St. Pat's and Michael Owen team up to bring Pakistani players to Dublin.

St Patrick’s Athletic have announced a new three-year deal with Global Soccer Ventures to bring Pakistani youth players to the club.

The “Next Gen Football Stars” project will see a St Pat’s delegation travel to Pakistan twice a year. Trials will be held across nine cities, and up to twenty youth players will then be given the opportunity to train and play with the club’s academy in Dublin, and possibly the first team.

Ex-Ballon D’or winner Michael Owen will act as an ambassador for the project. Former Ireland & St Pat’s boss Brian Kerr will be joined by former St Pat’s manager Johnny McDonnell, academy director Ger O’Brien and assistant academy director Jamie Moore to deliver training masterclasses to domestic coaches.

Pakistan is currently ranked 198th out of 210 countries in the FIFA rankings, but it is hoped that the new venture will offer young players a springboard for their careers, while benefitting the FAI Cup winners at the same time.

St Pat’s Chairman Garrett Kelleher said, “St Pat’s is privileged to have been retained by Pakistan to design a program to develop players further and potentially explore pro-contract opportunities.”

“If St Patrick's Athletic can in some way be a platform for this to happen and enable talented young footballers to achieve their dreams, it very much aligns with the club's domestic aspiration,” he added.

Ex-England striker Michael Owen has said that he looks forward to visiting Ireland to see the players being put through their paces.

“It is a great privilege to be working with Pakistani talent and offering a professional talent ID programme in Pakistan for the very first time,” said Owen.

"This will be the first ever national talent hunt programme meeting UEFA player evaluation standards which offers a gateway into Europe. I look forward to seeing you in Ireland."

Yasir Mehmood, chairman of Global Soccer Ventures added, “I am excited by the relationship GSV has forged with St Patrick's Athletic Football Club and is a steppingstone in unchartered territories in the world of football for Pakistan.”



Brian Kerr told the club’s website about how eager he was to get involved, and how he thinks the worlds fifth most popular country may have some good talent.

"When I first heard about this project through St Pat's I was excited and eager to be involved. I have no doubt that there is a lot of untapped talent in Pakistan, and we are hoping to find, nurture and develop that talent with a view to benefitting the players and ultimately the footballing nation of Pakistan."

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