Our Pathway

STRIKERS FC Irvine (formerly the IRVINE STRIKERS) has received national recognition for being one of the top clubs in the country for producing collegiate, professional and national team players. With the club being formed in the early 1980s, the club found it’s identity when Don Ebert joined. As one of the more highly regarded soccer trainers in the nation, Ebert has surrounded himself with one of the region’s brightest and most ambitious coaching staffs, including staff such as Roy Chingirian, Willie Diaz, Sean Ganey, and others.

Through the 90s and 00s, Strikers grew their pedigree in the Orange County, with teams bringing home national and state championships. The success of these players turned out to not only have a positive effect for the club, but on the national scale, as well. The 2010 World Cup saw two former Strikers FC players join the U.S Men’s National Team to represent the country on the biggest stage - Benny Feilhaber and Jonathan Bornstein. Chad Marshall, another former Strikers FC player, was part of the 30-man preliminary roster.

The following years saw more Strikers alumni join USMNT rosters - Michael Orozco, Chris Pontius, Steve Birnbaum, Bobby Wood, Christian Ramirez, and Matthew Hoppe. The Strikers blueprint for success has shown results - those 9 players contributing to success for the USMNT, but also many professional alumni playing across the globe.

In 2021, Strikers FC announced it will be the first soccer club in Orange County to join the MLS Next and the Elite Academy League program to ensure our players compete against the best of the best.

Ebert is a firm believer in cutting edge training methods and consistency and incorporates best practices and age specific regimens as defined by U.S. Soccer. This methodology begins with the club’s U8 teams and carries through to the U18 squads. No matter the age, all Striker FC players receive essentially the same training - training the improves individuals at a fundamental level and makes them technically proficient and athletically prepared wherever they compete.