Work at the ICEF never stops. Despite it being the offseason, the ICEF continues to develop and prepare players to reach the next level, expand its brand reach and expertise in football, and attract top talent from around the world.
This summer, work behind the scenes at the ICEF consisted of preparing the ICEF Europe’s campus and facilities for the inaugural High-Performance Clinics, opening a new ICEF Campus in Africa, and finalizing the rosters for the upcoming 2021/2022 season at the ICEF Europe and the ICEF Africa.
Inaugural High-Performance Clinics at the ICEF Europe
The ICEF Europe opened its doors this summer, on July 12th, to 50 talented youth players from around the world to participate in its High-Performance Clinics. These clinics provided players with an intensive program that fully immersed them in a pro-environment, following the best practices of the world-renown UEFA and FFF methodologies.
As a leading football player development institution in Europe, the ICEF Europe has designed these clinics for players to experience the fundamentals of professional European excellence and improve their tactical, technical, and physical skills in preparation for the upcoming season. The weekly schedule integrates the six fundamentals of professional football:
- Mastery of technical skills
- Pursuit of top performance
- Commitment to physical preparation
- Mental conditioning and leadership
- Understanding and vision of the game
- Smart and responsible injury prevention
These fundamental aspects of professional football are implemented by the ICEF Europe’s technical team, holders of the highest official UEFA licensed. All members of the technical staff are experts in youth development, with many years of football experience, and all have comprehensive knowledge of the professional football world, helping players reach their maximum potential.
Our technical staff is able to implement a professional training program thanks to the state-of-the-art facilities and top-of-the-line amenities available at the ICEF Europe. With multiple fully sized football pitches, a complete fitness and spa center, and newly refurbished meeting and learning spaces, the ICEF Europe’s technical team can successfully carry out a holistic training program during the High-Performance Clinics.
High-Performance Clinics participants are now expertly prepared to excel ahead of the new season, on the path to reach the next level in their football careers.
The ICEF arrives in Africa
The ICEF has expanded its know-how and expertise to Africa, opening the ICEF Africa in Saly, Senegal. The ICEF Africa is open to all elite U12-U19 African and international youth football players for a full 10-month Pro Residency Program that includes living, training, and playing like a professional European player.
The ICEF Africa will be the first international Pro Residency Academy in all of Africa and is the result of a partnership between the International Center of European Football and the Paris Saint-Germain Academy Pro. Through this partnership, the ICEF Africa provides the excellence of European and Parisian football, paired with an internationally recognized academic preparation with leading educational institutions.
Along with the football and player development expertise the ICEF is globally recognized for, partnering with Paris Saint-Germain Academy Pro allows the ICEF Africa to implement the official Paris Saint-Germain training program and methodology, that has a proven track record of developing talented players. Through the Paris Saint-Germain training methodology and the ICEF player development program, players at the ICEF Africa will experience an all-encompassing preparation that will focus on physical, mental, and personal development allowing players to reach their maximum potential.
The immersive and all-around preparation will be organized by a fully dedicated and multi- disciplinary staff made up of local and international experts focusing on all aspects of player performance and preparation. The technical team consists of a coaching staff, a technical director, mental preparation expert, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches and nutritionists. In this unique and professional environment, players at the ICEF Africa will be expertly prepared to be exposed to and reach the next level.
Off the field, the ICEF Africa’s objective is to ensure players’ education is not compromised when they pursue their dream of playing professional football. As a result, the Center has partnered with leading local and international educational institutions to offer a wide range of academic programs that will suit the diverse group of players. As part of the Pro Residency Program, the educational institutions and the ICEF Africa have developed a tailored schedule so players can meet their goals on the field and in the classroom.
Our technical staff is able to implement a professional training program thanks to the state-of-the-art facilities and top-of-the-line amenities available at the ICEF Europe. With multiple fully sized football pitches, a complete fitness and spa center, and newly refurbished meeting and learning spaces, the ICEF Europe’s technical team can successfully carry out a holistic training program during the High-Performance Clinics.
High-Performance Clinics participants are now expertly prepared to excel ahead of the new season, on the path to reach the next level in their football careers.
The ICEF Europe is at full capacity for 2021/2022
For the upcoming 2021/2022 season, the ICEF Europe will be at full capacity, welcoming players representing 23 nationalities. After receiving a large sum of applications, the ICEF Europe’s technical team carefully selected the elite group of players that will make up the roster for this upcoming season.
The ICEF Europe is internationally recognized as the leading institution in football development for international players wanting to achieve their dream of playing in Europe. Its expertise in player development is clearly acknowledged by top football prospects from around the world.
Throughout the 2021/2022 season, players will experience a professional environment that replicates that of professional European teams, thanks to the multicultural environment that will be created by the diverse roster, and the state-of-the-art facilities and amenities available at the ICEF Europe. Players will create long lifelong memories and friendships with their teammates, while they reach their personal, academic, and football goals, on and off the field.
A large number of applications are submitted every season for the limited spots available at the ICEF Europe. Applications for the 2022/2023 season are now open! Apply now to gain priority to join the ICEF Europe in September 2022.
