La Masia is the heart of Barcelona youth system, which located next to the Camp Nou Stadium. It was established in 1979 and now used to develop the young players that have had to leave their families in order to train at Barcelona both in a sporting and intellectual sense.
Apparently, they have a total of approximately 260 youth players learning their trade here – Ninety percent of them are Spanish and more than 50 percent Catalans. In fact, the current Barca team have 12 first team players who have come from the academy.
There are several youngsters that had lived at La Masia have gone on to play for the first team, such as Josep “Pep” Guardiola (academy years 1984-90), Ivan De la Peña (1991-94), Carles Puyol (1994-98), Andres Iniesta (1996-2001), Víctor Valdes (1996-2000) and Lionel Messi (2000-04).
Pep was touted as La Masia’s greatest product. A charismatic player who played 43 caps for Spain and won a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. He led the club to six La Liga titles, one Champions Cup in 1992 and two Spanish Cups.
Puyol, a native Catalonian, is the club current skipper and heading towards his 250th game for the club.
However not all the graduates of La Masia established themselves at Barcelona and some have moved to other clubs to advance their careers.
These have included de la Pena, Luis Garcia, Jose Manuel Reina, Mikel Arteta, Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas and Albert Luque.
Fabregas, also a native Catalonian, was persuaded by Arsenal manager’s Arsene Wenger for a brighter and better-paid future at Arsenal, and so it has proved since he joined the Gunners as a 16-year-old boy in September 2003.
Piqué also has been snapped up by Sir Alex Ferguson to strengthen his team. He is a defender who not only good for his defensive skills but also gets forward and scores.
Spain is renowned for its exceptional football academies, which have produced some of the world’s top players. Here are some of the most prestigious academies in the country:
La Masia (FC Barcelona)
La Masia is FC Barcelona’s youth academy, celebrated for producing talents like Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta, and Xavi Hernández. It emphasizes a philosophy of play that combines total football with traditional Spanish one-touch play (Tiqui-taka)
La Fábrica (Real Madrid)
Real Madrid’s youth system, known as La Fábrica, has developed numerous professional players who have succeeded both domestically and internationally. The academy focuses on technical skills, tactical understanding, and physical development.
Zubieta (Real Sociedad)
Real Sociedad’s academy, Zubieta, is acclaimed for nurturing local talent and promoting players to the first team. It emphasizes technical proficiency and a deep understanding of the game.
Lezama (Athletic Bilbao)
Athletic Bilbao’s Lezama academy is unique in its commitment to developing players from the Basque region. It has a strong track record of producing players who embody the club’s philosophy and playing style.
UE Cornella
UE Cornella is recognized as one of the top 10 soccer academies in Spain. In the past five years, more than 90 players have been transferred from UE Cornella to professional clubs such as Arsenal, FC Barcelona, Lazio, and Real Madrid.
Based in Barcelona, Captiva Sports Academy offers a fully integrated program for student-athletes aged 12 to 18 from around the world, aiming to help them reach their full potential.
LALIGA’s international academy in Spain offers an educational and sporting experience unmatched the world over, providing training using the most innovative methods and resources in modern football.
The International Development Academy (IDA) in Valencia provides elite training for young players, offering a top-rated football school experience with programs tailored for international students.
Established in 2023, Madrid City Football Academy is a professional football academy that attracts youth players worldwide, allowing them to train and compete in Madrid.
Real Valladolid’s academy prides itself on being a high-performance football academy in Spain, offering a unique opportunity for players to develop their skills in a professional environment.
