Many of the up and coming footballers from the Nordic countries fall into two camps: Those who have fathers that were pro footballers, and those who attended private football academies from an early age.

Why is it like that?

Many flattering things can be said about youth soccer in the Nordic countries, but the clubs are rarely good at talent development. In order to “reach the top” most players, therefore, need “something extra”. If you are not blessed with a football father and mentor like Martin Ødegaard, Erling Braut Haaland or Jordan Larson it is probably a good idea to join an academy.

But which academy shall you choose? NF Academy thinks they have a competitive edge in the game and here are the five reasons why you should join NF International this summer.

1. Continuity = Opportunity

NF Academy works with players over time. They are not like a circus coming to town for one weekend only. NF Academy has an ecosystem of camps, tournaments and even scholarships that our players can apply to. All of these events are connected an offers the players a wide range of opportunities.

Last week we published an article on how many players go-ahead to trials to Sporting CP and how this will be even more widespread in the future as NF Academy signed a contract with the Portuguese top tier club.

Sven Sjunneson has been involved in arranging football camps and football schools with household names such as Barcelona, Milan and Malmö before joining forces with NF Academy. He believes NF Academy is an outlier when it comes to continuity as well as the opportunities they offer.

– The coaches at NF Academy don´t lose their interest in the players as soon as the camp is over. They help them figure out “the next step”. Sometimes they also help the players to get a foot in a door in clubs such as Sporting CP, says Sjunneson.

ALSO READ: See how you can qualify for a trial with Sporting Academy this summer.

2. The Portuguese philosophy

Another thing that makes NF Academy special is the Portuguese connection.

Portugals population is just above 10 million, but the country on the Iberian peninsula has been punching above its weight in international football for decades and even won the UEFA EURO 2016. Most of NF

Academy’s coaches have experience from top Portuguese clubs such as Sporting CP, where they had a window into what it takes to become the next Christiano Ronaldo or Nani.

Our Academy Director Gonçalo Nunes says that he tries to pass on the Portuguese football philosophy to the students at NF Academy. He points out that the competitive aspect of the game is welcomed in Portugal. Players aren’t just encouraged to have fun from an early age, they are also encouraged to win.

– This is something we try to pass on to the Nordic players, says Nunes. – The Nordic players are not taught to compete in the same way as their Portuguese counterparts. But a winner instinct is necessary if you want to reach the highest level in football.

Academy Director Joao Plantier adds that the players in Portugal are also being taught football through a certain analytical lense. This is also something he tries to implement in the NF Academy camps.

– We try to break up the game in smaller pieces, so the players get a more holistic understanding of football as a game. We want the players to become better problems solvers. We are giving them multiple challenges that they have to solve under pressure. You need a quick mind in football, not just quick feet.

ALSO READ: Read more about NF International events and get in touch with us to guarantee a place this summer.

3. Less showboating, more focus

A lot of NF Academy’s competitors have fancy names referencing to top international clubs. That, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that the coaches on the camps are at the club’s academies payroll or have any connection to the club whatsoever.

Often times the clubs sell their brand as a franchise to the highest bidder and the coaches are outsiders.

NF Academy, on the other hand, has vetted all of their coaches carefully and they all originate from top football academies in Portugal, such as Bragas Academy and Sporting CP`s Academy.

– The other camps could do a lot of more to scout and educate players in my opinion, says Sven Sjunneson. – In NF Academy education seem to be front and center.

4. Numbers talk

NF Academy has surveyed its attendants over the years and the data is uplifting.

87.44 per cent of NF Academy’s attendants last year said that they would sign up for our event again this summer.

NF Academy’s more detailed data also shows that their attendants are overwhelmingly positive about the quality of the technical programs, which NF Academy takes great pride in.

ALSO READ: We will recruit more players to the European academies

5. Local partners

NF Academy has partners all around the Nordic countries. This means that they give something back to local clubs financially, but also that they understand what is happening on the ground and are better equipped to accommodate the players and their parents on a personal level.

Prior to our events the players and their parents can speak with NF Academy’s partners face to face and get their questions answered in their native language. The response will also be quick and efficient as there are none bureaucratic intermediaries involved.

NF Academy local partners also ensure that the coaches flying are well prepared for the task they are up to.

– The better prepared you are, the better your product will be. We want to know as much about the player’s skill level and aspirations in advance. This means that we can tailor-make the product for the players on a group level as well as on an individual level, says founder and CEO of NF Academy Jarand Fretheim.

NB!
Due to Covid-19 NF Academy won’t be able to welcome as many players to our events this summers as usual. To secure a spot you should, therefore, sign up right here right now.