Youth Soccer Players want to test yourself against the best youth players in the Bundesliga? Against top clubs in Germany? This is your chance.
Updated: GFL’s Eddie Loewen is a top expert on developing players and German youth soccer. Loewen and his partner, Arne Friedrich – German National Team Star who played in the 2006 & 2010 World Cups and was the German National U18 Team Coach can open doors no one else can.
Youth Soccer News: Eddie Loewen is the CEO of GFL Soccer and the Director of Coaching of Dunedin Stirling Soccer Club — the GPS Tampa Bay Affiliate of FC Bayern Munich,
Loewen has a UEFA A license and USSF B and passionately connects American youth soccer players with his homeland’s top youth soccer academies and top scouts.
I had the pleasure to travel to Germany with Eddie Loewen last year and was highly impressed. While many other organizations say they have connections, Loewen grew up playing with many of the top coaches and scouts in Germany. He is well respected and straightforward.
Eddie Lowen is the real deal — a man who knows the top scouts and coaches — known as managers — of Germany’s top professional soccer clubs in the Bundesliga.
Read Diane Scavuzzo’s interview with Eddie Loewen on the qualitative difference in player development in Europe and the USA: YOUTH SOCCER: EUROPEAN VS AMERICAN PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
Diane Scavuzzo: GFL has several youth soccer trips this summer, one to Rome, Italy and others to Germany … what are the differences between these trips? What types of players are better suited to one trip over another?
Eddie Loewen: Rome and Duisburg trips are primarily for elite U.S. youth players who want to measure themselves against the elite youth players in Germany and Italy.
For example, in Italy, we are competing against prestigious clubs like Juventus and AS Roma.
In Duisburg, we are competing against youth academies such as Schalke, BVB, Düsseldorf, and Hoffenheim.
The trip to Berlin is suited for players that want to bring their game to the next level, by training with elite coaches such as former German National Team player Arne Friedrich.
On the women’s side, we have Ariane Hingst who played also for the German Women’sNational Team coaching our players.
Related Soccer News: EDDIE LOEWEN ON YOUTH SOCCER PLAYERS TRAINING IN GERMANY
Diane Scavuzzo: The trip to Berlin departs the USA on July 19th and leaves Germany July 30th, 2018. Where will the players be staying?
Eddie Loewen: They will be staying at the Alletto Hotel at the Kuhdamm which is in the center of Berlin.
Diane Scavuzzo: The trip to Duisburg departs the USA on June 23rd, returning on July 7th, 2018. On this trip, you will kick off the inaugural GFL Cup youth soccer tournament. Which German youth soccer clubs will compete in your tournament?
Eddie Loewen: The GFL Cup has Bundesliga Youth Teams from Borussia Dortmund, FC Schalke 04, Fortuna Düsseldorf, SC Fortuna Köln, and FC Bocholt.
The GFL Cup is not a Pay-to-Play tournament.
It’s important to understand that the GFL Cup is an invitation-only tournament.
Furthermore, players and coaches will be treated like professionals. We will have a players’ lounge during the tournament, and appropriate nutritional meals for athletes will be prepared for all of the teams.
This is always a requirement when dealing with professional youth academies in Europe.
The GFL cup is a wander pokal, and this means that the team that wins the tournament 3 years in a row will be able to keep the cup.
Diane Scavuzzo: Will the American youth soccer players have the opportunity to try out with German Pro Clubs?
Eddie Loewen: Yes, players will have the opportunity to be scouted during the GFL cup. The players that stand out and perform well will get an opportunity to try out with a German pro club.
For example, in 2017 GFL soccer provided tryouts for 18 players with clubs such as Fortuna Düsseldorf, BVB, Schalke, 1860 Munich, Hoffenheim, Nuerenber, and Hanover 96.
This trip, players will be identified/scouted and be invited to join one of the following teams:
• U11 (players born 2008/07)
• U12 (players born 2006)
• U13 (players born 2005/04)
• U15 (players born 2003/02)
• U17 (players born 2001)
Diane Scavuzzo: On the Berlin Trip, players will be able to train with Arne Friedrich who played for Germany in the FIFA 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
Earning 82 caps for Germany National Team, Friedrich is the former coach for Germany U18 National team will be on site to train and scout players.
Can you tell our readers what he looks for in a player? What are the possibilities for the ‘right’ talented player?
Eddie Loewen: Anything is possible, we can open any door with Arne’s connection.
If the player can go through the door it is up to the player.
What makes a player standout? What we are looking for in a player is the following:
Speed — The player has to be fast.
The player has to be technically sound and tactically flexible — so the player can play one position perfectly or able to play multiple positions.
Strength – mentally and physically. The player must be strong and have a professional mentality.
The player who wants to make it in Germany needs to demonstrate at the tryout that not only he can hang with the German players, but that he is better than the German players.
Being good enough to play with them isn’t going to be good enough.
Diane Scavuzzo: So many organizations offer trips abroad. What makes GFL better?
Eddie Loewen: We are the experts because nobody has the direct connection we have with professional clubs.
Furthermore, it’s not just about the connection, but it’s also about the relationships we have cultivated with professional soccer clubs throughout the world and especially in Germany.
GFL is unique. We simply do the right thing.
And with Arne’s background of playing in the German Bundesliga for ten years and in two FIFA World Cups, we have access others do not. There are many deep-rooted relationships and trust, which is so important in Germany. I am always told I am too modest and do not promote GFL enough — but let’s just say GFL is very well respected in the world of German Soccer. We can provide opportunities that no other company can.
Related Articles: Improving Youth Soccer Development: Eddie Loewen and Exploring Youth Soccer In Germany – GFL’S Eddie Loewen and Exploring Youth Soccer In Germany – 2017 GFL Soccer Trip
