The reality of joining

The future can seem bright for any parent with a young child who is passionate about playing football. Especially for a child growing up in Dubai and in the UAE, the chance to make it as a footballer can be an amazing opportunity. Having improved massively over the last decades, the Middle East is a fine place for talent to grow. Massive funding has gone into coaching across the Middle East, and the results are clear. But many parents have a problem with making the right choices for their child’s academic development.

For example, let’s say you have a young son being courted by some of the biggest clubs in the world. He’s being linked with clubs as varied as Manchester United, Arsenal, Juventus, and Real Madrid. You are likely very excited but certain that your child will make it as a professional footballer. After all, you don’t get looked at by the best clubs in the world if you are not that good, correct?

The only problem is that looking brilliant at the academy age differs from looking bright in the senior game. Many children go to the top clubs in the world but are lucky to make a single first-team appearance. Many parents and children are ticked with the idea of becoming a big-name star for a super-club far before they are the reason.

Is reaching the top so young a good thing? 

We would note that if you are a young player or the parent of a young player, those big moves are tempting. You could have the chance to train abroad under elite coaches, at world-class facilities, with global heroes of the game. But is it the right move? Not always. 

It’s often better for young players to enjoy playing in an environment that gives them confidence and control. They should be comfortable and capable of taking the ball in with both feet, and they should be able to play a leading role in the team they get games with.

Many young players are allowed to participate in the elite academies. The reason given by parents and agents, too, is quite sound advice. If you go to a smaller club and don’t make it, you are likely done with professional football. If you go to an elite club and don’t make it, though? You can normally drop into a lower but still very high level of the professional game.

The problem is that most children will miss those key development years. By 18, most players should already have made their senior competitive debut. If you are still waiting for the debut after 18 or even 19, you miss out on some important lessons. Can that bridge be gapped at later levels?

Don’t fall for the commercial side of the football

A major problem many parents have is hearing of their young child being linked with a super-club. If you are from somewhere like here in Dubai, you could be among the first in your country to play for that club. That can be deeply exciting, making you want to take the chance. Perhaps you could be the trailblazer, the example?

The problem is that football is a deeply cynical business, and players are signed for commercial reasons constantly. It’s a brutal state of affairs, with young players taken to Europe and similar to play for the academies. Perhaps, if they are lucky, they will get a token sub appearance from the bench if their team plays a tour in the region.

However, for the most part, it’s often cynically driven. Don’t fall for the idea that you can become the first player of X nationality to play for Y giant club. Given the sheer academic talent at many of these clubs, the chances of making it can be tiny. Many people avoid this commercial trap instead and stick to a domestic option.

Remember, this is a young child that you are talking about. Trying to get a young child to head out there and play top-quality football at the very peak of the sport is a massive mistake. You are expecting too much of them at this stage in their careers. They should instead be allowed to grow up in an environment that helps them grow as footballers and people.

Remember that academies at the top are stacked.

If you were ever to send your child to join the academy of a foreign club, we recommend trying to watch some of their youth games. What kind of football do they play? What is the talent level of the young players playing the same position as your child?

This is so, so important to note down. Just because you have recognized their kit or badge does not mean they are signing your child for the right reasons. They might already have several good players in his position, so where will the games come from?

You should always ensure that your child joins an academy suited to the football they are most likely to play. You have to ensure that where they are going, there is a pathway into their next development phase.

Again, it would be best if you didn’t have your child sign for a big club because you know who they are or recognize their badge. It’s a common mistake by parents who think that big clubs equal tremendous coaching. While they might learn a lot, development comes from more than just doing training sessions.

So, keep all of this in mind. If you have young talent, the best place for them might be a football academy in Dubai instead of moving abroad.