Relentless

Soccer players may get all the glory, but behind every great player is a great coach. And behind every great coach today stands a cadre of mentors who dedicated decades to championing soccer's long climb from obscurity to become one of the major sports in America. It was an uphill battle, fought persistently and creatively to overcome a public perception of soccer as 'foreign,' 'aloof,' 'snobby,' or simply 'odd.' This is a story of individual and collective action, of coaches coming together to improve the sport and expand its reach. The adaptation and sharing of improved coaching methodologies has resulted in improved play on the field such that today American players (and coaches to some degree) are having an impact not just nationally, but internationally. Because of the determined and insistent efforts of the US soccer coaching community, soccer is now perceived as a rigorous, athletic pursuit. In addition to the stories found in this book are more than 50 QR codes that provide bonus information on the coaches and their careers. Relentless tells the landmark and previously untold stories of resolute coaches, their love of the game, and how they transformed the sport in the United States.