When you ask Jorell Johnson what soccer means to him, the answer isn’t complicated. It’s joy. Freedom. Play.
“I started playing at four years old back in England,” he says. “Even then, the feeling I got on the pitch was the same one I carried through my professional career—just pure enjoyment.”
That joy is at the center of everything he’s building now through International Soccer Academy, a new player-focused program he co-founded in northern Florida. With over 15 years of professional and semi-professional experience in the English football system, Jorell knows what it takes to develop talent. But more importantly, he knows what it takes to keep kids in love with the game.
From Pro to Player Developer
Jorell’s playing career took him from academy systems to the professional pitch, eventually captaining semi-pro side Kings Langley FC and making more than 400 appearances for the club. After hanging up his boots, he shifted toward coaching—first in England, then in the U.S., where he relocated to be closer to family.
In 2024, he and his brother-in-law launched International Soccer Academy with a clear goal: to fill a major gap in the American soccer landscape.
“In Florida, it’s either rec soccer, which is mostly volunteer-led, or travel soccer, which costs thousands of dollars,” he explains. “We wanted to build a third lane—a place where kids could get high-quality coaching without the financial and time barriers of travel.”
Building the Blueprint: “Serious Fun”
The foundation of International Soccer Academy is what Jorell calls “serious fun.”
“We train with purpose. We want kids to improve and compete. But they should be laughing and smiling while they do it,” he says.
The academy currently runs Saturday sessions for kids ages 5 to 15, offering skill-building, gameplay, and personalized feedback in a laid-back but structured environment. They also offer private training, and Jorell is working on building full teams that would operate more like European clubs—with consistent matches, real development pathways, and a unified coaching philosophy.
“We’re not here to just win tournaments,” he says. “We’re here to help kids grow. Whether that means college recruitment or just learning to work hard and believe in themselves, we’ll help them get there.”
A Pathway with a Purpose
One of the biggest motivators for Jorell is offering opportunities he had—and sometimes didn’t have—growing up in the English system.
“Back home, there’s a real pipeline,” he says. “You know what comes next: you join a club at eight, maybe move to another, maybe get scouted. Here, especially in less urban areas, that path doesn’t really exist. We’re trying to build it.”
That includes plans for video analysis partnerships, college exposure pathways, and customized training journeys tailored to each player’s goals.
And Jorell doesn’t promise things he can’t control.
“I won’t tell a family I can get their kid a college scholarship. What I can say is: I’ve been there. I know the process. And I will do everything I can to help them succeed.”
Coaching Beyond the Field
Ask Jorell what makes a great coach, and he doesn’t mention licenses or tactics—though he has both.
“The best coaches are the ones who understand kids. You need enthusiasm, patience, and the creativity to meet players where they are. Coaching is really just problem solving, over and over again.”
That mindset, combined with his humility and deep playing background, is already resonating in the Florida panhandle.
“I’m still new in town, and people were hesitant at first,” he laughs. “But when they see the way we treat kids and how much we care—it clicks. They realize we’re not trying to take over. We’re just trying to give back.”
Why It Matters
At Signature, we believe the best programs aren’t always the biggest. They’re the ones led by people who never forget what it felt like to fall in love with the game in the first place.
Jorell Johnson is that kind of coach. And International Soccer Academy is that kind of program.
If you’re in northern Florida—or just looking for inspiration—this is a story worth following.
Because real development doesn’t just create better players. It creates better people.
Learn more about International Soccer Academy here: isocceracademy.com
