Following a partnership between the MLS and La Liga (Spain), on top of a partnership already established with the Fédération Française de Football, MLS Academy directors and coaches with the EFCL (Elite Football Coaching Licence) licence have the opportunity to further their formation with a 10-day program, during which educators will visit well-known academies in world soccer. They will share information with coaches and sporting directors from big international clubs on topics like youth development, scouting and athletic development.
The Academy director Philippe Eullaffroy is representing the Montreal Impact.
Here is his diary.
May 17 – Madrid
The day before, we got used to Spanish life in Madrid. It starts when it’s time to eat, which is late. I found a paella place downtown and started eating at the normal time here: 11pm.
The day after, we start the day early with the La Liga staff. They will be with us during the four days we spent in Madrid. They smile, they are efficient and helpful, which gives a good image of their professional league.
The first ones to entertain us were Victor Orta, a scout with different Spanish and Russian clubs, currently with Middlesbrough, in the Premier League, and Aitor Karanka, who coached different Spanish and English clubs and played in MLS in 2006 with Colorado Rapids.
There were a lot of things to take from these meetings. One of them is that 85% of the players who have a career in a club are coming from less than 200km outside of the city. That’s what Orta noted in the countries where he worked.
In Spain, 90% of the players in the senior national team went through the youth teams of the pro clubs.
As for the evaluation, in Spain, they are more interested in the technical aspect of the player, while in England, it’s more focused on the athletic abilities.
The statistics in Spain also show that a player who imposes himself in La Liga spends six years in a professional academy.
At the break, I spend some time near the Spanish pastries table. Not bad at all…
In the conference room, we can sense some excitement rising in the group. Is it lunch time? Is Zidane coming? Benoît Deplagne is about to rap in French? No. We are leaving for the Ciudad Real Madrid en el Parque de Vadebebas (Real Madrid training centre) for a visit and a meeting with the academy educators. According to the latest stats, it’s one, if not the best academy in the world.
I’m ready for the Real fireworks!
