Manchester United have produced more players to have appeared in Europe’s top five leagues than any other academy on the continent, with the exception of Barcelona’s world-renowned La Masia.
The club have brought through 36 players to be ranked second of the 98 clubs surveyed by the International centre for sports studies and 12 of those still play for United.
United’s class of ’92 set the tone for United and reserves coach Warren Joyce believes it is even more impressive for the club to have achieved this during a period of success.
“When you are winning things, the opportunities do not come along as often so we can be proud of that statistic,” Joyce told ManUtd.com.
“If you are just a mid-table club, it would be easier to get players into the first team but to get the achievement at a time when our first team has won the league, the Champions League and other trophies is impressive.
“It is very hard to get a young kid through when there are world-class players in nearly every position.”
The 36 players brought through by United is 14 more than Arsenal have produced and as many as Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham combined.
James Wilson is United’s latest academy graduate and after a series of substitute appearances the 19-year-old was chosen to start ahead of Radamel Falcao for Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Hull City.
Wilson has been with the club since the age of seven and scored twice on his debut, also against Hull, in May this year.
For Joyce the challenge remains: he must continue producing talents good enough to make their way at the top level.
“We will strive to be the best. That has always got to be the aim for everybody here,” he added.
“I think we could form two or three teams from our young kids and be comfortable in the Premier League and certainly at the top of the Championship if they played together.
“We now have to make sure we continue to thrive in an ever-improving competitive environment and, certainly, a competitive financial environment with our young players.”
Main image courtesy of Nike Football via YouTube, with thanks.
