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Manchester City have come in for some heavy criticism for their approach to buying the world’s top talent. When Sheikh Mansour bought the club six years ago, City was the archetypal yo-yo club – perpetually fighting a battle of top flight survival and promotion. Two Premier League titles later, this once sleeping giant is now one of the game’s true powers. But rather than rely on hand-outs and cash-injections from their multi-billionaire owner, City have take a huge step towards self-sufficiency with the opening of their £200million City Football Academy.
A signal of intent for the future
Perhaps the single most impressive aspect of City’s new academy and training complex is its sheer scale. Lionel Messi recently commented that it was the best he’d ever used during a visit with the Argentina national team. The sprawling complex provides facilities for every level of player at the club – and it’s all connected to the growing Etihad Stadium by a breathtaking walkway. Although some club owners have baulked at the huge price-tag associated with the City Football Academy, its cost was similar to the combined cost of bringing Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric to Real Madrid.Â
What does the City Football Academy have to offer?
Quite simply, the City Football Academy features everything the professional footballer and aspiring academy player could ever need. But perhaps the most impressive facility at this sprawling football city is a 7,000-seater stadium for the youth and under-21 teams. This incredible venue will give youngsters at the club valuable experience at playing in front of large crowds at a very early age.
A groundbreaking performance centre is probably the most advanced of its kind anywhere in the world. There are several training pitches dedicated to first team use, elite development pitches and a series of junior pitches – so every age group in the professional football structure is catered for. The Manchester Institute of Health and Performance has a base within the complex, and there are campuses of both the East Manchester Academy and the Connell Sixth Form College on site too. This gives academy players the chance to further their playing career and continue with their education without too much hardship. The City Football Academy also features a state-of-the-art media centre and a modern office development.
A new approach to sports science
City officials visited several leading sports training centres during the academy’s planning stages. After checking out similar facilities in Europe, the USA and Australia, the current designed was considered to include the best and most effective aspects of the world’s leading sports development complexes. The sheer range of amenities on offer has attracted worldwide attention, and the City Football Academy’s impressive inventory of facilities demonstrates why.
Two thirds of the complex has been devoted to youth development, but the first team has three dedicated training pitches of its own – which feature three very different playing surfaces. It is believed that preparing on pitches similar to those of other Premier League clubs will give Manchester City a competitive edge for away games. A total of 16 pitches grace this world class facility, and a vast indoor training centre ensures that the weather never gets in the way of match preparations.
The very latest technology
Some of the most impressive facilities that the City Football Academy has to offer are reserved for the first team complex. There are separate gyms for Pilates, technical skills and strength and conditioning. Hypoxic chambers are used to prepare players for the full range of environmental conditions – including playing at altitude. Players can also benefit from ultra-sound facilities, hydro-therapy and cryotherapy, meaning everything the professionals at City need for their conditioning and performance is available under one roof.
Everything at the first team complex has been designed for the player’s convenience and comfort. A luxurious, circular dressing room is thought to be the first of its kind in the world. Players can relax and unwind at a fully equipped cinema, or socialise and grab a snack at a dedicated players’ lounge. The imposing figures of Paul Gascoigne and Paul McGrath stand over the players at all times, however; they are accompanied by the slogan ‘Train like a professional, eat like a professional, drink like a professional, Tweet like a professional’. This is an obvious attempt to warn the players of the consequences a bad lifestyle can lead to.
Manchester City players now spend the night before home matches just a matter of yards from the pitch at the Etihad. The City Football Academy has player accommodation that London’s five star hotels would be proud of. The entire third floor of the first team complex is devoted to luxuriously furnished player rooms – which were designed in conjunction with leading sleep experts. Nothing has been left to chance in the designing of this truly inspiring football development facility.
The City Football Academy was opened with the assistance of Chancellor George Osborne, who used the occasion to announce a further £50million of funding for the grassroots game. As well as giving the City players a huge advantage before league matches, this incredible facility will inspire politicians, coaches and youngsters to take football – and player development – more seriously. The conveyor belt of youth talent expected to be produced at the academy can’t fail to inspire future generations. And who knows? The City Football Academy could be an important step towards a future World Cup winning England team.
Author Bio
Malcolm Cox is a journalist and copywriter who writes extensively for The Soccer Store and many other sports websites across the internet. He also writes on the subjects of politics, history and entertainment across a broad range of online publications.Â
Written by Malcolm Cox
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