Sparta Youth Academy Explained

Clubname:	Sparta Youth Academy
Fullname:	Sparta Rotterdam Youth Academy
Founded:	1 April 1888
Ground:	Het Kasteel, Rotterdam
Capacity:	11,926
Chairman:	Rob Westerhof
Manager:	Dolf Roks
Website:	http://www.opleidingsparta.nl/
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The Sparta Youth Academy is a football youth academy based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, from where the organization manages a total of 13 youth teams (ages 7–18). The academy is the primary youth clinic of Dutch football club Sparta Rotterdam, the oldest professional football club in the Netherlands.^{[1] [2]}

The Academy received the four star academic sports certification, the highest possible rating for sports academies in the Netherlands, having won the best National football academy award on several occasions.^[3]

History

The Sparta youth system is famous for having produced and still producing many great Dutch internationals such as: Danny Blind, Danny Koevermans, David Mendes da Silva, Ed de Goey, Winston Bogarde, Henk Fräser, Jan van Beveren, Jetro Willems, John de Wolf, Kevin Strootman, Kew Jaliens, Luuk Balkestein, Pim Doesburg, and Nick Viergever.^{[4] [5]}

Notable former players

• David Abdul
• Luuk Balkestein
• Jan van Beveren
• Sendley Bito
• Danny Blind
• Winston Bogarde
• Rachid Bouaouzan
• Nourdin Boukhari
• Memphis Depay
• Pim Doesburg
• Lerin Duarte
• Marvin Emnes
• Erik Falkenburg
• Henk Fräser
• Anwar El Ghazi
• Joey Godee
• Ed de Goey
• Kew Jaliens
• Danny Koevermans
• Mimoun Mahi
• James Lawrence
• Marten de Roon
• David Mendes da Silva
• Kevin Strootman
• Nick Viergever
• Marvin Wijks
• Georginio Wijnaldum
• Giliano Wijnaldum
• Jetro Willems
• John de Wolf

Teams

width=48% align=left valign=top

Youth teams width=15% align=center Level width=7% align=center Team width=8% align=center Age width=25% align=center League width=20% align=center Cup width=25% align=center International A-juniors A1 -19 Nike Eredivisie A-juniors Cup UEFA Youth League A2 .A-juniors Eerste Divisie B-juniors B1 -17 B-juniors Eredivisie B-juniors Cup B2 .B-juniors Eerste Divisie — C-juniors C1 -15 C-juniors Eredivisie C-juniors Cup — C2 .C-juniors Eerste Divisie — D-pupils D1 -13 D-pupils Eredivisie D-pupils Cup — D2 .D-pupils Eerste Divisie — D3 .D-pupils Tweede Divisie — E-pupils E1 -11 E-pupils Eredivisie E-pupils Cup — E2 .E-pupils Eerste Divisie — E3 .E-pupils Tweede Divisie — F-pupils F1 -9 F-pupils Eredivisie F-pupils Cup — F2 .F-pupils Eerste Divisie — F3 .F-pupils Tweede Divisie —

Education

In addition to training professional football players, the Sparta Youth Academy also offer other courses, such as a degree in Sports Marketing, in collaboration with the Erasmus University Rotterdam offered since 2011. A level 3 and level 4 International Business Study program in Sport & Exercise has been offered since 2009 in collaboration with Zadkine College. It is specifically for the players who start in the MBO (department sport and physical activity) and the players that follow a different vocational training in collaboration with a Zadkine customization.

Board and staff

Current staff

Chairman

• Rob Westerhof

Head coach

• Dolf Roks

Technical Director (upper-level A–C)

• Pieter Schrassert Bert

Technical Director (mid-level A–C)

• Camiel van Hoogstraten

Technical Director (lower-level D–F)

• Jim Camphens

See also

• Ajax Youth Academy
• Feyenoord Academy (Varkenoord)

External links

• Sparta Jeugdopleiding Official site

Notes and References

1. Web site: Opleiding Sparta . Opleidingsparta.nl. 20 November 2015 . 2015-11-20.
2. Web site: Talentenfabriek Sparta moet structureel spelers afstaan . tussendelijns.nl. 18 May 2015 . 2015-11-20.
3. Web site: Jeugdopleiding Sparta beoordeeld met 4 sterren . Rijnmond TV. 2013-02-01 . 2015-12-04.
4. Web site: Hamilton . Chloe . Exponenten uit de jeugdopleiding van Sparta Rotterdam . Sparta Jeugdopleiding . 1995-10-22 . 2012-08-03.
5. Web site: Grooming talent the Ajax way . https://web.archive.org/web/20071102232111/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=627320.html . dead . November 2, 2007 . opleidingsparta.nl . 2015-11-20 . 2015-11-20.