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Every player, regardless of how much ever talent he has to start off at a youth academy and that is where he develops and evolves as player. A youngster learns all his tricks and traits at the academies and the quality of the academy he joins could prove to be pivotal for his career.
A good football academy molds and shapes up a player to be the next big thing in the world. This where a youngster learns the reality of the footballing world and the professionalism of the game. A starlet engages in a bit of significant football and develops a more genuine understanding of the game because of the youth team games.
Every player has to begin an academy and one day, graduate out of it.
#10 SL Benfica
Benfica is one of the big 3 in Portugal's Primeira Liga, besides Porto and Sporting. They are one of the leading teams in the senior scheme of things in Portugal and a part of the success that they have had can be attributed to the quality of players who have graduated from their academy and succeeded for them.
Benfica Juniores has produced a whole bunch of match-winners in the recent past, and many of them have made it big at the elite level. Two of Manchester City's star players in the form of goalkeeper, Ederson and midfielder, Bernardo Silva were produced by this academy.
Andres Gomes, Victor Lindelof, Joao Cancelo and Guncalo Guedes were also a part of the youth academy at Benfica. The current generation of Portuguese youngsters like Helder Costa and Renato Sanches have been brought by the Benfica's high profile academy.
Sport Lisboa e Benfica Juniors received the award for the best academy in 2015 and that shows the lofty standards that they have set for themselves.
Some of the top graduates: Bernardo Silva, Ederson Moraes, Andre Gomes, Joao Cancelo, Renato Sanches, Goncalo Guedes and Victor Lindelof
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#9 Southampton
One might have to look somewhere at the bottom of the Premier League table to find Southampton's name. But not when it comes to the best academies in England. Hailed as one of the most efficient academies in both, England and in the world, Saints' Youth Academy has produced some world class players.
It is a club known for encouraging youngsters to prosper and flourish and players have made the most of their chances at the academy. One of the best players in the world, Gareth Bale was a part of the highly reputed academy. He has played for the likes for Real Madrid and Tottenham.
Current Premier League stars including, Luke Shaw, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana and Theo Walcott have been produced by the Saints. Even many of their present squad members like James Ward-Prowse, Jack Stephens and Kayne Ramsay have been produced by Southampton.
Even the Alan Shearer was produced by this club and he went on to become the leading scorer in the history of the Premier League.
Some of the top graduates: Alan Shearer, Gareth Bale, Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw, James Ward-Prowse and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
#8 Atletico Madrid
Los Rojiblancos' academy is without a doubt a high-class academy and has produced a truckload of exceptional players. Club veterans and icons, Gabi and Fernando Torres graduated from here and made a name for themselves in the footballing world.
The best goalkeeper on the planet, David De Gea is one of the many high profile names to have been a part of Atleti's youth system. Apart from him, many of their current stars including, Saul Niguez, Koke, Thomas, Rodri and Lucas Hernandez came through the ranks of this academy.
The players produced by their academy are so good that even fierce rivals, Real Madrid broke their pact with Atleti to buy one of their budding youngsters, Theo Hernandez.
If their academy continues producing players the way they are, then the club might not have to look at the transfer market.
Some of the top graduates: Saul Niguez, Koke, David De Gea, Lucas Hernandez, Rodri, Fernando Torres and Gabi
#7 Lyon
This might surprise a few of you, but by the time we reach the end of this slide, you won't be surprised. Olympique Lyonnais' Academy is a superb one and is one that boasts of world-class facilities. The club invests a sizable sum of money on its academy, and it delivers by producing youngster after youngster.
Many of their present team stars have graduated from their own academy, and they include, Nabil Fekir, Houssem Aouar and Anthony Lopes. Premier League stars, Rachid Ghezzal, Anthony Martial and Alexandre Lacazette have also come through the ranks at Lyon.
Even Barcelona defender, Samuel Umtiti and Bundesliga stars, Corentin Tolisso and Alassane Plea graduated from this world-class academy in France. Not to forget, Real Madrid forward, Karim Benzema who came out of their academy and it is pretty much a never-ending list of players.
Lyon has been quite reliant on their academy to produce good players and always give a chance to youngsters.
Some of the top graduates: Samuel Umtiti, Nabil Fekir, Houssem Aouar, Karim Benzema, Anthony Martial, Alassane Plea and Corentin Tolisso
#6 Sporting CP
Without a doubt one of the best academies in the world, Sporting Clube de Portugal has produced some stunning players over the years. Renowned for its world-class facilities and brilliant scouting methods, they have plucked out many gems from a massive crowd. They have polished those gems and sold them for a fortune, but only before they utilized them a bit.
The academy's facilities are second to none and even the players produced are second to none. In fact, the facilities are so good that many teams utilize them for their offseason preparations.
The academy has produced two Ballon d'Or winners in the form of Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo. The club has also produced the likes of Eric Dier, Cedric, Ricardo Pereira, Ricardo Quaresma, Joao Moutinho, Rui Patricio and William Carvalho.
The club has been of great use to the Portugal national team and a lot of the current Portuguese players graduated from their academy. As many as 12 players in the 23 man squad for the World Cup squad graduated from Sporting's academy, giving us a clear idea of how important Sporting is to Portuguese football.
Some of the top graduates: Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Joao Moutinho, Nani, Ricardo Quaresma and Eric Dier
#5 Bayern Munich
There is absolutely no need to stress on the fact that Bayern has one of the best academies in the world as the world class players they have produced and the world class facilities at the academy are known to everyone. They invest a substantial amount academy and have scouts all over the world.
Unlike most of the academies which are typically filled with homegrown players, Bayern's youth teams accommodate players from various countries. In fact, in their present U19 squad, players from 11 different countries are present and in the U17 squad, players from six different nationalities are present which gives us a clear indication of how big an area they tend to cover with their scouting schemes and how players from other countries want to join their academy.
The academy acts as an important feeder for the German national team and has produced World Cup winning players like Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller, Mats Hummels, Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger. The academy has also produced other notable players like Philipp Max, David Alaba and Emre Can.
Some of the top graduates: Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller, Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mats Hummels and David Alaba
#4 Ajax
Ajax has always been a club that has supported youngsters and helped them develop into valuable players. Over the years, they have made a name for themselves for having one of the best academies and incorporating their own methods of practice.
One such technique is the TIPS model in which T stands for Technique, I for Insight, P for personality and S for Speed. It is a unique model, but one that has served Ajax greatly.
Dutch legends like Edwin van der Sar, Johan Cruyff, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Kluivert and many graduated at Ajax. The likes of Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong and Justin Kluivert have also been produced by the Dutch giants.
One of the key reasons for the success of Ajax's academy is that they never leave out the minor details and always focus on everything. They follow a strict method of scouting and they observe the players for a good period of time before they bring them in.
Some of the top graduates: Edwin van der Sar, Johan Cruyff, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Kluivert, Wesley Sneijder and Christian Eriksen
#3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid has always been an extremely highly active club in the transfer market and many of the fans start to wonder as to why they should even bother about it when they have such a great academy.
Real Madrid's, La Fabrica has over the years produced many world-class players and has been one of the reasons for their astounding success in the footballing world. Club legends, including the likes of Raul and Iker Casillas, have been produced by this academy. African great, Samuel Eto'o was also a part of La Fabrica and developed his game at this club.
Many of the modern day stars such as Dani Carvajal, Juan Mata, Alvaro Morata, Marcos Alonso, Pablo Sarabia, Lucas Vazquez, Nacho and Achraf Hakimi have been produced by the Spanish giants.
The club invests significantly on the academy and even invested a mouth-watering €100 million for the development of the academy in 2005. The club has a stupendous academy, but they often under-utilize it and one hopes that in the coming future, they utilize it in a better fashion, because they are some gems in that academy.
Some of the top graduates: Samuel Eto'o, Iker Casillas, Raul, Juanfran, Dani Carvajal, Juan Mata and Nacho
#2 Manchester United
Manchester United has been producing star players over the last many years. The greatest batch of graduates in a single year without a doubt belongs to Manchester United's, "Class of 92".
Manchester United legends in the form of Nicky Butt, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and the Neville brothers. It is the stuff of legends to produce 6 first team legends in a single year and by doing so, they proved that they have a legendary academy. They created a bunch of top notch players in the academy and were fondly known as Fergie's Fledglings.
Even present first team superstars like Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford have been brought up by Manchester United. Add to these stars, players like Michael Keane, Danny Welbeck and Danny Drinkwater and you have a remarkable academy.
The club is strict about its youth academy and has a great scouting process, which is followed by exceptional coaching and training at the academy. The youth team coaches have always allowed the players to flourish and express themselves and that is a huge reason for their grand success.
Some of the top graduates: David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Neville brothers, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford
#1 Barcelona
Everyone would most certainly be aware of this academy. The most famous and reputed football academy in the world, La Masia. Barcelona's very own, the academy has been home to some of the world's best players, including Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi. The academy became the first to train three Ballon d'Or finalists in a single after all of them were named finalists in the year 2010.
Many of their first-choice players like Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto and Gerard Pique graduated from La Masia. Even the likes of Thiago Alcantara, Cesc Fabregas and Pedro graduated at Barcelona. Even former legends of the club like Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol graduated at this place.
The club trains the players in such a way that by the time they are promoted to the first team, they don't encounter any problem in adjusting to the style of play because that is the way they were trained. this method has assisted them and has contributed to their astronomical success.
Some of the top graduates: Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Carles Puyol, Victor Valdes and Gerard Pique
