Sparta Youth Academy
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The Sparta Youth Academy is a
football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
youth academy based in
Rotterdam Rotterdam ( , ; ; ) is the second-largest List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city in the Netherlands after the national capital of Amsterdam. It is in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of South Holland, part of the North S ...
,
Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
, from where the organization manages a total of 13 youth teams (ages 7–18). The academy is the primary youth clinic of Dutch football club
Sparta Rotterdam Sparta Rotterdam () is a Dutch professional football club based in Rotterdam. Established on 1 April 1888, Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands. Sparta currently competes in the Eredivisie, the top flig ...
, the oldest professional football club in the Netherlands. The Academy received the four star academic sports certification, the highest possible rating for sports academies in the Netherlands, having won the best National football academy award on several occasions.


History

The Sparta youth system is famous for having produced and still producing many great Dutch internationals such as:
Danny Blind Dirk Franciscus "Danny" Blind (; born 1 August 1961) is a Dutch former football player and coach. He played as a defender for Sparta Rotterdam, Ajax and the Netherlands national team. As coach he has managed Ajax and the Netherlands national t ...
,
Danny Koevermans Danny Koevermans (born 1 November 1978) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a forward. Club career Early career Born in Schiedam, Koevermans began his career with the amateurs of Excelsior'20, then went to Sparta Rotterdam ...
,
David Mendes da Silva David Miquel Mendes da Silva Gonçalves (; born 4 August 1982) is a Dutch former professional footballer. During his career, he played for Red Bull Salzburg, AZ, Sparta Rotterdam, Ajax, Panathinaikos and NAC Breda. He was a versatile player ...
,
Ed de Goey Eduard Franciscus "Ed" de Goeij (; born 20 December 1966), anglicised to de Goey, is a Dutch former professional football goalkeeper. In a 20-year career, he played for Sparta Rotterdam, Feyenoord, Chelsea, Stoke City and Ilkeston Town FC. He ...
,
Winston Bogarde Winston Lloyd Bogarde (born 22 October 1970) is a Dutch retired professional footballer. He was known for his physical strength, and played mostly as a centre-back although he could occasionally play as left-back. He had spells at Ajax, Barcelon ...
, Henk Fräser,
Jan van Beveren Jan van Beveren (; 5 March 1948 – 26 June 2011) was a Dutch footballer and coach, who played as a goalkeeper. Van Beveren was born in Amsterdam, but moved to Emmen as a teenager. After reaching the first team with amateur side VV Emmen in ...
,
Jetro Willems Jetro Danovich Sexer Willems (born 30 March 1994) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a left wing-back or left-back. Willems represented the Netherlands national team at UEFA Euro 2012; he played in the Netherlands' opening match o ...
,
John de Wolf Johannes Hildebrand de Wolf (born 10 December 1962) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a defender. He earned six caps for the Netherlands national team, scoring two goals. Career Club De Wolf was born in Schiedam. He beg ...
,
Kevin Strootman Kevin Johannes Willem Strootman (born 13 February 1990) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. Club career Sparta Rotterdam Born in Ridderkerk, Strootman began his career with Sparta Rotterdam, making hi ...
,
Kew Jaliens Kew Raffique Jaliens (born 15 September 1978) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a defender. Club career Sparta Kew Jaliens started his career at Sparta and made his league debut aged 18 in a 2–1 away win over FC Groning ...
,
Luuk Balkestein Luuk Balkestein (born 9 April 1954) is a Dutch retired football player who played for Sparta Rotterdam and Feyenoord, as well as the Dutch national side. International career Balkestein played three games for Netherlands U-21 and earned one se ...
,
Pim Doesburg Willem "Pim" Doesburg (; 28 October 1943 – 18 November 2020) was a footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He obtained eight caps for the Netherlands national team from 1967 to 1981. Doesburg is the Eredivisie record holder for matches played, ...
, and
Nick Viergever Nick Viergever (born 3 August 1989) is a Dutch professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Defender (association football), defender for FC Utrecht, Utrecht. He also made three appearances for the Netherlands national football ...
.


Notable former players

* David Abdul *
Luuk Balkestein Luuk Balkestein (born 9 April 1954) is a Dutch retired football player who played for Sparta Rotterdam and Feyenoord, as well as the Dutch national side. International career Balkestein played three games for Netherlands U-21 and earned one se ...
*
Jan van Beveren Jan van Beveren (; 5 March 1948 – 26 June 2011) was a Dutch footballer and coach, who played as a goalkeeper. Van Beveren was born in Amsterdam, but moved to Emmen as a teenager. After reaching the first team with amateur side VV Emmen in ...
* Sendley Bito *
Danny Blind Dirk Franciscus "Danny" Blind (; born 1 August 1961) is a Dutch former football player and coach. He played as a defender for Sparta Rotterdam, Ajax and the Netherlands national team. As coach he has managed Ajax and the Netherlands national t ...
*
Winston Bogarde Winston Lloyd Bogarde (born 22 October 1970) is a Dutch retired professional footballer. He was known for his physical strength, and played mostly as a centre-back although he could occasionally play as left-back. He had spells at Ajax, Barcelon ...
*
Rachid Bouaouzan Rachid Bouaouzan (; born 20 February 1984) is a Dutch-Moroccan former professional footballer who played as a winger. Club career Sparta Rotterdam and The Kokmeijer case Born in Rotterdam to Moroccan parents, Bouaouzan started out his footba ...
*
Nourdin Boukhari Nourdin Boukhari (; born 30 June 1980) is a Moroccan former professional Association football, footballer who played as a midfielder. After retiring, he worked as a youth coach, and is the currently assistant coach of Eredivisie club Sparta Rotte ...
*
Memphis Depay Memphis Depay (; born 13 February 1994), also known mononymously as Memphis, is a Dutch professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Forward (association football), forward for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Sport Club Corin ...
*
Pim Doesburg Willem "Pim" Doesburg (; 28 October 1943 – 18 November 2020) was a footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He obtained eight caps for the Netherlands national team from 1967 to 1981. Doesburg is the Eredivisie record holder for matches played, ...
* Lerin Duarte *
Marvin Emnes Marvin Renato Emnes (born 27 May 1988) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a striker or winger. Early life Born in Rotterdam, Emnes was a sprinter as a youth. Emnes played football for amateur side Xerxes before he joined the Spar ...
*
Erik Falkenburg Erik Falkenburg (born 5 May 1988) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder. Club career Born in Leiden, he came through the youth system at and made his professional debut for Sparta Rotterdam on 23 January 2008 a ...
* Henk Fräser *
Anwar El Ghazi Anwar El Ghazi (; born 3 May 1995) is a Dutch professional association football, footballer who plays as a Winger (association football), winger or a Inside forward (association football), forward for club Cardiff City F.C., Cardiff City. Club ...
* Joey Godee *
Ed de Goey Eduard Franciscus "Ed" de Goeij (; born 20 December 1966), anglicised to de Goey, is a Dutch former professional football goalkeeper. In a 20-year career, he played for Sparta Rotterdam, Feyenoord, Chelsea, Stoke City and Ilkeston Town FC. He ...
*
Kew Jaliens Kew Raffique Jaliens (born 15 September 1978) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a defender. Club career Sparta Kew Jaliens started his career at Sparta and made his league debut aged 18 in a 2–1 away win over FC Groning ...
*
Danny Koevermans Danny Koevermans (born 1 November 1978) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a forward. Club career Early career Born in Schiedam, Koevermans began his career with the amateurs of Excelsior'20, then went to Sparta Rotterdam ...
*
Mimoun Mahi Mimoun Mahi (born 13 March 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for club De Graafschap. He formerly played for Sparta Rotterdam, Groningen, Zürich, Utrecht and Cambuur. Born in the Netherlands, he represents Morocco at in ...
*
James Lawrence James Lawrence (October 1, 1781 – June 4, 1813) was an officer of the United States Navy. During the War of 1812, he commanded in a single-ship action against , commanded by Philip Broke. He is probably best known today for his last words, ...
*
Marten de Roon Marten Elco de Roon (born 29 March 1991) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for club Atalanta and the Netherlands national team. After representing various Dutch youth teams, he started his career at Spart ...
*
David Mendes da Silva David Miquel Mendes da Silva Gonçalves (; born 4 August 1982) is a Dutch former professional footballer. During his career, he played for Red Bull Salzburg, AZ, Sparta Rotterdam, Ajax, Panathinaikos and NAC Breda. He was a versatile player ...
*
Kevin Strootman Kevin Johannes Willem Strootman (born 13 February 1990) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. Club career Sparta Rotterdam Born in Ridderkerk, Strootman began his career with Sparta Rotterdam, making hi ...
*
Nick Viergever Nick Viergever (born 3 August 1989) is a Dutch professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Defender (association football), defender for FC Utrecht, Utrecht. He also made three appearances for the Netherlands national football ...
* Marvin Wijks *
Georginio Wijnaldum Georginio Gregion Emile Wijnaldum (; born 11 November 1990) is a Dutch professional association football, footballer who plays as a midfielder for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq FC, Al-Ettifaq, whom he captain (association football), captains, ...
*
Giliano Wijnaldum Giliano Wijnaldum (born 31 August 1992) is a Dutch former professional footballer of Surinamese descent who plays as a left back. He formerly played for AZ, FC Groningen, Go Ahead Eagles and VfL Bochum. Club career AZ Alkmaar Born in Rotter ...
*
Jetro Willems Jetro Danovich Sexer Willems (born 30 March 1994) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a left wing-back or left-back. Willems represented the Netherlands national team at UEFA Euro 2012; he played in the Netherlands' opening match o ...
*
John de Wolf Johannes Hildebrand de Wolf (born 10 December 1962) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a defender. He earned six caps for the Netherlands national team, scoring two goals. Career Club De Wolf was born in Schiedam. He beg ...


Teams


Competition history


Education

In addition to training professional football players, the Sparta Youth Academy also offer other courses, such as a degree in Sports Marketing, in collaboration with the
Erasmus University Rotterdam Erasmus University Rotterdam ( ; abbreviated as EUR) is a public research university located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The university is named after Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus, a 15th-century Christian humanist and theologian. Erasmus M ...
offered since 2011. A level 3 and level 4 International Business Study program in Sport & Exercise has been offered since 2009 in collaboration with Zadkine College. It is specifically for the players who start in the MBO (department sport and physical activity) and the players that follow a different vocational training in collaboration with a Zadkine customization.


Board and staff


Current staff

Chairman * Rob Westerhof Head coach *
Dolf Roks Dolf Roks (born 21 November 1962 in Zierikzee) is a former amateur football player from the Netherlands. As a football coach he had a long time spell with Sparta Rotterdam Sparta Rotterdam () is a Dutch professional football club based in ...
Technical Director (''upper-level A–C'') * Pieter Schrassert Bert Technical Director (''mid-level A–C'') * Camiel van Hoogstraten Technical Director (''lower-level D–F'') * Jim Camphens


See also

*
Ajax Youth Academy The Ajax Youth Academy (Dutch: ''Ajax Jeugdopleiding'') is a football youth academy based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, from where the organization manages a total of 13 youth teams (ages 7–18). The academy is the primary youth clinic of Dutch foo ...
*
Feyenoord Academy (Varkenoord) Feyenoord Academy, often referred to as Varkenoord, is the youth academy of the professional football club Feyenoord located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The Feyenoord Academy is located at Sportcomplex Varkenoord, and has received official inte ...


References


External links


Sparta Jeugdopleiding Official site
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Youth Youth is the time of life when one is young. The word, youth, can also mean the time between childhood and adulthood (Maturity (psychological), maturity), but it can also refer to one's peak, in terms of health or the period of life known as bei ...
Football academies in the Netherlands