Youth development is a key pillar of many of the world’s biggest clubs. In this post, we’ve explored some of the best football academies in Italy. We will also provide you with additional information on how to join a football academy in Italy.
Overview Of the Post:
Best football academies in Italy
Does your son feel a passion for football? Does he dream about dedicating his life to sports and becoming a professional player? If you are looking to pursue a football career in Italy then read this article till the end.
To become a professional football player you will need talent, hard work, and the best training available. That’s why future footballers are first coached, trained, and developed in a football academy before they become professional footballers.
Below are the Best youth academies in Italy;
1. AC Milan Youth Academy
AC Milan Football Club is a soccer club that plays in the Italian Serie A League. AC Milan also Known as the Rossoneri is one of the biggest clubs in Italy. The club is known for its good academy that produced some of the big names in football.
AC Milan Youth Academy has been responsible for producing some of the club’s greatest-ever players, including their top three all-time appearance makers, Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, and Alessandro Costacurta, as well as several players, in recent years, who have managed to become regular players in Serie A.
The Academy training facilities are based at the Centro Sportivo Vismara (Vismara Sports Centre), a 57-acre (230,000 m2) site in Gratosoglio, Milan, although the Primavera team trains at Milanello alongside the first team.
AC Milan academy offers a lot of soccer training programs for young players from the Age of 8 to 18. They offer soccer school services and have academies in different countries. To join AC Milan Soccer School or academy contact them at [email protected]. or visit their website Here: Acmilan.com.
READ: AC Milan Academy Trials 2023 Application, Fees & Scholarships
2. AS Roma Youth Academy
AS Roma Football Club is a soccer club that plays in the Italian Serie A League. AC Milan is known for their good academy that produced some of the big names in football. AS Roma has a football school which is the flagship of the club’s academy founded for boys and girls between 6 – 13 years old.
The main objective of AS Roma Football School is to train the next generation of AS Roma players by providing the best development experience which strives to pursue excellence in a professional, competitive, fun atmosphere while providing a clear pathway to the highest levels of the game in a free-to-play program at all levels.
Some of the players that have graduated from AS Roma academy include the likes of Bruno Conti, Agostino Di Bartolomei and Giuseppe Giannini, Daniele De Rossi, Alessandro Florenzi and club record appearance holder and record goalscorer Francesco Totti.
AS Roma Academy / Football School is located in Italy, Abuja (Nigeria), New York (USA) and Quito (Ecuador)
For any inquiries about the AS Roma International Academy program, please email: [email protected] or visit their official website: AsRoma.com
3. Inter Milan Youth Academy
FC Internazionale is a soccer club that plays in the Italian Serie A League. Inter Milan and AC Milan share a lot in common especially home stadium. Both Milan Clubs play at the San Siro and despite their closeness, the two clubs consider each other as bitter rivals.
Inter Milan also has a good academy that produced great players in the past and to date still produces future great players.
The goal of Inter Academy is to place FC Internazionale Milano’s knowledge, innovation, and excellence in training at the disposal of anyone wishing to start out, progress, or establish themselves in the world of football and sport in general, with the objective of creating a new generation of talent both on and off the field.
Inter Academy is a medium-long term program, based on a technical know-how transfer process. It is designed to create high-level specific training for young players (boys and girls from 3 to 17 years old, with a dedicated Pre-School Program: inter Milan has Football Schools in different countries dedicated to training the future generation of Soccer.
For any inquiries about the Inter Milan Academy program, please email: [email protected] or call them by phone at +39 02 77151 or fax at +39 02 781514. Also, their official website is https://www.inter.it/en/interacademy
READ: Inter Miami Football Academy Trials 2023 Application, Fees & Scholarships
4. Juventus Youth Academy
Juventus is a soccer club that plays in the Italian Serie A League. Juventus are considered as the most successful Italian club with the most Serie A title victory in history. Juventus has one of the best academies in the world that has produced great players like Moise Kean, Ciro Immobile, Paolo Rossi, Alessandro Del Piero, and many others.
Juventus Youth Sector is divided into 11 squads: under-19, under-17, under-16,
under-15, under-13, under-12, under-11, under-10, under-9, under-8 and under-7
The goal of Juventus Academy is to bring Juventus’ colors, methods, and values to as many kids as possible. Juventus Youth Academy is present in over 50 countries and on every continent. The Academy offers both the teaching and development of football skills and educational training, accompanying young players in their growth, from introduction to the game to maturity, and not exclusively within the sport. All programs are available, regardless of the level of the participants, and the activities are based on respect for their mental and physical well-being.
How to join the Juventus football academy?
To join Juventus Academy, please one of their operator with the phone number
(+39) 011.45.30.486 or visit their website: Juventus.comhttps://www.juventus.com/en/academy
READ: Juventus Academy Trials 2023 Application, Fees & Scholarships
5. Lazio Youth Academy
SS Lazio is one of the top clubs in Italy and the club is known for its excellent academy. Lazio Youth Academy is aimed at developing the technical, tactical, and physical-athletic aspects of young players with the aim of bringing them to wear the jersey of the first team of the Capital.
The goal of the academy is to train going players and integrate them into the first-team squad by firstly grooming the players to know that football can be their profession and then helping them to become better players for the future.
To join Lazio Academy, please send them an email at [email protected] – Fax: +39 06/97.60.75.10 or visit their website: Lazio.com.
6. Napoli Youth Academy
Napoli Football Club is one of the top clubs in Italy and the club is known for its excellent academy. Napoli Youth Academy is in charge of managing all the teams registered by SSC Napoli into their youth leagues that are governed by the Italian FIGC for various National and International tournaments.
The aim of the academy is to train and enhance young members so that they can be launched in the world of professional football, creating a pool of talent from which the first team can draw on.
READ: Napoli Academy Trials 2023 Application, Fees & Scholarships
7. Atalanta Youth Academy
Atalanta Youth Academy offers Football training programs to young players from Under 15 to under 18. Atalanta has great interest in young players and through the academy offers young talents the opportunity to train for an entire season with its instructors, allowing children and families to get to know the method that has made the Club’s Youth Sector one of the most important of Europe.
The club also has a Football School where children learn, supervised, and are trained to become professional footballers in the future.
To Join Atalanta Youth Academy, visit their website: Atalanta.com
8. Fiorentina Youth Academy
ACF Fiorentina has one of the best youth academies in Italy that trains young players to become professional players.
The club has a football school which is a sports-oriented scientific lyceum based in Florence. Fiorentina School is organized in such a way as to enable youngsters involved in sports activities to obtain a school-leaving certificate while combining their studies with their sporting commitments and free-time activities.
To apply for or join Fiorentina Football School, please contact the administrator on Telephone number +39 338 3214924 or send them an email at [email protected] and as well visit their website for other information: Fiorentina.com.
9. Udinese Youth Academy
It is impossible to talk about the best football academies in Italy without mentioning Udinese Calcio. This amazing footballing club based in Udine has never been one of the heavy spenders in the transfer market. So, they invest in their academy and youth system which is why they are one of the academies we are highlighting here.
The academy at Udinese has given us some notable names in football Antonio Di Natale and Alexis Sánchez. An amazing fact about this academy is the mix of nationalities you find here as many non-Italian players have grown from here to become mega stars.
The club’s focus remains on scouting young talent and player development which has made it a respected name in Italian football. To find out more about this amazing academy, visit their website https://www.udinese.it/academy/project
10. Torino FC Youth Academy
On my list, another football academy in Italy worth talking about is the Torino FC youth academy. Just like the almighty Juventus, this team plays out of Turin in Italy. Both clubs have every right to say they have a rich history however, there is a difference. The financial strength of Juventus is evident in their dominance of the league and transfer market. Torino on the other hand, produces their talent through their academy.
The Torino Youth Sector is focused on grooming young talents which has helped improve Italian football over the years. Fabio Quagliarella and Angelo Ogbonna are some of the notable Italian graduates of this academy. On the international stage, players like Lys Gomis of Senegal and Sergiu Suciu of Romania are also players who have benefitted from this academy. The website of the Torino Youth Academy for more details is https://www.torinofc.it/en/torino-fc-academy
11. Parma Calcio 1913 Youth Academy
You might think the greatest to ever wear Italian gloves Gianluigi Buffon is the only good thing from Parma but that is not the case. Parma Calcio 1913 has always been one of the best academies in the world not just in Italy. Several great players started their footballing careers wearing the iconic yellow and blue colors,
Although they have struggled in recent times on the pitch, Parma is making a comeback in Italian football with their academy at the forefront of things. The focus for the Parma Youth Academy now is to develop players and revive the club’s legacy. A strategy that has always worked for them when you look at some of the names in their books. People like Stefano Pioli, Giuseppe Rossi, Luca Bucci, Ibrahima Camara, Aleksandar Prijovic, and the late Niccolo Galli.
People who wish to enroll their children here can find out more from the club’s website https://www.parmacalcio1913.com/en/academy/
12. Empoli Youth Academy
The Azzurri as Empoli is called in the Italian league stands for the blues. Some would say this choice of color comes from how blue the sky is over the academy at this club. Operating from Tuscany, the Empoli Academy prides itself on having some of the best talent in Italy right now. This has been the case for a long time as they had a dominant spell in the youth league, winning the trophy in 1999. They also won the youth league trophy in 2021.
Even if the academy is dominated by Italians, there is always hope for non-Italian children to grow and learn football from some of the best hands in the world. Their current squad of under-19 players has internationals from other European countries and players from outside Europe. To find out more about registering with Empoli visit https://www.empolifootballacademy.com/
13. Genoa Youth Academy
The Genoa Academy comprises children from 9 – 19 years of age and includes both a male and female section. Genoa is one of the few Italian academies that run an academy for both male and female hence producing dominant forces for the beautiful game in both the male and female category.
From a young age, these children are already taught how to be winners as they have always brought success back from competitions they participated in highlighting the quality that they possess. This academy is so good that it has become one of the hotspots for top European clubs looking for young talents. The academy website for Genoa FC is https://www.genoaacademy.it/
14. US Sassuolo Calcio Youth Academy
In recent times, Sassuolo has grown to become one of the household names in the Italian. This can be attributed to so many things but the academy is number one. When you are looking at the best academy in Italy for grooming a child to become exceptional in football, then this is the place to be.
Davide Frattesi, Gianluca Scamacca, and Giacomo Raspadori are some of the graduates from this academy currently doing amazing things in Europe. Their current squad of academy players consists of children from more than 10 countries – developing and becoming stars for tomorrow. You can find out more about them via their website https://www.sassuolocalcio.it/en/structures/mapei-football-center/
15. Novara Calcio Youth Academy
The Italian club, Novara Calcio might not be in the top league like the others but they still have an academy worth mentioning. When Italians are asked about the best academy in their country, this is one name found on the books of most residents. Their academy structure accommodates footballers from as little as 8 and nurtures them into stars.
The club has more than 50 clubs it is affiliated with around and outside of Italy giving opportunities for their talents to play football on the big stage. To find out more you can check them out on https://www.instagram.com/academy_novara/?hl=en
Frequently Asked Questions
Lists of some of the top frequently asked questions about joining a football academy in Italy.
Which is the best football academy in Italy?
The best football academies in Italy are owned by the top-flight clubs in Italy. As outlined in the article, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Napoli, and Lazio are the football clubs that have the best academies in Italy.
Apart from the academies owned by top Premier League clubs, there are other easy-to-get-in academies scattered all over Italy that help young talents learn the art of football and become professional footballers in the future.
How much does a football academy cost in Italy?
In this regard, it varies from one academy to another and the package you registered for also affects the fee. Some academies charge trial fees while some don’t. The best way to find out the cost is to visit each academy’s website or contact them through mail or phone call to ascertain all the requirements needed.
Why you should join a football academy in Italy?
Football Academy brings out the best in you: Most are born naturally with the basics of football but an academy helps bring out the best in you. You may be a natural football talent, but a football academy will teach you how to function as part of a team and develop your gift so that it is presentable.
Football Academy creates Opportunities: Football Academies gift you the opportunity to learn, develop, and acquire knowledge of the game and most importantly present you with the opportunity to display your talent to the world. It is in the academy that you get to prove your football ability and show the world what you can offer as a player.
Football Academy actualized your dream as a footballer: Football Academy trains you to be a better player and allows you to showcase your talent which can land you a breakthrough in your career. 90% Most academy graduates also end up signing lucrative professional contracts with top teams due to their performances observed during their time in the academy.
How To Join A Football Academy in Italy For International Students
We have enlisted the steps to get into a football academy in Italy, although requirements vary from one club to another.
Italy is one of the biggest exporters of the beautiful game of football. Due to the huge and lucrative football league (the Serie A), Italy is the most sought-after location to learn, train or play football.
Here are the steps to take to join or apply for any football academy in Italy.
Build a Soccer CV: A concise soccer CV will include your name, date of birth, nationality, weight, height, favorite playing position, previous clubs or school teams you have played for, as well as any trophies or tournaments you have participated in.
Get Necessary Documents: Copies of your most recent report card – If they are from a non-English speaking country, international students must take the IELTS or TOEFL.
Search For An Academy: Purchase or apply for any football academy application form. You can do this either online or offline, depending on the academy, fill it out completely, and submit it.
Get Coach Recommendation: A letter of recommendation from your most recent football coach or school sports instructor will be added to the
application form or will be requested separately.
Visa: If invited or selected for tryouts, Do your research to find out the type of visa you will need to travel and know how to apply for one.
Notify your football academy that your visa has been approved, and begin making travel arrangements.
Attend Tryouts and Impress Scouts and Coaches: To play or get selected by big Italian clubs like Juventus, you will need to be recommended by a scout. Attend open-day tryouts and demonstrate your abilities; if you are selected, an official letter will be given to you.
If you pass your tryouts, the academy will tell you other information. Please know that the above steps are not the recognized way of applying for an academy but they should serve as a guide on how to go about it.
Can international students play football in Italy?
If you’re considering transferring to Italy where you’ll educate yourself and practice football, you’ve made an amazing decision for your future. Education in this country is excellent and there are numerous programs dedicated to students such as yourself.
In addition to football programs in universities and colleges across the country, you can also find clubs and programs available to international students. For example, the AC Perugia International Project picks international students to train with licensed coaches before they are asked to join the team. Depending on your academic level and current experience, as well as skills, you should consider reaching out to teams directly.
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