FOUNDER, Martin Van der Linden

D.O.B - 5/8/1985

Nationality - Dutch-Polish

Born - Rotterdam, Netherlands

Position - Striker/ Center Midfielder

A quote from Martin: “I started kicking and dribbling the soccer ball when I was 3 years old with my dad. My dad signed me up at the local club called ‘Rijmond Hoogvliet Sports’, where I started playing for the first time on a team. At the age of 13, I was scouted by Sparta Rotterdam Academy. During the same timeframe, multiple soccer academies such as PSV Eindhoven, Excelsior Rotterdam, and RKC Waalwijk showed interest as well. I played 3 years at the oldest soccer club in the Netherlands, Sparta Academy. Sparta performs in the highest Dutch League (Eredivisie) and they are recognized for their high competitive Youth Academy. They received maximum ratings of 4 stars by the KNVB (The Royal Dutch Football Association). Although Soccer is a team sport, Sparta Academy had an individual approach towards all young players; they cared about their players' academic and personal growth. They helped me integrate soccer and academics by adjusting class and practice schedules. In collaboration with my high school, ‘Thorbecke Lyceum’. We practiced 7 times a week, 3-morning sessions and 4 evening sessions. Thorbecke Lyceum produced a lot of professional soccer players during my time at the school.” (See below)

“As a youth player, I gained invaluable experience playing in international tournaments where we played against, Swansea City, Leeds United, Bayern Munich, Ajax. Gaining experience playing on an international level is something I will never forget. I will carry that with me forever!”

“Throughout my soccer journey, street soccer was an integral part of my skill development. The small-sided scrimmage fields that we played on taught me how to improvise skills and develop fast footwork. A lot of touches were produced on the ball as I played street soccer. PANNA is a technique that was introduced through street soccer. The meaning behind PANNA is based on using many different skill sets to play the ball through your opponent’s legs. Because all the games were played on small sided scrimmage fields, we simply got better because we never were away from the ball for more than 60 seconds. We either were always with the ball deciding what to do with it, or getting in position to defend against it. Soccer is about making decisions and the small-sided scrimmage games made us make a thousand decisions in 10 minutes.”

“In addition to my love for soccer, I found fulfillment in helping people thus I was guided to enter the profession of Social Work by my mentor Wim Van Til. He saw my caring characteristic throughout my soccer/high school journey. I graduated from University with a degree in Social Work and worked for 7 years in the field of Social Work.”

(Mentor Wim Van Til is a retired professional soccer player who play for Feyenoord Rotterdam and Excelsior Rotterdam). 

“It has been my passion to share all that I have learned and experienced with players all around the world. In 2014, I came to the United States to teach children the sport of soccer. Throughout my years working with youth in the United States, I started receiving a lot of feedback from parents, and athletes encouraging me to keep inspiring and teaching. This is what led me to start PANNA-USA an elite soccer training program specialized in soccer skill development.”

Clubs I played for:

VVOR FC 22-24yrs

Rhoon FC 20-22 yrs

Spijkenisse Youth Academy 16 yrs - 20yrs

Sparta Rotterdam Youth Academy 13yrs - 16yrs

South Netherlands Regional Team  11yrs - 15yrs

Poortugaal FC 9yrs - 11yrs

Rijmond Hoogvliet Sports 6yrs - 11yrs

Names of player that Coach Martin played with: Robin Van Persie (Man United, Arsenal), Georginio Wijnaldum (Feyenoord, Liverpool), Royston Drenthe (Real Madrid), Jonathan de Guzman (Villa Real, Napoli), Adil Auassar (Sparta Rotterdam), Marvin Emnes (Middlesbrough), Guy Ramos (Roda, JC).

Sparta Rotterdam Academy, Netherlands 2000

Video: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro 2016, Street Soccer Favela.