There are many theories on the subject – that it’s all down to connections, that you need to have friends who play there, and a whole host of other stories that are quite far removed from reality. The truth is that very few young men and women manage to get in, and once they’re in, the number who make it to the professional teams is reduced even further – by a huge amount.
How can I enroll?
At a very, very early age, the big clubs organise trials where you can sign up and have a go; the thing is, the children are so, so young that it’s impossible to properly assess their abilities.
At a slightly older age, however, these young footballers do start to stand out, and so the youth academies begin their work. These academies have scouts who are responsible for watching all the matches in the area and assessing the players, regardless of where they play. So, even if you play for a local neighbourhood team, don’t worry too much, because if you really have what it takes, they’ll spot you and you’ll get your chances.
What if they have never scouted me?
Usually, all outstanding players in the youth ranks, regardless of which club they belong to, tend to receive calls from bigger teams, giving them the chance to demonstrate their ability at that level. Furthermore, the big clubs have agreements with smaller clubs whereby the latter inform them of outstanding players and send them reports on them so that they can sign them. This tends to be more common at a later age, when the players are teenagers.
There are also agent or scouting agencies that select players and draw up reports on them, which they then send to clubs so that the clubs can make their offers. The truth is that, to achieve this, you must demonstrate exceptional talent in every match, whether you’re at a local club or one of the best clubs in the area.
Is it possible to get into the youth academy even if they have not called me yet?
Friends, football never stops giving you opportunities; every match is a new chance, but the truth is that very, very few lads and lasses make it into the elite youth academies. If you really do have the exceptional qualities needed to reach the elite, your moment will come, and it will be up to you to make the most of it.
There are countless examples of players who have had to work their way up through the youth ranks to reach the top flight, making their debut relatively late in their careers. Jamie Vardy, Didier Drogba from the Premier League, and, closer to home, many players in the current RCD Mallorca squad, all endured the rigours of the youth ranks before realising their dream of making their LaLiga debut..
In conclusion, there’s no perfect formula for getting into a big club’s youth academy, and even if you do, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll make it into the first team and become a professional. So, as a final piece of advice – and to be completely honest – the best thing you can do is forget about youth academies and the Premier League and just enjoy football. Enjoy every match – on the street, in the mud, with local teams, with your friends in the rain – because if you genuinely enjoy having the ball at your feet and you’ve got that exceptional talent, everything else will fall into place.
