Football is a sport that both men and women enjoy watching. Many men look up to famous footballers as role models. Any footballer’s road to the top has always started with humble beginnings. Players have spent time honing the abilities and antics that make them special and unique on the field since they were very young. The majority of the players began their careers at one of the best football academies in the world.
Several football players may have begun their careers as children playing on the streets. The impact and doors of opportunity that football academies have provided for such players, on the other hand, have been crucial in building talents to their highest potential. There are thousands of football academies around the world. Few, however, are regarded for generating some of the game’s top wits and legs.
There are roughly 3,500 boys in Premier League academies alone; the youngest being nine years old, however, pre-academy training can begin even earlier. Each Premier League team is allowed to register 250 young people in its academy under the Premier League Rules of Development.
In the meanwhile, this article will discuss the best football academies in the world.
Table of contents
- Are Football Academies Any Good?
- Who Is An Academy Football Player?
- How Do Football Academies Work?
- What Do Football Academies Look For In A Player?
- Why Do Military Academies Have Football?
- How Many Football Academies Are In Iran?
- What Is The Best Age To Join A Football Academy?
- How Much Does It Cost To Attend A Football Academy?
- What Are The Requirements For Football Academies?
- 15 Best Football Academies In The World
- 1. Barcelona (La Masia)
- 2. Ajax
- 3. Manchester United Academy
- 4. Bayern Munich
- 5. Sporting Lisbon
- 6. Sao Paulo
- 7. Santos
- 8. Southampton
- 9. Schalke 04 (Knappenschmiede)
- 10. Real Madrid (La Fábrica)
- 11. Boca Juniors Reserves and Academy
- 12. River Plate
- 13. GNK Dinamo Zagreb Academy
- 14. Partizan Belgrade
- 15. Stade Rennais
- CONCLUSION
- FAQs on Best Football Academies
- References
- Recommendation
Are Football Academies Any Good?
Professional instruction, facilities, and experts dedicated to the individual’s growth are provided through football academies. You master the fundamental skills required of a professional football player from day one.
Pay special attention to:
- Individual technique development
- Football strategies, tactics, and techniques.
- Outfield players require specialized training methods.
- Goalkeepers have specialized instruction.
Who Is An Academy Football Player?
An academy football player is one who signs a schoolboy contract between the ages of 9 and 16 that is extended every 1-2 years based on the youngster’s growth and ability.
When the player reaches the age of 16, the academy will determine whether or not to give him a spot in their Youth Training Scheme. When a player is offered a scholarship deal, this is the time to accept.
Allowing the athlete to mix professional football instruction with academics in a setting designed to assist them to advance in the game. Scholars are frequently paid as well as provided with housing by the club.
The professional development period lasts three years, during which time players’ growth is tracked and successful players are granted a professional contract.
How Do Football Academies Work?
A soccer academy is a facility dedicated to the development of young soccer players. It’s most commonly thought of as a football training school that teaches young players how to play the game to the club’s exacting standards.
Academies aid in the development of individuals and the improvement of players. They aid students in becoming better individuals equipped for the reality of the Football world and the professions that await ambitious footballers, coaches, and journalists alike by instilling confidence, fostering devotion, and reinforcing optimism.
Football will give them a taste of every aspect of life.
What Do Football Academies Look For In A Player?
A talent scout, generally working for or on behalf of a professional team, noticed every professional player at some point.
So, what do football academies look for in young players? Which characteristics, psychological qualities, and raw talents put youngsters on the path to becoming football superstars?
1. Technique Aptitude
Technique is the most essential quality to look for in a young footballer. The ability to naturally handle a ball is often learned at a young age, but technique encompasses so much more.
Before they even get the ball, the greatest kids will know precisely what they’re going to do.
Looking for the next pass, handling the ball under pressure, and making decisions are all important characteristics of a technically talented player. These are the first things that most top football academies look for.
2. Pace
The current game is faster than ever, and it is extremely difficult for young athletes who lack the speed to make it in the professional game – regardless of their talent.
Pace keeps players out of trouble, increases pressure on opponents, and provides teams a competitive advantage right away. Football Academies recognize that speed improves over time, but youngsters who can exhibit speed at a young age will always grab the attention of academies if they also have the technical qualities to go with it.
Professional academies keep a close eye on pace and progress as children become older, but a lightning pace at the age of 7 or 8 will pique the interest of scouts.
3. Movement and mental skills
Movement is important, especially for offensive-minded players, and scouts look for kids who are naturally willing to locate space and search for opportunities to receive the ball.
Scouts, like chess players, want to see signs of children planning three or four moves ahead of time.
Reading the game and displaying innate football intelligence are typically skills that cannot be taught.
Professional scouts will notice kids always thinking about movement and the flow of the game, whether or not they have the ball.
4. Temperament
The failures of brilliant players who lacked the mental power or discipline to make it big in the game are littered throughout history.
During a game, scouts will keep a careful eye on the kids. They’ll be searching for signs of a favorable attitude toward authorities as well as how those students communicate with their teammates.
Why Do Military Academies Have Football?
Football is played at the military school because it educates character via sport, establishes the warrior mentality and the desire to win, and builds physical fitness.
How Many Football Academies Are In Iran?
In Iran, there are three well-known academies:
1. KIA Football Academy
The KIA Football Club is an Iranian junior football academy founded in 2015 in southeastern Tehran by Mehdi Mahdavikia.
It has been named “Iran’s greatest football academy” and “unique in terms of being committed to “sustainable, conceptual youth work” by German magazine 11 Freunde.
2. Persepolis F.C. Academy
Persepolis Football Club Academy is Persepolis Football Club’s junior team. They are presently competing in the AFC Vision Asia Young Premier League, Iran’s top youth football competition.
3. Tractor S.C. Academy
Tractor Sports Club Academy is Tractor Sports Club’s youth squad, which was formed in 2011. Tractor Club Football Academy, Iran’s first academy to equal commands AFC, began operations.
What Is The Best Age To Join A Football Academy?
To enter an Academy, you must be at least nine years old. Some clubs provide development groups for even the youngest members. This is a legal requirement that all football teams must follow.
How Much Does It Cost To Attend A Football Academy?
Football academies are expensive, which is understandable. To reach the top ranks, you must put in great effort and dedication because only a few spots are available.
As a result, starting and finishing a football academy school program costs over $53,990. Yes, it is significant, but the advantages far outweigh it.
Read: 7 Best Football Scholarships in USA
What Are The Requirements For Football Academies?
Before entering their academy, you must satisfy their standards, just like any other serious school. One of the most essential requirements is age. Each academy has a unique set of criteria regarding the age of its pupils.
Aside from age, candidates must pass a coach’s exam, which will assess them on qualities such as balance and speed. To stand a chance at academies with a large number of applicants, you must be exceptional.
Also, there is a criterion that you are already aware of: fitness! To join a football academy, you must be physically fit.
15 Best Football Academies In The World
1. Barcelona (La Masia)
La Masia, without a doubt the greatest soccer academy in the world, has produced a number of stars who have gone on to become the face of football in Spain and Europe. Three of its alumni were among the final three nominees for the Ballon d’Or in 2011.
This is a fantastic success for the academy. Lionel Messi, the face of international football in the twenty-first century and multiple times awarded the finest footballer in the world, is one of its notable alumni.
Andres Iniesta, Xavi, and Puyol, the 2010 FIFA World Cup winners, are among the other top players.
2. Ajax
Ajax football academy has produced several famous talents who have gone on to have successful football careers. It is home to some of the greatest prospects in European football.
The club’s reach in scouting transcends geographical borders, extending to every area of the globe where young people enjoy the wonderful sport of soccer.
Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, Justin Kluivert, and Christian Eriksen are among the players who have graduated through the program.
Read: Best Football Prep Schools in the USA | 2023 Rankings
3. Manchester United Academy
Manchester United’s youth youngsters have a long history of appearing in regular league games, which has aided their development into world-class players.
United’s Academy players were often featured in the first team under the guidance of previous coach Sir Alex Ferguson. David Beckham, Danny Welbeck, George Best, Paul Pogba, and Marcus Rashford are all alumni of the English club academy.
4. Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich’s academy is living up to its objective of maintaining a worldwide presence in soccer while instilling mental and physical strength in its players, based on the level of players it has produced.
This has worked out well for the team thus far. The majority of the academy’s players are German, and they have gone on to do amazing things for their nation.
Some of Germany’s 2014 World Cup champions, including Thomas Mueller, Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Toni Kross, began their professional careers at Bayern Munich’s academy.
5. Sporting Lisbon
One of the unquestionable accomplishments of the Sporting Lisbon football academy is the production of one of the finest players of the twenty-first century.
Cristiano Ronaldo began his career as a Portuguese national team’s academy member.
Aside from Ronaldo, they have produced over 100 players who have gone on to represent their nations at the national level while also making significant contributions to their respective clubs. Luis Figo, Nani, and Joo Moutinho are among the graduates.
6. Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo academy offers all of the necessary tools to create great footballers, including a properly equipped football stadium that meets international standards and health programs for its players.
They only have the proper people to produce high-quality results. Kaka and Oscar Emboaba, two well-known Brazilian players, are alumni of the Sao Paulo academy.
7. Santos
Pele (retired), the great footballer, began his illustrious career with Santos at the start of his career.
The academy assisted Pele in honing his natural abilities, which helped him become the superstar he was during his career.
Apart from Pele, the Santos academy has produced other outstanding players in recent years, including Neymar Jr. and Robinho.
The academy places a high value on its trainees’ education as well as their health.
8. Southampton
Southampton may not be a tough opponent in the EPL, but it has established its mark in the business of developing and teaching youngsters to become world-class players.
The club’s administration has placed a premium on the club’s ability to identify and recruit youthful talent. It authorized a £30 million investment in new training facilities.
The high spending in its academy has shown positive results, with elite players from European leagues graduating from it. Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, and Luke Shaw are examples of such players.
9. Schalke 04 (Knappenschmiede)
Schalke 04 is still a strong competitor in European football. The club has competed in Europe’s premier club championships on a regular basis, demonstrating to the rest of the globe that it has a wealth of quality.
The club’s academy has produced several first-team players who were key contributors to Germany’s 2014 FIFA World Cup victory.
For example, Mesut Ozil and Manuel Neuer are two of the best goalkeepers in the world.
10. Real Madrid (La Fábrica)
Real Madrid is one of Europe’s most prestigious and successful clubs. They are recognized for acquiring crucial players who add to the team’s ranks while keeping the academy hidden.
Unknown to many, the academy has been successful in producing some of Europe’s best players. The club’s farm system has produced players like Alvaro Morata, Carvajal, and Iker Casillas, who have all played for the main team.
11. Boca Juniors Reserves and Academy
Boca Juniors is, without a doubt one of the world’s greatest soccer academies.
The club’s academy has been produced due to its tradition of spending in scouting young prospects and developing their abilities to become world-class players rather than on the transfer market.
Players like Carlos Tevez and Fernando Gago have come through the Boca Juniors academy.
12. River Plate
River Plate Academy, regarded as one of Argentina’s most successful soccer teams, is dedicated to searching for potential on the streets of Argentina.
Matches of 2 players vs. 2 players vs. 3 players vs. 3 players vs The school also participates in South American youth competitions on a regular basis and generally goes on tour around the region.
Herman Crespo and Alfredo Di Stefano are two well-known soccer players who started their careers at the academy.
13. GNK Dinamo Zagreb Academy
The Dinamo Zagreb academy system illustrates how European teams profit from developing youthful, lively, and active players.
The academy has brought in more than €50 million for the club.
While profit might motivate soccer schools to scout for new players, Zagreb’s financial advantages in the academy market come second to developing and nurturing young players.
The club’s youth academy structure, which includes two players from each age level in the first squad, has made it one of the greatest soccer academies in the world.
14. Partizan Belgrade
The Serbian football school, which was formed in the 1950s, has been on the rise in recent years, with its young academy recording triumphs. Partizan Belgrade graduates play for teams in Europe’s top divisions regularly.
The academy runs a young football system that divides players into age groups and teaches them the skills and theatrics of the game.
Stevan Jovetic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Simon Vukcevic are among its illustrious alumni.
Read: 15 Best Websites To Watch College Football Online Free
15. Stade Rennais
The French soccer academy has been in outstanding form, judging by its performance at the young level.
In the early twenty-first century, the club gained traction when its U-19 youth team won the Coupe Gambardella in 2003 and 2008.
The academy is dedicated to identifying and integrating young talent into the European football system while prioritizing the players’ well-being.
CONCLUSION
Football academies are excellent training grounds. Many European clubs acquire players from the best football academies in the world.
As a result, enrolling in soccer academies is critical. It will assist you in learning the various facets of football at a young age. Football provides a wealth of options, as well as being both healthy and fulfilling.
FAQs on Best Football Academies
Soccer academies in Europe typically begin with teams as early as nine years old.
One of the finest ages to enter an academy is around the age of thirteen. Because Pro Contracts are available between the ages of 16 and 18, it is best to enroll before this age.
In Europe and Spain, the chances of becoming a professional soccer player are 1 in 5,768.
In the academy, you develop yourself via regular training and high-level sports. You will be eligible for a Pro Contract and will be a member of a professional football club in Europe when you are between the ages of 16 and 18.
A football academy is a facility that is dedicated to the development of young football players.
