There is no doubt that football is in constant evolution and that young footballers are more and more vital to the sport. In Europe and elsewhere, clubs are increasingly offering chances for players in their teens and early twenties to play at the top level. The Google love for youngsters isn’t just about the next big star it’s also a sound approach when it involves building sustainable staff and budgets.
There is one huge reason clubs invest in young footballers and that’s the development potential for them. With coaching, experience and support, a talented teen youth can become a great deal better. They can develop the technical aspects, tactical knowledge and attitude of certain players according to the style of their club, if they identify them early enough. This can help lay the groundwork for success later on.
There is also the financial aspect to take into account. Expensive transfers and wages come with established stars, whilst young players often come at a lower price. Breadth of talent can also be developed in-house which could save costs and foster new additions to a club. If the youngster one day becomes a star, the club can profit from his playing through to a large transfer sum.
Youth development adds to youth clubs stability long-term. Constantly building up a team with very expensive transfers needs to be avoided, with teams introducing their academy players and young signings to the team one by one. This helps to produce competition amongst the team and it allows a clear avenue for developing talent.
The fans are also really hyped up about young footballers. When an academy player makes their debut for the first team, it can have a powerful impact on supporters’ attachment to their club. Young players are often very energetic, confident and unpredictable making matches more entertaining for others.
Creating youth takes time, though. However, not all the talent will become stars and there are risks in providing youngsters with consistent leadership opportunities. Clubs need to be sensible to achieve a balance between youth development and leadership from players with experience.
In the end however, it is a wider change in contemporary football that has been driven by the emergence of young footballers. Investing in potential now means developing stronger squads, keeping costs under control and forming a club of future stars that could form the future of the club.
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