VCF Academy remains fourth best in Europe

The VCF Academy has been named the fourth best youth system in Europe by the CIES Football Observatory, in terms of the number of players trained at the Ciudad Deportiva who currently play in the five major leagues of England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France.

Valencia CF occupy a position in the Top 10 for the sixth consecutive year, and are only behind FC Barcelona, Real Madrid CF and Paris St. Germain.

The club have produced 26 players who are currently competing in the 5 major leagues. Many of these are at Valencia CF itself: José Luis Gayà, Hugo Guillamón, Jesús Vázquez, Cristhian Mosquera, César Tárrega, Fran Pérez, Javi Guerra, Rafa Mir, Martín Tejón and David Otorbi.

The CIES Report does not include players such as Mario Domínguez and Rubén Iranzo who, fulfilling the criterion of having been at Valencia CF for three seasons between the ages of 15 and 21, are not eligible as they have not played LaLiga matches in each of the last two seasons.

Another 15 players trained at the VCF Academy competing in the top flight in England, France, Italy, Germany or Spain.

The main criterion followed by the CIES Football Observatory is that established by UEFA, according to which players have to have been at an academy for at least three seasons between the ages of 15 and 21 and participated in their league.

The number of players trained at the VCF Academy also includes a total of 35 players competing in one of the 31 European leagues, while the number of players trained at the VCF Academy competing in the main leagues worldwide rises to 41.

In the last 30 years, 118 players have made their debut in an official match with the first team, having previously played at least for VCF Mestalla.

The identity and work methodology of the VCF Academy also awakens interest at an international level as shown by the different VCF Soccer Academy that the club has located in strategic markets in North America, Europe and Asia, the different international alliances with clubs, as well as the VCF Soccer Camp or VCF Elite Camp, which in total allow Valencia CF to carry out activities with more than 5000 players in more than 50 countries each season.

The international interest in the VCF Academy methodology was also reflected last season at the ECA Academy Visit organized in June by the ECA (European Clubs Association) at the Ciutat Esportiva de Paterna with representatives of coaches from clubs all over Europe who participated in training sessions with VCF Academy coaches.

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