The second edition of ECA Club Connect proved to be the most insightful yet, gathering nearly 500 club directors and operational leaders from ECA member clubs and football stakeholders in Madrid. This year, youth football was a key topic of focus reflecting ECA’s ongoing commitment to ensuring clubs at all levels could access the latest insights and best practices to strengthen the game’s future.
Youth football was a central theme throughout the two-day event, and this was underlined during the opening session, where Dennis te Kloese (ECA Youth Football Workstream Lead and CEO of Feyenoord) highlighted the essential role academies play in building successful clubs. Alongside Aki Riihilahti (ECA Men’s Football Workstream Lead and CEO of HJK Helsinki), he explored how long-term thinking, strategic planning and smooth player transitions from academy to first-team football can help clubs secure sustainable success.
“Youth development remains at the core of the football ecosystem” said te Kloese. “At ECA Club Connect, we had invaluable discussions about how clubs can enhance their approach to nurturing young talent. Whether it’s squad building, managing player transitions or creating holistic support systems, sharing knowledge and collaborating with clubs across Europe is key to improving talent development pathways.
What stood out to me was how, despite differences in approach, the underlying challenges are very similar. Every club faces questions about how best to prepare young players for first-team football. Whether to integrate them early, loan them out, or build strong B teams. It’s not just about producing great footballers, but also about developing educated and responsible citizens. The insights shared at Club Connect were incredibly valuable, and it’s events like these that help clubs find practical solutions that work for their specific context.”
This emphasis on youth development was explored in more depth during two engaging breakout sessions. The first focused on holistic approaches to talent development, with speakers Ignacio Villarroel (Club Atlético River Plate), Pedro Torrado (SL Benfica), Marko Marin (FK Crvena Zvezda) and Corné Groenendijk (AFC Ajax) sharing their strategies for fostering player potential. Discussions highlighted the importance of adapting talent pathways to meet the evolving challenges of player development. A clear focus of the panel discussion centered on creating the best possible environments for young players. This approach also looks at not just their development on the pitch, but also the influence of their families, schools, social lives and agents on their careers.
The second breakout session addressed the complexities of transitioning academy players into professional first-team football. This high-profile panel featured Carlos Aviña (AS Monaco FC), Pedro Marques (Liverpool FC) and Patricia González (Club Atlético de Madrid Femenino), all of whom have a proven track records in talent development and first-team integration. They were joined by coaches Roger Schmidt and Julen Lopetegui, known for their work in developing players at elite European clubs, including PSV Eindhoven, Sevilla and West Ham United.
This session provided actionable insights on the varied approaches clubs use to prepare young players for the demands of professional football. From the use of the loan system, to how academies and first-team mangers work together to offer young players their first minutes of professional football. The discussion sparked valuable conversations about tailoring player pathways to each club’s unique needs.
For participants, these sessions were an invaluable opportunity to exchange ideas, build connections and learn from the strategies of leading clubs. Reflecting on the event, Marcos Tavares, Assistant Sports Director at NK Maribor, highlighted the importance of these exchanges:
“ECA events are essential for fostering connections with other clubs and sharing practical knowledge. We left Madrid with new perspectives on how different clubs are approaching youth development, which is especially valuable in a constantly evolving football landscape. Every club has its own way of managing talent, and these exchanges help us refine our own pathway for integrating young players into our first team.”
The transition process was also a key takeaway for Stephan Hildebrandt, Director of Youth Academy at VfB Stuttgart, who reflected on the complexities involved:
“ECA Club Connect provided high-quality discussions, insightful speakers and the opportunity to connect with representatives facing similar challenges. It’s always fascinating to learn how other clubs manage the player transition process. At VfB Stuttgart, we’ve had to adapt to the influence of player agents, social changes and rising match intensities. Events like Club Connect help us refine our strategies and ensure we stay ahead in developing future talent.”
By connecting club representatives with world-class speakers, youth football experts and each other, this event reaffirmed ECA’s role as a leading platform for collaboration, learning and knowledge-sharing. As part of its remit to serve its 745 member clubs, ECA remains committed to providing opportunities to strengthen relationships, promote best practice and help clubs of all sizes.