I'm 17 and thinking about moving to Holland to progress my Soccer/football commitment and eventually develop it into a career. I have heard Holland is the best place to go in terms of a country that speaks English and plays soccer a lot. But since I'm a student with just a HS diploma I will definitely need some kind of cheap residence. Any ideas, suggestions?
2007-09-03 09:11:42 · 7 answers · asked by H.T-11 2 in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Netherlands
If you are serious you need to get your visa sorted.
Contact the football (soccer) clubs as you will need them to get anywhere with a career.
And remember, each boy in the Netherlands, and many of the girls, dream about a career in football, and only very few are even invited for the selection process.
You might be better of to play with one of the American clubs, maybe not as much career, but much easier to get in. And you can go to university so you will have a career when football is over.
PS.
If you want to live here, you will need to learn Dutch as soon as you get here, we do talk English, but at the field, on the job and certainly at all schools and universities the language is Dutch.
Added:
On second thoughts, at 17 you are about 10 years late to start a professional football career in the Netherlands.
They scout kids as young as 5 and I think that most profs who are in the top of the league have been playing professional since they were 12 at least.
Only when you are as talented as the worlds best you will be selected at 17. And if you are that talented, playing in the USA national team you will stand a much better chance to stand out and be spotted than on a selection day for any of the Dutch top clubs.
And the chances are that you will not be able to get to football anywhere but the local amateur only club low in the lowest class of the local league team.
That is because literally all boys in the Netherlands play football at one time, the ones that are any good will play for the local team as soon as they are old enough to do up their shoelaces.
2007-09-03 09:45:02 · answer #1 · answered by Willeke 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I assume you're thinking of a career in soccer as a trainer/coach because, as many have said, you're too old to be starting a career in soccer in the Netherlands as a player, although you'll definitely be able to join a team and practice and play games as much as you like... Personally I joined my first soccer club when I was 7 years old and that's not even very young. If you're not picked for a semi-pro team by age 12, chances are you're not going to... If you are thinking of a career as a trainer/coach, coming to the Netherlands is an excellent idea... We have many clubs that will very gladly accomodate volunteers and you'll learn a lot being one... There's also many workshops and courses you could take, some at the KNVB in Zeist (Royal Dutch Soccer Association) I'm sure they'll be glad to answer any further questions you have... http://www.knvb.nl
As to cheap residence, in general, the larger the city, the more expensive it is, the three large cities being most expensive, including anything near the three large cities... I believe that in the north-east of the country life and living is a lot cheaper (Groningen, Drenthe, Friesland and they definitely have some good soccer teams up there too)
Of course if you come to the Netherlands, join a team and play like a superstar you WILL get asked for a semi-pro or even a pro team... But expect the level of play to be a lot higher than that in the USA, so don't expect that to happen, even if you won the state championship in HS or something like that... And expect Dutch people to seriously question your soccer skills just because you're American... Oww, and call it football/voetbal, not soccer! ;)
2007-09-06 08:42:54 · answer #2 · answered by Vince has left the building... 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, speaking English... Just past Monday I met a couple of Americans on a bicycle trip thru the Netherlands, and I was the first person they met in two weeks who spoke English that they could understand. Yet, most people who do speak English will be very, very eager to help you out. If you're planning on a pro career, just avoid ending up at Feyenoord Rotterdam. So much talent wasted there. I think Heerenveen would be a good option.
2016-03-17 22:59:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
very nice that you choose Holland but yes almost every kid plays soccer in Holland, so it is hard to become a star..
but holland is not great top soccer I think, you have better chances in USA since they basically suck at soccer you have more chance to develop there
2007-09-04 12:10:53 · answer #4 · answered by Gee Kai 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Better still pursue educations there u can live in hostel, study, play for ur institution and progress ur game too
2007-09-04 07:22:30 · answer #5 · answered by Hell Raiser 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just buy a house man. lot cheaper than a whole city.
You fooballers have no sense of proportion do you?
2007-09-03 09:17:09 · answer #6 · answered by philip_jones2003 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
alkmaar
2007-09-03 09:17:16 · answer #7 · answered by ǡgri K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lol
2007-09-03 09:17:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋