Dublin soccer’s Revel off to Germany, signs to join FC Köln talent ID program 

This time of year, it’s common to see local high school athletes sign to formalize plans of playing at a higher level of their sport after graduating high school.  

For Dublin senior Patrick Revel, who marked a similar occasion Thursday night, that quote/unquote next step is a little different, in that it comes right away, and will involve a unique opportunity overseas, prior to his chance to potentially play college soccer. 

He was set to fly out to Germany last weekend to begin a several-month experience training and competing as part of the talent identification program of FC Köln, a European professional club that competes in the Bundesliga. 

The development academy of sorts is part of the organization’s larger feeder system that draws players from worldwide. 

Though athletes typically must pay their own way to participate, it offers valuable exposure to some top-end international competition and talent evaluators at high levels of the sport that can be beneficial for those with aspirations to reach its highest tiers. 

“I always wanted to play professionally in a world-class setting since I was young, so when I was given this opportunity, I jumped to take it,” Revel said. 

He was recruited for the opportunity by Enrique Fuentes, a former coach at Central Georgia Technical College who was recently hired by the club as a U.S. scout. He approached Revel about the opportunity – which he believed to be a good fit – while training him privately in recent months. 

“I have been watching Patrick for quite a while now, and one of the things we really like about him is his support system, his family,” Fuentes said. “Not only that, but also the other thing that really inspires us to go forward with him is his work ethic and his discipline. That’s hard to find in young players.” 

Revel, who will be able to complete his high school coursework to ultimately graduate on a remote basis online, is set to be the first Georgia player to sign with the program. 

Fuentes said it will last anywhere from six to 10 months as athletes take part in regular training and matches under the watchful eye of FC Köln coaches and executives. 

It can open a number of doors, up to and including an offer to sign with the actual club or, more likely, one of its developmental teams. At a minimum, it can be a resumé-builder if and when he returns to the U.S. with hopes of pursuing a chance to play college soccer. 

“He will have to show our club if he has what it takes to actually go to the next level, so this is just a little stepping stone for him,” Fuentes said. 

Revel, who will be visiting Germany for the very first time, is looking forward to the experience. 

“They have a great culture, but also being able to play against world-class talent, and have world-class coaching at the same time (is exciting),” he said.  “I’m very glad and appreciative, just to represent the hometown I came from and Georgia as a whole and inspire younger kids to believe that if they keep working hard and stay disciplined and have faith in God, they can do whatever they want to.”