Spanish Football Giant Villarreal CF Opens Its Academy in Malaysia

Just after Malaysia’s qualifications in the upcoming AFC Asian Cup, Malaysians can have better hope with the youth by working together with Villarreal CF.

Villarreal CF, nicknamed ‘Yellow Submarine’, is a UEFA Europa League champion and home for many world-class footballers including Dani Parejo, Paco Alcacer, Francis Coquelin, Yeremy Pino and Pau Torres.

The Spanish club, rivals of Valencia CF, Real Madrid and Barcelona, aims youngsters from three years old to 21 years old, with a capacity to work with more than 400 players.

The most interesting news about this is the possible big opportunities that will come with it. The academy will officially open in August 2022, bringing home their world-class training regimes, coaching staff and footballing mindset.

According to Villarreal Malaysia Academy CEO, Massimo Giannelli aims to establish Villarreal Malaysia Academy as the best of the best in Malaysia: “Our mission is to be as inclusive as we can and offer the programme to everyone and instil within them the love of the game of football. I was looking to partner with a club that had a clear and evident strategy for youth development. I had previously held conversations with multiple European clubs, but once we spoke with Villarreal we realised we had found the right partner for our next stage of development.”

The Malaysian Villarreal Academy will join a list of others in countries such as the USA, Canada, Mexico, Bolivia, Israel, Australia, and South Korea.