Belgium Pro League to launch new U21 club competition next season
March 28 – Belgian football will be getting an U-21 league in the 2019-2020 season following approval of the additional competition by the country’s Pro League.
Tag: youth development
US Soccer dumps U12 academy system in favour of players developing at their youth clubs
By Paul Nicholson
December 3 – The US Soccer federation is abandoning its controversial U12 academy system, which it launched in 2016, in favour of returning this age-group’s player development responsibilities to its youth club system.
FIFA set to end big club warehousing of top youth talent with cap on loans
November 30 – FIFA finally look set to stop cash-rich clubs, like Chelsea, hoarding the best young players to the detriment of everyone else.
PSG hire Fernandez to build its youth academy and expansion links
By Samindra Kunti
August 18 – Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed the return of former player and coach Luis Fernandez to the club, this time in the role of the youth academy’s sporting director as the club seek a further reboot.
Bayern build on coaching link-up with GPS in the US
May 12 – German giants Bayern Munich are expanding their partnership in the US with Global Premier Soccer (GPS) that will see the number of Bayern coaches in the US double as they work to develop and identify talent.
Child trafficking? England dominate market in transfer of minors
By Paul Nicholson
December 12 – Barcelona were sanctioned for the ‘irregular’ movement of players under the age of 18 and questions have been raised over the Real Madrid academy system as regards transfer of minors. But England is by far the most active in the international recruitment of minors.
CONCACAF puts U15s title back into schedule with girls heading for Florida showdown
July 6 – CONCACAF has put its U15 national team championship back into the calendar and will hold the Girls edition August 9-21 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney in Orlando, Florida. Twenty three nations are entered.
ENPL will complement US Academy system, not compete with it, says Club boss
By Paul Nicholson
June 1 – The newly launched Elite National Premier League (ENPL) will complement the newly activated USSF Development Academy (DA) programme and league, not detract from it, says Kevin Payne, CEO of US Club Soccer, one of the founding organisations of the new national league alongside the Elite Clubs National League (ENCL).
Leicester City target Chinese youth with academy programme
May 19 – Leicester City, the rags to riches English Premier League champions who have rewritten the rules on the pitch, have moved swiftly to expand their international footprint and are reported to be focussing on China with a plan to train Chinese youth players at their academy.