Spanish football giant LaLiga has unveiled its LaLiga Grassroots program in the Middle East and North Africa, offering young players from across the region the next step in their development pathway.
The news was announced at a media event at LaLiga Academy UAE’s home in Dubai at ISD, Dubai Sports City in the presence of LaLiga Ambassador and former Atletico Madrid and Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia and former Real Madrid defender Fernando Sanz.
The new initiative will give young players from the UAE the opportunity to earn a place on the LaLiga Grassroots program, with the chance to travel to the brand new ESC Centre in Madrid, Spain to take part in training camps and to become a part of the scholarship program.
The new training complex has an on-site 450-capacity residence, an international school equipped with an auditorium, library, laboratory, clinic, as well as several game, rest and study rooms. The center is also home to two state-of-the-art football pitches and various training areas, a basketball court, gym and a swimming pool.
There will be an open trial at ISD Dubai Sports City on Saturday 11 December which will allow young players the chance to earn scholarships on the LaLiga Academy or LaLiga Talents programs, as well as places at LaLiga camps in Spain beginning in the summer of 2022 at LaLiga’s ESC Madrid Centre.
As part of their visit to Dubai, the LaLiga Ambassadors also attended the LaLiga Academy UAE Term 1 Closing Party to the delight of the nearly 1,000 players enrolled in the academy.
LaLiga Grassroots is the latest in a series of international sports development platforms that LaLiga has launched across the world since 2015, beginning with the establishment of the world’s first LaLiga Academy in Dubai.
The program creates unique opportunities for aspiring young footballers to obtain a superior education while they select development pathways for higher education scholarships at universities in the United States and across the world.
“We are delighted to unveil LaLiga Grassroots in the MENA region, a new step in our ongoing commitment to nurturing youth talents across the region. With LaLiga Grassroots, we have created the next step in the development pathway, providing players with the opportunity to pursue their goals, both in their academic and football careers,” said Juan Florit, LaLiga Head of Sports Projects LaLiga Grassroots.
He added: “Our commitment to education forms the cornerstone of LaLiga Grassroots and we are applying both academic and sporting excellence at the service of players’ development.”
Former Real Madrid defender Fernando Sanz, who is the Director of International Institutional Relations and the LaLiga Ambassadors and Legends project said: “We have seen the difference a LaLiga development program can make, utilizing LaLiga’s know-how and methodology.
“LaLiga Academy UAE, which we launched in 2015 is now recognized as the UAE’s gold standard for youth development and LaLiga Academy HPC has been producing a steady pipeline of talent for professional clubs and US universities on scholarships.”
Registration for LaLiga Grassroots programs, as well as additional information is now available on the website https://laligagrassroots.com/. In the UAE, you can also call or WhatsApp LaLiga Academy UAE at +971 55 509 9489 for support and more information.