The West Side Star Soccer Club was founded in 1988 in order to provide soccer players from Northern Ohio the opportunity to play with the area's finest players, to work with the area's finest coaches and to compete against the finest competition from Ohio, the United States and Internationally.  The West Side Stars merged with Internationals Soccer Club in the Spring of 2009.  Internationals West is a division of Internationals and is Directed by Mike Besu

Internationals is one of the largest soccer clubs in the State of Ohio.  Throughout the years, the club has won Lake Erie League titles, State and  Regional tournaments, State Championships and the  USA Cup.  The Club consistently produces players that excel in High School, College and beyond.  Our players have represented the state through the Olympic  Development Program, they have become High School All-Americans, earned college scholarships and played in the professional ranks of American soccer.

Philosophy

Our success can be attributed to the many gifted soccer players who have played for the club, to the talented and committed coaching staff and to the philosophy that underlies all that we do. 

The goal and philosophy is Total Player Development.  Our purpose is to develop the total player. The total player development process includes physical, emotional, mental and social elements that are enhanced through the game of soccer.  We use the game of soccer as a way to develop the whole person and as a result we develop high-level soccer players.  Our philosophy is to focus on developing the whole person in order to make them a better soccer player.  We understand that soccer is simply a game.  Yet it is a game that can be a tremendous teacher.  

Our success on the field is not always measured by wins and losses.  We are successful when we develop the game within each child.  In soccer terms, we teach several concepts. First, technique with the ball is essential.  Second, a tactical understanding of the games is stressed.  Third, the psychological elements of the game are taught.  Finally, the importance of being physically fit is emphasized.  Taking this approach, we have discovered that we are successful at many levels.  Most importantly, we teach that soccer is a game.  It is a game that can teach us many lessons about life. 

Whether in a practice or in a game, we stress that all players are constantly being challenged, all players are constantly learning and most importantly, that all players are having fun.  Through the enjoyment of the game, we believe that young boys and girls can develop into outstanding soccer players and more importantly, into outstanding young men and women.

Mike Besu

Mike came to the United States in 1974 from old Yugoslavia.  His coaching career began in 1983  coaching at Tri-C College and coaching premier teams.  In 1988, Mike began a girls premier club called the West Side Stars.  Besides coaching with the Stars, Mike also coaches the Westlake High School Boys Varsity Soccer Team for the past 22 years, and he started the girls soccer program at Lake Ridge Academy.  He was also the owner and coach of the Cleveland Eclipse W-League semi-pro league for 4 years.  He has acquired USSF and NSCAA coaching licenses and coaches children from the ages of 5 to 22.  Mike currently belongs to the National Coaches Association, and actively helps his players obtain college scholarships.

Soccer Background:

Played in Yugoslavia as a Junior Player; plaid at Lakewood High School - MVP; Ohio State and Bowling Green, and Cleveland Cobras Outdoor Professional League

Years Coaching Soccer:  28 years

Coaching Honors:

1993 Westlake High School Coach of the Year

2002 Plain Dealer Locker Room - Recognized as one of the top five coaches in the area for youth soccer development program

2004 Plain Dealer Coach of the Year

2004 Cuyahoga County Boys Soccer Coach of the Year

2005 Lorain Morning Journal Coach of the Year

2005 Bob Hersman Coach of the Year Award

2008 Greater Cleveland Coach of the Year and Southwest Conference Coach of the Year for Varsity Boys Division I

Licensing:

USSF "C" License

NSCAA National Diploma