Yesterday, a study claimed that Barcelona have the best academy in Europe, and I can believe it! Here's a look at some of the best academies in Europe.
Barcelona
The famous La Masia youth academy was hugely influenced by club legend, Johan Cruyff, who insisted on introducing "Tiki-taka" football into every youth team, right from the under-9s to first team level. Players learn to use the passing system and develop an incredible level of expertise, as was seen in our latest golden generation, including the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Gerard Pique.
Ajax
Johan Cruyff's "other club" follows a similar system to Barcelona, and Frank De Boer has taken the current Ajax team back to the "Ajax way" which has paid off, as can be proved by their current run of four consecutive Eredivisie titles. They also thrive off their association with outside clubs such as Barcelona and our very own, Ajax Cape Town. Notable former players to have come through the system are Marco Van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Kluivert and, more recently, Wesley Sneijder and Daley Blind.
West Ham United
West Ham United promotes their popular idea of being the "Academy of Football", with the moniker adorning the Upton Park's façade. Most notably, the club's academy produced three World Cup winners in 1966, for England, which were Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters. Since the 1990s, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and Glen Johnson all began their careers with "the Irons", and at present, Mark Noble and James Tomkins are prominent parts of the clarets first team squad. Due to financial reasons, however, the club often falls short in its attempts to retain their best players.
Atalanta
Outside of Italy, very few people realise how many talented players Atalanta have contributed towards the Italian game. Their youth academy and policies are largely recognised as the best in Serie A, but due to an inferior reputation and financial standing in comparison to other clubs, it has mostly served as a feeder team to other bigger clubs. Notable graduates from their academy include Giampaolo Pazzini, Roberto Donadoni, Riccardo Montolivo, Alessio Tacchinardi, Gaetano Scirea and Carlo Ceresoli.
Borussia Dortmund
In Germany, Borussia Dortmund have been Bayern Munich's best competitor in the Bundesliga for several years now, and it comes as a result of a fantastic youth policy that has seen them produce some fantastic players over the years. Some of the most notable are Mario Gotze, Kevin Großkreutz, Marco Reus, Marcel Schmelzer and Antonio Rüdiger.
There you have it! Five of the best youth academies from around the world. Of course there are many more academies that produce some of the best players in the game, but, as far as I'm concerned, these five are certainly the best!
Which youth academy do you think is the best in Europe?
