Academy of "Zenith": the history of creation

The Academy of FC "Zenit" is the center of training of football players, first of all for the main club of the city of St. Petersburg. The football club "Zenith" in recent years has become one of the leaders of Russian football. And this success was achieved, among other things, thanks to the game of goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev, midfielder Igor Denisov, striker Andrei Arshavin, who knew firsthand what the Academy of Zenith, which they had finished in different years, was.

History of the Academy

In 1967, the football team "Zenith" took the last place in the group "A" of the USSR championship in football. Accordingly, she had to leave the top division. But thanks to the fact that the anniversary was celebrated that year - the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution, and Leningrad, as we know, is its cradle, the fans and the club were presented with a gift. The team, as decided by party comrades, was left in the big leagues. After that, the question arose: "What to do next?" That's when it was decided to establish a children's and youth school for the education of their football talents. The current Academy of "Zenith" in those days was called "Change". Organized and led by Dmitry Nikolayevich Beskov. In the first years of existence, the Football Academy "Zenith" faced great difficulties. Mentors of the boys were yesterday's players who do not have the experience of coaching. Classes were held on the school grounds. Neither his base, nor fields, nor locker rooms - all that now has the Academy of FC "Zenith", then there was no trace. Only thanks to the enthusiasm of the friendly and cohesive coaching staff the school managed to survive those years. Seven years passed before the "Smena" had its own sports complex for training and games. In 1975, the school created one of the best conditions for the education of football players. Today's name Academy Zenith received in 2009, when there was a change of founder - they became the main club of the city - Zenit.

Infrastructure Academy

The director of the academy was the Dutchman Henk van Steye. Since that moment, work has begun to improve the entire infrastructure of the school. Five artificial fields and one with a natural surface, a modern arena for practicing football in the winter, gyms and classes in which theoretical lessons are held with young players. Diagnostic and treatment and recovery center of medicine, included in the system of training players, allows you to monitor the health of children. This is all that the Zenith Academy is proud of today. Soon the boarding school for out-of-town children will be completed, which will allow them to live, study and train far from home under the supervision of sensitive and experienced mentors. Since January 2014, one of Zenit's best players, Vladimir Kazachenok, has become the sports director of the center.

Selection in the Academy of FC "Zenith"

Every year in the spring and autumn experienced trainers of the academy conduct a viewing of children for playing soccer. The recruitment into groups is carried out for boys from 6 years of age. The main criteria for selection are such qualities as speed, technique of possession of the ball, coordination of movements. When enrolling in the academy, the boys are given outfits. All classes for young players are free. The leadership of FC Zenit, in addition to the sports component, sets as its goal the upbringing and dignified education of its pupils. Especially for this purpose, in the school No. 473 of St. Petersburg, sport classes have been created, in which all conditions for study and training exist for children aged 13-17.

Branches of the Academy

The same guys who could not enter the academy from the first time, do not despair. They will be able to try their hand at one of the fifteen branches located in different parts of the city of St. Petersburg in the Leningrad Region and the Republic of Bashkortostan. Here the selection of young players is more often, and it is much easier to enter them. If the child can prove himself in the branch, he will be admitted to the academy in a year or two.

Achievements of the Academy and its graduates

Academy "Zenith" includes 13 teams, which train guys from 7 to 20 years. Many of them repeatedly participated and became prize-winners and winners of various competitions. So, last year the team "Zenith" (1999 year of birth) won the international tournament "Winter Cup". Already this year the Russian national football champion among the inter-regional associations was the North-West team of the year 2000, for which 8 players of the academy performed. The junior and junior national teams of the country of different ages include many participants in the school. Graduates of the academy Vyacheslav Malafeev, Vladimir Bystrov and Andrei Arshavin in 2008 as part of the Russian national team became bronze medalists of the European Football Championship.

In 2018, the World Cup will be held in our country. And it is quite possible that as part of the Russian team we will see the guys trained in the Academy of FC Zenit. So we wish them the best of luck, health and luck - both in the game and in their personal lives.