Club Atletico River Plate of Buenos Aires is one of the dominant clubs in South America. The Argentinian outfit has won 36 Primeira División titles, as well as four Copa Libertadores titles. A key player in the club’s success and finances has been their ability to create and develop world-class …

In Limburg, Belgium, Genk’s youth academy approach communication uniquely, applying training sessions for kids in multiple languages, like English and Dutch, developing the linguistic skills of their footballers at the same time as their footballing skills. It is no surprise then that many of the young Belgians who graduate from …

According to their academy director, “Anderlecht is the street”. On the outskirts of Brussells, the streets are diverse and multicultural. Anderlecht’s academy unites kids of different backgrounds, skills, and social classes with the common love for football to create one of the sport’s most productive talent factories. In an academy …

For most of their history, Boca Juniors competed against River Plate with a very different approach, by using the club’s size and wealth to purchase the best players in Argentina, like Diego Maradona and Walter Samuel. This approach was working for the club, up until the 1980s, where the club’s …

In 2002, Arsene Wenger told L’Equipe “I can’t imagine finishing my life without winning the European Cup”. His Arsenal side at that time was among the elite in Europe for the best part of a decade, so why couldn’t they fulfill his dream? Most squads fail to make an impact …

Le Havre is one of the oldest clubs in France, but they have spent most of their existence in Ligue 2. The club’s senior team has failed to make a name for themselves in their own Country, but their academy has become renowned. The Normandy club set up their academy …

With the inception of the Croatian league, Dinamo Zagreb was able to begin a dynasty that is yet to end. DZG has won 20 of 27 available league titles, and are on course to win another if this season’s Croatian League resumes. A key aspect in the club’s relentless dominance …

Since arriving at Atletico Madrid in 2011, Diego Simeone has made Atleti almost unbeatable. In eight years in the competition, only sides featuring Cristiano Ronaldo have beaten them in a knockout game in Europe’s premier tournament. Even with Ronaldo, no side has ever won a knockout game at the Vicente …

Gary Neville knows a thing or two about Valencia. He said he has “never seen fans as angry”. The high expectations of the fans and the board have led the club to have 20 managers since their last golden period, when Los Ches faithful had a manager that they were …

It’s not often Pep Guardiola describes a team as “fantastic, phenomenal, overwhelming”, and claims he and his team “have to learn from that”. Jürgen Klopp has turned his Liverpool team into the most feared side in Europe for the first time since the 1980s, despite being outspent by his English …