ABSTRACT
Management of the top teams is continually on the look out for emerging star players, either mature players on opposition teams, or those developing in under-age and youth ranks. The economic benefits of being able to recruit talented players and develop them to full potential are obvious. Recognition of financial gains associated with early development of footballing talent has led to the institution of “academies” as centres of excellence attached to the major professional soccer clubs worldwide (Reilly et al., 2000).
