The Spanish Team Full of Englishmen

[davieG]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/3135547/Glenn-Hoddle-and-the-Spanish-team-thats-full-of-Englishmen.html

ON an immaculate pitch bathed in early-morning sunshine, Glenn Hoddle shouts orders at a squad of young footballers.

The players listen eagerly as he instructs them in ball control, tactics and set-piece plays at the five-star resort in southern Spain.

The group of lads he is coaching are on the books of Spanish fourth division side Jerez Industrial - yet only two of them are Spanish.

The on-pitch banter gives away the fact that nearly all of Jerez's players are English - and part of a unique set-up run by the former England manager and Tottenham legend which he hopes may save the national game back home.

The lads, aged 18 to 21, are part of the Glenn Hoddle Academy, founded in May 2008 to help players return to professional football after being released by UK clubs.

This summer the academy stepped in to save Jerez from bankruptcy - resulting in the bizarre phenomenon of a Spanish team almost entirely made up of English players.

In fact eight of the side's starting 11 are from England or Northern Ireland, and the team's away strip is a white shirt with a red cross.

Glenn, 52, had the idea for his academy while managing Chelsea in the early 1990s.

He says: "I always found it horrible telling lads of 18 or 19 we were letting them go. Football is a harsh world unless you're a Rooney or an Owen with massive interest from a young age.

"I saw a lot of talented footballers falling into a big black hole and never coming out. Here we're trying to help players out of that hole."

The struggle for contracts has been made harder in recent years as clubs increasingly sign overseas players ahead of home-grown talent.

Glenn says: "I think the number of foreign players coming in can stifle opportunities for young English players.

"People used to talk about Arsenal or Chelsea having hardly any English players in their squads.

"But we are reversing that trend

over here now, giving English players a chance to play in Spain."

Glenn maintains his academy's aim is not so much about success on the pitch as giving his players the competitive edge to get back into the professional game - and at a far higher level than Jerez, who currently languish in the fourth tier of Spanish football.

Since the academy opened, 2,000 players have applied for places and almost 600 have had trials, while 14 of its players have gone on to win professional contracts. It now has 31 English players, two Spanish, one Northern Irish and one Irish, all on the books of Jerez Industrial.

The only remaining Spanish player at the club from this time last year is Alberto Valtierra Martin - who is rapidly learning English to fit in.

Glenn says: "For me the club is a chance for the academy players to get match experience. I don't hold any position at the club."

The academy is financed by private investment but its eventual aim is to make a profit by selling players, signing sponsorship deals and offering coaching for other organisations.

Glenn chose southern Spain because the area enjoys 300 days of sunshine each year - he believes gifted players develop better in sunny climates.

He says: "You only have to look at the sunshine countries like Spain, Portugal, Brazil and the African sides to see that."

The academy has two full-size grass pitches within the grounds of the Montecastillo resort near Jerez.

The players stay in luxury villas in the grounds, which are surrounded by golf courses.

They are given free accommodation, meals and spending money and each player is said to cost the academy £50,000 a year.

They have two training sessions a day in the early morning and evening, to avoid the blistering midday heat.

The academy's biggest triumph so far is Glasgow-born Ikechi Anya, 22, who signed for Spanish giants Seville and now plays on loan at Celta Vigo.

Glenn says: "That really was a huge success story for us. But there are lots of other players here who are extremely gifted."

One is 20-year-old midfielder Adriano Moke, who Glenn describes as "a wonderful player".

Adriano - known as Mokey - grew up on a rough estate in Leeds and was just ten when a Manchester United scout spotted him playing primary school football.

He went on to play for United for a year as a striker before moving to Barnsley, Leeds and Nottingham Forest.

But he was repeatedly told his slight frame was not suited to top-level football, despite his excellent ball control and vision.

Forest let him go last year, but a club physio there urged him to apply for a place at Glenn's academy.

Adriano says: "All I have ever dreamed about is being a footballer and to be told you're not good enough for a contract is gutting.

"To have someone like Glenn tell you that you are a good footballer is amazing and gets your confidence back. Over here the football is much more technical and more skilful - you have more time on the ball and it suits my style.

"The English clubs should take a risk and give young players the chance to play rather than buying in more experienced players."

The academy coaching staff is made up of Glenn, fellow former stars Graham Rix, Nigel Spackman, Dave Beasant and Spanish coach Enrique Caballero.

Dave's 21-year-old nephew, goalkeeper James Beasant, spent 11 years at Watford before being told he was being released.

He is now at the academy and says: "I have always wanted to carry on the family name and was devastated when Watford told me it wasn't working out.

"Lots of foreign keepers have come in to the English leagues, taking the few positions available, and it's disheartening.

"I'm getting experience playing in goal for Jerez that I just wouldn't get in England at the moment."

Since Glenn started work on his plan for the academy four years ago, he has had 26 serious management offers but insists he will not return to coaching until the academy is able to run itself.

He has had offers from 60 countries asking him to set up similar schools, and is close to finalising a deal to establish an academy in South Africa.

He admits not every player who comes through his academy will end up with a pro contract but adds: "I really believe we will have players who end up playing for top Premier League clubs or in La Liga, or even for England.

"There's no reason why not."

[Zingari]

no mention of Eileen Drewery being in on the act

[AjcW]

Im guessing this is the "Glen Hoddle Academy" form Football Manager?

[Ric Flair]

Although Hoddle is off his rocker, I like what he is doing here and I also respect him for his style of coaching. Take away that ludicrous comment he made when he was England manager and everything that came from that and you actually have a decent manager.

[Kilworthfox]

Well its always interesting to see something different involving football, and Hoddle may be on to something here.

I recall Shaun Wright Phillips was released by Forest because of being too small and he obviously ended up playing for England, i will keep an eye on Jerez with interest

[Corky]

Hoddle's doing something good for the game here.

Who knows, several of these lads may still go on to have a respectable career.

[MPH]

Thracian is on the plane already.

[Sly]

Just watched "Can England win the next world cup" on the BBC iplayer. You got to agree with everything it says and the simple answer is no we won't.

How many technically gifted home grown players in England fail because they don't have the stereotypical physique of an English player.

From a young age, people are assigned a position and aren't taught to do the simple things, pass, control and move. Our physical, bullish approach just doesn't cut it at the highest level.

I went to an under 8's game to watch my Nephew recently and they were encouraged to get the ball forwards quickly, rather than retain the possession and work the ball. Simple things, simple!! Needless to say, it irritated me watching this!! Our approach is incorrect grass roots up.

The cash cow Premier League might not care but I think it would help if Championship down was encouraged to field x amount of homegrown players, this would only help.

What GH is trying to do here is a good thing and I admire that. I also always accept the friendly offered on FM amd give them a confidence boosting 6 or 7 nil spanking as they are dire!!