Frank Rijkaard Appointed Advisor of Player Development for New Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy

Dutch Soccer Legend will serve as official ambassador and advisor of player development at world-class institution.

Montverde, FL - Montverde Academy officially announces that former F.C. Barcelona and Dutch National Team Manager, Frank Rijkaard, has been appointed official ambassador and advisor of player development for The Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy (S.I.M.A.). A legendary player for AFC Ajax and A.C. Milan, Rijkaard brings a wealth of knowledge and international experience as both a player and manager to participants enrolled at Montverde Academy.

“To have someone like Frank Rijkaard directly involved in our operations at the institute speaks volumes about his commitment to player development,” says institute director and 2013 NFHS Coach of the Year, Mike Potempa. “Without question, his guidance will be invaluable to our development as an institute.”

S.I.M.A. will open in August 2013 and will serve as one of the most unique soccer specific training experiences in the world. Through an appropriate combination of academic excellence, elite level training, world-class facilities and direct involvement from Rijkaard, S.I.M.A. will provide a professional training environment for talented youth interested in playing at the highest level while simultaneously pursuing their education.

“I am pleased and honored to be joining the Montverde Academy family and excited to begin my new role as official ambassador and advisor of player development for the MVA Soccer Institute,” said Rijkaard. “After visiting the campus in July, I feel as though The Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy will offer a superior life experience for talented youth, and I believe in the model they have developed, placing a focus on world class education in the classroom and on the field of competition. The future is bright at Montverde Academy.”

With on campus living arrangements and a player development model similar to some of the biggest clubs in Europe, S.I.M.A. will require exemplary academic performance, in addition to a commitment from families to its comprehensive year round program. Institute participants will not play high school soccer teams, as matches will be arranged against club teams, national teams, in addition to colleges and universities throughout the U.S. in a 12-month training program. Travel abroad will also be a major component to the developmental model in an effort to compete against some of the best youth teams in the world.

About Montverde Academy 
Montverde Academy is an international, coeducational, independent college preparatory school for grades PK3-12, with a boarding program serving grades 7-12, and post-graduate studies. Its mission is to inspire students to become knowledgeable leaders with global vision that instils a passion for learning and nurtures character development in a disciplined and diverse community. Five generations of Montverde Academy graduates have been guided by three fundamental principles of Knowledge, Character and Community with its international character adding an exciting dimension to the community and the overall educational experience. For further information about the Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy, please contact Mike Potempa, at mike.potempa(at)montverde(dot)org or visit http://www.mvasports.com/soccerinstitute.

This story originally appeared on PRWeb.com