We don’t sell dreams, says AS Monaco academy director Sebastien Muet, but the club’s prestigious academy is certainly in the business of making them. From the La Diagonale Academy Centre, the iconic arches of the Stade Louis II loom large—a daily reminder for young players of the ultimate goal: to follow in the footsteps of legends like Thierry Henry and Kylian Mbappé.
Present-day stars Eliesse Ben Seghir, Maghnes Akliouche, and Soungoutou Magassa serve as tangible examples of success for Monaco’s youth players. Monaco is one of the best academies in France, and in the world, in terms of producing young players. It comes from the DNA of the club, says Djimi Traore, a former Liverpool defender and now manager of Monaco’s academy side.
In 2022, the academy withdrew from France’s lower leagues, opting instead for the Premier League International Cup—a move credited with accelerating Ben Seghir’s rise to prominence. This year, Monaco’s youth teams have also competed in the UEFA Youth League, defeating renowned academies like Barcelona and Benfica, and the newly-founded Challenge Espoir, a league for France’s top academies. These competitions aim to bridge the gap between youth and professional football, providing vital experience against elite opponents.
For Muet, the path to success begins with recruitment. At his previous club, FC Metz, he worked on the renowned Génération Foot project in Senegal, even helping to welcome future star Sadio Mané. At Monaco, however, the approach is more localized. The club’s unique geography—situated near Italy and just 20 kilometers from Nice—presents challenges in finding local talent.
There is no local pool of young players, explained Arsène Wenger, former manager of Arsenal and Monaco. The Nicois go to OGC Nice, and as there aren’t enough local players, the club is obliged to recruit from all over France for their academy. Despite this, Wenger sees Monaco’s situation as an advantage. Recruiting nationally allows the club to identify and nurture the best young talent from across the country, creating a diverse and competitive environment.
Monaco’s academy remains a model for developing players, blending elite training, competitive opportunities, and a focus on recruitment to build the stars of tomorrow. For players walking through La Diagonale, the dream of stepping onto the Stade Louis II pitch is within reach—if they can rise to the challenge.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0