- Aldar Education partners with Manchester City to launch The Aldar Education Football School in Abu Dhabi, providing structured professional football training for youth.
- UEFA-trained coaches will guide students aged U11, U13, and U15, focusing on technical, tactical, and mental development alongside academic balance.
- The program offers competitive matches, tours, and end-of-season awards, promoting holistic growth, personal development, and pathways for aspiring professional footballers.
Football has been an aspiration for youth throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, and now Abu Dhabi students can follow that aspiration in a programmatic, professional setting. Aldar Education has entered into a collaboration with Manchester City to develop an innovative football program with the purpose of fostering young potential, developing confidence, and ensuring transparent pathways for professional development within the sport.
The program, titled The Aldar Education Football School, brings Manchester City's expertise directly to students, in combination with a great emphasis on personal and sports development. UEFA-trained coaches from Manchester City will be appointed full-time within Aldar Education schools, offering sustained training during the academic year and exposing students to technical, tactical, and mental development based on Manchester City's 'Beautiful Football' philosophy.
The initiative focuses on boys and girls aged U11, U13, and U15, with six top teams being created from the best young footballers at Aldar Education schools. There will also be the chance for students to join the programme via yearly trials, and the end-of-season awards will reward top performers, promoting commitment and excellence.
In addition to training, the players will derive practical experience from competitive matches and tours that test their abilities against top-notch opponents. This allows learners to grow under professional conditions while ensuring equilibrium with academic responsibilities, underscoring the initiative's well-rounded approach to the development of young people.
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Sahar Cooper, Aldar Education CEO, stressed the organization's commitment to holistic development. "We always look to collaborate with the best in what they do so that our students are equipped with the keys and opportunities to pursue their dreams", she added, pointing to the school's focus on education and co-curricular excellence.
Simon Hewitt, Head of Football for MENA at Manchester City, echoed this sentiment, noting that the programme is designed to strengthen local communities through football. “We’re delighted to provide this opportunity for young players to express themselves, have fun and strive for excellence”, he said, reinforcing the broader social and developmental goals of the initiative.
With the opening of The Aldar Education Football School, Abu Dhabi students now have the unprecedented chance to learn from a world-accredited football club, get exposure to professional standards of coaching, and acquire the skills, discipline, and attitude to succeed on the pitch and off it. The programme is an innovative combination of sport, education, and personal development, creating a new standard for youth football in the UAE.
