10 Greatest Academies in Football History (Ranked)

Youth academies, when established correctly, are among the most valuable assets a football club can have. No matter what the senior team's situation is—whether successful or struggling—a strong youth academy ensures a steady flow of talented young prospects joining the ranks every season.

Loyalty is increasingly rare in modern football, and as a result, clubs outside the elite tier often see their brightest talents poached by bigger sides. However, this also presents an opportunity for clubs to make a significant profit on players who cost them nothing, thanks to the immense financial resources in the sport today.

While there are many exceptional youth academies around the world, spanning leagues far beyond just the Premier League, which ten stand out as the best in football history?

Ranking Factors

When it comes to rankings, subjectivity plays a large role. Two different lists on the same topic can feature different entries depending on the writer's perspective. Keeping that in mind, this list has been ranked based on the following criteria:

1. Quality of Player – The fundamental factor is the level of talent produced by each academy. How many of the academy’s graduates have gone on to have exceptional careers?

2. Value – In the financial landscape of modern football, player value is crucial. How much money have these academies generated from selling their homegrown players?

3. Impact – This factor looks at how crucial youth academy products have been to their club's success, both in terms of on-pitch performance and their role in the overall team structure.

4. Longevity – While one-club players are rare, this criterion assesses how long academy graduates remain at their clubs, contributing to the team over time. Longevity speaks to both their individual career at the club and their impact on its sustained success.

10. Leeds United

England

Leeds United may not always be the first name that comes to mind when discussing youth development, but the club has a rich history of producing talented players from their academy. During the golden era under Don Revie, many of the key figures in the club’s success, including Billy Bremner, Jack Charlton, Eddie Gray, Peter Lorimer, and Paul Madeley, all came through the ranks at Leeds. These players formed the backbone of Revie's legendary team.

In more recent years, despite experiencing some ups and downs as a club, Leeds has continued to produce a steady stream of young talent. Notable graduates include former Real Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate, combative midfielder David Batty, England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, and James Milner, now at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Kalvin Phillips and Archie Gray are the latest standout names to emerge from Leeds United's youth ranks. Phillips, who made his mark at Elland Road before moving to Manchester City, is currently on loan at Ipswich Town. Meanwhile, teenage talent Gray, still in the early stages of his career, has been making strides under Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur. Gray, who has already been used in multiple positions across the Spurs backline, is being developed as a versatile option for the future.

9. Flamengo

Brazil

Flamengo, alongside São Paulo, is one of only two Brazilian clubs to have never been relegated from the top flight of Brazilian football. As one of the most successful and widely followed teams in the country, Flamengo has a rich history of developing talent.

From the era of Brazil international Zizinho in the 1950s to the legendary Zico, a dead-ball specialist who dominated in the 1970s and 1980s, Flamengo has long been a hub for nurturing top prospects.

In recent years, the club has continued its tradition of producing world-class players, with talents like Adriano and Júlio César, both of whom achieved great success at Inter Milan, and Vinícius Júnior and Lucas Paquetá, who now shine for Real Madrid and West Ham United, respectively.

8. Porto

Portugal

Jose Mourinho, the current manager of Fenerbahçe and former Porto boss, once remarked on the club's proud tradition of developing youth talent, a legacy he experienced firsthand when leading Porto to Europa League success in 2003 and Champions League glory in 2004. Porto’s commitment to nurturing homegrown talent has been evident for decades.

The club has produced standout players like João Pinto, the right-back who won the 1987 European Cup, as well as defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Pepe, both of whom enjoyed successful careers at Real Madrid. Porto has always understood the value of its youth academy, with graduates regularly making their mark in the first team.

Currently, goalkeeper Diogo Costa and midfielder Fábio Vieira, on loan from Arsenal, are prime examples of Porto’s youth development system. More recently, players like midfielder Rúben Neves, who now plays for Al Hilal after a stint at Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Vitinha, now at Paris Saint-Germain, highlight the ongoing success of Porto’s academy in producing elite footballing talent.

7. Lyon

France

Recent times have been challenging for Olympique Lyonnais. Just last month, the club announced it had been provisionally relegated to Ligue 2. Unless they can significantly improve their financial situation by the end of the current campaign, they face automatic relegation, regardless of their league position.

However, Lyon’s struggles do not overshadow a rich history of talent development. Throughout the 21st century, the Lyon academy has produced some exceptional players. Among them is Real Madrid legend and Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, as well as former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette and current PSG winger Bradley Barcola, who is widely regarded as one of the best young wingers in the world.

Rayan Cherki, an exciting talent and a standout player in the current Lyon squad, also emerged from the academy, along with RB Leipzig's Castello Lukeba and former Manchester United forward Anthony Martial. Should the club face its worst-case scenario, they can still rely on their strong academy as a potential foundation for future success.

6. Real Madrid

Spain

La Fábrica may not be as internationally renowned as some other youth academies in Spain, but Real Madrid's development system is much stronger than it might first appear. Under Florentino Pérez's leadership, the club's focus on Galácticos and high-profile signings can sometimes overshadow the quality of their youth setup.

In fact, Real Madrid has boasted a strong academy for decades. In the 1980s, the legendary "La Quinta del Buitre" — a group of youth players who became mainstays in the team — played a key role during a successful era for Los Blancos. Players like Emilio Butragueño, Chendo, and Michel regularly featured for the club, contributing to their dominance.

In more recent years, La Fábrica has produced talents such as Iker Casillas, Guti, and Dani Carvajal. Other players like Achraf Hakimi and David Silva came through the ranks, even though their successes were achieved at clubs outside Madrid. This ongoing success highlights the academy’s vital role in shaping the club’s future.

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5. Manchester United

England

If you compare the current number of youth graduates in Manchester United's squad to those from past generations, it may seem that there has been a slight decline. However, this is not to downplay the contributions of players like England internationals Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo. Historically, though, Manchester United's youth academy has been nothing short of exceptional.

During Sir Matt Busby’s era, players like Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best, and Duncan Edwards rose through the ranks of the club. The most iconic group of youth prospects, however, came in the early '90s — the Class of '92. This cohort formed the backbone of Sir Alex Ferguson's dominant United teams of the '90s and 2000s.

Among them, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville were notable graduates, but the most famous quartet consisted of David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and Gary Neville. All but Beckham spent their entire professional careers at Old Trafford, with these players playing pivotal roles in securing Manchester United's historic European treble during the 1998/99 season.

4. Benfica

Portugal

One of the "big three" clubs in Portugal, alongside Porto and Sporting Lisbon, Benfica has long been a dominant force in Portuguese football. In addition to their on-field success, they have developed a reputation for producing talented players through a robust youth academy.

Over the years, Benfica's academy has been responsible for nurturing players such as Sheu, Rui Bento, and Rui Costa. However, the quality of talent coming through in recent years has been particularly exceptional. In the 2000s, Benfica developed players like Gedson Fernandes, Joao Cancelo, and the current Manchester City trio of Ruben Dias, Ederson, and Bernardo Silva.

Financially, Benfica has greatly benefited from selling some of their top talents, particularly over the last decade. Players like Victor Lindelof, Nuno Tavares, and the high-profile trio of Joao Felix, Goncalo Ramos, and Joao Neves have collectively generated hundreds of millions of pounds in transfer revenue for the club.

3. Athletic Bilbao

Spain

It is remarkable for a club to have existed for 126 years, but even more impressive when that club has adhered to the unique tradition of only fielding players born and/or raised in the region they represent. Athletic Bilbao's policy of only signing Basque players, combined with their remarkable consistency, including never having been relegated from Spain's top division since its inception in 1929, marks their academy as exceptional.

Bilbao's strict recruitment policy, which excludes non-Basque players, may seem limiting, particularly in the modern era, yet the club has thrived. They consistently challenge for European competition spots in La Liga, showcasing the success of their approach.

Notable modern players who have come through Bilbao's ranks include the Williams brothers, Inaki and Nico, captain Oscar de Marcos, midfielder Oihan Sancet, and goalkeeper Unai Simon. Additionally, the club has seen some of their prized talents sold for significant sums, such as Aymeric Laporte to Manchester City, Javi Martinez to Bayern Munich, and Kepa Arrizabalaga, who made a world-record fee for a goalkeeper when he transferred to Chelsea and is currently on loan at Bournemouth.

2. Ajax

Netherlands

Johan Cruyff, Rinus Michels, Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Dennis Bergkamp, Edwin van der Sar—the list of legends produced by Ajax's renowned youth academy is extensive. For decades, the Amsterdam club has been synonymous with producing world-class talent.

In the era of Cruyff and Michels, Ajax became pioneers of "Total Football," with a team largely composed of youth graduates. As the game evolved, Ajax maintained their deep connection to their academy. Their iconic 1990s generation, which included players like Bergkamp and van der Sar, was also built on homegrown talent that played a key role in winning the 1995 Champions League.

Even in the modern era, when Ajax may not enjoy the same level of dominance as in previous decades, their youth academy continues to deliver. Players such as Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, Daley Blind, and Ryan Gravenberch have all risen through the ranks, made significant contributions to the senior team, and then moved on to top clubs across Europe.

1. Barcelona

Spain

Located in the north of Spain, the building known in English as "The Farmhouse" is more famously recognized around the world as "La Masia," Barcelona's legendary youth academy, widely regarded as the best in world football. Barcelona's identity is deeply intertwined with La Masia and the homegrown players it produces, who regularly feature in the first team.

Originally envisioned by former Barcelona president Josep Lluis Nunez, La Masia has become a remarkable talent factory for the club. Players like Gerard Piqué, Carles Puyol, Víctor Valdés, and Pep Guardiola all progressed through the academy ranks before making their first-team debuts.

However, the crowning jewels of La Masia's legacy are Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, and Lionel Messi. These three stars were pivotal in helping Pep Guardiola's Barcelona become the best team in the world during their peak. Notably, they claimed the top three positions in the 2010 Ballon d'Or race, marking the first time such a feat had been accomplished, and solidifying La Masia's status as a footballing powerhouse.