John Curtis
John Curtis is the visionary founder of NCE Soccer (National Center of Excellence). A former Premier League defender, John’s career began at the highest level of the game. He is a graduate of the world-renowned Manchester United Academy, where he was a key part of the 1995 FA Youth Cup-winning team and was named the club’s Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year in 1997.
During his 15-year professional playing career, John made over 300 professional appearances across every tier of English football. In the Premier League, he represented major clubs including Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City, and Portsmouth.
At the international level, John was a standout for England’s youth national teams. He remains the most capped England Schoolboy of all time and captained his country from the U15 through U20 levels, playing alongside legends such as Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, and Frank Lampard.
After retiring from professional play, John turned his attention to youth development, working with professional clubs in England, Italy, and Australia. Recognizing a gap in the American youth soccer system—which he observed was often mired in “layers and politics”—John founded NCE Soccer to provide a high-performance pathway for aspiring players.
Through NCE Soccer, John has curated a staff of elite coaches from global giants like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal to help American players sharpen their technical skills, tactical awareness, and mental resilience.
John is one of the most highly qualified coaches in the United States, holding both the UEFA ‘A’ License and the USSF ‘A’ License. In addition to leading NCE Soccer, he serves as a US Soccer Coach Educator, delivering coaching licenses to the next generation of mentors across the Northeast.
Why John Created NCE Soccer?
John founded NCE Soccer (National Center of Excellence) to bridge what he saw as a significant gap in the American youth soccer system compared to the elite environments he experienced in Europe.
Based on his background as a Manchester United Academy graduate and Premier League veteran, John’s decision to start NCE was driven by several core motivations:
Eliminating “Layers and Politics”
John observed that the U.S. youth soccer landscape was often fragmented and overly politicized. He felt that club affiliations and internal politics frequently distracted from pure player development. NCE was created as a neutral, independent program where players from any club could train together without political interference, focusing solely on the individual’s growth.
John’s own development was shaped by the FA National School of Excellence at Lilleshall, which gathered the top players in England for high-intensity, centralized training. He founded NCE to replicate this high-performance environment in the U.S., providing:
- Quality over Quantity: Shifting the focus from simply “going through the motions” at club practice to meaningful, high-intensity training.
- Professional Standards: Bringing in international staff with UEFA and USSF ‘A’ licenses to deliver European-quality training.
Creating a “Pro Pathway”
Having played at the highest levels, John wanted to provide American players with a realistic window into the professional game. Through NCE, he established:
- International Tours: Opportunities to compete against professional academies like Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers.
- College ID Programs: Helping players navigate the complex U.S. collegiate recruiting system.
“My goal was to try and create that development environment that I experienced. I think it’s the environment more than anything else that drives youth development.”
John Curtis News
Stay in the loop with NCE – where every player’s journey is our top story.
The Curse of the Early Developer
Every youth football team has one.The standout player.The one who, for whatever reason, seems miles ahead of the rest. Often, it’s physical — they’re bigger, faster, stronger.But sometimes it’s coordination, confidence, or simply the benefit of...
The Hidden Clauses That Trap U.S. Players — And Why So Few Ever Move to Europe
For many young players in the United States, signing for an MLS academy feels like a dream come true. The professional environment, elite facilities, and clear pathway to the pros make it seem like the perfect next step. But beneath the excitement...
Q+A with NCE Alum, Recent USC Soccer Commit Taylor Jenkins
Taylor’s Journey ContinuesFollowing her third year at the University of Connecticut (UConn), NCE Alumni Taylor Jenkins recently announced her commitment out of the NCAA Transfer Portal to continue her collegiate career at the University of Southern...