of not playing well or not playing as much as you think yo should. Sometimes it does take time to find the right team and or coach that fits your style of play.
Funny quote from Arsene Wenger about showing respect to the opposing team after you score goals:
One of the things I discovered in Japan was from watching sumo wrestling. At the end you can never tell who has won the fight, and who has lost, because they do not show their emotion because it could embarrass the loser. It is unbelievable. That is why I try to teach my team politeness. It is only here in England that everybody pokes their tongue out when they win.
