Back
A decade of growth
Football Programmes consolidates itself as one of the most prosperous areas of the Club
RCD Espanyol is celebrating 10 years of its international academies, which began in Ajman, United Arab Emirates. The first training centre, which relied on the Club's methodology for the training of young players from the region, opened back in 2014.
It was the first step of a plan that has led the Club to establish stable projects in over 14 countries, becoming an international reference and one of the most anticipated academy options for players and families. This pioneering initiative ended up becoming an example to be followed by the majority of professional football clubs.
A decade on, the Ajman academy was the beginning of an adventure that is fully consolidated and has acquired enormous prestige both domestically and internationally, highlighting the great reputation of the work done at RCD Espanyol.
The Football Programmes, positioned as one of the Club’s most profitable business areas, encompasses all the outsourced training activity carried out at the Ciutat Esportiva Dani Jarque in Barcelona, for national Schools, the international campuses and foreign Academies.
There are many teams that refer to the Espanyol methodology and do not hesitate to hire coaches from the Club’s setup with the aim of improving their players. More than 3,000 players, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States, have had the opportunity to learn and develop from our coaches.
Many success stories have emerged from RCD Espanyol’s academy methodology. Wilfried Stephane Singo (RCDE International Academy Algeria) won the Africa Cup of Nations, while players from the Finnish and Iraqi academies have been called up for their national teams.
For RCD Espanyol, it has become a new stable source of income with a training brand present throughout the world. This season, it has not only been able to maintain income, but has even increased business volume, as the turnover record of the last decade will be reached with 12% more turnover compared to last season.
Football Programmes is one of the Club’s fastest growing areas since its launch. Aside from the economic benefits, the knowledge shared with other teams and players and the growing reputation of RCD Espanyol contribute to our brand growth and reaffirm the excellent work that takes place in La21.