Top Youth Academies in world Football

By Harleen Bedi and Aneeket Barua

Just like the Top B-Schools churn out best entrepreneurs and CEOs, top football players also graduate from the best football academies. These academies pick young kids with potential to be the best players and they train them till they are good enough to be sold to a major football club or are accepted by the academy's patron club.

Here are ten major football academies that train the best players around the world.

1. Ajax

The Dutch Football Association programme is doing a great job to develop their footballers, as the Dutch institute, Ajax is at the number one spot of football academies in the world. Football legends like Johan Cruyff, Marco Van Basten, Frank De Boer, and former Arsenal star Dennis Bergkamp are from this academy. The Netherlands’ entire national team comes through the Ajax academy at some stage or another.

2. La Masia

La Masia is Barcelona's football training facilities. Current players like Cesc Fabregas, Iniesta, Xavi, Jordi Alba, Carles Puyol, Pep Guardiola, and Lionel Messi were trained here. Similar to Ajax, a high percentage of the first team squad is made up from La Masia graduates. In 2012 Barcelona had 11 products of their academy on the field at the same time for a La Liga clash.

3. Sporting

Sporting Lisbon has one of the world's best youth training facility's based in Alcochete. Famous names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Nani, Ricardo Quaresma, Joao Moutinho have progressed through the academy. Sporting’s academy currently has 39 titles to its name, the best in Portuguese history.

4. Manchester United

Manchester United is the most popular club in the world and their academy system matches the ManU brand of quality. Famous players include Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Gerard Pique, and Giuseppe Rossi. United has a strong management too with the likes of Solskjaer and Alex Ferguson.

5. West Ham United

One of West Ham’s nicknames is “The Academy”. It acquired a legendary status in England after they produced players like Geoff Hurst, Bobby Moore, and Martin Peters. Paul Ince, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Glen Johnson, Jermain Defoe all these players have been West Ham produce. Tony Carr, the Director of Youth Development at West Ham, is one of the main reasons why their academy is so successful.

6. Los Blancos

This Real Madrid academy has produced several players over the years. Real has always sold several players who have gone on to become world class stars at other clubs. The club has now integrated some academy graduates into their team like Alvaro Morata, Jese and Nacho Fernandez. Famous players like Roberto Soldado, Juan Mata, Alvaro Morata, Jese and Nacho Fernandez, Iker Casillas were part of Los Blancos.

7. Feyenoord

Feyenoord has only recently been producing world-class talents who have been quoted with big transfer moves to Europe's elite. Robin van Persie and Jonathan De Guzman are the major products of the academy. Recent graduates like Bruno Martins Indin, Jordy Clasie and Stefan De Vrij have a lot of hopes riding on their careers.

8. Cotia Training Centre

Casemiro and Lucas Piazon, as well as Under-17 stars Boschilia and Auro are all among Brazil’s upcoming talents who are part of Cotia. The Sao Paulo club's graduates are among the leading contenders for youth titles in Brazil. Hernanes, Jean, Oscar, Lucas Moura, Breno, Cafu, Kaka, Rogerio Ceni, Antonio Carlos Zago are all recent products, while Kaka is perhaps the club's most famous graduate.

9. Arsenal

With the likes of Ray Parlour, Andy Cole, Ashley Cole, Jack Wilshere being graduated from this academy, Arsenal’s academy is undoubtedly considered one of the best in England. Player's such as Gedion Zelalem, Serge Gnabry, and Hector Bellerin has been grabbing all the headlines

10. Southampton

Several of the brightest talents in English football have emerged from the club over the past few years. Players graduating from this academy are Adam Lallana, Gareth Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Luke Shaw, Wayne Bridge, James Ward-Prowse. Southampton has invested 30 million GBP to redevelop their training ground in order to continue the club's progress which is the main reason behind them being currently on the top half of the Premier League.