Relentlessly ambitious and commercialized professional clubs recruit thousands of boys into intensive, four‑times‑a‑week training from the age of eight. Their development is of great importance for the clubs as well as their stakeholders. But why is this happening? Is it economically viable to invest in the training of young home-grown athletes, while time is pressing for good results?

The top European Football Leagues are the most qualitative of the world due to the high level of spectacle, the high budgets and the great popularity the clubs receive from the worldwide broadcasting. The question about which one is the most competitive of all is very common among the fans’ debates around the globe and the opinions seem to be poles apart.