Today we’d like to introduce you to Fernando Jr. Mercado.
Hi Fernando Jr., so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey with JRFC started long before the academy ever had a name. Soccer has been a major part of my life since I was young, and through the game I was blessed with opportunities I never imagined. I spent 10 years playing professionally across different countries, including Italy, Spain, Mexico, and Central America. During that time, I was able to experience different soccer cultures, coaching philosophies, and development environments that shaped the way I see the game today. I was fortunate enough to win a championship and a national league title in my career, but the greatest lessons came from the people I met, the challenges I overcame, and the experiences that shaped me both as a player and as a person.
After my playing career, I felt a responsibility to give back what soccer had given me. I realized that many young players are focused only on games, results, and competition, but true development comes from intentional training, mentorship, and investing in the person behind the player. I wanted to create an environment where athletes could grow technically, tactically, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
That vision became JRFC (Jesus Reins Fútbol Club). We built JRFC around the belief that soccer is more than just a game — it is a platform to develop confidence, discipline, leadership, character, and purpose. Our mission is to develop athletes into complete soccer players while helping them become better young men and women off the field.
Faith is at the center of everything we do. Every time we step onto the field and every time we leave it, we give glory to God for allowing us the opportunity to train, compete, and come together through the beautiful game. Soccer is the gift, but the purpose goes beyond the game. We believe the relationships, lessons, and character built through the game can have an impact that lasts far beyond the field.
One of the biggest parts of JRFC’s mission is creating access and opportunities for the community. Throughout the year, we host free camps, clinics, and training opportunities for players who may not always have access to professional-level coaching. We believe development should not only be available to those who can afford it, but to anyone willing to work hard, learn, and grow.
Another unique part of JRFC comes from the relationships built throughout my career. Because of the genuine friendships and connections I have developed with professional players, coaches, and people within the global soccer community, we have been able to bring experiences and opportunities to our athletes that go beyond a normal training environment. These relationships allow our players to learn from professionals and see what is possible when dedication and passion meet opportunity.
What makes JRFC different is our approach to development. We prioritize training over simply playing games, and our coaches bring professional experience and standards into every session. We believe players deserve the same intentional development and mentorship that exists at the highest levels of the game.
Beyond being a founder and coach, I am most proud to be a father to three beautiful daughters. They have developed a genuine love for the beautiful game, and watching them grow both on and off the field has become one of my greatest blessings. They remind me every day why I started JRFC and continue to inspire me to keep building something that will serve not only them, but countless other families as well. As long as they have a passion for the game, I will continue to train, encourage, and walk alongside them—not only to become better soccer players, but to become women of faith, character, confidence, and purpose. At the end of the day, my greatest calling is not simply building a soccer academy; it is being the father God has called me to be. JRFC is simply one of the ways I get to live out that calling.
Today, JRFC is growing into something much bigger than a soccer academy. We are building a family and a community centered around faith, growth, and opportunity. My goal has always been to use the beautiful game as a vessel to impact lives, and JRFC is the continuation of that purpose. Like I always say, “I am just an instrument, He is the hand.”
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, the road has not always been smooth. Building JRFC from the ground up has come with many challenges, but each one has strengthened the purpose behind the mission.
One of the biggest challenges was transitioning from being a professional player to becoming a founder and leader. As a player, my responsibility was to perform on the field, but building JRFC required me to learn how to lead, organize, create opportunities, build relationships, and carry the vision beyond myself.
Starting an academy also comes with the challenges of resources, funding, and creating opportunities for families while staying true to our values. We have always wanted to provide high-level development while also making sure players who may not have access to those opportunities can still be impacted. That is why our free camps, clinics, and community events are such an important part of who we are.
There have been moments where growth felt slower than expected, moments of uncertainty, and times where we had to overcome obstacles that were outside of our control. But through every challenge, we have continued to trust God’s timing and remain committed to the purpose behind JRFC.
The biggest lesson I have learned is that building something meaningful takes patience, consistency, and faith. The goal was never just to create a soccer academy; it was to build a community and create an environment where players can grow as athletes and as people. Every challenge along the way has helped shape JRFC into what it is becoming today.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
JRFC is a professional player development academy focused on developing complete soccer players, not just preparing athletes for weekend games. Our specialty is intentional player development — helping athletes grow technically, tactically, physically, mentally, and spiritually as individuals.
Our training methodology is built from my experiences as a professional player and the different environments I was fortunate enough to learn from around the world. We focus on the details of the game that often get overlooked: decision-making, understanding the game, confidence, creativity, discipline, and building the habits needed to reach the next level.
One thing that separates JRFC is that we do not measure success only by wins and losses. We focus on the development of each individual player. Through our Individual Development Plans (IDPs), we are able to identify each athlete’s strengths, areas for improvement, and create a clear pathway for growth. Every player is unique, and our goal is to help each one reach their full potential.
We are also known for creating opportunities beyond traditional training. Throughout the year, we host free camps, clinics, and community events because we believe professional-level development should be accessible to all players who are willing to learn and work hard. We want to impact not only the players who are part of our academy, but also the greater soccer community around us.
One of the things I am most proud of is the family and relationships we have built through JRFC. Through my playing career, I have developed genuine friendships with professional players, coaches, and people within the global soccer community. Those relationships have allowed us to expose our athletes to opportunities, experiences, and mentorship that they may not otherwise have access to.
What truly sets JRFC apart is that we believe soccer is a platform for something greater. We are a faith-based academy, and every time we step onto the field, we give glory to God for the opportunity to train, compete, and grow together through the beautiful game. Our goal is not only to create better soccer players, but to develop confident, disciplined, and purpose-driven individuals who can make a positive impact wherever they go.
At the end of the day, JRFC is more than an academy. It is a family, a community, and a place where players can discover their potential and purpose both on and off the field.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I personally do not believe in luck. I believe every person has a divine calling and purpose that God has placed over their life. Looking back at my journey, I do not see random moments of good fortune; I see preparation, opportunities, and relationships that God placed in my path at the right time.
Throughout my soccer career, I was blessed with opportunities to play professionally in different countries and experience cultures around the world. At the time, I did not always understand why certain doors opened or why certain challenges happened, but now I can see how every experience was preparing me for something bigger than myself.
The relationships I built throughout my playing career have been one of the greatest blessings. The friendships I developed with professional players, coaches, and people within the global soccer community have allowed JRFC to create opportunities and experiences for our athletes today. What may have seemed like simple connections at the time became relationships that now help impact the next generation.
I believe God works all things together for our benefit, but it is up to us to recognize those opportunities and have the courage to step into them. Faith does not mean waiting for things to happen; it means being willing to work, sacrifice, and trust the process while following the path God has placed in front of you.
JRFC itself is a reflection of that belief. There have been challenges, uncertainty, and moments where the easier choice would have been to quit, but I believe the vision was placed on my heart for a reason. My responsibility is to be faithful with the opportunity, put in the work, and use the gifts God has given me to serve others.
So instead of calling it luck, I would call it God’s timing. Every experience, every relationship, every victory, and every setback has played a role in shaping JRFC into what it is today. I am grateful for the journey because I know the purpose is much bigger than soccer.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jrfcacademy?utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1J9KuRJP2d/?mibextid=wwXIfr
