Football: The Next Generation

Whilst they may play in different positions and in different leagues, this duo certainly shares something in common. They both have tremendous potential. The pair have been monitored for years but have taken this year by storm and have set the world alight with their performances. Alphonso Davies I'd be incredibly surprised if you haven't heard of this man by now. The 19 year old moved to Munich from the Vancouver Whitecaps last year for a fee of around 20 million euros. Since then his value has tripled to around 60 million euros according to transfermarkt. Originally a winger, Bayern have undoubtedly converted him into the best left-back in the Bundesliga, utilising his dribbling and pace and turning him into an unstoppable force in his breakthrough season for the Bavarians. He was clocked at an immensely impressive 22.69 mph this season, smashing the Bundesliga sprint record. Named as Bundesliga Rookie of the Year, Davies has scored 4 and assisted 5 in 38 games this season, h

11 years ago, a young Mason Greenwood got his picture taken with Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solksjaer; last night, Ole subbed him on against Everton and he finished brilliantly to help Manchester United equalise. 3 days prior, Greenwood had scored an emphatic brace against AZ Alkmaar to inspire Manchester United to a win in the Europa League. So who is Mason Greenwood? Born on the 1st of October 2001 in Bradford, Mason Greenwood is a lethal young forward that stands at just under 6 ft tall. Now 18, Greenwood began his footballing journey at the age of 6, playing in United's academy setup. In the 2017/18 season he broke into the U-18 team at the age of 16 and ended the campaign as the top scorer of the U-18 Premier League North, bagging 17 goals in 21 games. Greenwood had his first experience with the first team in the pre-season tour of the 2018/19 season, featuring as a sub off the bench. A few months later, Ole handed Greenwood his competitive debut in the latter en

Football academies teach the beautiful game to prospective players as young as 5 or 6. They hone and refine their natural abilities and shape them into incredible players that can really impact a match. From legends of the past to stars of today, they all started somewhere. Today we'll be looking at the 5 best football academies in Europe, analysing factors such as the quality of facilities, experience of staff and the achievements of their most famous academy graduates. 5. Sporting CP Youth Academy Based in Lisbon, the Sporting CP Youth Academy is the gateway for talented youngsters to break into the Sporting CP first team. The academy is broken down into 5 youth squads: U19s, U17s, U17s (B), U15s, U15s (B). The current academy was built in 2002, with 1 full size pitch, 4 smaller training pitches and a separate area for goalie training. It also includes study rooms and a medical center with treatment rooms, a jacuzzi, gym, showers and bedrooms. At Euro 2016, 10 Sportin

Today I'll be covering the 10 best young prospects of the future. I'll be looking at their stats on paper, in-match skills, their valuations and their chances of becoming a future Ballon d'Or winner! Every player in this list has the ability to become the best in their respective positions and they are the spearheads of the next generation. 10. Dayot Upamecano - Defender This 20 year old Frenchman has been a rock at the heart of RB Leipzig's defence for the past few seasons, racking up 55 appearances and over 4,000 minutes played, featuring at centre-back and right-back in the Bundesliga since 2016. Last season Upamecano helped RB Leipzig finish 3rd in the Bundesliga with the lowest 'Goals Conceded' in the league. He's also had experience playing in the Champions League, Europa League and at international level for France U21s. Standing at 6 feet tall Upamecano possesses a surprising speed at which he can recover from mistakes and hunt down opponents.