France coach Raymond Domenech and technical director Gérard Houllier have united in praise for the Clairefontaine national training centre, which celebrated its 20th birthday on Tuesday.
Gold standard
Within a decade of its foundation 50km south-west of Paris, France had won the FIFA World Cup for the first time with Clairefontaine graduates like Thierry Henry in their ranks. Since then the centre has become a gold standard for youth training, and not only did France go on to win UEFA EURO 2000™ and reach the 2006 World Cup final with even more Clairefontaine alumni such as William Gallas, but European titles have also been claimed at Under-19, U17 and women's U19 levels.
'Cornerstone'
The project was the brainchild of French Football Federation president Fernand Sastre, after whom the 56-hectare residential facility is now named. Houllier told the French Football Federation website, fff.fr: "Those buildings are more than a fantastic tool. They are a cornerstone, a vision, a philosophy, a place of unity. When they opened, we could not imagine the role this place would play ten years later."
Fields of dreams
Domenech added: "Here is where we produce players and young men before producing professionals. I enjoy walking around here in the afternoon when the grounds are full of young players, enjoying the game and dreaming of the future. For some, this dream will become reality."
Gold standard
Within a decade of its foundation 50km south-west of Paris, France had won the FIFA World Cup for the first time with Clairefontaine graduates like Thierry Henry in their ranks. Since then the centre has become a gold standard for youth training, and not only did France go on to win UEFA EURO 2000™ and reach the 2006 World Cup final with even more Clairefontaine alumni such as William Gallas, but European titles have also been claimed at Under-19, U17 and women's U19 levels.
'Cornerstone'
The project was the brainchild of French Football Federation president Fernand Sastre, after whom the 56-hectare residential facility is now named. Houllier told the French Football Federation website, fff.fr: "Those buildings are more than a fantastic tool. They are a cornerstone, a vision, a philosophy, a place of unity. When they opened, we could not imagine the role this place would play ten years later."
Fields of dreams
Domenech added: "Here is where we produce players and young men before producing professionals. I enjoy walking around here in the afternoon when the grounds are full of young players, enjoying the game and dreaming of the future. For some, this dream will become reality."
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