“The path to success as a footballer and a person”

This football academy is located in Barcelona and is an internationally renowned prestigious professional academy with more than 35 years of experience. Its mission is to create footballers who are intelligent, independent and with values and self-esteem as well as the dedication necessary to build a future in professional football.

Programme aims

* Prepare footballers (both outfield players and goalkeepers) to reach the standard of the European leagues and to be signed up by a club of the 1st or 2nd division: Participants will:

  • Make significant improvements to their individual technique and tactics
  • Acquire the rhythm and intensity of the game at high European level
  • Learn to play with intelligence and focus
  • Learn to effectively assimilate team tactics

* The academy encourages the young players to learn the importance of academic education, important in enabling them to secure their future after football.

Available programmes

Long term programme:

  • Professional programme lasting 10 months: September to June.
  • Programme of 3 or 6 months: can be taken at any time of year.

Short term programme:

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Customer Comments

Client Opinion

Longer term courses

Opción A:

Full time student: Includes sports programme, full board accommodation and academic education.

Opción B:

Day student: Includes sports programme, half board and academic education. Does not include accommodation.

Opción C:

Sports only student: Includes only the sports programme. Does not include accommodation, maintenance or academic schooling.

* For all the courses there is the option either to purchase only the sports programme or otherwise include the residential accommodation with maintenance and corresponding academic programme.

Educational programme

The philosophy of this sports centre puts a significant emphasis on the importance of the players continuing with their academic schooling while they do their sports training and this is why the academy offers a range of training options which can be adapted to the educational requirements of each player. Below are the available options offered by this football academy:

Primary, secondary or Baccalaureate education:

Distance learning from the student’s usual school with support from academy tutors:

  • Spanish school
  • American school
  • Mexican school
  • French school
Language study
  • English
  • Spanish
Intermediate level football coaching: for players over 16 with ESO or equivalent qualification.
Coach Mentor
  • Coaching course comprising 200 hours (100 theory and 100 practical) for students over 16 years of age.
University studies
  • For students from 18 years who have Baccalaureate (or equivalent) and have passed the approved selection test.

The Academy

Founded in 1978 by ex-professional footballer Francisco Javier Marcet, the academy is characterised by its excellent technical team as well as the emphasis placed on the development of the young footballers as they grow into adulthood.

Javier Marcet, known as “The Maestro”, is a great trainer and empresario, as well as having played in great clubs of the calibre of Real Macrid, FC, Barcelona, Espanyol as well as the Spanish national team.

Author of the book “Rethinking Football”, with a degree in economics and law this multifaceted sportsman was also coach of the Catalan football squad and a member of the Board at the Spanish Royal Football Federation.

This proficiency football academy specialises in selecting and training boys and girls who, as well as having inherent football talent, are passionate about their sport and have the capacity for the sacrifices needed to achieve their goal of becoming a professional footballer.

For the academy’s founders it is highly important that students learn values and continue their academic education so that they can become intelligent footballers who can have a successful future inside or outside football.

Each year, many players who have trained at this academy are selected to join various teams in the 1st or 2nd divisions throughout Europe.

Past alumni

Below are some of the ex-alumni who were coached at this academy.

Carlos Kameni, an alumnus of the high performance football academy in Barcelona, and the crests of the teams he has played for
Keylor Navas, an alumnus of the high performance football academy in Barcelona, and the crests of the teams he has played for
Oliver Torres, an alumnus of the high performance football academy in Barcelona, and the logos of the teams he has played for
Paul Mille, an alumnus of the high performance football academy in Barcelona, and the crests of the teams he has played for

Are you interested?

Download full academy info

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The Staff

The academy’s most valuable resource is its staff. We have a team of talented professionals who work hard in training and motivating the players to help them achieve their goals.

Coaching staff

The academy has its own training course for coaches and all the technical team has this qualification. This ensures that the academy can be sure that the methods that have made it a great institution are being correctly taught.
Get to know our coaching staff:

  • Image of coach Carlos Rivero at the high performance football academy in Barcelona
  • Image of coach Franco Sanchirico at the high performance football academy in Barcelona
  • Photo of coach Carlos Mendoza at the football academy in Barcelona

The trainers form just one part of this great academy’s professional staff and there are many others on the team who complement the sports training and help the young players to learn how best to look after themselves, both physically and mentally, supporting them to achieve their maximum potential as footballers and people. Some of these professionals are:

  • Image of the psychologist Rafael Rodríguez at the high performance football academy in Barcelona

Ertheo interviews with staff at the academy can be found here.

Selection process and prices

Very few players each year have the privilege to train at this academy. To be accepted, candidates must have a natural talent for football as well as a strong work ethic and a willingness to make sacrifices to reach their goals.

Option 1 – in person: Trials or try-outs

There are three ways to try out for the academy’s full year program in-person:

Option 1: Candidates may participate in one of the various camps that the academy organizes throughout the year. These camps are specifically designed to determine which young athletes have the work ethic and natural talent necessary to participate in the full-year programs.

These camps take place during the summer months, Easter holiday, and Christmas holiday. They receive participants of all ages and levels from all over the world.

  • + All participants at these camps arrive at the same time and are new to the academy (these programs occur during the holidays of the full-year academy students).
  • - At these camps, participants don’t exactly experience life as a full-year academy student. However, camp participants do learn the philosophy, methodology, and get to know the coaches.

Option 2: Intensive program at any time during the year.

Participants attend an intensive and personalized program of at least one week in duration. These participants train with the full-year academy students.

  • + Participants experience the full academy experience and get to know exactly what life would be like as a full-year academy student.
  • + This program is much more personalized than the camp programs since there are fewer participants.
  • - Participants train with a group of players who already know each other and must adapt.

Option 3: Trial/Try-out days.

Players that can’t choose option 1 or 2 can try-out for the full-year program at one of the academy’s trial days.
These trials last for 24, 48, or 72 hours. Candidates travel with their families to the academies to be examined by the coaches. They also attend a personal interview with the academy’s professionals so that parents can clear up any doubts that they might have about the program, get to know the personnel, and get to know the facilities.

PRICES OF THE FULL-YEAR PROGRAM AFTER HAVING PASSED THE IN-PERSON TRY-OUT

Once the potential of each player has been analyzed, the football academy presents a personalized quote for the selected players taking into account the family’s financial situation and their skills as a football player. The best players in the worst financial situations can earn scholarships that allow them to attend the academy at half the usual price.

For more information about dates and prices, you can fill out the enrollment form below or download a PDF about the academy.

Enrolling in a full-year course in a football academy is a great investment in your child’s future. Before spending a large quantity of money, it’s a good idea to be sure that your child has the potential to make a career out of football. Therefore, the most recommendable option is to attend a trial in person so that the academy can analyze your child’s skills and inform you about the best options for him taking into account his skills and future possibilities.

Option 2 – At a distance: Direct access

The most recommendable option to attend a full-year course at the academy is to first attend a trial so coaches can analyze the player’s skills and offer an accurate personalized quote according to both the player’s skills and financial situation.

In the exceptional case that a player cannot attend a trial, the only way for the player to attend the academy would be paying the full price of the program.

In addition to paying the full price, they must also meet some prerequisites regarding their football skills and hand in a series of materials that confirms their quality of play.

Necessary prerequisites for acceptance into the academy
  • Letter of motivation and objectives
  • Sports curriculum
  • Reference letter
  • Video of the player during match play

For more information regarding the prices of this entrance option, please download the PDF that you’ll find just below or fill out the enrollment form.

Need more information?

Download our PDF with more information about the academy: sports programme, education programme, prices, dates etc.

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