A BIT ABOUT ME

Matthew J. Railla

My journey begins as an 8 year old who missed the sign ups for basketball and was left with the choice of playing soccer. From that first AYSO season I knew I found the sport I would play for the rest of my life. However, I didn’t start playing for a competitive club team until I was 14 and by then I was behind most other club players.

Eventually I was connected with one of the top goalkeeper coaches, Ian Feuer, at the age of 15. Feuer was the first American to play in the English Premier League and had an incredible career playing for West Ham United among other clubs in England and the MLS. He has been one of the top goalkeeper coaches in the U.S. for the past 15 years and I have been working closely with him as a staff member since I was 18. After first working with Feuer, I was on a path of growth and understanding that fueled my desire to get better and reach my full potential. I was finally able to understand clearly what I needed to do to train myself to be mentally and physically prepared to perform in games. Learning these aspects of goalkeeping gave me context to everything I worked on in training and how it applies to be my best self.

I continued to play after college and found myself on the Cal FC amateur team coached by Eric Wynalda that made a historic run in the 2012 U.S. Open Cup. I continued to coach 1 on 1, high school and club goalkeepers and really found a love for helping young athletes achieve their goals and help them reach new heights. After moving to Northern California in 2013 to pursue a career in the wine industry, I was connected with Marcus Ziemer at Sonoma State University almost immediately and joined the mens team as their keeper coach. This was a great experience working with high level athletes day in and day out who were eager to learn and push themselves. In 2021 I moved back to Los Angeles where I am establishing myself as one of the premier personal goalkeeper coaches.

My goal is to provide the best training to all of my clients so that they can accomplish their goals and maximize their potential. No matter what age or skill level, I believe everyone can achieve greatness by putting in the work and believing in themselves. My vision is to provide the necessary tactics, techniques, and mentality to every client so that when it comes time to perform, they will be prepared, confident, and relentless.

I coach my sessions in Los Angeles, contact me for more information.

Playing Career:

2014 | Sonoma County Sol
2011 – 2013 | Cal FC
2010 | London Romans
2007 – 2009 | California Lutheran University

Coaching Career:

2014 - Present | MJR Keeper Academy - 1-on-1 goalkeeper training
2022 - Present | SoCal Player Development Program Goalkeeper Scout
2022 - Present | Member of United GK Alliance
2009 - Present | Premier Goalkeeping Academy with Ian Feuer - Staff
2022 - 2024 | Culver City Football Club - Goalkeeper Coach
2014 – 2021 | Sonoma State - Men’s Soccer Goalkeeper Coach
2020 – 2021 | Sonoma State - Women’s Soccer Goalkeeper Coach
2015 – 2017 | North Coast FC – Goalkeeper Coach ages 9 to 17
2012 – 2013 | Simi Valley Eclipse - Goalkeeper Coach
2011 – 2013 | Long Beach FC - Goalkeeper Coach ages 8 to 17
2011 – 2013 | Monrovia High School - Boys Varsity Goalkeeper Coach