Collapse of GPS Soccer: A Shocking End for One of the Largest Youth Soccer Organizations in the U.S.
The founders of Global Premier Soccer (GPS), Joe & Peter Bradley started the organization in 2001 and were out of the organization before January 2020 ended.
In a stunning turn of events, Global Premier Soccer (GPS)—once one of the largest and most influential youth soccer organizations in the U.S.—has abruptly shut down.
Despite bringing in a new CEO and promising major changes, the club’s financial troubles, legal battles, and the impact of COVID-19 have led to its downfall, leaving thousands of youth players and coaches scrambling for their next steps.. 
The timing of the closure is particularly devastating. Tryouts had just taken place, players had committed to teams, and new coaches had been hired. Now, families are left without answers, and the youth soccer community is grappling with the fallout.
Tryouts at some GPS clubs have just finished. Players have just committed — and now GPS shuts the doors.
It was just a few months ago, in the pre-pandemic world, that I interviewed Keith Caldwell, the new CEO of Global Premier Soccer (GPS), and shared his positive vision for the future of this super large youth soccer organization.
From Powerhouse to Bankruptcy: What Went Wrong?
GPS was once a dominant force in American youth soccer, boasting tens of thousands of players across multiple states and an exclusive partnership with German Bundesliga giant FC Bayern Munich. The club promoted itself as a player development powerhouse, offering a “vertically integrated pyramid structure” designed to take athletes from age 3 to 23, with opportunities to train in Germany.
However, cracks in the foundation became evident when Legacy Global Sports, GPS’ parent company, was forced into involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy by creditors from the hockey industry on May 20, 2020 (Massachusetts Bankruptcy Court case #1:2020bk11157). While there were hopes of survival, GPS ultimately failed to recover, and the club’s future collapsed just weeks after tryouts concluded.
What Happens Next for Players & Coaches?
The sudden shutdown of GPS leaves families, coaches, and players in limbo. With no warning and no clear transition plan, many youth athletes are now scrambling to find new clubs.
Fortunately, GPS club fees were not scheduled to be paid until after July 1, sparing many parents from financial losses.
The youth soccer landscape has been shaken, and questions remain about what went wrong and how such a large organization could fall so quickly. For now, the focus shifts to helping affected players find new opportunities, while the GPS name fades from the American soccer scene.
Stay tuned to SoccerToday for updates on how this collapse is impacting the youth soccer community and what comes next for those affected. Earlier today, we have confirmed that Caldwell spoke with GPS coaches around the USA and informed them that the youth soccer club was closing.
The big question is what will all these youth soccer players and soccer coaches do after the demise of GPS?
Soccer fans of all ages believed the involvement of the big German Bundesliga giant FC Bayern was the assurance of quality, integrity and safety.
On top of the German pro soccer table, FC Bayern has just cinched the title of Bundesliga champions 2020 and the club has a stellar reputation for player development.
Just not true. While GPS touted a prestigious mission of providing an excellent development model for players with a “vertically integrated pyramid structure that takes a player from 3 years of age through to 23,” and opportunities to visit and even train in Germany, its reputation is now deeply sullied.
GPS has experienced a tumultuous period before Caldwell took over in late January. Previously called the “worst company ever” on Glassdoor and referred to as a “horrible company” on Indeed, GPS’ former coaches and employees telling tales of horror were not unusual.
