"It's a long road from the B team to the Premier League!"
This was a sentiment expressed by FA Chairman Bernstein when he announced the launch of youth training reform and promoted the "English Elite Player Development Plan" led by him in the English Professional Football League.
This is by no means a waste of time.
Subsequently, this controversial youth training reform plan was approved by a majority vote and officially launched in 2012.
This elite player growth plan is roughly divided into three stages: foundation (U9 to U11), youth development (U12 to U16) and career development (U17 to U23). Up to 6,000 games are organized every year to satisfy all age groups.
Players' playing requirements.
It is planned to conduct a rating of each youth training camp every two years.
The higher the level of the youth training camp, the more financial support it receives, the better the players that can be signed, and the higher the requirements and standards. For example, the highest level of youth training camp requires a coaching team of at least 18 full-time staff.
, and annual working capital of £2.5 million.
Every year, the Premier League hires a professional team to audit the club's youth training, and provides subsidies to each club's youth training camp based on the audit results.
Everyone knows that the Premier League has a lot of money. This is a youth training reform led by the Premier League. In terms of funds, it is basically funded by the Premier League.
Maybe many people will be confused when they see this, why does the Premier League support this plan?
The reason is simple. They also suffer from the shortage of local talents.
It is already known to everyone that the value of local players has skyrocketed. If no action is taken, the value of local players will rise to a terrifyingly high level.
As England's top league and the leader, the Premier League has the responsibility and obligation to do this.
The obvious reward is the cancellation of the so-called ninety-minute drive requirement for youth training.
In the past, England's youth training selection had a strict requirement, that is, the youth training selection must be controlled within a 90-minute drive of the youth training camp. This severely restricted the selection of talents, especially for some sparsely populated and non-core teams.
Regional teams.
To put it simply, there used to be scope restrictions, but now there are no restrictions. As long as people are willing to come, you can take them.
However, in order to protect the interests of small and medium-sized teams, the plan also introduced transfer rules during the youth training camp, charging transfer fees for the transfer of players under the age of 18. For example, between the ages of 9 and 11, the transfer fee is fixed at three thousand pounds per year.
, between the ages of 12 and 16, the transfer fee fluctuates between £12,500 and £40,000 per year.
In addition, there is also the cancellation of the youth league rankings. The purpose is to prevent quick success and quick success. It strictly requires the youth training students registered by the club to play no less than 50% of the time every year. This is to ensure equal opportunities for the youth training academies and also to limit the number of youth training students.
The team cannot just bring in young players, etc.
But all of these inevitably point to one place at the same time, the Premier League!
The balance of the entire plan is tilted towards the Premier League, and it is foreseeable that in the next few years, the flow of young talents will continue to converge towards Premier League teams and other teams with strong financial strength.
Therefore, not long after the plan was released, Helford United and three other teams announced that they would reduce the size of their youth training.
This can also be regarded as a silent protest against the plan's preference for the Premier League.
But this no longer affects the overall situation.
In fact, if you think about it carefully, you will understand. After all, this money was paid by the Premier League.
…
Ever since Gao Shen took over Leeds United, he has been rectifying and reorganizing Leeds United's youth training.
Moreover, as one of the managers of England's elite player development plan, although Gao Shen is not listed, he is very clear about the content of this plan, so Leeds United's youth training is strictly implemented in accordance with the highest level standards.
In fact, Premier League teams do not have too many requirements for youth training. Even if the youth training camp is disbanded, as long as the first-team roster meets the registration standards, it will be harmless. At most, it will only get a few words.
But Gao Shen has been insisting on investing.
After a year, Leeds United now has a preliminary and complete youth training system. This summer, the team will absorb children from surrounding areas, as well as children selected by Leeds United’s scouting system in the past period, and invite
Leeds United came to participate in trial selection.
After layers of selection, the best children from surrounding areas will enter Leeds United's youth training echelons of all ages and officially become part of Leeds United. At the same time, Leeds United has also begun to poach the youth training camps of lower-level league teams.
There is also a focus on the youth training of some wealthy teams including Manchester United and Chelsea, hoping to find real gold.
And on Leeds United's first trial and selection day this summer, a unique person will be ushered in.
Erling Haaland!
Yes, it was Gao Shen who took his wife to Norway for their honeymoon, and accidentally met the precious son of former Leeds United star Haaland. He decided to join the Leeds United youth training camp.
When Gao Shen heard the news, he was overflowing with surprise.
"He really decided to come?"
Su Qing nodded with a smile, "I have been keeping in touch with them during the past period. After the team won the championship and was promoted to the Premier League, I made a special call to them. At the same time, I also reorganized the team's youth training camp.
Things have been said.”
"Old Haaland is quite tempted, and naturally hopes that his son can receive the best and most professional youth team training, but it is a pity that his brothers and sisters are reluctant to let their children go to such a far away place, so only Haaland
De comes here alone."
Gao Shen didn't care about other people, as long as Harland was willing to come, that would be fine.
One person is worth it all.
"Then what are you going to do after he arrives?" Gao Shen asked with concern.
Su Qing, Lucas and Borrell looked at each other, and it was Su Qing who finally spoke.
"We plan to do everything the same as everyone else, without any special treatment. Although he is the child of Haaland, he is the same as other players. However, we plan to provide a job to Haaland and his wife, but they are still there.
consider."
Old Haaland is a famous player who has played in the Premier League, and his wife is also an athlete. For such a person, there is no need to worry about finding a job at Leeds United, especially since the team has restructured its youth training and has a serious shortage of talents.
Gao Shen let out a heavy breath and felt happy, but the pressure on his shoulders was not light either.
Today, Leeds United is working hard and has nearly 300 full-time employees.
Yes, three hundred people!
If the reorganization of the youth team is completed, the number of full-time employees will definitely exceed this number, and may even exceed 350.
There is no way around this.
Not to mention others, the first team's coaching staff has twenty-five people. In addition to the head coach and assistant coaches, there are also rehabilitation therapists, masseurs, team doctors, game analysts, performance analysts, scientific guidance, etc.
The Ministry of Commerce currently has nine people, but the China office also has five people, totaling 14 people.
There are eleven people in the marketing and media public relations departments.
There is also the Finance Department, Stadium Maintenance Department, Training Ground Management Department...
There are eleven people in the ticket office responsible for game tickets alone, and there are six ticket sales people...
All of these combined are supported by Leeds United.
Not to mention, there are only fourteen people in the reception department on match days, but on every match day, there are at least one to two hundred people recruited temporarily for security, ticket inspection, caddies, etc.
This is already a large-scale enterprise.
Gao Shen knew very well that this company was now about to enter a new level.
He has to help it and take root in the Premier League!
Thinking of this, Gao Shen not only felt the pressure, but also felt high-spirited.
…
"If Schneiderlin and Paulinho are sold, we will be short of manpower in the midfield. Jorginho and Brozovic can play deep, and Paul Pogba and Kondogbia can also play deep.
He can play as a central midfielder, but Alan alone is not enough." Gao Shen pointed to the core of the problem.
Now that you have decided to sell someone, you must be fully prepared.
After finally reaching the Premier League, Gao Shen didn't want to fall down again.
"I'll ask the data center to come up with a list when I get back," Borrell said.
Gao Shen actually already had a suitable candidate in mind, but he still agreed to Borrell's proposal.
Many times, teams still need experience, and it is also a good thing to give them more opportunities.
"Forward, if Adam Lallana really leaves the team, then sign Coutinho from Inter Milan." Gao Shen said.
Lucas and Borrell looked at each other, hesitantly, and then looked at Su Qing.
Su Qing nodded slightly, "We have a preliminary understanding. This player is worth at least 10 million euros. Isn't it a bit risky?"
Ever since Gao Shen joined Leeds United, he has always believed in the frugal principle of spending small money to do big things.
For example, last summer, Paulinho and Schneiderlin were the top transfer bidders of Leeds United. In fact, the two players cost the team 1.5 million pounds each. Now Manchester United has made its first offer for Schneiderlin.
That's fifteen million pounds, a tenfold increase.
But now Gao Shen wants to spend 10 million euros to introduce a young player. Is this a bit exaggerated?
In other words, is this in line with Leeds United’s positioning?
"Any transfer is definitely a risk, but for a genius like Coutinho, the risk is smaller. He has proven his ability and potential at Espanyol. What we need to do is to further inspire
His potential."
When he said this, Gao Shen smiled slightly and said: "Of course we hope to do the biggest thing with the smallest cost, but sometimes, the money has to be spent. It is impossible for us to take advantage of all the benefits in this world.
Especially in the Premier League."
In fact, Adam Lallana would not have come to Leeds United if it weren't for a deep connection.
A normal Premier League team cannot always operate these transfers of one to two million euros. This is immature and lacks courage.
Each transfer exceeds 10 million euros, which is indeed a bit exaggerated. Leeds United cannot afford it, but a genius like Coutinho is exactly what Leeds United needs. If they don’t seize the time to get it, wouldn’t it be possible?
Are you still waiting for the New Year?
What's more, in the left attack and defense designed by Gao Shen for Leeds United, Coutinho and Pogba are the key.
Ten million?
This will be sold for 100 million in the future!
In the final analysis, two words, vision!
We are now a Premier League team, so we need to set our sights higher and open up the landscape!
