International Soccer Academy was established in the United States in 2020 to provide a groundbreaking pathway for talented North American players. By 2021, we expanded to the prestigious Academy of Schalke 04, the Knappenschmiede followed by a second Team at the Bundesliga Club, Hertha Berlin, and a third team at Sportwerk in Germany. Our expansion plan will see teams at other renowned Clubs in the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, La Liga, and Liga Portugal. Following a unique methodology in each of our centers, we want to allow American players to play and train in Europe to develop their skills and showcase their talent to generate professional opportunities.
All our players go through a rigorous scouting process – both live and virtual to be placed in one of these European rosters. All aspects of our Integrated Academy teams, including matches, staff, education, cultural exchange, and facilities, exceed the expectations of our players. We combine best-in-class European methodology and coaching with the sought-after American physicality and athleticism through expert UEFA A Licensed coaches.
The demand for well-rounded American players is at an all-time high in the world and our individualized development programs and exposure opportunities lead players to top professional organizations and prestigious universities. Playing highly competitive weekly matches in Europe allows players to reach their maximum potential and enhance individual and collective performance. We build smart, physically prepared, and mentally strong players capable of succeeding at the highest level. However, just as important to us is taking care of our players after they complete our program. The success of our players is a responsibility we take seriously and we always continue mentoring our players. We believe it is our responsibility to continue assisting our players – whether it’s a second year at International Soccer Academy, arranging trials in professional clubs and signing contracts, or returning home and playing collegiate soccer.
We are proud to have helped launch the FC Bayern Global Academy and to work with all our professional soccer club partners to provide an exceptional residential soccer training program for talented youth soccer players … where players are on an elite team from all across North America and play weekly international friendly football matches, immersed in European culture and integrated into a professional environment.
Imagine a great football boarding school with great players from MLS academies, MLS Next, and ECNL teams as well as top regional soccer leagues … coached by former pros who played for years in top leagues and understand what it takes to succeed as a pro player.
About Our Founders
Eddie Loewen
Former German professional soccer player, Eddie Loewen has made it his mission post-retirement to connect talented American players with Europe’s top academies. Eddie is also a renowned coach with a UEFA A License as well as a USSF B. Born and raised in Germany, Eddie played for several German professional clubs and also represented the German National Team as captain in Beach Soccer. Eddie then moved to the United States and focus on his biggest passion – coaching. He has been Head Coach of the German and Indian National Beach Soccer Teams as well as co-authoring the FIFA Beach Soccer Coach Manuel.
As a co-founder of the International Soccer Academy, Eddie’s role is to make sure the best talent is recruited from North America and placed in a suitable Club in Europe. Eddie is also involved in the trial processes for our Integrated Academy team players. He not only sets up the trials but also accompanies our players and spearheads the negotiation process as their representative. He also mentors all our current players and alumni.
Apart from International Soccer Academy. Eddie is also the founder and CEO of Global Soccer Development, where he has given over 2,000 American youth players the chance to train in Europe.
Eddie resides in Tampa, Florida with his family.
About Our Pro Partnerships
FC Bayern
FC Bayern is recognized around the world as a powerhouse in German and international football. Based in Munich, the club’s dominance in the Bundesliga is unparalleled, with a record 32 Bundesliga titles, including 11 consecutive championships from 2013 to 2023.
A key element of FC Bayern’s continued success is its renowned youth academy, the FC Bayern Campus, which has produced world-class talents like Thomas Müller, Jamal Musiala, and David Alaba. On the field, FC Bayern is known for its relentless, high-pressing style of play. This approach has helped the club win six UEFA Champions League titles.
Hertha Berlin
Hertha Berlin is the epitome of a modern football club; international, diverse, and focused on the future of the game and developing talented players into professionals.
The Bundesliga club has consistently provided opportunities on their first team to youth players. Hertha Berlin academy players have made appearances in over 450 League matches — with at least one academy player playing the entire 90-minute match, each game. In addition, 55 youth players have made their professional debut since 2001, a number most clubs are unable to achieve.
Cadiz CF
Our La Liga partner Cádiz CF, founded in 1910, is football club rooted in the historic city of Cádiz in southern Spain. With a memorable Copa del Rey win in 1990-1991, Cádiz CF has left its mark in Spanish and international football.
Central to their success is a thriving youth academy, shaping talented players with both skills and club values. This commitment ensures a steady stream of talent, securing Cádiz CF’s legacy. On the field, Cádiz CF’s commitment to attractive, attacking football has not only brought victories but also captivated fans, making them the 5th most followed La Liga Club in the world!
Algeciras CF
Algeciras CF, founded in 1912, is a historic football club rooted in the city of Algeciras in southern Spain. With over a century of tradition, the club has become a pillar of the Andalusian football community, competing in the third division of Spanish football but boasting a passionate fan base.
Central to Algeciras CF’s long-term vision is its commitment to developing homegrown talent through its academy. The academy focuses on fostering young players with strong technical skills and a deep connection to the club’s values, ensuring a steady flow of talent for the senior team who can then make their strides in La Liga or other major leagues.
About Our Speakers
Dan Abrahams
Dan Abrahams is a sport psychologist, author, columnist for SoccerToday and highly popular speaker who specializes in soccer. He has worked with numerous professional soccer players and teams, including English Premier League as well as Formula 1 teams, to help improve their mental game and performance. He is known for his passion to de-mystify sport psychology and for creating simple-to-use performance techniques. He is the author of four best-selling sport psychology books and the founder of the Dan Abrahams Soccer Academy and The Sport Psych Show podcast.
According to Dan, the most important game an elite athlete will ever play is the one in their mind.
“The ability to stay focused, to stay motivated, and to stay confident is what separates the good from the great.” – Dan Abrahams.
Gareth Bale, Real Madrid & Wales National Football Team says, “Soccer Tough by world-renowned sports psychologist Dan Abrahams changed my life! The book explains how we all have the ability to perform when pressure is at its highest – you just need to unlock it!”
In addition to private coaching for elite soccer players all over Europe, Dan is the Team Psychologist for Feyenoord Rotterdam, which is currently number one in the Dutch League, Eredivisie. Dan currently works on the topic of frustration resilience as well as the importance of mental preparation with our Integrated Academy Teams in Germany.
You can learn more about Dan’s work and his accolades here.
Dr. John Ashley Null
Dr. John Ashley Null is a renowned theologian and scholar, teaching around the world, researching in Europe, and simultaneously serving as the five-time Olympic Chaplain. His work has brought him in contact with thousands of athletes – from those who have won big, to those who have failed epically. And his advice remains the same: Winning a medal will never change your life. Dr. John Ashley Null is a native Texan, who graduated with a Masters’s Degree from Yale University in 1985 and proceeded to complete his Doctorate at the University of Cambridge in England.
Dr. Null primarily researched the human need for constant affirmation, which is especially magnified in athletics when an individual’s giftedness gets confused with their worth. In an effort to self-preserve from the potential pain of loss or failure, many athletes dampen their emotional centers. With emotions at bay, the ability to relate, emote, empathize, and celebrate all become diminished as well. Rather than experiencing victory as fulfillment, it is only remembered as a relief. His work is to help reconnect athletes to their purpose, potential, and worthiness by helping them develop healthy relationships with themselves and others.
His book “Real Joy” walks athletes through the formation of a mindset that will ensure their hearts don’t burn out before their talents do. In 2021, after the Tokyo Olympics which will long be remembered as a turning point in elite sports where the mental health of athletes became an essential concern for all, Dr. Null established the “Emotional Wellbeing” Program at Hertha Berlin.
The project was founded on the principle that a person is not defined by their accomplishments, but by their relationships. However, relationships are what make accomplishments possible. After all, the first thing Olympic Gold Medalists do when they realize they have won is instinctively look to the stands to make eye contact with someone they love. Because no matter how wonderful the thrill of victory is at the very special moment, if there is no one with whom to share the joy, even a victory as great as that is empty. Dr. Null is currently leading the Emotional Wellbeing Program for the Hertha Berlin Integrated Academy.
In 2022, the Fulbright Association awarded Dr. Null the Mulert Award for this groundbreaking program. You can read more about the Mulert Award in the German Fulbright Alumni Association here.
My door is always open for him and for any players that he recommends for Trials at RWE. I am always happy to see Eddie, because he is a very modest, and passionable coach, who understands the games and the level of the German Pro Youth Academies.
Head Coach U16, Rot Weiss Essen
It is a great pleasure for us to support Eddie Loewen’s project. We have had only good experiences. During this long time of working together, we have a real “sport-friendship“.
Youth Academy Director (U9-U23), Fortuna Duesseldorf (2.Bundesliga Club)
