Official academy of Portuguese club Benfica to open in Yerevan

ArmInfo.  The Football Federation of Armenia (FFA), together with Football Investment Group, announced the launch of the "Benfica Academy Armenia" project, under which the  official academy of Benfica, one of Portugal's most decorated clubs,  will open in Yerevan beginning in the 2027-2028 season.

According to the FFA press service, the project will be implemented  on the premises of the Football Academy's Technical Center. Part of  the complex has been transferred to Football Investment Group LLC for  long-term, free use. The Federation emphasized that the decision was  made considering the project's strategic importance for the  development of Armenian football and the international status of the  Portuguese club's academy.

Benfica Academy Armenia will be the third international academy of  this scale in the Sport Lisboa e Benfica global network, and in terms  of investment volume, infrastructure, and number of children, it will  be comparable to the Portuguese club's largest foreign projects.

Prior to the opening of the academy, a major modernization of the FFA  technical center infrastructure is planned. The first phase includes  the reconstruction of six football pitches, the construction of two  new artificial turf pitches, stadium modernization, a complete  replacement of the lighting system, renovation of the gym and locker  rooms, and the creation of new areas for athletes and their parents.

The second phase will include the construction of a multifunctional  complex with residential, educational, medical, and sports  facilities, conference rooms, and other necessary infrastructure.

The academy will accommodate approximately 1,000 young football  players aged 4 to 17. Player training and coaching will be carried  out using Benfica's methodology under the technical guidance of the  Portuguese club, which includes the implementation of a unified  player development system and the transfer of international  experience to Armenian specialists.

FFA President Armen Melikbekyan stated that the project will be an  important contribution to enhancing the competitiveness of Armenian  football, expanding opportunities for the development of young  players, and helping to strengthen Armenia's position on the regional  football map.

It is worth noting that Portugal's Sport Lisboa e Benfica, founded in  1904, is one of the most decorated clubs in Europe. The club's  academy is considered one of the strongest in the world and has  produced such renowned footballers as Rui Costa, Joao Felix, Ruben  Dias, Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo, and Goncalo Ramos. According to  the CIES Football Observatory, Benfica has been among the world  leaders in producing players for major European leagues in recent  years. The project in Armenia will be one of the club's largest  international projects in the field of football education.