This week, representatives from over thirty club academies in Europe will come together to begin their ECA Academy Management Programme (AMP) learning journeys.

The ECA AMP is a blended executive education program created to specifically address the needs and objectives of its target audience. It is being offered in partnership with the Johan Cruyff Institute.

The program aims to elevate and inspire the next generation of directors and those in management positions within European football club academies, helping them and their academies to realize their full potential. It is a new initiative from ECA Campus and a byproduct of the ECA Youth Football Strategy and ECA Youth Working Group.

Following a fruitful “pre-season” of getting to know one another, Academy Directors, Managers, and Strategy Chiefs will get together online today to begin the first taught module of a nine-month trip that will be both extremely demanding and extremely rewarding.

“At ECA, we are committed to providing learning platforms where participants can benefit from the knowledge and experience of some of the world’s leading experts on the football scene,” stated Sara Williams, manager of education and knowledge at ECA. With great pleasure, we are launching this brand-new educational initiative for representatives of European club academies dedicated to the common goal of developing young football players. The outcome of a significant commitment made by ECA and especially the ECA Youth Working Group is this nine-month program.”

Running until July 2024, the hybrid curriculum combines online instruction with in-person classes led by elite teams including AFC Ajax, Manchester City FC, and Club Brugge.