English Football Academies

Manchester United FC Academy

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Manchester United Academy is developed in order to invest in upcoming footballing talent and provide the network, coaching, health and lifestyle advice that each player needs to make a successful career in football. If you are looking for a career in football, and live in the Manchester United catchment, then your best chance will be to join Manchester United Academy.

About Manchester United Academy

Manchester United Academy offer an advanced football development and education programme supported by expert and dedicated staff. Manchester United Academy is located at: Trafford Training Centre, Birch Road, Off Isherwood Road, Carrington, M31 4BH Manchester United Academy uses advanced technology and coaching methods to develop their players. They are actively looking for upcoming talent to join their academy, and are very selective about who gets in, as competition is tough. With the changes that have taken place in the football academy system. Academy Category One clubs are now free (U12+) to recruit from all over the nation. Previously, Category one clubs could only recruit talent within a 90 minute traveling time to the Academy, but the FA have reconsidered this following thinking that the best talent should only fairly be allowed to play in the best football academies even if they do not live nearby. This gives the very best talent the very best chances of success, thus growing our home grown talent for the international stage. This has seen a rise in host families being recruited at Manchester United Academy, to help house young promising talent in safe family environments.

Upcoming Fixtures at Manchester United Academy

Manchester United Academy has a whole programme of upcoming activities, fixtures and events. Check the times of each match or look up the match venue for any of the Manchester United Academy age groups on their official website.

How to get a trial at Manchester United Academy

You must be selected to have a trial at Manchester United Academy, so it is important that players are spotted in the right places at the right times. For some players, they prefer a direct approach sending in links to videos of themselves playing football, but it is worth bearing in mind that clubs receive thousands of these videos each week and simply don’t have time to watch them all and go about their daily business, so the most effective way of getting scouted for a trial at Manchester United Academy is to join a Manchester United Soccer School. Scouts regularly select young players from soccer school sessions and invite them to trial at the development centres for Manchester United Academy, and anyone can play in their soccer schools so it offers an open door for all to get scouted.

It is also particularly good planning to take your child to soccer schools as soon as they are old enough, as their competition will be doing the same, so it enables them to develop their talents in line with the same level as their peers.

How to get scouted by a Manchester United Academy scout

Manchester United Academy scouts offer players the chance to trial. Many players are lucky enough to find themselves in the right places when scouts are watching games, but Manchester United are also likely very aware that good talent can slip through the net, which is why, like many other clubs they offer the direct approach. Understandably football clubs like Manchester United are often unable to respond to everybody due to the volume of applications, but this does serve as an effective way to alert scouts about talent looking to take their football to the next level and secure a trial for Manchester United Academy.

Example Syllabus at Manchester United Academy

The below syllabus is an example of the type of training that will go in an academy like Manchester United’s. Academy training is often broken down into technical and tactical training, with a special module for Goalkeepers. The below is a demonstration of a typical football academy syllabus:

The professional development phase at the Manchester United Academy
The youth development phase at the Manchester United Academy
The foundation phase at the Manchester United Academy
The youth / professional development phase at the Manchester United Academy
The foundation development goalkeeper phase at the Manchester United Academy

Professional Development Phase at Manchester United Academy

Outfield Players – Technical

Passing – Playing forwards through tight passing channels
Receiving the ball – Receiving the ball in the air to pass in the least number of touches
Passing – Generic passing practises to move the ball on two touches
Running / Dribbling with the ball – Developing the 1st touch to break through a variation of receiving surfaces
Running / Dribbling with the ball – Variations in the dribble to advance in 1 v 1’s
Shooting – Shifting the ball to get shots off under pressure
Passing – Keeping the ball moving for a long period of time
Manipulating the ball – Shifting the ball across the body with a variation of surfaces
Turning – Turning away from pressure and protecting possession of the ball

Outfield Players – Tactical

Possession (Playing out from the back) – Midfield rotation to receive high and low open up passing channels
Possession (Retaining the ball to penetrate) – Working in front or behind opponents to retain the ball looking to play forwards
Possession (Game management) – Playing with and against an overload (the extra man)
Attacking (Counter attacking) – Breaking from the defending third
Attacking (Centrally) – Playing between lines and breaking lines with and without the ball
Attacking (Wide areas) – 1 v 1’s, 2 v 2’s to create goalkeeping opportunities
Defending (Individual) – Approach to the ball dependent on the opposition and area of the pitch
Defending (Groups & Units) – Defending later and deeper
Defending (Making play predictable, Regains and Possession Decision) – Pressure as the team/group hunting the ball for quick regain

Goalkeepers

Goalkeeper support – Variety of passes and support for players in possession
Goalkeeper support – Awareness of best option looking to penetrate with distribution
Goalkeeper support – How the goalkeeper can affect the state of the game
Goalkeeper defending – How to deal with 1 v 1 situations in game situations
Goalkeeper defending – Early shots always being set in and around the box
Goalkeeper defending – Positioning and decision making in dealing with the cross
Goalkeeper communications – Organisation and support to the defender
Goalkeeper communications – Communications to players away from the ball
Goalkeeper communications – Developing the goalkeeper to compact

Example Foundation Phase at Manchester United Academy

Outfield Players – Technical

Protecting the Ball – Setting the scene for receiving on the safe side – guidelines for success
Passing – Short, quick and high tempo passing in small groups
Receiving the Ball- Developing the set as part of link play to move the ball forwards
Turning – Developing turns under passive pressure to include disguise
Shooting – Longer distance shooting relevant to the age of the group
Running / Dribbling With the Ball – Long and thin practices to practice breaking into space from a dribble or receiving the ball
Shooting – One touch finishing around the goal on angles with pressure approaching
Passing – Passing within larger areas focusing on techniques to a longer pass (floor / aerially)
Manipulating the Ball – Quick foot movements to manipulate a small skills ball

Outfield Players – Tactical

Possession (Individual) – Developing players to receive the ball and maintain possession on their safe side
Possession (Group Play) – Develop players to receive and play away from pressure in small groups
Possession (Directional) – Possession / wave practises maintaining the speed of the ball from start to finish
Attacking (Individual) – Changes of direction and speed to beat opponents
Attacking (Groups) – Small group attacking practices (4v4, 5v5). Movement/combinations to create and exploit space
Attacking (with/against overloads) – Small sided games working on creating and exploiting space on the transition
Defending (Pressure the Ball) – Basic principles to approaching a player in possession
Defending (Small Groups) – Possession based practices focusing the change of roles based on the movement of the ball
Defending (Regaining to Play) – Regaining the ball and countering to a scoring conclusion

Goalkeepers

Goalkeeper support – Passes and throws to start play
Goalkeeper support – Choosing the best distribution option
Goalkeeper support – Using the ball quickly after making a save
Goalkeeper defending – Throw ball situations and close range shots
Goalkeeper defending – Attacking the ball and parrying away to safe areas
Goalkeeper defending – Making recovery saves within the game
Goalkeeper communications – To defenders individually and as part of a unit
Goalkeeper communications – Developing the ability to be clear and concise
Goalkeeper communications – Start positions in relation to the ball

Example Goalkeeper Youth / Professional Phase at Manchester United Academy

Goalkeepers – Technical

Distribution – Out of the back to the best option and supporting the play
Crossing – Dealing with deep crosses into the 18 yard box and transition to distribute
Shot Stopping – Into line and down the line of the ball for angled strike
Handling – Dealing with low balls around the set position inclusive of the 1v1 encounter
Shot Stopping – Dealing with low, medium and high dives from a central and angled strike
Crossing – Dealing with crosses centrally and to front post areas
Shot Stopping – Dealing with close reaction shots, double and triple saves
Distribution – Technique of starting counter attacks, choice of delivery
Crosses – Dealing with crosses centrally and to the back post area

Goalkeepers – Tactical

Goalkeeper support – Start play using a variety of passes and providing angles for support for players in possession
Goalkeeper support – Awareness of best option looking to penetrate with distribution
Goalkeeper support – Managing the game and understanding how the goalkeeper can affect the state of the game
Goalkeeper defending – Dealing with 1v1 game situations
Goalkeeper defending – Dealing with early shots always being set in and around the box
Goalkeeper defending – Positioning in relation to the ball, decision making on dealing with the cross
Goalkeeper communications – Organisation and support to the defender (clear and concise information)
Goalkeeper communications – Communications to players away from the ball
Goalkeeper communications – Developing the goalkeeper to compact play through the line taken by the defending players

Example Goalkeeper Foundation Phase at Manchester United Academy

Goalkeepers – Technical

Handling – Footwork set in position with a variation of serves
Distribution – Playing out from the back from feet and hands, providing angels of support
Handling – Variation of handling practices concluding with penetrative distribution
Shot Stopping – Dealing with 1v1 encounter
Shot Stopping – Low, medium and high diving sales from central
Distribution – Technique of longer distribution for feet and hands (classic counter attacks)
Shot Stopping – Speed of movement across the goal in the line down the line of the ball for an angled strike
Handling – Technique of dealing with low balls in and around the body
Crossing – Basic technique and positioning (in relation to the ball) covering balls into front middle far areas

Goalkeepers – Tactical

Goalkeeper support – Using a variety of passes and throws to start play
Goalkeeper support – Choosing the best distribution option
Goalkeeper support – Using the ball quickly after making a save
Goalkeeper defending – Dealing with through ball situations and learning how to deal with cross range shots
Goalkeeper defending – Attacking the ball and parrying away to safe areas in game situations
Goalkeeper defending – Making recovery saves within the game
Goalkeeper communications – Communication to defenders individually and as a unit
Goalkeeper communications – Developing the ability to be clear and concise
Goalkeeper communications – Set positions in relation to the ball