This Monday, the French Football Federation (FFF) unveiled its rankings for youth academies across 33 professional clubs in Ligue 1, Ligue 2, and the National (which is set to become Ligue 3). Paris Saint-Germain topped the list, scoring just over 4 out of 5 stars based on five criteria outlined by the FFF.
Effectiveness criteria
For six consecutive seasons, the FFF has evaluated the effectiveness of youth academies at Ligue 1, Ligue 2, and National clubs based on five criteria:
Professionalization (U16 to U23 players under professional contracts in the top two divisions of the top ten UEFA-ranked nations, as well as the National league);
First-team playing time at the training club;
National team selections (international matches played by the players, regardless of nationality);
Education (academic qualifications obtained during the previous season);
European representation (players at clubs with UEFA ranking points, holding a training agreement of at least one year).
This is a significant victory for PSG, confirming a strategy that prioritizes youth development alongside recruitment for the professional squad. Notably, the Parisian club won both the U17 and U19 championships and reached the semi-finals of the Youth League (the youth equivalent of the Champions League).
The area with the most room for improvement appears to be education, despite some criticism regarding first-team playing time. In reality, that playing time is quite impressive, especially considering the fierce competition within the professional ranks.
In any case, Paris is on the right track, and the move to the PSG Campus is certainly a major asset. At the same time, the work being done at other French clubs should not be overlooked; the quality of youth development is undeniable. The key challenge for French football moving forward is successfully retaining talent in Ligue 1 over the long term.
