W końcuReplicating the Spanish model has become the holy grail for youth development in England. Ten years ago it was the French Clairefontaine academy.
Following trends rather than setting them has been the model for youth development in England, where complacency, self-interest and incompetence have led to the issue being scandalously overlooked during the Premier League boom. Home-grown representation in Premier League first teams has dwindled to a shameful 32 per cent. In Germany the figure is 53 per cent, in Spain 75 per cent. Little wonder England have been so comprehensively eclipsed internationally.
In an attempt to reverse that trend, new rules governing youth development will be introduced next season. The Elite Player Performance Plan has been framed by the Premier League and is unapologetically elitist.
The intention is to give players and coaches more time on the grass to hone skills, with the school curriculum shaped to fit around football.
Academies will be divided into four categories to give parents a better idea of what they offer, and the Premier League will provide up to £42 million a season across the 92 league clubs to help fund development.
The best clubs will hothouse talent, producing better players and more rounded individuals.
The pay-off is that the 60-minute rule will go, allowing leading clubs most likely to have Category A academies to recruit nationwide, and a fixed compensation scheme will replace the tribunal system.
