08 May 2023
Awards ceremonies, inaugurations, celebrations, meetings, press conferences: an intense but rewarding four days – from 2 to 6 May – for Juventus in Dubai, made even more special by the presence of a very special guest: club legend Andrea Barzagli.
The main focus? Highlighting the splendid work carried out by Juventus Academy Dubai, from its founding in 2015 until today. After being placed in second position overall in the Best Youth Academy category, Juventus Academy Dubai was once again named the best Football Academy in the Middle East during the SPIA Middle East Awards Gala which took place at the hotel "Atlantis The Palm".
An impressive achievement for the academy which opened just eight years ago, led by a team of qualified coaches – mainly Italian – who give the opportunity to more than 1000 youngsters a year to live and experience the "Juventus way".
The Juventus Academy Dubai has grown steadily over the years, opening branches in different areas of the United Arab Emirates, participating in the country’s main youth football leagues, creating three different levels of football for boys and girls aged 4 to 17 and hosting Bianconeri legends such as David Trezeguet, Sebastian Giovinco and Edgar Davids.
The academy’s rising stars from Dubai and Sharjah also had the opportunity to participate in the Juventus Training Experience, a full immersion in the black and white world, and to participate in the Juventus Academy World Cup, the annual competition involving Juventus Academies from across the globe. The next edition will be held later this year in June.
This year, two players selected by the Dubai Academy had the opportunity to participate in the newly-formed Juventus Training Elite with talented peers from other Academies in the Juventus network, the largest in the world among professional clubs.
Returning to the events in Dubai, the visit to the Academy continued with a series of meetings between Andrea Barzagli and the players of the Academy and their families at the Juventus facilities in Dubai and Sharjah, followed by a meet-and-greet with the Juventus Official Fan Club UAE and the inauguration of the indoor season at Danube Sports World in the presence of Lorenzo Fanara, Italy’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
Finally, a press conference was organised in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council to launch the first Juventus Course for coaches outside Europe, a clinic dedicated to Dubai coaches which will take place next November.
"It’s a pleasure to be here in Dubai to launch this new coaching clinic that I strongly believe will be beneficial for the education of all participants," Andrea Barzagli said. "To improve a player’s development, it’s crucial to also focus on the coach’s preparation, following a method that can help each coach improve their skills and transmit these to the young players, both on and off of the field. A method that includes not only technical development, but which is also centred on the life of the young player, working holistically around his education and growth."
An experience that concluded with many smiles and with even more great news: FFG Sports Management has signed an agreement to extend their management contract for the activities of Juventus Academy Dubai and Sharjah until 2028.
