ABOUT US
Meet Samuel Rociu, our Technical Expert
Former Development Coach & Scout at Chelsea FC
With over a decade of expertise in the field and holding more than 30 qualifications, Samuel’s career includes significant experience in England at Chelsea Football Club, where he worked in dual capacities as a Development Coach and as a Scout.
His multifaceted responsibilities at the club involved crafting individual development plans, conducting both one-on-one and group training sessions, compiling detailed scouting reports for players across various age groups (U6 to U21), and preparing player progress reports.
Samuel’s comprehensive background includes experiences and learning from top professional teams worldwide, encompassing Chelsea FC, FC Barcelona, Benfica, Ajax, PSV, Dinamo Zagreb, and Anderlecht. He actively incorporates his extensive knowledge and experience into on-field practices and coaching sessions.
"I was obsessed with learning as much as possible about player development. I was obsessed to see what the most successful soccer academies are doing, obsessed to learn all the insights of academies such as Benfica, Chelsea, Ajax, Barça, Dinamo Zagreb, Anderlecht, and many others. I had the privilege to work in one of the best professional soccer clubs in the world when it comes to developing players - a club that produced players like Jamal Musiala, Mason Mount, Recce James, and many others. And now I'm looking forward to sharing all my knowledge with all those who are seeking it." - Samuel Rociu
A career dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in talent development and identification
Qualifications
Samuel’s commitment to mastering the art of scouting and the art of developing players is evident in his extensive qualifications. His credentials, spanning national and international organizations, reflect his deep understanding of soccer tactics, player development, scouting and psychology for athlete development & high-performance sports.
Coaching & Sport Psychology Qualifications
UEFA
- UEFA B Coaching License
- UEFA C Coaching License
Education
- BSc Sport and Motor Performance - Football Coaching (First Class Honours)
Barça Innovation Hub
- Barça - Coaches Academy II Award
- Barça Coach Academy Award
- Certificate in Psychology for High-Performance Sports
- Certificate in Sport Psychology for Athletes Development
Ajax Coaching Academy
- 2* Ajax Education Program - Our three pillars
- 1* Ajax Education Program (with a duration of 9 months)
PSV Coaching Academy
- PSV Coaching Academy Program (with a duration of 1 year)
The Football Association (England)
- National Futsal Course (Level 2 in Coaching Futsal)
- Level 1 in Coaching Football
- Level 1 in Coaching Futsal
- Level 1 Psychology Award
Coerver Coaching
- Coerver Youth Diploma
"Children are children only once, and I believe we have a huge responsibility to offer them the best support and guidance. That's why I am fully committed to continually improving my knowledge to be able to support the players who seek my guidance and knowledge. I have seen many players with great potential who wasted their abilities because they didn't have the right type of support." - Samuel Rociu
Scouting & Other Related Qualifications
The Football Association (England)
- National Talent Identification and Scouting in Football (Level 2 in T.I.)
- Level 1 in Talent Identification
FOCUS Sports Education
- MiniMBA Sporting Directorship
- Foundations of Sporting Directors
Barça Innovation Hub
- Advanced Football Tactical Analysis (with a duration of 4 months)
- Football Tactical Analysis (with a duration of 4 months)
HUDL
- Hudl Sportcode Elite
- Wyscout Certification Course
PFSA (Professional Football Scouts Association)
- Level 3 in Advance Reporting
- Level 3 in Performance Analysis
- Level 2 in Technical Scouting
- Level 2 in Performance Analysis
- Level 2 in Talent Identification
- Level 1 in Data Analysis
- Level 1 in Performance Analysis
- Level 1 in Opposition Analysis
IPSO (International Professional Scouting
- Level 4 – First Team Scouting
"I had the privilege of working with and learning from one of the best soccer scouts in the game, Graham Castle. He served as both my Scouting Coordinator and mentor. Graham is the Chelsea Academy scout, renowned for identifying world-class soccer talents such as Jamal Musiala, Mason Mount, Levi Colwill, Dominic Solanke, and many others. His guidance has significantly enhanced my scouting abilities. Being a part of Chelsea, widely regarded as having the best scouting and recruitment department, complemented by an exemplary development program, was an invaluable experience." - Samuel Rociu
WHAT WE OFFER
The group training sessions will be led by Samuel Rociu. Samuel is a former Chelsea FC Development Coach and Scout with over a decade of expertise, holding more than 30 qualifications. He is a UEFA B Coach, and his comprehensive background includes experiences and learning from top professional teams worldwide, including Chelsea FC, FC Barcelona, Benfica, Ajax, PSV, Dinamo Zagreb, and Anderlecht. He actively incorporates his extensive knowledge and experience into on-field practices and coaching sessions, ensuring a valuable learning experience for your child.
Samuel’s Coaching and Scouting Qualifications are displayed above in the ‘About Us’ section.
The primary focus of our group sessions will revolve around the technical aspects of the game, incorporating unopposed, semi-opposed, and fully opposed practices, featuring various 1v1 and 2v2 situations. Our coaching philosophy embraces a holistic approach to player development, strategically emphasizing different aspects technical, tactical, psychological, and physical— each week. By delving into the ‘why’ behind the ‘what,’ we connect technical and tactical elements to instill a deeper understanding in our players. This comprehensive approach not only cultivates well-rounded soccer athletes but also equips them with the strategic mindset essential for success in the dynamic and competitive world of soccer, allowing them to reach their full potential.
At Soccer Development Group, the coaching methodology is built upon five fundamental steps:
- Identify the needs
- Design the practice and create the environment
- Coach the practice
- Coach the players
- Reflect and repeat
Each step in this methodology plays a crucial role in nurturing the growth and development of the players. The style, communication, and on-pitch coaching employed by the coaches depend heavily on the unique requirements of each individual and the group as a whole. By fostering a supportive and empowering environment, we enable players to grow, develop, and achieve their full potential.
Our Weekly Group Training gives players the opportunity to experience how professional players optimise their training sessions to earn a competitive edge. After regularly attending our weekly group sessions for 8 weeks, players will receive a personal evaluation with valuable insight into their current performance, and a development plan to improve their game.
Our weekly group training is priced at $40 per player.
We provide personalized training sessions tailored for individuals aged 6 years and above. Our program is designed to cater specifically to the developmental needs and skill levels of participants within this age group, ensuring a focused and effective training experience.
The lon1 training sessions will be delivered solely by Samuel Rociu. Samuel is a former Chelsea FC Development Coach and Scout with over a decade of expertise and holding more than 30 qualifications. He is an UEFA B Coach and his comprehensive background includes experiences and learning from top professional teams worldwide, encompassing Chelsea FC, FC Barcelona, Benfica, Ajax, PSV, Dinamo Zagreb, and Anderlecht. He actively incorporates his extensive knowledge and experience into on-field practices and coaching sessions, ensuring a valuable learning experience for your child.
Samuel’s Coaching and Scouting Qualifications are displayed above in the ‘About Us’ section.
The first session involves evaluating a wide spectrum of skills and movements. Following this, the coach designs a personal training program tailored to the player’s specific needs. The player will practice the skills identified by the coach as essential for improving their soccer ability.
1on1 Training can take place at local parks, or local venues in Chicago and Chicagoland areas. Certain venues may have no cost, some may require an additional fee.
1-2-1 Training Session: $100
1-2-2 Training Session: $75 per player
1-2-1 Training, 5 Sessions Block: $400
1-2-2 Training, 5 Sessions Block: $300 per player
Your assessment will be conducted by our expert, Samuel Rociu.
With over a decade of expertise in the field and holding more than 30 qualifications, Samuel’s career includes significant experience in England at Chelsea Football Club, where he worked in dual capacities as a Development Coach and as a Scout. His comprehensive responsibilities at the club involved crafting individual development plans, conducting both one-on-one and group training sessions, compiling detailed scouting reports for players across various age groups (U6 to U21), and preparing player progress reports.
Samuel’s Coaching and Scouting Qualifications are displayed above in the ‘About Us’ section.
Chelsea’s ability to scout and nurture talent is unparalleled, a fact underscored by the success of players like Mason Mount, Reece James, Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori, Marc Guehi, Conor Gallagher, Jamal Musiala, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Trevoh Chalobah, Declan Rice, Michael Olise, Levi Colwill, Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento, Tariq Lamptey, and Dominic Solanke. All these players, along with many others, were scouted and signed by the Chelsea Academy before the age of 9, demonstrating the scouts’ exceptional ability to identify talent early and the effectiveness of the club’s development program.
An exhaustive professional scouting report, meticulously crafted to highlight your strengths, pinpoint areas for improvement, and offer actionable insights for enhancing your gameplay. The analysis is enriched with key video clips of pivotal moments, providing a visual understanding of areas under review. Gain a clear understanding of your current performance level and discover the most effective strategies to elevate your game.
1. Email Us: Reach out to us at office@soccerdevelopmentgroup.com with the following details:
- Player Information: Provide the player’s name, date of birth, clubs), preferred position, and playing history.
- Photo Submission: Attach a photo of the player for the report presentation.
We aim to have your report ready within seven days of receiving the videos.
2. Video Submission Guidelines:
- Transfer Method: Use a web transfer service like ‘WeTransfer’ (free) or Filemail (free) to send your videos to office@soccerdevelopmentgroup.com
- Quality Requirement: Start by sending us two full game videos, and let our team delve deep into your gameplay with a keen eye for detail. The video should be of good quality and showcase the full game.
- Quality Assurance: If the video quality is insufficient for a professional report, we will return your payment.
Unlock your potential with our expert scouting services.
Our analysis doesn’t just observe; it guides and empowers
Our comprehensive scouting report service is priced at $300. To ensure a seamless process and immediate commencement of our detailed analysis, we require payment upfront. This fee covers the full scope of our expert assessment, including the creation of an in-depth report.