Clerfontaine (football center)

The idea of ​​creating the center was proposed in 1978 by Fernand Sastre , President of the French Football Federation from 1972 to 1984 . In 1982, a place was found for the construction of a center just west of Paris , in a forest. The construction itself began in 1985 . January 4, 1988 the center was opened. On June 11 of the same year , French President Francois Mitterrand granted the Academy the status of a National Technical Football Center.

Selection

The center accepts children (both boys and girls) who have French citizenship and live in the Paris district or in nearby regions (these regions are strictly indicated, so if a child lives too far, he will not be able to get to Clarefontaine). To be admitted to the academy, the future player must play at a high enough level.

Selection to the Academy takes place in several stages. To begin, the child needs to be selected in his own city, and only then, if he fits according to geographic principles, he can come to view in the suburbs of Paris . If here the child makes a good impression on the coaches, then he remains for three days, during which out of 40 children choose a maximum of 24 people (and there are no more than four goalkeepers on this list).

The guys are viewed as follows: they take part in the game (the halves are reduced), demonstrate their technique and run for a time of 40 meters. Endurance does not play a key role in deciding on a player’s talent.

It is important that the child be equally good in all components and have an understanding of the game - the coaches are committed to teach the rest of the rest to the rest. As a rule, about 75% of the players invited to the first-time junior team should reach the national team - this indicator is the main criterion for the effectiveness of the coaching staff.

The learning process

The number of workouts per week, tournaments in which players of a particular age category take part, the dissolution of students into their homes and their return from there is strictly regulated.

Only children at the age of 13 are admitted to the academy. Training lasts three years. Every year an average of six to seven graduates of the Academy sign contracts with professional clubs.

Youth Development

The Academy is developing such skills as:

• The game of non-working foot
• Physical training ( shuttle run )
• Juggling the ball, running with the ball, dribbling, kicking, passing and controlling the ball
• Mastering technical skills and techniques
• Tactical skills
• Psychological skills

In 1998, Clerfontaine was the base of the national team during the home world championship . Since then, the French team regularly holds fees there. The center also hosts various seminars.

Clerfontaine has both state-of-the-art auditoriums and libraries with specialized literature for coaches and sports managers, as well as archives of video recordings of football programs and matches of French club teams and the national team.

In 2006, the Academy opened a medical center where pupils and other athletes can receive counseling.

Famous Alumni

• France national football team players
• French youth football team
• France national football team
• French Football Federation

• Official site (fr.)