LaLiga club Villarreal CF to launch Villarreal Virginia Academy

(Via Villareal CF) – Annandale United Football Club and one of Spain’s biggest LaLiga soccer clubs, with a leading youth soccer academy, Villarreal CF, announces the launch of its first official US-based youth soccer academy, Villarreal Virginia Academy (VIVA), located in Annandale, Virginia.

Technical Directors and coaches from Spain will direct VIVA’s soccer training, utilizing its established philosophy for developing players, and will also invite players that excel to train with the cub’s academy teams in Spain.

“We are very excited and proud to bring Villarreal to the United States. We have seen the huge growth of soccer in the country and we are aware that many talented players are being developed all over the States,” said Juan Antón, Director of International Development at Villarreal. “We have formed a partnership with Annandale United because we are very impressed with their professionalism, enthusiasm and quality development that they provide their players with. Directors of the club demonstrated an unparalleled desire to support our vision and commitment to provide opportunities for all players. We look forward to being able to scout players in Virginia and the DC area, we are convinced our partnership will bring great benefits to players.”

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Members of staff from Spain will be on-site to provide technical direction, training, education and team coaching. Players and alumni with outstanding attitude, behavior and ability, will be invited to Villarreal’s Training Complex in Spain to experience training and trialing with one of the best youth academies in the world. While in Spain, players will attend live professional matches at Villarreal’s stadium, the Estadio de la Cerámica.

“We are honored to be a part of this amazing opportunity for our players, coaches and families,” said Carlos Aranda, AUFC Boys Director of Coaching. “This partnership will enable us to provide the best training programs and opportunities to our players, and I am really looking forward to introducing the Villarreal development philosophy to lead our coaching staff. Our ultimate goal is for each player in our club to grow as a person, love soccer and experience a real opportunity to break through to a college or professional career if that is their goal.”

Villarreal is a Spanish soccer club whose top professional team plays in LaLiga. Notably, Villarreal has competed in the UEFA Champions League, reaching the semi-finals as their best performance, and regularly competes strongly in the UEFA Europa League. The club’s academy is one of the top youth development programs in the world and is committed to identifying and developing talent worldwide. Villarreal, also known as the ‘Yellow Submarine’, provides professional support at all levels of the game. The Yellows’ academy teams are consistently ranked among the top programs in Spain and its youngsters regularly make appearances for Spain’s national teams at all ages.