Sports Colleges Would Benefit Youth Development
Manchester United's history of developing young players is not only a proud tradition, but a rich source of future talent for the team.
However, the ability to nurture young players - particularly 'home-grown' boys - is being hampered by the current Academy set-up and its restrictive nature.
Clubs are not allowed to sign young players who live more than 90 minutes away by car (or an hour for under13s).
Rather than be able to coach the country's best young players, be they from Bury or Brighton, United must work within a much smaller region to find promising talent. The result is that United - and other clubs like Arsenal - are increasingly looking abroad, as witnessed with United's summer signings Giuseppe Rossi (Parma) and Gerard Pique (Barcelona).
At Old Trafford, each season brings with it the hope among supporters that another crop like the famed 'Class Of '92' will emerge. That generation of players - Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, David Beckham and the Nevilles - went on to form the basis of the most successful era in the club's existence, culminating in the Treble success of 1999.
But such a productive era in youth development happens very rarely. The chances of another batch of players of the same age emerging at the same time from the Manchester area is remote to say the least.
Therein lies the problem. On numerous occasions this season, Sir Alex Ferguson has voiced his disapproval of the Academy system; a format drawn up by the FA's former technical director, Howard Wilkinson.
"We have never been in agreement with the Academy system," Sir Alex said last month. "If I was a Premiership chairman, I would be asking what is happening to this system. It cost a lot of money to implement. I would ask, 'Is it working?'"
"In France they have colleges for talented young sportspeople. It is necessary in England to create such sports colleges. This is what is missing in this country."
The issue has become an emotive one. UEFA recently announced plans to enforce clubs to name home-grown players in their squads, but that does not directly solve the problem. It does, however, highlight a need for change in the current set-up.
There could be a solution, according to United's Under18s coach Francisco Filho. Francisco is well-qualified to comment on youth development having worked with the French Football Federation for 29 years, 16 of which were spent at the acclaimed Clairefontaine school of excellence.
In an interview with ManUtd.com, he said the answer would be to follow France's lead and develop specialised sports colleges.
Like in France, the sports colleges would be affiliated with schools with education the priority and football coming second. School classes would take place during the day, with coaching sessions in the evenings.
The current set-up is inflexible and doesn't allow clubs to nurture talent from a young enough age, says Francisco, whose playing career saw him ply his trade with Sao Paolo in Brazil before finishing his playing days in France.
"Sometimes the clubs have to make decisions on players too quickly," he told us. "The format of the Academy is rigid when you consider that players mature at different ages. You have to decide on a player's future far too early."
Francisco's work at Clairefontaine often involved coaching players from a young age on the benefits of technique and skill. Such virtues were less prominent in coaching young players in England, a footballing nation that, until only a decade ago, was world-renowned for its brutally direct, long-ball style of play.
"The problem is that some players can’t come to the club at a young age. That is a big problem in England," adds the Academy coach.
Sir Alex said recently that this is of little benefit to anyone; the player, the club and the national team. If clubs cannot coach skill and technique, awareness and vision from a young age, then not only are the club missing out but the player is not fulfilling his potential.
"In France, they create colleges for people with a talent for sport," adds Francisco, pondering a solution to the problem. "They work every day in a school gaining their education and integrate the clubs after that.
"The school has priority, sport comes after. It is necessary in England to create such sports colleges. This is what is missing in this country."
The Academy system was brought in over eight years ago. On reflection of the dissatisfaction displayed by many top managers with the current set-up, coupled with UEFA's demands on fielding 'home-grown' players, perhaps a rethink is required.
Manchester United's history of developing young players is not only a proud tradition, but a rich source of future talent for the team.
However, the ability to nurture young players - particularly 'home-grown' boys - is being hampered by the current Academy set-up and its restrictive nature.
Clubs are not allowed to sign young players who live more than 90 minutes away by car (or an hour for under13s).
Rather than be able to coach the country's best young players, be they from Bury or Brighton, United must work within a much smaller region to find promising talent. The result is that United - and other clubs like Arsenal - are increasingly looking abroad, as witnessed with United's summer signings Giuseppe Rossi (Parma) and Gerard Pique (Barcelona).
At Old Trafford, each season brings with it the hope among supporters that another crop like the famed 'Class Of '92' will emerge. That generation of players - Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, David Beckham and the Nevilles - went on to form the basis of the most successful era in the club's existence, culminating in the Treble success of 1999.
But such a productive era in youth development happens very rarely. The chances of another batch of players of the same age emerging at the same time from the Manchester area is remote to say the least.
Therein lies the problem. On numerous occasions this season, Sir Alex Ferguson has voiced his disapproval of the Academy system; a format drawn up by the FA's former technical director, Howard Wilkinson.
"We have never been in agreement with the Academy system," Sir Alex said last month. "If I was a Premiership chairman, I would be asking what is happening to this system. It cost a lot of money to implement. I would ask, 'Is it working?'"
"In France they have colleges for talented young sportspeople. It is necessary in England to create such sports colleges. This is what is missing in this country."
The issue has become an emotive one. UEFA recently announced plans to enforce clubs to name home-grown players in their squads, but that does not directly solve the problem. It does, however, highlight a need for change in the current set-up.
There could be a solution, according to United's Under18s coach Francisco Filho. Francisco is well-qualified to comment on youth development having worked with the French Football Federation for 29 years, 16 of which were spent at the acclaimed Clairefontaine school of excellence.
In an interview with ManUtd.com, he said the answer would be to follow France's lead and develop specialised sports colleges.
Like in France, the sports colleges would be affiliated with schools with education the priority and football coming second. School classes would take place during the day, with coaching sessions in the evenings.
The current set-up is inflexible and doesn't allow clubs to nurture talent from a young enough age, says Francisco, whose playing career saw him ply his trade with Sao Paolo in Brazil before finishing his playing days in France.
"Sometimes the clubs have to make decisions on players too quickly," he told us. "The format of the Academy is rigid when you consider that players mature at different ages. You have to decide on a player's future far too early."
Francisco's work at Clairefontaine often involved coaching players from a young age on the benefits of technique and skill. Such virtues were less prominent in coaching young players in England, a footballing nation that, until only a decade ago, was world-renowned for its brutally direct, long-ball style of play.
"The problem is that some players can’t come to the club at a young age. That is a big problem in England," adds the Academy coach.
Sir Alex said recently that this is of little benefit to anyone; the player, the club and the national team. If clubs cannot coach skill and technique, awareness and vision from a young age, then not only are the club missing out but the player is not fulfilling his potential.
"In France, they create colleges for people with a talent for sport," adds Francisco, pondering a solution to the problem. "They work every day in a school gaining their education and integrate the clubs after that.
"The school has priority, sport comes after. It is necessary in England to create such sports colleges. This is what is missing in this country."
The Academy system was brought in over eight years ago. On reflection of the dissatisfaction displayed by many top managers with the current set-up, coupled with UEFA's demands on fielding 'home-grown' players, perhaps a rethink is required.
