The English Premier League is one of the most electric soccer leagues in the world.
With its beautifully constructed stadiums holding the thousands of passionate supporters sending chills down your spine with the deafening chants, it’s no wonder it’s like no other league on the globe
On TV and social media, it looks glamorous, dazzling, and easy.
You hear people say, ‘Wow, these guys get millions of dollars to play soccer every day? They got it nice and easy!’
But these are the people who never played elite soccer or competed athletically at a level that required half as much grit, determination, discipline, and work as the English Premier League demands.
I was lucky enough to sit down and converse with a current English Premier League Soccer Player who’s been in the league for 15 years.
I was fortunate to pick his mind about his day-to-day life, his story leading to playing in the English Premier League, and what it takes to get there and stay there.
Here are 7 things I learned after chatting with an English Premier League soccer player.
1) Work Twice as Hard as You Think You Should
This line stuck out for me from our entire conversation.
Many young players can’t comprehend the work and discipline it takes to play at the ultimate level.
On the field, it comes down to working on your craft every single day. From your skills on the ball to your tactical awareness and soccer IQ, to your fitness, conditioning, speed and agility, it’s no wonder a fraction make it to this level.
Off the ball and the field can also play a significant factor in separating the good from the great.
It’s taking care of your body through strength training, nutrition, mental and psychological training, sleep and proper recovery methods, and performance analysis.
If you think you’re working hard enough, take a second to sit down and see what you can add to your regular training routine and what habits you can instill on a day-to-day basis.
Chances are you aren’t doing enough to be an elite soccer player.
2) Every Moment Matters
They had a session earlier in the day, and this English Premier League soccer player described an incident that occurred during the practice.
A younger player was going through the motions while taking reps and the exercise for granted.
After 3 or 4 incorrect reps, this professional clarified with the player and team how taking moments off wasn’t good enough.
In this league, you can’t take reps, exercises, sessions, or games for granted.
Every single moment matters.
You must remember that people’s livelihoods are on the line every season.
Not just your’s, but your teammates, the coaches, the physiotherapists, the cooks, the match day staff, the non-match day staff, and the social media professionals; all are competing for their lives.
Taking a session or game for granted could cost you the ultimate price of losing matches and getting left behind as a player, team, and club.
3) Everyday Is A Competition
Competing each day is vital to becoming an elite soccer player.
You must compete in training against your teammates, on match day against the opposition, and within yourself every day.
You cannot fear competition and expect to play as an elite soccer player.
The players in an English Premier League side can’t be content with losing games, whether in training or on match day.
And when they lose, they use these feelings to ignite a positive reaction and work twice as hard to ensure they don’t lose the next competition.
4) Show Up 7 Days A Week
To become an elite soccer player, you must show up 7 days per week, every week.
You must approach every day with the intent to improve and take a step in the direction you want your career to go.
The English Premier League soccer player I spoke to reiterated this several times during our conversation.
You must prepare every day. Nutrition, mobility, psychology.
You must train aggressively every day. Skill development, soccer IQ, conditioning.
You must play competitively every day. Win your duels, be a great teammate, and work hard.
There’s no such thing as a day off to become an elite soccer player, physically or mentally.
It’s mentally exhausting, but a necessary part of the process. Are you willing to put in the work?
5) Sacrifice Isn't An Option
When you see the dazzling lights on Monday Night Football in the English Premier League on TV, you forget the sacrifices these players made to get to where they are and the sacrifices they make every single day.
This English Premier League soccer player is a dad, husband, and friend to many, who live in another part of the world, and he’s not the only one.
Many of these professionals live across the globe from their homes where they grew up.
Many had to leave their family behind at young ages, to travel across the world to pursue their dream.
In addition to that, you have to sacrifice events such as social gatherings, family events, food and drinks, and late nights.
Are you willing to move away from your friends and family for months on end to pursue your dream?
6) Speak Through Action
Actions speak louder than words, and that couldn’t be truer in the game of soccer.
To play as an English Premier League soccer player, you must be a leader through actions.
Show up early to training every day to prepare, train with full intent and desire to perform, stay after training to work on your skills, and do all the necessities off the field to stay sharp.
The more you do this, the more it will inspire those around you to do the same for themselves and the team.
7) Habits Outweigh Goals
Whether you play at the youth club level or in the English Premier League, the importance of details always outweighs the outcomes.
Yes, set your short- and long-term goals.
But it’s the details on a day-to-day basis that make the difference.
If you don’t intend to instill positive daily habits that support your goals, there’s no sense in setting these goals.
Focus attention on correcting the details and drilling these into your daily routine.