England star Bukayo Saka made a surprise visit to a North London academy training session to meet Ibrahim Fuad, a talented former footballer whose playing career was cut short when his Australian club couldn't continue sponsoring his visa. With funding from the Chase football coaching programme, Ibrahim completed his Introduction to Coaching Football qualification and has since launched his own academy.
The Reality of Professional Football
Only 0.5% of registered academy players turn professional. For the rest, coaching offers a fulfilling way to stay connected to the game while building transferable skills and becoming role models in local communities.
New Research Shows Coaching's Value
According to YouGov research commissioned by Chase:
- 93% of former players view coaching as a valuable way to stay connected to football.
- 67% agree that free coaching qualifications would keep more ex-players involved in the game.
The Chase Football Coaching Programme
This initiative provides fully funded access to introductory coaching qualifications and professional coaching bursaries for people from low-income backgrounds across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Since 2024, Chase has funded 7,000 coaching qualifications, with 4,046 completed so far.
What Saka Says
"Not everyone's path in football looks the same, and for many players who don't go on to play professionally, coaching is a brilliant and rewarding way to stay involved."
Ibrahim's Story
"Football has always been a huge part of my life, and when my playing journey came to an end, coaching gave me new hope. It's allowed me to help young players develop, not just as footballers, but as people."
For more information, visit the Chase football coaching programme.
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