Meet the Founder

MJ Tate built DARE because youth soccer deserves better.

MJ’s football journey began in the world-renowned Southampton FC Academy—one of the game’s most respected player development environments and home to talents such as Gareth Bale and Alan Shearer.

That early experience shaped his understanding of what true player development looks like: high standards, daily discipline, and an unwavering commitment to long-term growth.

A former professional player turned high-performance coach and football executive, MJ has spent more than two decades developing players and building winning environments—from youth athletes to professionals, college players to World Cup competitors.

After years of seeing too many young athletes underserved by a system focused on short-term results, he founded DARE Futbol Academy to create something different: a high-performance training system designed to raise the standard and help serious players reach their full potential.

Developing players. Building winners. Changing the game.