List Of Free Football Academies In France [2023]

Posted on Author Olaide Waheed

For the rest of Europe, France is a great place to spot talent. Free football academies in France, as well as the paid ones, have played a great role in making France the first point of call for clubs looking for football talent, and for African players looking for European Clubs.

Every notable European club has or has had players who passed through the French youth system. They are trained to be thorough professionals, to have a winning mentality, and to distinguish themselves by serving their clubs faithfully.

Players from France are usually highly rated; they get good contracts and earn good money. France is a great place to launch a career as a footballer.

List Of Free Football Academies In France

International Center of European Football, France

The International Center of European Football, France is a private consortium of talent spotters and developers. The base of operations is in south-eastern France, where their training facility is located. The location is rural and free of distractions. Here young players can develop their talents without distraction from the outside world.

The academy has agreements with major teams across Europe, including Liverpool F.C., Paris Saint-Germain, Leicester City F.C., Southampton F.C., and Fulham F.C.

For more information about this academy please contact them via:

Address: Chemin des Chapelles, Evian-les-Bains, France

Website: www.theicef.com

The Centre Technique National Fernand Sastre

The Centre Technique National Fernand Sastre, which is also known as the INF Clairefontaine is the national football academy of France. It is the major institution charged with the duty of discovering, and building footballers in France. The French Football Federation supervises its activities.

This is the institution that gave us such stars as Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka, Louis Saha, William Gallas, Blaise Matuidi, and Olivier Giroud.

For more information about this academy please visit:

Website: www.cnf-clairefontaine.com

You can also find information about them on: France Football Federation: www.fff.fr

CNFE Clairefontaine

The Centre national de formation et d’entraînement de Clairefontaine; also known as CNFE Clairefontaine is the female version of The Centre Technique National Fernand Sastre. This academy is charged with producing female footballers. It was established in 1998.

For more information about this academy please visit:

Website: www.cnf-clairefontaine.com

You can also find information about them on: The French Football Federation: www.fff.fr

SC Bastia Reserves And Academy

SC Bastia Reserves and Academy is the talent development arm of the French football club Bastia. The training facility is called Plaine de l’Igesa, in the city of Bastia.

Not only is this an academy; it is also an amateur side that plays competitively, in the lower divisions of French Football. The team plays at the Stade Erbajolo, Bastia.

This is where great stars such as Alex Song and Michael Essien were discovered.

For more information about this academy please visit:

Website: http://www.sc-bastia.net/

The Olympique Lyonnais Reserves & Academy

The Olympique Lyonnais Reserves & Academy represents the training and development arm of the French club Olympique Lyonnais.

The reserves play in the Championnat, which is the France amateur division; and deserving talents are drafted into the main club. Of course, many decide not to play for Lyon, and move on to other top sides.

Some notable players who have passed through this academy include Ludovic Giully, and Jordan Ferri.

For more information about this academy please visit:

Website: www.ol.fr › academy › school

FC Metz International Football Academy

The FC Metz Academy is a football academy in France which is well spoken of because it has produced some of the top French Footballers at the moment. It is the development arm of FC Metz, which was established in 1932.

Some of the products of this academy include Miralem Pjanic, Sadio Mané, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Maxwel Cornet.

For more information about this academy please visit:

Address: 5 Allée Saint-Symphorien, 57000 Metz, France.

Email: [email protected]

Phone Number: +03 87 62 30 60

The Paris Saint-Germain Youth Academy

The Paris Saint-Germain Youth Academy is one of the most popular football academies in France because of the exploits of the PSG. This academy was established in 1970, and comprises of both male players and female players.

The academy also plays at the lower tiers of French football, and uses the Stade Municipal Georges Lefèvre; a 3,500 capacity ground.

Notable products of this academy include; Nicolas Anelka, Jean-Marc Pilorget, Luis Fernández, Mamadou Sakho, Kingsley Coman, and Presnel Kimpembe.

For more information about this academy please visit:

Website: https://www.lestitisdupsg.fr/presentation/

PEF Ploufragan

Le Centre Technique National Henri Guérin, which is also known as the PEF Ploufragan, is the regional level of the French Official Youth System. It is supervised by the French Football Association.

For more information about this academy please visit:

Website: http://www.ctr-foot.com/index.php

You may also reach them via the French Football Federation: www.fff.fr

Pôle Espoirs Fédéral de Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire

Pôle Espoirs Fédéral de Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire, which is also known as PEF Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire, is the regional level of the French Youth Football Development system.

This academy is located at the Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire, Loire-Atlantique, and serves the Pays de la Loire region.

For more information about this academy please visit:

French Football Federation website: www.fff.fr

Centre De Formation Du Racing Club De Strasbourg

Centre De Formation Du Racing Club de Strasboug is the academy and development arm of RC Strasbourg. Established in 1972, this is one of the oldest football academies in France. The club is well supported by the city; they stood by it even at a time of great financial stress.

Arsene Wenger was once director of this academy from 1981 to 1983.

For more information about this academy please visit:

Website: https://www.rcstrasbourgalsace.fr

AJ Auxerre Football Academy

AJ Auxerre Football Academy is the football development arm of the French club AJ Auxerre which was founded in 1905. This club has been a presence in Ligue 1 for several years, and won a Ligue and Cup double in 1995/96 with stars such as Laurent Blanc, Sabri Lamouchi, and Nigeria international Taribo West.

Other players to have played for this club include Laurent Blanc, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Eric Cantona, Djibril Cissé and Bacary Sagna.

For more information about this academy please visit:

Website: https://www.aja.fr

FC Caen (The Stade Malherbe Training Center)

The Stade Malherbe Training Center is the youth development facility of FC Caen, an old club founded in 1913. This academy pays attention to the sporting as well as educational needs of the young people who enroll to train with it.

For example; if a child is found to be specially gifted in academics he is sent to prestigious institutions of learning so as to fulfill his potential.

The academy has produced several top stars including French super-star N’Golo Kante.

For more information about this academy please visit:

Website: https://www.smcaen.fr

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Finally

While the list of free football academies in France is rather long, one must take a few things into consideration. Firstly, the language barrier must be considered. As an English speaker, one would need to learn how to communicate with French. Secondly, the weather and climate may be completely different from what you are used to.

If the contract documents you are given are written in French, please ensure that you find someone who is able to translate and explain in detail what exactly is written on the contract.

Please be vigilant; human traffickers are always trying to exploit young people who are desperate to travel to Europe.