Manchester City revealed on Monday grandiose plans for a stunning new training ground and academy designed to help them emulate the success of Barcelona.
After three years' research and six weeks of public consultation, City's planning application for their expansive new site was submitted on Monday.
Some of the 15 full-size pitches will be developed to recreate grass types and soil conditions of Premier League grounds, so the first team can train on similar surfaces to prepare for upcoming matches.
"This will be the most important investment this club has ever made," City's football administrator Brian Marwood told The Guardian.
"It is part of our 10-year strategy for long-term, sustainable success.
"Everyone has seen we have accelerated the recruitment process in terms of where the first team is now, which is three years into the owner's tenure of this football club.
"We are fully aware of the commitment that we face but, equally, we talk about sustainability and that (paying large transfer fees) can't be sustained, so we have to develop within.
"That is something that is paramount to the future of the club."
The development of the Etihad Campus is advisable given the introduction of the financial fair play regulations, which do not prohibit spending on infrastructure but will seek to curtail transfer spending.
Marwood added: "Financial fair play gets talked about every week now, and everyone is looking to Manchester City to see whether we are going to conform to that.
"This is an element that will help us achieve the criteria people are looking at."
In unveiling their fantastic new plans, City had no hesitation that the model to follow was La Masia and Barcelona themselves.
Marwood said: "They are the benchmark for developing young talent. You talk about the DNA, the philosophy and the culture, and it is there at every level in terms of how they play.
"Our Under-19s played against them last week. You could close your eyes and see a young (Andrés) Iniesta or a young Xavi and that is something on which we need to work very hard here.
"What the coaching team has tried to do is develop a philosophy but also a consistency in terms of the way we play at every level right up to the first team.
"In the last Champions League final Barcelona had eight players that were home-grown, which is an incredible statistic.
"They have their youth stadium adjacent to the Camp Nou, and they also have their training complex close by as well. It gives players that aspiration and inspiration to go from the academy all the way through.
"We have a proud history of bringing through players from our academy and that is something we want to enhance. What we have tried to do at every level is make it better, and develop it in a different way.
"We are trying to bring through young players that can play in the Champions League. That is what we are aiming for."
The Eastlands outfit have submitted their request to the local council to build the facility and will find out their fate on December 22nd.
City have purchased most of the 80-acre site but negotiations remain ongoing over the relocation of several businesses, while the club have allocated 5.5 acres for community facilities, including a sixth-form college, and will help fund a new swimming pool.
For more information visit www.manchestercityfootballacademy.co.uk
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| A full aerial view of the new Manchester City academy and training centre Photo: manchestercityfootballacademy.co.uk |
After three years' research and six weeks of public consultation, City's planning application for their expansive new site was submitted on Monday.
The proposed plan is for a 80-acre site next to the Etihad Stadium to be renovated into a state of the art training facility, with a 7,000-seat mini-stadium, 15 full-size pitches, on-site sleeping accommodation for 40 youngsters plus 32 members of the first team, a rehab centre and accommodation for up to 72 youth players.
Some of the 15 full-size pitches will be developed to recreate grass types and soil conditions of Premier League grounds, so the first team can train on similar surfaces to prepare for upcoming matches.
"This will be the most important investment this club has ever made," City's football administrator Brian Marwood told The Guardian.
"It is part of our 10-year strategy for long-term, sustainable success.
"Everyone has seen we have accelerated the recruitment process in terms of where the first team is now, which is three years into the owner's tenure of this football club.
"We are fully aware of the commitment that we face but, equally, we talk about sustainability and that (paying large transfer fees) can't be sustained, so we have to develop within.
"That is something that is paramount to the future of the club."
The development of the Etihad Campus is advisable given the introduction of the financial fair play regulations, which do not prohibit spending on infrastructure but will seek to curtail transfer spending.
Marwood added: "Financial fair play gets talked about every week now, and everyone is looking to Manchester City to see whether we are going to conform to that.
"This is an element that will help us achieve the criteria people are looking at."
 |
|
| Up to 400 young players will train alongside the senior squad Photo: manchestercityfootballacademy.co.uk |
In unveiling their fantastic new plans, City had no hesitation that the model to follow was La Masia and Barcelona themselves.
Marwood said: "They are the benchmark for developing young talent. You talk about the DNA, the philosophy and the culture, and it is there at every level in terms of how they play.
"Our Under-19s played against them last week. You could close your eyes and see a young (Andrés) Iniesta or a young Xavi and that is something on which we need to work very hard here.
"What the coaching team has tried to do is develop a philosophy but also a consistency in terms of the way we play at every level right up to the first team.
"In the last Champions League final Barcelona had eight players that were home-grown, which is an incredible statistic.
"They have their youth stadium adjacent to the Camp Nou, and they also have their training complex close by as well. It gives players that aspiration and inspiration to go from the academy all the way through.
"We have a proud history of bringing through players from our academy and that is something we want to enhance. What we have tried to do at every level is make it better, and develop it in a different way.
"We are trying to bring through young players that can play in the Champions League. That is what we are aiming for."
The Eastlands outfit have submitted their request to the local council to build the facility and will find out their fate on December 22nd.
City have purchased most of the 80-acre site but negotiations remain ongoing over the relocation of several businesses, while the club have allocated 5.5 acres for community facilities, including a sixth-form college, and will help fund a new swimming pool.
For more information visit www.manchestercityfootballacademy.co.uk
Related links:
Team
Also see:
