Rafa Benítez Blog RSS Rafa Benítez Blog

25
Nov 2011
00:05 Comments (26)

Introduction

Ever since the Champions League Final between Barcelona and Manchester United, and considering the recent rise of Barcelona ​​with a lot of young players coming through their system, people have been talking about the differences between the Academy systems in Spain and England and the style of football in both leagues. Indeed the Premier League has recently produced a very detailed document (the Elite Player Performance Plan EPPP) that is a further attempt to modify the Academy system in England.

Facts

England have won no youth trophies at World Cup level. They won the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in 2010 but this was their only trophy since winning the UEFA European Under-18 Championship in 1993, 18 years ago. This can certainly be improved.

Analysis


Why hasn’t all the money spent on Academies produced better results in the lower age groups?
What is the difference in Spain for example who have won about 12 titles at youth level in the same period?
After many years in the ranks of Real Madrid as a coach and with my experience of the Liverpool Academy, the first conclusion I have drawn is that you must have a clear line of work and a person responsible for technical supervision (at Liverpool I brought Pep Segura to co-ordinate this plan). It is necessary to devise a plan to be followed and that all resources are geared to faithfully following that model.
Whether at club or national level, first you have to select coaches who want to teach, train and win in that order.
You then need to teach them what style of ​​play and what systems are to be used and how to coach this playing style. It is essential to train them how to coach what the Club (through the selected Technical Director’s leadership) wants to teach the players.
In addition to this, coaching courses run by the FA must have an up to date modern programme, helping forward-thinking coaches who should work at good clubs, and then the club itself should stamp its own trademark on the coaching.
The EPPP is introducing a ‘performance clock’ which should benefit each boy’s progression as this will enable the boy to move but take his ‘clock’ with him to ensure continuous development.

Quality

This is not the problem. British youth players do have quality, demonstrated at U17 and U21 recently and, indeed few weeks ago at first team level, against Spain, which proved that, individually, players can have a great future.

Scouting

A possible drawback to the development of grassroots football in England has been the rules for recruiting players. With the aim of ​​protecting the smaller clubs, they merely limited something that is allowed at the professional level and this is the ability to move between teams. A professional player who wants to switch teams can force a situation with his club and, after suitable figure is paid, can have a transfer; however a boy who wanted to go to another team has in the past been restricted by geographical limitations or maybe the club with most resources to improve this player was not allowed to sign him until he reached a certain age and only after many problems between the two clubs had been resolved. I note from the recent Premier League EPPP document that there are proposed changes to be made in the recruitment rules and this is something I have been advocating for several years. This should be an improvement on the previous system and the sooner it is implemented the better.
When I worked with the youth teams of Real Madrid, we used to trial hundreds of players each year, mainly coming from Madrid, but also from all over Spain and from other countries after they reached a certain age. Moreover, the scouts were looking for players throughout the whole country. As Pep Segura, Technical Director of the Liverpool Academy, says, we must gather the talent. If the most talented players cannot work with others of their level or higher, they will not progress and many well end up being missed.
In trying to protect the smaller teams, development of the players becomes difficult and competition amongst the clubs to improve the quality of teaching is not stimulated. The better you work, the more players you will produce and the more players will come to your club to learn. Some players will go to other clubs and you will be compensated, but you will continue to attract players for the quality of your work, not just because they live nearby and have no choice.
As well, in Spain for example, 3 times a year at 5 different venues, regional teams meet to compete and there is a rule that prevents the Federation selecting more than 4 players from the same club, allowing other players from smaller clubs to take part. This is where the work of the Federation’s selection for the national teams starts.

Competition

Another important aspect that stands out, as the former Technical Director of the Spanish Federation, Fernando Hierro (the famous former player of Real Madrid who knows the English structure from his time at Bolton) has noted, is the system of competition. In Spain the players compete every week and do so at the appropriate level. In England, at age 19, if they are not quite at the required level, they are not good enough to play in the Premier League so have to go to other lower clubs where the level and style of football may not help them improve their basic skills - yes they would have to have aggression and competitiveness, but not necessarily the basic techniques that will help them grow in the future. Those who are better but still not quite good enough sit on the first team bench and may be there for years until they get fed up with it or they are a ‘super class’ and play regularly. Once again I hope that the proposed changes to competition contained in the Premier League EPPP document provide a solution to this issue that concerned me greatly during my time at Liverpool.

Possible solutions?

U21 League

Change the structure of competition by creating a U21 League.
In the absence of the subsidiary teams of the club being able to compete in other divisions as happens in Spain, the only way to provide matches for these young players is through the Reserve League. From my point of view, this should be an U21 national competition with permission to select a limited number of first team players for them to keep pace with competition or recover from injury.

Investment in coaching and facilities

Invest in basic training of coaches, not just through facilities but also by training those coaches who spend most time with the youth players at the critical stage of learning.
Another aspect to consider, if you want to increase the quantity and quality of the sessions, there is the possibility of using modern artificial pitches in some age groups to improve technique and increase the number of hours of practice.

Local Regional teams

Create regional teams with a limited number of players per club to avoid prejudicing the daily work of the clubs, and with competitions between them a few times a year to start producing local players. These teams could be county based or regional based (as in Spain) following the regional set up of the FA and local county FAs.

Standardised style

Common guidelines to impose a particular agreed style of play and coaching for all these young local and regional teams. All coaches would be responsible for following this philosophy which should be devised by the Technical Department of the Federation

Obviously this is a personal view based on 10 years working in grassroots football and my experience at the professional level, but at least the ideas are there on the table for those who want to discuss them. I also hope to see the proposed Premier League EPP Plan implemented quickly and effectively so that it can come to fruition.

26 Comments Send us your opinions
25/11/11 at 14:04:37 #11
Conrad Lodziak
To Will,

Totally agree with your comments.
Additionally it has to be said that scouting systems are not always in synch with coaching. Some scouts have an eye for gifted kids, send them to a club for a week's trial, only to find that the coaching staff really want a ready-made adult/gorrilla. Unfortunately the coaching at some academies merely reproduces the anti-football of the Sunday morning leagues that are so destructive in terms of developing talent.

Football culture in England remains light years behind the norm on the continent.
25/11/11 at 17:31:05 #12
Phill
Rafa, the set up you have created at Liverpool will benefit the club for years to come. I wish you had been given the time to reaps its rewards but also to have the financial backing and support of the current owners. We all love King Kenny but you are sorely missed. YNWA.
25/11/11 at 23:15:58 #13
Dimitar Yanev
Hi Rafa,
Speaking about U21 English players, would you compare Jordon Henderson with Jonjo Shelvey. Looks like to me Jonjo has that something special when he plays. Unfortunately i did'n have enough opportunities to see him play. But from what I've seen I was impressed with his long range passing, and the ability to go forward. I hate to compare players, but some of his moves reminds me slightly to Zidan,

Thanks,
Dimitar 

Response:

Hello Dimitar, Shelvey has the potential and as you say, he has 'his long range passing, and the ability to go forward', do you think he has the 'potential' vision of Zidane?

26/11/11 at 10:15:15 #14
Keith Miller
Hello Rafa

Thanks for doing this particular article. I find that your comments and suggestions all have good value, especially with regard to providing young players with a consistent approach to coaching throughout the country and productive levels of exposure in regular competitive games at an appropriate standard / technical level.

My question to you is what is your opinion regarding the pros and cons of young players choosing between bigger, high profile clubs and smaller, less glamorous clubs? It seems safe to assume that there would be more chance for a young player to break into the first team at a lower league club than at a Premier League club - so, if that is the case, do you think that the young player is better off playing first team football at the lower ranked club or learning his trade outside the first team squad at a big club?

Response:

Hello Keith, some young players have to go on loan because they will not have a chance in the first team soon, the problem is where? You need to find the right club for him, the way they will train and how they will play is the key. If you want him to keep the same style that you want for your own team. They have to compete, but at the same time be trained in the way that will be good for their progression. The balance is not easy, the right club and coaches for this player and similar to your philosophy. Thanks,
26/11/11 at 19:00:13 #15
Rob Gateley.
Great analysis. An idea ive mentioned a few times to people is put England u21s into the championship were there is an odd number off teams and they play the team thats not playing at their ground and they get to keep all the revenue.Secondly Rafa Ive set up a coaching clinic on the Wirral for grassroots coaches who need educating & cannot afford to take time of work or the cost of courses. The clinic is free of charge for coaches. I have contacted all the local clubs and they have not replied.I have my launch night Thursday 8th Dec at a local youth club where I work volutary, I have over 70 coaches attending with the number growing daily.
Rafa can you PLEASE help me make a change for the better, no one cares, its sad! (www.nxtgensoccer.co.uk)
26/11/11 at 21:38:29 #16
Dimitar Yanev
Hi Rafa,

You asked me: "do you think he has the 'potential' vision of Zidane? "
What i cam say for sure is he has a great vision for a lad of his age. But he needs now to play regularly . He needs a coach, to show his believe in him. And he needs players around him to learn from.
And here is the dilemma again.Is it better to stay at Liverpool and train every day with the likes of Gerrard and Suarez. Or go on loan, play regularly in a good team with a good coach in my humble opinion. How do you think, what was better for him?
Also what i have seen from interviews and the way he plays, he looks like a guy that has a lot of believe in his own abilities? A bit even arrogant in a good way if you understand what i mean. What is your impression on him? 

Response:

Hello Dimitar, we signed him because we could see the potential.

26/11/11 at 21:55:46 #17
JBK
Hi Rafa,
This is a great article. You surely wrote about an issue close to your heart. Some of these comments you made when at Liverpool FC. It is also clear now to all that your idea of completely revamping the Academy systems and structure at LFC was based on a sound well thought model meant to really take the club forward. It is a pity some of the Experts refered to this as power struggle between you Rick Parry.
It is clear that LFC has a great chance if all goes well, to reap the fruits of your ideas. It is a pity Pachecho and some talents went away.
My question is would you be prepared to be part of the FA Advisory Team to make some of these ideas implemented?? From Namibia
26/11/11 at 22:12:15 #18
Sing
Good read Rafa,
There are some good academies in England with good values, but too many are emphased on pace and power. Even though FA speaks alot about technique you can see that they at the same time appoint thick ex pros to work with most talented kids. Just look at quotes from Stuart Pearce, all he goes on about is winning and is often not playing most talented players at the expense of much more limited ones to get a result. I'd like to think that there are some talented players in England but even at underage groups they are so often dropped for high lumps which can do nothing with the ball.Bizarre.
28/11/11 at 22:37:58 #19
Evergreen
Hi Rafa

Very good article, we in England release players at 18 while in other countires they have under 19s under 21s etc. I also think that in England we don't put enough emphasis on technqiue. We focus on other aspects that are irrelevant at certain ages. The FA need to restructure the league. Teams need B teams and C teams.

29/11/11 at 03:43:18 #20
jay
Rafa, another great article what is your opinion on the nextgen tournament that is going on and the difference in success the English clubs are having?

Response:

Hello Jay, as I said in the article, England has very good players, they have to find their style and be consistent with their ideas.Thanks.