MM10, the brainchild of founder Matteo Massaro, is bringing UEFA Certified coaching to Malaysia! In collaboration with the MV8 Academy in Spain, Matteo has built the MM10 Academy to bring his passion for football and coaching to life.

Matteo thinks he might be the only UEFA Certified coach for children in Malaysia, a shocking statistic. He is visibly upset when he talks about how much potential is being wasted in the country he has come to love. Clearly, MM10 is more than a job or a good idea to Matteo, it’s his passion. His dream? To coach kids to international standards and see them play in the top leagues of Europe.

He probably will, too. Matteo started out as a youth football player who went professional. He played for FSV Mainz U21s, who were coached by Jurgen Klopp, and for Eintracht Frankfurt U21s, then for Pordenone Calcio. He’s learned from some of the best coaches and management in the world.

It doesn’t stop there, however. He’s been UEFA B licenced since 2009 and has a Coerver Coaching Youth Diploma. For nearly 15 years, he has been devoted to coaching the next generation. Check out his YouTube channel (Matteo Massaro Freestyle) for some examples of the frankly ridiculous skills Matteo has. It’s easy to see why the kids are so impressed – just look at the control he has when he’s dribbling or doing tricks. Other players like Damir Vrancic hold him in high esteem, enjoying his company as much as they fear his ball control and skill on the pitch.

It takes more than good teaching to turn a talent into a star. It takes mentoring. It takes empathy, consideration, and a lot of skill. Matteo believes that having a strong mentoring relationship with his players is vital to the success of MM10. The academy has been developed to keep the physical and psychological care of the players as a top priority. Matteo is not just a footballer, he’s an intelligent and empathetic person who has a very deep knowledge of psychology. If young footballers are to survive in the highly competitive world of professional football, they need mental skills as much as they need ball skills. Matteo hopes to bring both to all his players.

MM10 collaborates closely with the MV8 club in Seville, Spain. These close ties give MM10 students unique access to European clubs, coaches, and resources. No other coaching academy in Malaysia offers anything close. MM10 players get the chance to travel to Sevilla, where they can try out for major Spanish clubs under the watchful eye of Massimo Valenziano, a UEFA A certified coach and ex-professional player.

Offering a comprehensive and holistic approach to youth football coaching, Matteo and MM10 offer opportunities unseen before in Malaysia. Taking the whole child into perspective, from their psychological health to physical health and injury prevention, from nutrition to management theory, MM10 players are getting what looks like the best coaching in the country. They even offer an online soccer course to keep kids on point.

MM10 is still quite new but the reports coming from parents are already very impressive. Kids adore him and so do their parents, who appreciate the care and thoughtfulness with which he approaches each child’s development. He treats them like real people, which is the clearest sign of someone who really understands kids. MM10 players are going places, that’s for sure.