Enthusiastic young footballers have flocked to football coaching institution Paris Saint-Germain Academy Hong Kong since it launched in 2023, keen to pursue their dreams of being the next Sam Kerr or Kylian Mbappe – or just keen to fire a ball into the back of the net! We find out more about what the academy offers.
From footballer to football coach
Paris Saint-Germain Academy is a world-class football education institution that aims to cultivate young sporting talent. The PSG Academy offers fun and educational football training for kids with an emphasis on team spirit, fair play and developing professional skills.
MICHAEL GAUDRILLER is the Technical Director of PSG Academy Hong Kong, and holds a UEFA A Licence in football coaching. It’s no surprise that his involvement in the game began on the pitch.
“From the age of 13 to 19, I played in top clubs in Paris, but after an injury to my knee, I decided to switch to a coaching career. This year is my 11th season in the coaching industry – my roles have included two seasons with PSG in Paris as head coach of the U17 and U13 teams, and Technical Director of PSG Academy Russia for two seasons.”
Tailored football coaching for kids in Hong Kong
Now based in Hong Kong, Michael is in charge of all the sport operations of the academy in HK and Macau. His team includes three French head coaches who oversee training sessions with kids aged three to 18.
“Our aim is to give kids get a taste for football, build their self-confidence and abilities on the pitch, and teach them to follow instructions,” he says.
At the very youngest age – three and four years – the PSG coaches avoid a focus on tactical or technical issues. “Early specialisation of this kind can be dangerous for the development of players,” says Michael. “Our vision is that you need to develop a lot of coordination and get to know the physical aspects involved in a range of sports – cycling, swimming, running and so on. This diversity keeps them interested and gets them motivated.”
In the same way, the academy tailors all of its offerings to fit the various needs of young local players. The Regular Programme, for example, includes free trial sessions and offers a comprehensive curriculum where boys and girls from beginner to intermediate level can learn the fundamentals of soccer from highly skilled European coaches. Exceptional players have the opportunity to join the Elite Teams and participate in the PSG Academy World Cup in Paris.
The PSG training methodology
“The idea of the PSG training methodology is to create a football situation, so that the training session becomes like a part of the match,” says Michael. “The coaches create training drills that reproduce game situations in order to create the right habits on the pitch. These repetitions of realistic football situations allow players to create an automatic ‘answer’ to a situation they meet in a match.”
Another key idea is to create a collective intelligence to connect the players, so that all of them can think as one – a crucial component in any football team’s success.
The academy operates in a range of locations across Hong Kong, including in well-known international schools such as Discovery Bay International School, Malvern College Hong Kong and Christian Alliance International School (CAIS) and also in training centres and malls including the Jockey Club HKFA Football Training Centre and D-Park (Tsuen Wan). The academy is also looking to expand its training venues in 2024, including in Tuen Mun and Tseung Kwan O.
About Paris Saint-Germain F.C.
PSG Academy is the official football school of Paris Saint-Germain F.C., France’s most successful football club. Since its formation in 1970, the club has won 11 league titles and also the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup (the precursor to today’s UEFA Cup). Famous past players include Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr and David Beckham.
Find out more about PSG’s Regular Programme and free trial sessions at www.2024psgacademyhongkong.com/regularfootball-programme.
