The Nike Football Academy was an English

football academy In sporting terminology, a youth system (or youth academy) is a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show en ...

funded and administered by

Nike, Inc. Nike, Inc. (stylized as ''NIKE'') is an American athletic footwear and apparel corporation headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon. It is the world's largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel and a major manufacturer of sports equipment, ...

The academy had a revolving squad of unsigned under-20 players and was run with the intention of helping them find a professional club. The academy was based at

St George's Park National Football Centre St George's Park (SGP) is the English Football Association's national football centre (NFC) built on a site at Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The centre was officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on 9 October 2012. The pu ...

. The squad was made up of players scouted worldwide and drafted to the squad through Nike Most Wanted trials. Over 50 players have gone on to play professional football over the years. The programme was led by manager Jon Goodman, with former

Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club ( ), commonly referred to as Wolves, is a professional association football, football club based in Wolverhampton, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league s ...

player Matt Murray who worked as assistant manager. The programme was also known for its collaborations with world class players, including

Sami Khedira Sami Khedira (; ; born 4 April 1987) is a German former professional Association football, footballer who played as a central midfielder. He began his career at VfB Stuttgart, winning the Bundesliga in 2007, before moving to Real Madrid CF, Re ...

Joe Hart Charles Joseph John Hart (born 19 April 1987) is an English football pundit and former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He began his career at his hometown club Shrewsbury Town in the Football Conference and League Two. In ...

Rio Ferdinand Rio Gavin Ferdinand (born 7 November 1978) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back, and is now a television pundit for TNT Sports. He played 81 times for the England national team between 1997 and 2011, and ...

Francesco Totti Francesco Totti (; born 27 September 1976) is an Italian former professional Association football, footballer who played solely for AS Roma, Roma and the Italy national football team, Italy national team. He was a technically gifted and creati ...

Mario Götze Mario Götze (; born 3 June 1992) is a German professional Association football, footballer who plays for club Eintracht Frankfurt. Although his favoured position is that of an attacking or central midfielder, he has also played as a Winger (f ...

and others. Players such as

David Accam David Accam (born 28 September 1990) is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a winger. He won 11 caps for the Ghana national team. Club career Ghana Accam did not belong to a club during the first twelve years of his life. ...

, Tom Rogić, Majeed Waris,

Petar Golubović Petar Golubović ( sr-Cyrl, Петар Голубовић, born 13 July 1994) is a Serbian footballer who plays as a centre-back. He can also play as a right-back. Club career Early career Golubović, who from an early age was mentored by coach ...

and

Evan Dimas Evan Dimas Darmono (born 13 March 1995) is an Indonesian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. Personal life Evan Dimas was born in the city of Surabaya in East Java province to a low-income family that once depended on his father ...

are graduates of the programme.Barcelona 0-3 Nike FC: is this a glimpse of football’s future?
by Barney Ronay on ''The Guardian'' The academy regularly played exhibition matches facing teams like

FC Barcelona Futbol Club Barcelona (), commonly known as FC Barcelona and colloquially as Barça (), is a professional Football club (association football), football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, that competes in La Liga, the top flight of ...

Arsenal An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...

Inter Milan Football Club Internazionale Milano, commonly referred to as Internazionale () or simply Inter, and colloquially known as Inter Milan in English-speaking countries, is an Italian professional Association football, football List of football ...

Manchester United Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional association football, football club based in Old Trafford (area), Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, Engl ...

and others. The academy closed at the end of the 2016–17 season.

Technical staff

Notable participants

* Dejan Pandurevic * Tom Rogic * Dario Van den Buijs * Alvin Fortes * Josip Juranović * Conor Branson *

Sean Clare Sean James Kweku Clare (born 18 September 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for club Leyton Orient. He has previously played for Sheffield Wednesday, Heart of Midlothian, Oxford United, Charlto ...

* David Goldsmith * Jorge Grant * Rarmani Edmonds-Green * Billy Ions * Alex Parsons * Jordan Rose * Bilal Sayoud * Ryan Sellers * Jordan Tillson * Jordan Tunnicliffe * Alex Whittle * Fabian Senninger *

Abdul Majeed Waris Abdul Majeed Waris (born 19 September 1991) is a Ghanaian professional Association football, footballer who most recently played as a Forward (association football), striker for Cypriot club Anorthosis Famagusta F.C., Anorthosis. Club career Bo ...

* Dimitris Komnos *

* Muhammad Rafli *

Shazuan Ashraf Mathews Mohd Shazuan bin Mohd Ashraf Mathews (born 12 May 1992) is a Malaysian footballer who plays for Hanelang in Malaysia FAM League. His preferred position is as a winger or as a striker. Career Before signing to play with Perak in 2011, he was ...

* Saifeddine Alami * Ismail H'Maidat * Brahim Sabaouni *

Alexis André Jr. Alexis André Jr. (born 31 May 1997) is a footballer and social media personality who plays as a goalkeeper for Challenger Pro League club RFC Liège. Born in France, he has been called up by Morocco at youth international level. He is the winne ...

* Delvin Pinheiro Frederico * Lars Herlofsen *

Myer Bevan Myer Stefan Major Bevan (born 23 April 1997) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a forward for Northern League club Auckland City and the New Zealand national team. Club career Early career Bevan played in his native New ...

* Kayro Flores Heatley * Fernando Canales *

José Guidino José André Guidino Otero (born April 9, 1996, in Lima) is a Peruvian footballer who currently plays for Cusco FC. Club career Guidino started his career with amateur side Esther Grande, before participating in 'The Chance', organised by the ...

* Matty Cash * Maksim Boychuk * Artemi Ukomsky *

Siriki Dembélé Ben Siriki Dembélé (born 7 September 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a left winger or striker for club Oxford United. Dembélé is known for his speed, taking on players with his dribbling ability, and holding the ball bring ...

* Youssef Ezzejjari * Ignacio Varona *

Cameron Edwards Cameron James Edwards (born 27 March 1992) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Fremantle City FC. Edwards previously trained with the Nike Football Academy after being released by Reading in May 2012. Car ...

Reyaad Pieterse Reyaad Pieterse (born 17 February 1992) is a South African professional Association football, soccer player who plays as a Goalkeeper (association football), goalkeeper for Premier Soccer League side Mamelodi Sundowns. He was capped seven times ...

* Moon Seon-min *

Anfernee Dijksteel Anfernee Jamal Dijksteel (born 27 October 1996) is a professional footballer who last played as a right-back or centre-back for club Middlesbrough. Born in the Netherlands, he plays for the Suriname national team. Club career Born in Amsterdam ...

* Pontus Almqvist * Apirat Heemkhao * Napapon Sripratheep * Gonzalo Balbi * Ahmad Chaudhry

References

{{coord missing, Staffordshire Football academies in England Nike, Inc. 2009 establishments in England Association football clubs established in 2009