MLS Next
Phoenix Rising FC Professional Academy is a founding member of Major League Soccer’s elite player development platform. MLS NEXT will provide the best player development experience in North America. Founded on a collaborative approach to governance and a commitment to innovation, MLS NEXT players have access to the highest level of competition and to training and personal development opportunities that will prepare them for their futures, both in soccer and in life.
“All of us at Phoenix Rising FC are incredibly honored and excited to be announced, and compete, as a founding member of the MLS elite player development platform,” said Phoenix Rising FC’s Director of Soccer Development, Steve Cooke. “Our desire is to provide the very best practices in elite player development through the Phoenix Rising FC Professional Academy, and this platform will enable us to do so by competing at the highest level of youth soccer.”
MLS NEXT is now home to 118 clubs, 521 teams and over 11,000 players. Our league consists of elite year-round competition, as well as player identification initiatives, coaching education opportunities, and additional programming to create the premier player development environment.
For Phoenix Rising FC, being named to the elite player development platform means the club can offer academy players in the Phoenix area access to the top level of competition in the U.S.
“It is tremendously important that professional clubs lead the education and development of elite young players,” said Cooke. “As a high performing professional club, Phoenix Rising FC is confident that we will provide the very best culture, learning environment and methodology in order to expedite the development of our young players and their teams.”
Added Cooke: “Our whole club commitment to elite player development will provide outstanding opportunities and experiences for the dedicated and ambitious soccer player. We will maximize their playing abilities, and in doing so, will give our young homegrown players the chance to compete at the professional level in the future, and hopefully with Phoenix Rising FC.”
“Having already signed players who were developed in the Arizona soccer community to both full professional and Professional Academy contracts, we believe that the implementation of a Phoenix Rising FC Professional Academy will only create more opportunities for our young players. We are fully committed and will extend every resource into developing the next group of homegrown players for our professional team. This adds to the tremendous opportunities for coaches and players, of all ages and all levels of experience, to enjoy the huge benefits of participating in the Phoenix Rising FC programs.”
— Bobby Dulle, President, Phoenix Rising FC
MLS Next
“All of us at Phoenix Rising FC are incredibly honored and excited to provide the very best practices in elite player development through the Phoenix Rising FC Professional Academy. At the inception of this program, we will conduct a talent identification process, alongside our scouting network, that will help to identify those players who possess the necessary playing qualities and high level character traits and bring them into our Professional Academy. We are very confident that the Phoenix Rising FC philosophy, culture and professional club environment will expedite the development of our young players. The outstanding staff we have brought together will work meticulously to implement the Phoenix Rising FC style of play. Phoenix Rising FC Professional Academy players, and their teams, will be exposed to, and guided through our elite player coaching methodology, and through their hard work and ambition will be given opportunities to maximize their abilities. In doing so, this will give our young homegrown players the chance to compete at the professional level in the future, and hopefully with Phoenix Rising FC.”
— Andy Chapman, Academy Director, Phoenix Rising FC
