Unique Professional Path for North American College Players in Europe
Algeciras CF has agreed to provide the most talented Integrated Gap Year players the opportunity to advance to their second team and potentially train with their first team.
International Soccer Academy, a leader in helping elite youth soccer players make their dreams of becoming a pro possible, is proud to announce an exclusive strategic partnership with Algeciras CF, a professional Spanish football team based in Algeciras, Spain.
Algeciras CF has agreed to provide the most talented players on the Gap Year team with the opportunity to advance to their second team and potentially train with their first team.
Algeciras CF was founded in 1909 and currently competes in the 1st RFEF (3rd Division). The long-term partnership between International Soccer Academy and Algeciras CF aims to provide unparalleled development opportunities for collegiate-level soccer players by launching the club’s third team rostered with American Gap Year players.
The Spanish football club’s focus on being promoted to La Liga is led by former CEO and President of La Liga’s RCD Espanyol, Ramón Robert who has taken over the leadership of Algeciras CF.
We are extremely excited to offer a Gap Year program at Algeciras CF and train American players to compete in an official Spanish league on the doorstep of a professional career.
Ramón Robert, CEO of Algeciras CF
Algeciras CF’s goals align perfectly with International Soccer Academy’s mission to provide an authentic pathway for American soccer players to become professional players.
“This team which will compete in a regional Spanish league while living in Spain for the Season 2024/25, training on a daily basis, and taking Spanish language courses,” said Robert. “The team will be an official part of our Algeciras Academy program playing as the Algeciras CF – C team.”
The collaboration between International Soccer Academy and Algeciras CF presents a unified Gap Year Integrated Team, beginning on August 28th with pre-season activities, followed by the Spanish football league matches starting in mid-September. This program caters to high school seniors seeking a gap year before college soccer or current college players eager to explore a well-established player pathway. Participants have the chance to train and compete, representing Algeciras CF with pride in their distinctive colors.
Diane Scavuzzo, Co-Founder of International Soccer Academy, expressed her pride in the collaboration, emphasizing its significance in providing collegiate-level players with an exceptional development pathway. “This partnership serves as an international bridge between Spain and North America for aspiring collegiate soccer athletes who want to see how far their skills can take them,” says Scavuzzo.
American owned Algeciras CF was purchased by Futbol Coalition in 2023.
“International Soccer Academy’s college age players will be immersed in Spain’s powerful fútbol methodologies.”
Mac Lackey, CEO of Football Coalition
“To play in the Royal Andalusian Football Federation’s league is an amazing chance for American players, and we will provide opportunities for these players to be scouted in the hopes of going on trials and earning a contract to be paid to play soccer in Europe,” says Eddie Loewen, Co-Founder of International Soccer Academy.
“With the team participating in an official Spanish Regional League, players will be able to test themselves on a weekly basis against European players who have the same goals of becoming pros,” says Ross Schraeder, Director of Algeciras CF.
International Soccer Academy’s Gap Year team, now designated as Algeciras CF’s third team (C team), will join Algeciras CF’s second team (B team) as the training player pool for the club’s pro team. In 2024, five B team players and one U19 player were invited to train/play for the club’s pro team, highlighting the effectiveness of Algeciras CF’s developmental program.
Interested college-bound or collegiate soccer players born in 2005 or older can apply by sending in a link to their game highlights for the European scouts to review on the International Soccer Academy’s official website. www.internationalsocceracademy.com
Established in 2020, the International Soccer Academy has garnered significant acclaim for its prestigious residential youth soccer development programs, catering U17 to U19 academy teams seamlessly integrated into professional clubs within La Liga and the Bundesliga. This season, over 80 American players are honing their skills at renowned clubs such as Cádiz CF, Hertha BSC, FC Schalke 04, and FC Bayern.
