City's plan for domination: Black boots-only for youngsters
In a bid to ensure Manchester City produces both talented players and good people from its academy, the youngsters must wear black boots and learn how to deal with being “tripped, kicked, and pulled by a cynical Italian defender.”
Jason Wilcox, a former England international, heads up youth matters at the £200-million City Football Academy nearby to the club’s Etihad Stadium, and is tasked with providing Pep Guardiola with an embarrassment of riches for years to come.
“I’m not someone who gets carried away, but I have never seen anything like the talent we have at this Academy,” said Wilcox in an interview with The Mirror’s Simon Mullock.
“We have got kids here who are at a level that is just mind-blowing. It makes me hope that I am working here for the next 10 years.
“We want Pep Guardiola to be spoilt for choice – and we are getting there.”
The early signs are good since the City Football Academy opened its doors in October 2014, with Kelechi Iheanacho leading an exciting throng of youngsters into first-team consideration. There is plenty of excitement surrounding numerous names, including Aleix Garcia, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Brahim Diaz.
But while the amount spent on the facility was unprecedented in English football, Wilcox has methods to keep his players’ feet on the ground, which are reminiscent of eras past.
“We also try to harden players to the realities of the game,” the former Blackburn Rovers winger explained. “We take them to play in tournaments abroad – and I tell them that I expect them to go home with the trophy.
“We want them to be schooled in playing against different cultures, where they might be up against Juventus, in front of 6,000 people, and they are being tripped, kicked and pulled by a cynical Italian defender.”
In a generation where the route to riches is often quicker than the path to the senior squad, Wilcox is also mindful of the players’ education – their GCSE results are seven points above the national average – and to keep their eyes on the real prize of football glory. This is why they must only wear black boots, rather than the flash numbers donned by Guardiola’s stars.
“There is nothing worse for me than to see a high-profile footballer who has no manners or respect for other people,” Wilcox continued. “Yes, you do have to be single-minded, but you can still be respectful to others.
“It doesn’t matter whether a boy is speaking to one of the cleaning ladies or the CEO, we demand that they show respect.
“We want people to represent Manchester City the right way – not just in a sky-blue shirt, but when they are away from the club as well.”
When the Academy was nearly opened, the goal of having a fully homegrown first team by 2027 was revealed. Under Wilcox’s watch, that could happen much sooner.
