UEFA B Course in Berlin, Camper Van in Iceland, Ajax Seminar

Brian LeGacy Start Date: Jun 23, 2024 - End Date: Oct 20, 2024
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Leadership/Training Program
  • Professional Development
  • Berlin, Germany
  • Reykjavík, Iceland
  • Poznań, Poland
  • Amsterdam, Netherlands

My Travel Story

by: Brian LeGacy Start Date: Jun 23, 2024 - End Date: Oct 20, 2024
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Leadership/Training Program
  • Professional Development
Help me become the next "Ted Lasso".  That's what everyone seems to comment, when I say that my dream is to coach soccer in Europe.  As an American, that has proven very difficult, although a handful of guys have made it happen (Gregg Berhalter, Jesse Marsch, Pellegrino Mattarazzo, Mike Keeney).  Very few without professional playing experience make it to the top divisions, but the German Football Federation's coaching education system has produced some of the best managers that haven't played at the top level.  I have raised just about enough funds by coaching private 1on1 soccer sessions here in Manhattan, substitute teaching, and putting aside small amounts from my youth coaching salary.  
I have booked my flight to Berlin via Play airlines, an Icelandic startup.  My return flight has me stopping in Iceland for 4 days to do some networking with coaches at Professional clubs in the Reykjavik area.  I have booked a Camper Van for a 4 day adventure before returning to begin my preseason as Varsity head coach at an NYC Prep School.  My youth club here in Manhattan has agreed to reimburse $1500 of the $5500 all inclusive course fee.  That's fantastic!
Earning a UEFA B License will help solidify my coaching philosophy & methodology, which is taking shape through 10+ years experience and countless professional development courses through organizations like United Soccer Coaches, United States Soccer Federation, The Football Associaton (England's FA), New Zealand Football, MBP School of Coaches, International Professional Scouting Association, TOVO Institute, and Ajax Coaching Academy.  I attended Ajax's International Coaching Seminar in February of this year, focusing on attacking principals of play - and I hope to attend October's seminar focused on Defensive principals of play.  
This fundraising effort is designed to help me raise some extra funds for the summer trip and funds for the Ajax Amsterdam experience in October ($500 registration + Flights and Hotel)   My summer trip begins July 25th with a flight to Berlin - a potential train ride to Poznan, Poland to meet up with an old friend who lives in Warsaw for a day or two, then I'm locked in from 28 July to 13 August at the Sportschule Wansee in Berlin.  Double sessions in the classroom and on the field learning from experts at Berliner Fußball-Verbund.  3 meals a day + accommodation are included in the $5500 tuition.  I have one $2200 payment left to make before the trip (which the $1500 reimbursement should help cover).  No donation is too small or too big & one of the best ways to support my effort is to share this link within your network!  
My short term goal is to learn as much as I can from experts in the field, so I can pass on that knowledge to the youth players I coach here in the States.  The long term goal is to find opportunities to coach with a professional youth club in Europe.  Ajax would be ideal, but a position with a club in Iceland, or Ireland (where my grandparents & mother may be eligible for foreign born citizenship), or anywhere in Europe would be a dream come true.  Thanks for reading all the way through & thanks for your contribution to help me inspire more youth players!
  • Berlin, Germany
  • Reykjavík, Iceland
  • Poznań, Poland
  • Amsterdam, Netherlands

Adventure Registry

  • Airline Miles - NYC to AMS

    $ 500

  • I have raised funds from May1-June30 via substitute teaching, Private Soccer Coaching.

    4,000
    anonymous
    • Granted

  • Coach Education Reimbursement

    1,500
    MSC
    • Granted