Global soccer giant FC Barcelona is giving talented Brisbane kids a chance to learn from one of the top soccer clubs in the world.
This year, Brisbane will be the home of the first FC Barcelona soccer school in Australia when the Spanish club officially opens FCB Escola in Bunya in July 2017.
At the academy, kids ages 6 to 16 years will have an exclusive opportunity to learn the Barça way of playing soccer. A technical director from FC Barcelona will move to Brisbane full time to oversee the weekly training and to impart the club’s techniques, methodology and values.
FC Barcelona’s youth academy is considered as one of the top soccer youth schools in the world. Barcelona is continuously looking for talented soccer players and its Escola programs worldwide offer a way for the club to find unique and outstanding talents in the sport.
There is a chance that players from FCB Escola could get into the fabled La Masia, which trained the likes of superstars Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez. La Masia was founded by Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff to be the youth academy that will feed the club’s senior team.
Cruyff created the philosophy that now runs within the veins of every Barcelona player. The emphasis on possession and position allow Barcelona to delight fans of the beautiful game as they control the game at will.
With the help of its youth academy, Barcelona managed to win numerous titles for the team and its individual players. Aside from five-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, other notable graduates of FC Barcelona youth academy include Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Busquets and Carles Puyol.
FC Barcelona Escola will officially open its winter season on 10 July 2017, which will run until 17 September 2017. The summer season will begin on 3 October 2017 and will run until 10 December 2017.
Screening
Not all players can join FCB Escola. To be accepted into Barça’s youth school, the player must have the talent. Every player is assessed and screened to see if they are qualified to join the academy.
Players can be selected through the official FCB soccer camps or at set trial sessions. The technical director will assess and accept eligible players.
To join FC Barcelona Escola, the player must pre-register for a trial. Visit the Brisbane FCBEscola website for more details on pre-registration.
FCBEscola Brisbane will be based at Pine Hills Football Club, James Drysdale Reserve in Bunya.
