Soccer Resume: Template, Examples, and Job Description

Controversial decisions happen in life and on the pitch. Sometimes, the player is at fault. Sometimes, the referee messes up. This applies to resume writing, too. But let’s be honest for a second: if your soccer resume falls flat every time, it’s probably not the referee’s fault. They—the recruiters—likely reject you for good reason. So, it’s time to put an end to all of that once and for all.

This guide will show you: 

• A soccer resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to create the best soccer resume to land you on a team faster.
• Tips and examples of how to put soccer skills and achievements on a resume for a soccer player.
• How to describe your experience on a resume for soccer players to stand out and start for the team you want.

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Playing a different ball? Check these out:

• Athlete Resume Examples
• Personal Trainer Resume Examples
• Coaching Resume Examples
• Basketball Coach Resume Examples
• Yoga Teacher Resume Examples
• Recent College Graduate Resume Examples
• Undergraduate College Student Resume Examples
• High School Student Resume Examples
• College Application Resume Examples
• Scholarship Resume Examples
• Internship Resume Examples

Sample Soccer Player Resume Template

Now, let’s kick off writing your soccer player resume:

1. Choose the Best Format for Your Soccer Resume

Soccer players are professional athletes who play soccer. They typically play on teams at various levels, from local clubs to national and international teams. A soccer resume must convey physical fitness, teamwork, and communication skills at the least.

The first step in creating a soccer resume should be ensuring it is easy to read and professional-looking.

Prepare a clean resume header with your contact information using a professional resume font like Cambria or Garamond, and set the size at 11 or 12pt. Use larger headings to separate the resume sections.

Utilizing enough white space and setting the margins to one inch makes the resume instantly more identifiable, like a red or yellow card from 50 yards away.

The reverse-chronological layout is a good choice for a soccer player's resume, as it works as your highlight reel with the hottest goals and bravest tackles, i.e. your most recent experience.

Once you’ve written your resume, save it as a PDF.

Pro Tip: In general, a soccer resume should be one page in length unless you’ve got so many (10+) years of experience and enough achievements to fill two pages

2. Write a Soccer Resume Objective or Summary

Soccer players can tactically use a resume profile to capture the attention of potential employers and give them an idea of what to expect from the rest of the resume.

If you have 2+ years of relevant experience as a soccer player, you can write an eye-catching resume summary that includes impressive achievements from your career. Promising to get remarkable results for your new team can also be a great idea.

But, if you’re still inexperienced but raring to go out on the pitch, you can use a resume objective to highlight your transferable skills and explain why they make you a good fit for the position.

You can make your resume stand out from the competition by compellingly showcasing your strengths and abilities.

Read more: Best Examples of Resume Opening Statements

3. Write a Convincing Soccer Resume Work Experience Section

The NCAA says there are over 45,000 soccer players across all their divisions.

No matter how you slice it, the work experience you show on your soccer resume has to make you seem like you’re Ronaldo stacked up against a team of toddlers and pensioners:

• Organize your work experience in reverse chronological order, including your position, team name, and location at the top.
• List 4-6 bullet points for your most recent gig outlining your primary responsibilities and achievements. For older positions, include fewer bullet points.
• Begin each bullet point with an action verb (it helps to imagine you’re a play-by-play commentating your own game) and include specific details, such as numbers, to demonstrate your contributions.
• Customize your resume to fit the needs of the team. Do that by tailoring the relevant experience and using the same keywords found in the job offer. It’s the difference between a penalty kick and shooting on-target from 45 yards.

Read more: How to Target Your Soccer Resume

4. Add an Education Section to Your Soccer Resume

As a soccer player, you may have a lot of experience on the field, but you should still pay attention to the education section on your resume. Including this information can help potential employers learn more about your background and qualifications.

To keep your education section simple and effective, include the following information:

• The name and location of the school you attended
• The degree you obtained, such as a bachelor's or master's degree
• Any majors or minors you pursued during your studies
• The date you graduated

However, do this only if your experience exceeds 5 years.

Otherwise, include extras like your GPA if it is above 3.5 or any relevant coursework necessary to your soccer career.

Read more: How to List a Degree on Your Resume

5. Demonstrate Tailored and Relevant Skills on a Soccer Resume

To create a skills section, list all the skills you have that are relevant to your soccer career. Include technical skills and soft skills, like leadership and thinking on your feet (pun intended).

Next, look at the job posting for the position you're applying for and try to identify the skills that the employer is looking for.

If you have any of these skills, include them on your resume. If they see a resume full of skills they don’t need, that’s like a yellow card waiting to happen.

Top Skills for a Soccer Player

• Physical fitness & endurance
• Ball control
• Dribbling
• Passing and receiving
• Shooting
• Aerial ability
• Tackling & defending
• Positioning
• Spatial awareness
• Teamwork skills
• Communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Motivation
• Decision-making
• Problem-solving
• Game strategy & tactics
• Mental toughness
• Accuracy
• Speed, agility & strength
• Strength and power
• Excellent work ethic
• Adaptability
• Discipline & self-control
• Following instructions

Read more: What Skills to Put on Your Resume (99+ Key Examples)

Creating a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide and use content from Certified Professional Resume Writers to have a resume ready in minutes.

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

6. Add Extra Sections to Distinguish Your Soccer Resume

You must go above and beyond and almost act like a ‘coach’ on the field.

It’s important not to put all your eggs into the soccer skills basket. If you can prove you stand out in the extra resume sections, you immediately make your less obvious assets much more valuable.

Consider adding certifications and licenses if you have a past coaching certification or a fitness trainer license, for example. Hobbies and interests relevant to soccer can also prove valuable in demonstrating your true greatness of character, as can volunteer work.

All this can show potential employers that you are a passionate individual who applies themselves both in and outside of the game.

Other ideas include language skills to ease communication, awards and achievements (self-explanatory), or association memberships.

7. Send a Cover Letter to Go with Your Soccer Resume

Believe it or not, you’re still risking a red card. Thirty seconds before the final whistle in the second half of overtime, right before penalties. And you’re the team’s top scorer.

Ouch.

I’m talking about the cover letter and how writing one is necessary to complement your soccer resume.

To write a successful cover letter:

• Follow the standard format for cover letters.
• Use the introduction to highlight your best professional achievement and grab the reader's attention.
• Demonstrate that you understand the role and have the necessary skills to succeed.
• End your cover letter by offering to discuss your skills and experience further rather than just asking for an interview.
• Keep your cover letter to under one page in length.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Thanks for reading. Still trying to figure out how to list work experience as a soccer player? Hit me up in the comments below. I’ll be glad to help out!

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