La Liga’s Villarreal CF has announced that it will open its second Australian football academy in Sydney.
The Villarreal Sydney Academy is set to hold an ID clinic at St Ives Showground, where the academy will be based on December 12 to select players for the club’s program in 2021.
Villarreal coaches are expected to visit the academy to provide training for coaches and players when possible. Tryout sessions, offer clinics, provide coaching education, supplement programs and camps will be run by Villarreal coaches.
Opportunities to visit Villarreal’s state-of-the-art training facilities in Spain will also be offered to players who demonstrate their top-level skills, training and behaviour.
If selected participants will get to experience the life of a professional soccer player first-hand by observing training sessions, meeting professional players, practicing with the club’s elite academy players and training under Villarreal coaches.
In a video message Villarreal defender Alberto Moreno encouraged young boys and girls in Sydney to join the new academy and welcomed “Villarreal Sydney Academy to the Villarreal family.”
The club said that coaches at Villarreal Sydney will be trained under the Villarreal CF methodology, while an individual player development approach will be taken to help players grow.
“Australia is packed with untapped soccer talent and we are sure that our unique approach to the beautiful game will have an extremely positive impact on the players and the Sydney community, like it has in Melbourne,” Villarreal CF Director of International Business, Juan Antón said.
Villarreal CF’s Melbourne academy, Monash Villarreal opened in February and has over 200 players at the academy.
“We are not partnering with Villarreal only to use their name. Villarreal Sydney Academy is going to provide the best development program in Sydney and is giving a real pathway to our players. We want all of our players to feel that Sydney – Australia – is just one step away from Villarreal – Spain,” Director at Villarreal Sydney Academy, Jacobo Muñoz said.
Villareal was established in 1923 and currently sits second on the La Liga table. The club has previously competed in the UEFA Champions League.
