For the third year in a row, Club NXT has been voted the best youth academy in Belgium! With a score of 96.9% on the Pro League's annual youth license, it is once again number one. Club NXT, which consists of no fewer than 224 youth players from the U8 to the U23, is committed on a daily basis to the development of these top young athletes.
The election as the best youth training program in Belgium is once again a fine crowning achievement for the work done daily within Club NXT. The past season once again confirmed how important youth training is for Club Brugge's future. No less than 14 youth products made minutes in the A core. Together they accounted for 21,122 playing minutes, representing 37% of all minutes played. These figures clearly show how strong the through-flow from our own training is and how great the confidence in young talent remains.
In order to provide optimal guidance to each player, we work from three different training locations. The youngest players train on the practice fields around Jan Breydel, where the foundations are laid. From the U15 onwards the players train at The NEST, while the U18 and U23 make use of the Alheembouw Basecamp, where the focus lies entirely on the preparation towards professional soccer and the progression to the first team. Individual coaching is central within the youth training. Players are monitored daily in their development and those who make strong progress are rewarded with a first contract.
Club NXT also had a successful sporting season: the U16 crowned themselves convincingly champions in their series with an impressive 53 out of 66. In addition, the U19 experienced a historic European run in the UEFA Youth League. During the Final Four, the team managed to qualify for the final, in which they eventually lost to Real Madrid after penalty kicks. The silver medal not only confirms that Club NXT can compete with the best youth programs in Europe, it is also a nice crowning achievement. In addition, it is the first time ever in history that a Belgian youth team managed to reach this European final.
Club NXT also participated in numerous national and international tournaments. The club received invitations to more than 550 tournaments and ended up participating in 116 tournaments, 67% of which were organized internationally. From the Ibercup in Portugal to tournaments in China and Qatar. These international experiences play an important role in the development of young players. Not only do they learn about the dynamics of travel, they also learn to live together as a close-knit team during that period abroad. During these international tournaments it is about much more than just soccer. With a focus on personal development on and off the field, workshops are also organized and the players are introduced to new elements such as media attention and much more.
The U23 also remains a crucial step in training towards professional soccer. In the Challenger Pro League, as many as ten players made their debut at professional level this season. Another clear proof that Club NXT prepares young talents for the highest level and is rightly considered the best youth training in Belgium.
