Sporting and Athletic Bilbao Share Youth Development Insights

The Cristiano Ronaldo Academy recently hosted a collaborative training initiative between Sporting CP and Athletic Bilbao. The objective was to exchange methodologies and foster new ideas in the development of young footballers. Aitor Ugarte, Athletic Bilbao's Director of Methodology for youth development, was the special guest, presenting the Basque club's working model.

Ugarte's visit included a theoretical session at the Alcochete Cultural Forum, where he discussed training processes and various methodological approaches. Following this, at the Aurélio Pereira Stadium, he led a practical session with Sporting's U-13 players and coaches from various age groups. The session focused on concepts such as receiving the ball, passing, spatial awareness, and supported play.

Marco Santos, Sporting's Technical Coordinator for youth football, emphasized the initiative's importance, framing it within a continuous learning philosophy to "think about football in a divergent way." Santos justified the choice of Athletic Bilbao as an exemplary model, highlighting their ability to maintain a high competitive level by exclusively relying on academy-trained players. "They have a strong culture, they manage to stay at a high level for a long time, and they do it with players from their own academy. That's incredibly valuable, and that's why we wanted to understand their reality more deeply," he explained to Sporting TV.

Aitor Ugarte, in turn, described the experience as "very rewarding" and praised the Academy's facilities. "It's a privilege to be here, to share and learn about other football cultures," he stated. The Basque director noted similarities between the two clubs, particularly in their "strong sense of belonging" and their "sensitivity to player-centric development," aspects which, he believes, unite their respective youth development models.

From Sporting's side, Tiago Almeida, the U-13 coach, found the exchange enriching, highlighting the unique nature of a club "that recruits only from a specific locality." "It's something different; the methodology they presented is very well-structured, and it gives us insights that can improve our own process," he remarked, emphasizing the practical focus on the fundamentals of the game.