Recently I had the opportunity to spend a few days at the headquarters of FC Juventus in Italy and FC Barcelona in Spain.
For some time now my mission has been to search for successful solutions and new developments in the world of football performance that could influence the course of the game in the future.
It has been more than a mission — it has become a passion. Since the early 1980s, when sports science discoveries made it possible for football to display both the beauty of the game and its formidable competitive nature, I have been fascinated by any advanced training ideas, innovative tactics or new findings in football medicine. The attraction, I must say, is irresistible.
Visiting Juventus and Barcelona was driven by the fact that these two clubs have already introduced unique concepts and solutions potent enough to change or even revolutionise many aspects of football performance.
The first stop was in Italy. In my discussions with Jean-Claude Blanc, the chief executive and general manager of Juventus, the dominant topic was the importance of the world’s first football university, which is the club’s concept and property, with academic assistance provided by the University of Turin.
Blanc, as with many other club leaders in Europe and South America, is convinced that in the near future the entire technical and administrative club personnel will be required to have academic qualifications with various football-specific specialisations.
Already, he said, in almost all their club departments, the knowledge and experience of academics, mostly from the University of Turin, provide invaluable assistance.
The traditional position of a ”team doctor” does not exist any more. It is absurd to believe that one general practitioner can provide the correct diagnosis and treatment for football injuries, illnesses and also offer expertise in the physiology of the game.
I looked at those Juventus University programmes and saw they offered advanced levels of education to students. There is a harmonious combination of football-specific sport science, generics and Italian game mentality and traditions.
Students embark on five years of study and practical assignments before graduation. There are three main fields of expertise — coaching, medical and administration.
Interestingly, even a Uefa-qualified coach (Union of European Football Associations), before being considered for any coaching post at Juventus, is required to graduate at the Juventus University. The key is that the concept of football and player mentality must reflect the club culture and game-specific approach according to the best traditions at Juventus.
The Uefa coaching qualification curriculum does not include such specific knowledge and therefore the university’s courses must cater for specific national and club characteristics.
Juventus has established a network of 52 amateur and semi-professionals, youth centres and school clubs (yes, they have school football clubs) where the graduates from the university will be employed. Sadly, I cannot see such a wise and highly productive concept being even partially considered in our club system for some time.
I found this relatively new trend of superior knowledge generated through academic channels, which is now required in the performance spectrum of the world’s top clubs, a trend at Barcelona as well. The difference there is a non-compromising ideology about the style identity of FCBarcelona. Arguably the best club in the world today, it has the strictest policy to ensure that the winning features of the most attractive style seen to date remain intact and completely protected from any contrasting influences.
Listening to Barcelona’s director of football, Raul Sanllehi, one would agree that many of the unprecedented records and successes of the club are the direct result of innovative and distinct components of its exquisite game mentality.
Sanllehi said that by accepting the axiom that ultimately it is the ball that does the work, technique must be perfect. On one of the walls at their offices I saw a slogan that read: ”Without the ball, you are stuffed.”
It is only when ball-skills are perfect that the most intricate and surprising tactical moves can be applied — in most cases with deadly efficiency.
It establishes a superiority in the game to which the opposition — with either an athletic, dynamic, or over-physical approach — will succumb.
This was the case in last season’s spectacular victories against Chelsea, Lyon, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Manchester United and such.
Any progressive mind in football would regard Barcelona’s technically unique game features as the football of the future. I would even say that, at the moment, what many would perceive to be ”modern football” is outclassed and defeated by Barcelona’s football of the future.
This is wrongly labelled as ”attacking football” — it is just optimised football.
Some football journalists and commentators still entertain the idiotic thought that some players and teams take too many passes, too many touches, too much time on the ball or dribble too much.
Such ignorant and retrograde statements would provoke nasty reactions at Barcelona. Any level of coach at the club would convince you that, to outplay and frustrate the opposition, it is imperative that all forms and numbers of passes, dribbling and sustained possession of the ball are available to all the players.
They make the decision when there is a need for a one-touch pass or multiple dribbling, passes and ball touches.
I was not surprised when Txiki Begiristain, a former outstanding player and now the technical secretary of the team, told me that the coach, Pep Guardiola, who is generally regarded as a low-profile coaching personality, has, in fact, graduated from the University of Barcelona with an academic coaching diploma, including specialisation in several sport-science subjects. What the team is displaying on the field could be achieved only with advanced coaching knowledge.
One of the leading factors that contributes to maximising performance at the club is the fortunate mixture of Latin American and African talent, which is predisposed to sublime ball touches and disguise, as well as sustained mobility and creativity.
A generator of abundant talent is a school — La Masia — with more than 500 young players between the ages of 12 and 17. Several other academies are established around the world.
This excellent programme has made world history by delivering 13 young players to the current squad.
The respect for high performance is also illustrated in the quantity and impeccable quality of training grounds, equipment and other support facilities.
Still influenced by the low-risk and simplistic football that dominates, the global audience has only partially embraced the ”football of the future” concept as displayed by Barcelona. It will take time, more knowledge and more objectivity from the media.
It should be clear to everybody involved in local football that any progress in today’s demanding and sophisticated business of the competitive game imposes advanced solutions. To implement such solutions, the need for expertise based on scientific knowledge is required.
My main point here is not to show how much we are behind, but to inspire us to do something about it.