Football is built by the youth and is for the youth. An essential aspect of a football club is its youth academy. Every player dreams of playing football for the first team at a respectable level. There are many excellent youth football academies through which the most outstanding players have come. We look at the top five academies according to us. 

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5) AS Monaco 

Monaco is one of the underrated football clubs globally, but has produced more than a few players who are dominating the world stage right now. They have created the likes of Anthony Martial, Radamel Falcao, Fabinho, and the most significant French player in the form of Thierry Henry. The current superstar of the football world was also produced under the guidance of the AS Monaco youth team coaches. The coming through of these players through the academy proves the worth and the credibility of the academy.

4) Sporting Lisbon

There is only one name that you can associate with when you talk about Sporting Lisbon; Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo breezed his way through the youth ranks, and was a vital part of the Sporting Lisbon first team when he joined them. At the start of his second season, he was sold to Manchester United, and the rest, as they say, is history. But the other players that have come through the academy have been part of the revolution of football in Portugal. This list includes the likes of Luis Figo, Nani, Ricardo Quaresma. Sporting Lisbon provided the base that they needed to kick start their career.

3) Barcelona

Some consider la Masia as the greatest ever football academy for Spanish footballers. Most of the football players coming from La Masia who have made their debut for Barcelona have become the biggest and the best football players in the world. The list includes elite players like Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Andres Iniesta. They have quite a few youngsters playing for them like Ansu Fati, Riqui Puig, Pedri, amongst many others. La Masia helps provide Spanish players with a lot of experience when they play for the youth teams.

2) Manchester United

Manchester United’s academy is considered one of the best in England, and it has proved that over the years. They have produced the Class of 92, which has David Beckham, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes. Manchester United has an excellent record attached to their name. Earlier this year, they played their 4000th consecutive game in which an academy graduate has been involved. This is a feat that rarely occurs and will continue to be a record for decades to win. Even now, United has the likes of Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, Dean Henderson, among others. They have become a considerable part of the Manchester United first-team, playing almost every game. It has become a big tradition for United to include at least two or three players each season from the youth academy.

1) Ajax

Ajax, without any doubt, has the greatest ever football academy in the world for the youth. They give chances to their youth more often than not, and those players turn out to be the greatest players of all time. Because of the excellent youth academy, Ajax almost reached the finals of the Uefa Champions League. They care about their players as well as their interests. If a player who is at the top of his game wants to leave, they take the price offered just for the player’s sake and wished him the best of luck. Such things are rarely seen in football, where a club cares so much about its players. These things make them the most fantastic club alongside having an excellent youth academy.

These five clubs prove how important it is that a club should have a youth academy to get the young football players a suitable base, and develop the right attitude while promoting them to the first team.