May 12 – The average age that young players are introduced into first team squads in Europe’s ‘Big 5’ leagues is lowest in France (23.66) but highest in Italy (25.5), according to latest research by the CIES Football Observatory.
France’s La Liga only just edges Germany’s Bundesliga in terms of bringing in young players (23.73 is the average age in Germany). Next comes Spain’s La Liga at 24.24 and then the English Premier League at 24.78.
Looking at clubs individually Manchester United (22.9) top the Premier League in terms of blooding young players. Real Sociedad (21.7 years) lead in Spain, Nice (21.9) in Italy, Werder Bremen (22.4) in Germany, and Cagliari (22.9) in Italy.
The differences in recruitment strategy become evident when looking at the clubs with the oldest average age. Manchester City have the oldest average at 26.6 in England, Atalanta (27.4) in Italy, Eibar (26.8) in Spain, Augsburg (25.3) in Germany and Guingamp (25.2) in France.
Generally the statistics show that the clubs that are trending towards the lower average ages are the most successful. Spain’s dominant top two and repeat Champions League semi-finalists – Real Madrid and Barcelona – have an average age of the first match played in the first team at 22.4 years for Real Madrid and 22.7 for Barcelona ones. In Spain they are placed two and three in the age league table.
In the Premier League the top three teams in terms of young players (Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal) are all in top five positions in the league. And Premier League champions Chelsea are in sixth position.
In Germany dominant club Bayern Munich are 10th in the age league, as are Juventus in Italy. Both clubs compete in the Champions League against the slightly younger legs of Spain’s top two this week. France’s top team PSG is 16th in the country’s age league.
The figures are based on current squad members. (http://www.football-observatory.com/IMG/pdf/wp111_eng.pdf)
Source: CIES Football Observatory
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734956237labto1734956237ofdlr1734956237owedi1734956237sni@n1734956237osloh1734956237cin.l1734956237uap1734956237