A silver lining story of the Coronavirus Pandemic: Creighton Braun joined the International Soccer Academy which was conceived to provide a safe place for high-level players to train if their soccer season was cut short or canceled due to the pandemic. The coaches at the Academy recognized Braun’s talent and set up trials .. the rest was up to the player. Braun just signed his first professional soccer contract earlier this week.
Creighton Braun joined the International Soccer Academy‘s inaugural fall session and left the USA for Mallorca, Spain to train with UEFA A and PRO licensed coaches. As a collegiate DI player taking a gap year because of the Coronavirus, Braun just wanted to play soccer — and in Southern California that was not really possible due to COVID-19 restrictions. A former West Coast FC youth soccer player, Braun’s dream was always to play professionally in Europe.
Knowing that a player with ambitions of becoming a pro cannot languish on the sidelines waiting for the pandemic to end, Braun was excited to wear the RCD Mallorca jersey and continue his development with his new International Soccer Academy teammates.
Then Braun impressed International Soccer Academy founder Eddie Loewen and his coaches Holger Gehrke, Mike Hilbig, and Chris Ketels. A professional soccer trial was arranged for Braun. In fact, two trials. Then came an offer.
“From the first day, I saw that Creighton Braun has something special with great potential,” said Coach Holger Gehrke. “I knew if he would come into the right hands, he would develop to a professional player in Europe. For his age, he has a great character and personality. It was a pleasure to help him to get this opportunity. Now it is in his hands to make something from it.”
