AC MILAN AND CALICUT SPORTS CITY LAUNCH THE AC MILAN ACADEMY PROJECT IN INDIA

AC Milan, in collaboration with Calicut Sport City LLT, is delighted to announce the opening of three AC Milan Academies in the cities of Kozhikode, Malappuram and Ernakulam, in the Kerala state, India.

The training programme will actively involve boys and girls between 5 and 18 years of age, offering the highest-quality technical coaching to aid children and young kids in their sporting and personal growth.

The Rossoneri's expertise and tradition will be conveyed through the work of Official Head Coach Alberto Lacandela, specialised in the Metodo Milan training system. The coach will oversee the development of the local technical staff through dedicated coaching programs. The trained staff will then be tasked with following the human and sporting development of all children involved. With passion and expertise being at the heart of the project, the Club aims to share its technical and organisational methodology whilst contributing to the development of a healthy sporting culture and supporting initatives dedicated to young people.

A Club that already has a solid presence in Asia with functioning Academies in China, Japan, Kuwait and Vietnam, AC Milan wants to further consolidate its presence in the continent by launching the AC Milan Academy in India, a country with over 64 million Rossoneri fans. In doing so, AC Milan also aims to reaffirm its desire to be a reference point in its sector, both in Italy and around the globe.

AC Milan Chief Revenue Officer Casper Stylsvig commented: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to spread the values of our Club even more, further increasing the international presence of our Academies and, at the same time, taking an important first step into India."

Milan Baiju, the President of the Academies, added: "I am extremely confident that the Academy Project will be a milestone in India's footballing success. Through this collaboration, we will offer elite training that will improve the children's footballing abilities and the professional level of the coaches involved, thus responding to the specific needs of the area."

Franco Baresi, Honorary Vice-President of AC Milan, said: "The AC Milan Academy project is based on core values of the Club: passion, excellence, elegance and teamwork. It aims to promote culture and organisational excellence in every region through the practice of sport and, above all, facilitate the personal growth of all the children who become part of our great family, which, much to our delight, is continuing to grow throughout the world."