Whitecaps FC Academy heading to Real Madrid for "incredible opportunity"

Next week, a group of Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy players will be heading to Spain to train at the facility of famed club Real Madrid CF. The trip is being coordinated by generation adidas international, the premier provider of elite international soccer training opportunities.

The 'Caps group will feature players born in 2003 and 2004, which is a mixture from the U-15 team and younger U-17 players. Also joining the trip are four players from Whitecaps FC Regional Academy Centres across Canada who were selected from a High Potential Player (HPP) Combine in November. See the full roster below.

“What an incredible opportunity for these boys,” said Whitecaps FC U-17 head coach Rich Fagan, who will be leading the team on the pitch alongside U-15 head coach Scott Howey and regional academy centres head coach Marinos Papageorgopoulos. “It’s important for their development to take on new challenges, to see and experience a different environment like Real Madrid, and to test themselves against their peers from another country. We’re looking forward to a fantastic trip.”

As part of their time in Madrid, the team will:

• Watch a UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and CKSA Moscow on Wednesday, December 12 at the famous Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
• Train at Real Madrid City, including sessions with Real Madrid Foundation coaches
• A workshop and technical training session with generation adidas international UEFA A coaches
• Play three academy matches:
  • vs. CD Leganes (2003) on Thursday, December 13
  • vs. Rayo Vallecano (2003) on Monday, December 17
  • vs. Real Madrid CF (2004) on Tuesday, December 18

Roster

*Missed the trip due to injury

**Addition to the roster