September 30 – From their use of data analytics to their highly-respected academy, Danish Superliga club FC Midtjylland (FCM) have long been admired for finding those tiny percentages that can make the difference between winning and losing. The launch of FCM Next Generation is the latest chapter in their story of innovation.
This new international talent project is designed with one purpose in mind, and that is to accelerate the rise of the club’s brightest prospects. Drawing from the 2006 and 2007 age groups, Midtjylland are placing their best young players into a full-time professional environment.
Over the next year, the new squad will travel internationally to compete in tournaments and participate in training programs across different football cultures. Activities have already been scheduled in Brazil and Spain.
The program started with test matches against clubs including Hvidovre, IFK Göteborg, B93, and Vejle Boldklub, recording two wins, one draw, and one defeat. The project is specifically targeted at “transition players” — those on the verge of senior football.
Svend Graversen, Director of International Affairs and Academies, summed it up best, saying, “This isn’t just about producing better footballers, it’s about producing more rounded individuals. Technical refinement, physical growth, personal responsibility, cultural awareness — all the qualities required to thrive at the very top.
“Our aim is to lift more of our top talents to a level where they can compete for a place in the first team. That requires us to think differently and provide the best possible platform. That is exactly what FCM Next Generation is about.”