A Juventus Football Academy is set to be established at Yerevan’s Hrazdan Stadium following the Armenian government’s official approval of a bill at a recent Cabinet meeting. This initiative marks a significant milestone in the development of youth football in Armenia and follows the Italian Juventus football club’s announcement in April 2024 of its intention to expand its presence in the region.
The academy will be developed by Next Gen Sports, an Armenian company, which has been granted the property rights to use the facilities and buildings located at 20/4 Avan Acharyan Street in Yerevan for a period of 25 years.
As part of the project, Next Gen Sports is committed to investing 1 billion AMD (approximately $2.6 million) over the next 5 years in the development of the academy and the enhancement of the Hrazdan Stadium and its surrounding facilities, ensuring that it meets the highest standards.
A major component of this project is the privatization of the Hrazdan Sports Complex CJSC, which includes the reserve field adjacent to the iconic Hrazdan Stadium. The bill approved by the Armenian government provides for the privatization of 100% of the shares of the complex, further solidifying the long-term vision for this initiative.
The Juventus Football Academy in Yerevan will operate as a franchise, adhering to the rigorous standards set by the Italian club for training junior footballers. The academy will feature state-of-the-art training facilities, including a football field, swimming pool, and other auxiliary facilities provided by the Children’s and Youth Olympic Athletics School and the Football Federation of Armenia.
Next Gen Sports plans to build a modern training complex equipped with advanced technologies such as GPS systems to analyze players’ actions and develop game strategies. European coaches will be brought in to oversee the training, and football agents will monitor the performance of Armenian juniors, with the goal of facilitating their transition to European clubs. The company expects to generate income from contracts between its students and these European clubs, making this a potentially lucrative venture for both the academy and the young footballers involved.
The establishment of the Juventus Football Academy at Hrazdan Stadium represents a major investment in Armenian football. It offers young Armenian talents the opportunity to train under the guidance of top European coaches and potentially paves the way for their future careers in European football, while also revitalizing one of Yerevan’s most iconic sports venues.
