GARY IRELAND

Gary resides in California, USA. After moving to Australia and New Zealand from Liverpool, England (see story) football has taken Gary around the globe 

Gary is a former player and current technical trainer, clinician, guest speaker, philanthropist, thought leader, author, consultant, strategic advisor and investor. From 30 years of living, working and investing in Silicon Valley and his extensive expertise in all aspects of global football, Gary is considered a key figure and global connector between some of the most influential and decision makers in Silicon Valley and global football ecosystems and widely connected to the entire global football ecosystems. Gary has employed and trained coaches from numerous professional clubs and federations worldwide and has operates a private football employment service where professional, college coaches , professional academy directors and globally recognized football figures have been represented by and studied under Gary and continue to be mentored and advised. Gary was commended by FIFA for his efforts on behalf of youth soccer and received testimonials from some of the worlds most respected people in football See here

Gary holds an MBA from the University of Liverpool's Football Industries (FIMBA) “Advantages & Disadvantages of Creating and Exploiting Revenue Streams at The Academy-Liverpool Football Club: Comparing and Contrasting Youth Academies of Liverpool FC, Inter Milan & Chicago Fire”. 

Gary was recognized by 'Advance', the global business network spanning 40 countries with 1 million Australians abroad, as being one of the ‘Advance 50’ current and emerging leaders" honored at the Silicon Valley Summit for contributions to the commercialization of Australian innovation dedicated to assisting Australian innovators, entrepreneurs and start-ups to commercialize and globalize

He co-owns Silicon Valley based (SBC) Soccerbook Consulting, where he advises and consults on all aspects of technical, commercial and financial aspects of the football industry. SBC provides strategic advice on product and service marketing and distribution, capital raising, creation of and for non-profit/charity entities and player recruiting and development strategies for clubs, leagues and products. He co-owns San Francisco Bay Area player training/experience and tour company Dynamic Soccer and Southern California player training/experience and tour company Orange County Eclipse Academy. Gary founded, operated and consulted for various youth clubs and trained/advised/represented numerous players to US colleges, National team and Professional clubs. (See testimonials)

With Carine Ireland, Gary funded and designed the first football specific social media platform, Pass2me (San Diego Surf Cup sponsor), as well as the worlds first football social media and global football networking platform Soccerbook. Gary has been a football scout for over 30 years and with Carine he created one of the most robust player evaluation platforms and player assessments. (Learn more)

Gary established charity organization The Soccer Fund, with Carine Ireland to collaborate with global football charity and health organizations, using football as a vehicle to promote health awareness and social development and education and has dedicated extensive time to supporting various global charity organizations. As former USA Head of Soccer and US Strategic Advisory Committee member for former Chelsea FC and current Liverpool FC Global charity partner Right To Play,  (Read about Gary's involvement with Right to Play)

He was founding partner of Soccer Innovation Partners with Carine Ireland and women's soccer legend Anson Dorrance, a soccer think tank and investment vehicle specializing in global women's soccer development, exploring international professional player combines, small sided game formats, and facility investment and development.

He has produced extensive articles and interviews on player development with some of the games leading figures (Learn More) and is a regular guest presenter and speaker at youth football clubs on college recruiting, player development symposiums, such as Puskas Academy for Hungarian professional Football Academies and 'Carpathian Basin Academy System Coaching & Technical Directors in 2022 and at Puskas Suzuki Cup in 2024 and as hosted many talks and events in California for the past 25 years as well as guest speaker at the University of Liverpool Football Industries MBA (FIMBA). He has created and presented at numerous workshops for players, parents and coaches at leading US youth soccer clubs and produced/presented frequent webinars of player technical development and investment strategies in the global game.

 

Gary has contributed significantly to the growth of men's and women's football in the USA, creating and operated highly regarded California girls youth soccer club PSV Union FC since 2003 and providing over US$2.5mil. in financial aid for local in-need youth players since 1996 

Gary employed and trained coaches from professional clubs and federations worldwide, including:

Wimbledon, MTK Budapest, Puskas Academy, Olympic Lyonnais, Corinthians, Celtic, Spartak Moscow, Czech FA, Liverpool FC, Chelsea FC

Gary contributed regularly to Norcal Premier Youth Soccer League Coach Education, bringing Liverpool FC Academy Manager to present alongside him: Appeared as technical demonstrator with former FC Porto youth Academy Technical Director/Red Bull Salzburg Manager/Man City Asst. Manager Pepijn Linders; demonstrated/led sessions for ACF Fiorentina; hosted Ajax Amsterdam Academy Director Jan Olde Riekerink

Gary was instrumental training and placing players to over 50 US colleges and continues to prepare players to compete and study in US colleges. His companies have sponsored San Diego Surf Cup, the largest and most prestigious US youth soccer tournament and has owned/operated several college recruiting combines. (read about Gary's US college soccer expertise)



Gary and his brother Simon Ireland were recruited to leading college Boca Raton after being recommended by USA  star Roy Wegerle, becoming the first players in New Zealand to play US college soccer (See story)

Gary trained & played with 1st team squads at: ​

Christchurch United; Brisbane Lion; Twin Towns; Gold Coast; Nice; Sparta Prague; Chelsea; QPR; Walton & Hersham; Kingstonian; St George Budapest; Christchurch United; Mount Gravatt/Queensland; Queensland State Team vs Fiji (selected to play for Queensland in the Super 6 Series vs. Manchester City, Arsenal & Nottingham Forest Premier League clubs) (See story); Recruited by San Francisco Bay Blackhawks; San Jose Oaks (US Open Cup Champions)
 

He was technical coach/trainer at Liverpool FC Academy and the first ‘foreign’ coach at Liverpool FC Academy and the first Australian or New Zealander to coach at a Premier League club Academy. 

He's a former assistant to Wiel Coerver and Michel Mommertz at Al Wasl in UAE, one of only 5 assistants who worked with Wiel. (Learn More about Gary's work with Wiel and Michel here). Gary became a sought after master demonstrator and after Hubert Vogelsinger learned of Gary's role as assistant to Wiel Coerver he made Gary the lead demonstrator for his globally renowned Vogelsinger Puma & Nike Soccer Camps in 1989/2005. 
(Learn more). Gary  was the first to introduce the work of Wiel Coerver in Australia presenting the first event Wiel Coerver demonstration as guest of the New South Wales Soccer Federation Director of Coaching David Lee, the Queensland Soccer Association and New Zealand Football Federation.

​



Gary has presented numerous coach education and player development clinics including multiple player and coaching clinics with with former Manager of Liverpool FC Academy Assistant Director/Manager John Owens on his globally renowned 'Principles of Play/Decision Making' (Learn More about Garys work with John) as well as women's coaching legend, Australian National Team coach Tom Sermanni on multiple occasions. Gary produced and featured in numerous webinars leading coaching and playing celebrities. 

During the Czech Republic's successful EUROS '96, Gary was Assistant Scout to the Technical Director of Czech Football Association Prof. Zdenek Sivek  Chairman of Editorial Board of 'Fotball A Trenink', (official magazine of Union of Czech Football Coaches & Vice President of Union of European Football Coaches AEFCA). Gary is a frequent guest of leading Hungarian club Puskas Academy training boys and girls Academy players and providing coach education. (Learn more here & here)

Gary has arranged and coached games against: 

Liverpool FC (girls); Manchester Utd (girls); Everton (girls); Chelsea (boys/girls Academy); Tottenham Hotspurs (boys & girls Academy); QPR (girls); Blackburn Rovers (girls); Crystal Palace (girls); Manchester City (girls); Wolves (girls); Leeds Utd. (girls); MTK Budapest (boys); F.C Blsany (boys); Slavia Prague (boys); Admira Wacker (boys); Open Cup Champions San Jose Oaks vs Austrian Bundesliga team Admira Wacker (Mens)

; Australia Women's National Team; North Carolina Women's Soccer team; New Zealand Women's National team

He has arranged numerous player training experiences and trials for players at: 

Chmel Blsany (Men/boys Academy); Slavia Prague (Men 1st Team); Sparta Prague (Men Men/Boys Academy); Admira Wacker (Boys Academy); Linz (Men/Boys Academy); Melbourne Victory (Women 1st Team); St George Budapest (Mens 1st Team); Gold Coast Rep (Mens 1st Team); Liverpool FC (Women 1st Team); Tottenham Hotspurs FC (Girls Academy); Chelsea F.C (Girls & Boys Academy & Men Reserves); Southampton (Boys Academy & Reserves); Everton (Women 1st Team & U21); Arsenal (Women U21); Liverpool (Women U21); Tottenham Hotspurs (Women 1st Team & U21); Orlando Pride (Women); Manchester Utd (Girls Academy); Crystal Palace (Men 1st Team); Wimbledon (Men/Boys Academy); Glasgow Rangers (Men 1st Team); Queens Park Rangers (Men 1st Team); Hearts (Men 1st Team); Dunfermline (Men 1st Team); F.C Barcelona (Boys Academy); Nice (Men 1st Team); Kingstonian (Men 1st Team); Walton & Hersham (Men 1st Team); Marine FC (Men 1st Team); Brisbane Lions; MTK Budapest (Men 1st Team); Israel, Mexico, USA youth National teams

He has helped players play and study abroad (read) 

and has created and managed bespoke tours for: 

North Carolina Women v New Zealand Women's National Team; North Carolina Women vs. Australian Women's National Team (AIS); North Carolina Women vs Queensland Women's State Team (QIS); Czech Republic Women's National Team; New Zealand U17 National Boys team v Tottenham Hotspurs FC Academy (boys); Admira Wacker v San Jose Oaks (men's); New Zealand U17 National Boys team v Chelsea FC Academy (boys) (See link). He conceptualized promoted and partnered with J-League team Hiroshima San Frecce, Japanese Travel Bureau (JTB) and FIFA for Japanese youth players to attend Gary's World Soccer summer camp and English language lessons in the USA during the 1994 World Cup. (Learn More)



Other Projects: 

• Co-founded Academy Soccer (California) backed by Blackman & Flynn (investor in Wolfgang Puck). Matched Chevron's sponsorship as first organization to bring the 1994 World Cup to the Bay Area became one of first sponsors of FIFA 1994 San Francisco Bay Area Organizing Committee. Partner Brad Blackman became head of World Cup 1994 Bay Area host committee. Presented bid for 1994 FIFA World Cup San Francisco Bay Area Venue Training Site (VTS) and arranged Brazil's Venue Training Site (VTS) Santa Clara advertising boardings
• Managed/coordinated for ISL/FIFA the in-stadium advertising boarding at the Stanford Stadium 1994 FIFA World Cup venue
• Staffed a Nestle-Milo sponsored activation youth soccer camp in Indonesia
• Managed USA NCAA Champions University of North Carolina women’s team tour to Australia & New Zealand Arranged flights, accommodations, meals, sightseeing & internal transportation, including opposition & training vs Australian & New Zealand National Teams & Queensland Institute of Sport
• Awarded the ‘Key To The City’ of Palo Alto by Mayor Gary Fazzino for promoting the FIFA Women's World Cup including activation event and providing the World Cup Mascot "Nutmeg” 
• Sent San Francisco 49er's Cheerleading team for the Austrian Bundesliga opening game
• Sent 4 international players to play at DPMM at the request of the HRM Crown Prince of Brunei
• Supported legendary Craig Johnston, maker of the Predator boot, on his USA SupaSkills pilot project
• Provided activation (half time show events) for USA vs USSR, arranged for England World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore to present the ‘Player of the Match’ Award. & personal liaison for Bobby Moore
• Pele visited Gary at his academy in Silicon Valley to film a preview for his Studio Pele TV show before the 1994 FIFA World Cup 1/4 Final Brazil vs USA
• Brought New Zealand Football Federation a significant sponsor (legal AI firm Ivo) for the FIFA 2026 World Cup
• Arranged advertising boards for the 1994 FIFA World Cup at Stanford Stadium/Bay Area 
• Created, funded and coached/managed WPSL Women's professional club “Union FC” with Carine Ireland making the Final of the national club tournament in Las Vegas
• Secured funding from Molson Beer Company sponsor enabling San Jose Oaks to win the 1994 US Open Cup
• Raised substantial donor funding, presented a health awareness educational football clinic at UCLA with Chelsea FC players, produced and funded pre-game/half-time/in-game sponsor activations and arranged VIP seating for major donors for the Chelsea FC v Club America at Stanford Stadium 

Gary has extensive experience in football film, adverts and documentary promotion and production and keeps a personal football film blog as a hobby

• Facilitated broadcast rights and acquisition of video rights by SBSTV of best selling Coerver 1-2-3 coaching videos from Philips Lighting Company & introduced ‘Coerver Method’ to Australia & New Zealand in 1989 presenting first ever lecture/talk on behalf of the New South Wales Soccer Federation (guest of David Lee DOC) for 50 coaches and presented skills clinic for the New Zealand Football Federation in Christchurch in 1989 for 50 players and 50 coaches as guest of NZFA Technical Director Terry Conley
• Assisted host Les Murray editing content for The World Game (most popular Australian soccer show)
• Presented the first 'ZIDANE: A 21st CENTURY PORTRAIT' viewing for a youth football club PSV in USA 
• Invited Eusebio, Michael Caine, Bobby Moore and Pele to California to celebrate the “Escape to Victory” film in 1990 after his long time friend Jack Kendrick (Sylvester Stallone's double in Escape to Victory) introduced them. Gary owns a rare "Escape to Victory" film posters given to him by MTK Budapest in 2005
• Personal Assistant for England World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore's week of appearances including arranging for him to present the player of the match award for the USA v USSR game, Stanford, California 
• Assisted legendary Australian footballing icon Craig Johnston sourcing documentary writer/director 
• Hosted Pele during 1994 FIFA World Cup & created ca youth coaching clinic as content for his 'Studio Pele' TV
• Appeared with legendary commentator Martin Tyler as guest of Australian football icons Les Murray and Johnny Warren providing a preview for the Czech Republic v Germany EURO 1996 Final
• Featured Dusan Purac coaching video featuring Boban, Savicevic and Pancev. (See video)
• Produced/Directed weekly Cable TV Soccer Show Palo Alto, California
• Produced many promotional videos for multiple clients
  

garyjamesireland@gmail.com 

(650) 387 4128 

Connect on Linkedin