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In 1996, primary schoolteacher Simon Clifford travelled to Brazil in a BBC documentary to witness first hand the way in which this country systematically produces world class footballers, despite being bereft of the resources Britain enjoys. Revitalised by his discoveries, he soon founded the first Brazilian Soccer School in Leeds, and the organisation soon spread like wildfire across the United Kingdom. There are now over 700 schools worldwide, coaching 1 million children in 61 countries, and the reason is as follows; Brazilian Soccer Schools’ Futebol de Salão methods dramatically improve the technical proficiency, physiology and psychology of a footballer.

Many high profile footballers are advocates of, and have learned from, Simon and his Brazilian Soccer Schools, among them Michael Owen, Jay Jay Okocha, Wayne Rooney, Jermaine Jenas, and Theo Walcott. Micah Richards of England was a graduate of ‘the original group’ at BSS Leeds. Most Brazilian footballing luminaries, such as Pelé, Jairzinho, Romário, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Robinho cite Futebol de Salão as the reason for their prodigious talents and success. Sòcrates, Jairzinho, Careca, Pelè, Zico, Romário, Paolo Cesar and Juninho all support what Simon is trying to achieve, and all have taken part in coaching, publicising and promoting the Brazilian Soccer Schools because they have an affinity with what Brazilian Soccer Schools tries to do.

Sócrates had this to say about the International Confederation of Futebol de Salão;
“I have worked in football for thirty years, in Brazil, the UK, Europe, US and South America, and I have never seen anything like this. Simon Clifford is the best football thinker in the world. I am so interested by his ideas and his intelligence.”

There is a misconception that in Brazil you can pluck any youngster off the beach and have a ready made Rivaldo, or from a street corner, the reincarnated Careca. Two reasons behind the unparalleled success of Brazil is the economic backdrop of the nation, combined with the climate and lifestyle that allows Brazilians to play all day, every day, all year round. But foremost of all factors is the small-ball game of Futebol de Salão, which Brazilian Soccer Schools utilise, developing mastery of ball control and technical proficiency. Dedication is crucial to the ability and success of the player, and the misconstruction that the South Americans are flair players whose skill is matched against the harder work rate of their European counterparts is a stereotype, further refuted by the fact that the cut-throat Brazilian youth system is more regimented and professional than its European equivalents.

The situation will undoubtedly remain the same, as there is a simple analogy that holds true in the factory of footballing talent production; quantity produces quality, and Brazil are unlikely to be usurped in soccer exportation. However, it is inescapable that Brazil combines the kind of fanaticism, quality training and work ethic that their foreign counterparts are fatally lacking in. It is on the backdrop of this nation and its footballing practices that the worldwide chain of Brazilian Soccer Schools were fashioned, to create a generation of immensely talented home-grown players, and to illuminate the discrepancy and flaws in the current youth development system.

Academic study has determined just how superior our Brazilian Soccer Schools were to the methodology and effectiveness of the training conducted by professional clubs of the highest tiers and the ‘centres of excellence’ of the Football Association. The results were conclusive; that it would take EIGHT F.A coaching sessions to provide the same footballing improvement and contact with the ball as in a Futebol de Salão class of equal duration, as the high frequency of ball possession is a pre-requisite of FDS. Dr. Buckley of Manchester Met University concluded that Futebol de Salão “when compared to conventional approaches to soccer skill development appears to offer exciting potential for improving performance.”

Another fervent admirer of the work of ICFDS, World Cup winning Carlos Alberto, opined; “I cannot believe what I see, it is amazing, it is something completely different and very special. I can see this having such a positive influence for future generations across the world.”

The renowned monthly football magazine, FourFourTwo, ran an article in August 2007 about the dearth of young English footballing talent, and portrayed Simon Clifford as the man to change that saddening situation. His Saturday morning Brazilian Soccer Schools training regimen at Roundhay Park in Leeds was detailed, and the writer in question commented that ‘you would struggle to find a fitter set of teenagers in the country’.

Brazilian Soccer Schools’ training does not just improve technical proficiency with a football. It increases the flexibility of the athlete, and the fitness levels of the attendees are beyond doubt. Whether your dearest wish is a career in football, or you simply wish to increase your skills to play for the enjoyment of the game, call your nearest Brazilian Soccer School franchise for more details, and if you are an interested parent remember; a happy child is a healthy child.

Brazilian Soccer Schools Wigan (head coach James Winnard) commented; “We are making great progress with our attendees, and the speed and ability on the ball improves with every session. It is encouraging to see how they respond to new exercises.”

The likelihood of becoming a footballer is slim, even for professional academy players, but is greatly enhanced by the mastery of both simple and complex manoeuvres and ball control that is developed at Brazilian Soccer Schools. An attendee is also encouraged in all they do, as we feel it is most important to produce good people along with good players. Physical betterment is achieved, as a certain degree of athleticism is inevitable from the mastery of difficult football manoeuvres, and the hard work ethos instilled in our Brazilian Soccer Schools graduates will surely stand them in good stead for the challenges they will take on. So for your desire to succeed or for the love you have of the game of football, join the Brazilian Soccer Schools revolution and see the drastic improvement you have previously only dreamed of.