Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Methodology
The CIES Football Observatory is pleased to publish its Player Development Ranking for the 2014 World Cup. Feyenoord Rotterdam is the club
that contributed the most to develop players selected for the event.
The Dutch team outranks FC Barcelona and Dinamo Zagreb.
The ranking takes into account the number of World Cup participants trained per
club, as well as the number of league matches played by footballers per team up to
the age of 23. This age limit has been set according to FIFA regulations on training
indemnities. Training clubs have been defined according to the UEFA definition of at
least three years at the club between the ages of 15 and 21.
At the top of the table is Feyenoord Rotterdam. The Dutch team trained 9 players
participating in the World Cup. Two other clubs trained as many footballers as Feyenoord: Barcelona and Deportivo Saprissa. However, World Cup participants played
882 matches at Feyenoord until the age of 23, compared to 783 at Barcelona (not
including B-team matches) and 445 at Deportivo Saprissa.
At national association level, France tops the table ahead of England and Germany.
This is mainly due to the high number of footballers trained in France playing for other national A-teams, notably Africans. This finding also reflects the high employment
rate of U23 players in French clubs. In total, 821 clubs in 59 national associations have
contributed to the development of World Cup players.
About us
The Football Observatory is a research group within the International Centre for
Sports Studies (CIES), a private foundation affiliated to the University of Neuchtel,
in Switzerland. Set up in 2005 by Drs Raffaele Poli and Loc Ravenel, it currently comprises a staff of four full-time permanent researchers specialised in data mining and
the statistical analysis of sport.
Two reports are published every year. In January, the Demographic Study presents
an in-depth analysis of club composition and player characteristics in 31 top division
leagues of UEFA member countries. In June, the Annual Review analyses clubs and
players in the big-5 European leagues from a demographic, economic and pitch performance perspective.
Since 2005, the CIES Football Observatory has been mandated to undertake original
research by several prestigious institutions such as, but not limited to, FIFA, UEFA, European Club Association (ECA), European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), Swiss
Football League (SFL), as well as top-flight European clubs in several countries.
Ranking, by league
Association
1.
2.
France
England
Clubtrained
U23
matches
56
6,255
81.81
31.
73.02
32.
42
6,374
Clubtrained
U23
matches
Algeria
461
7.32
Cameroon
118
7.00
Association
3.
Germany
44
4,836
63.74
33.
Norway
516
6.32
4.
Spain
30
5,445
58.34
34.
Ukraine
404
3.49
5.
The Netherlands
34
4,501
54.54
35.
Sweden
234
3.00
6.
Italy
24
4,704
49.08
36.
Scotland
274
2.59
36.49
37.
Turkey
305
2.11
7.
Japan
26
2,689
8.
Portugal
26
2,410
34.56
38.
Austria
178
1.92
9.
Russia
22
2,563
32.87
39.
Czech Republic
135
1.62
10.
Croatia
24
2,282
32.30
40.
Tunisia
141
0.98
11.
Switzerland
26
2,050
32.06
41.
Iceland
37
0.94
31.17
42.
South Africa
120
0.83
12.
Ecuador
22
2,317
13.
Belgium
21
2,132
29.20
43.
Israel
93
0.64
14.
Argentina
23
1,712
27.66
44.
Romania
71
0.49
15.
Colombia
22
1,711
26.97
45.
Denmark
61
0.42
16.
Chile
23
1,604
26.91
46.
Liechtenstein
50
0.35
17.
Greece
21
1,733
26.43
47.
Hungary
47
0.33
Venezuela
29
0.20
Lithuania
29
0.20
18.
Costa Rica
22
1,542
25.80
48.
19.
Brazil
23
1,433
25.72
20.
Mexico
18
1,898
25.52
50.
Serbia
26
0.18
21.
Uruguay
22
1,222
23.58
51.
Slovakia
24
0.17
22.
Iran
18
1,565
23.21
52.
China
21
0.15
21.93
53.
Sudan
20
0.14
23.
Honduras
19
1,281
24.
South Korea
17
759
16.94
UAE
20
0.14
25.
USA
15
956
16.93
55.
Poland
17
0.12
26.
Australia
12
964
14.92
56.
Peru
14
0.10
27.
Nigeria
12
915
14.58
Wales
14
0.10
369
13.54
58.
Paraguay
11
0.08
Moldova
28.
Ghana
16
29.
Ivory Coast
14
108
10.36
59.
30.
Bosnia Herzegovina
356
7.96
Total
0.06
1000.00
U23
matches
882
12.29
2. FC Barcelona (ESP)
783
11.61
812
11.12
867
10.82
760
Club
Clubtrained
U23
matches
189
4.06
. RC Lens (FRA)
288
4.06
578
4.01
178
3.98
10.76
261
3.87
251
3.80
Club
51. Club Nacional Montevideo (URU)
708
9.71
445
9.27
249
3.79
502
8.97
339
3.72
591
8.90
333
3.68
539
8.54
328
3.65
784
8.18
229
3.65
471
8.07
322
3.61
663
8.03
222
3.60
624
7.76
314
3.55
701
7.61
214
3.54
456
7.28
310
3.52
109
3.50
633
6.45
519
6.34
300
3.45
508
6.27
397
3.44
406
6.25
194
3.40
283
6.08
192
3.39
381
6.07
284
3.34
82
6.06
183
3.33
371
6.01
178
3.29
662
5.96
276
3.29
456
5.91
274
3.27
434
5.75
174
3.27
528
5.72
271
3.25
411
5.60
165
3.20
300
5.52
263
3.20
379
5.37
358
3.17
377
5.36
353
3.13
347
3.09
. SC Heerenveen (NED)
254
5.19
349
5.16
227
2.95
337
5.08
216
2.87
306
4.87
213
2.85
404
4.86
110
2.82
103
2.77
301
4.83
384
4.72
300
2.77
377
4.67
2.75
275
4.65
2.75
467
4.61
293
2.72
451
4.50
192
2.70
349
4.48
. Panathinaikos FC (GRE)
191
2.70
336
4.39
188
2.68
130
4.33
84
2.65
226
4.31
281
2.63
312
4.22
181
2.63
280
2.63
81
2.62
306
4.18
301
4.15
U23
matches
Clubtrained
U23
matches
176
2.59
263
1.82
176
2.59
. SP Corinthians (BRA)
176
2.59
263
1.82
163
168
2.54
1.82
160
167
2.53
1.80
60
266
2.53
1.79
. Hannover 96 (GER)
159
1.79
161
2.49
254
2.45
159
1.79
157
251
2.43
1.77
57
151
2.42
1.77
152
240
2.35
1.74
52
1.73
138
2.33
. CD Victoria (HON)
232
2.29
51
1.73
150
130
2.27
1.73
49
228
1.71
2.27
. FC Sion (SUI)
147
1.71
127
2.25
. SV Ried (AUT)
147
. FC St-Gallen (SUI)
1.71
126
2.25
145
1.69
122
2.22
. Sepahan FC (IRN)
145
1.69
121
2.21
. VVV-Venlo (NED)
244
1.69
214
2.17
144
1.68
113
2.16
143
1.68
112
2.15
43
1.67
112
2.15
139
1.65
209
2.14
138
1.64
209
2.14
129
1.58
109
2.13
129
1.58
206
2.11
29
1.57
105
2.10
127
1.57
102
2.08
127
1.57
99
2.06
25
1.55
98
2.05
120
1.52
. 1. FC Nrnberg (GER)
196
2.05
120
1.52
195
2.04
115
1.48
Club
101. Independiente Medellin (COL)
Club
151. VfL Borussia M'gladbach (GER)
. Enyimba FC (NGA)
177. Rocafuerte FC (ECU)
. Palermo US (ITA)
294
2.04
114
1.48
194
2.03
113
1.47
93
2.02
112
1.46
192
2.02
. Portsmouth FC (ENG)
111
1.46
92
2.01
210
1.46
. So Paulo FC (BRA)
92
2.01
110
1.45
91
2.00
109
1.44
88
1.98
107
1.43
185
1.97
107
1.43
85
1.96
105
1.41
181
1.94
104
1.41
80
1.93
103
1.40
. Millwall FC (ENG)
179
1.93
103
1.40
72
1.87
103
1.40
72
1.87
103
1.40
71
1.86
102
1.39
69
1.85
102
1.39
U23
matches
100
1.38
100
1.38
1.37
1.37
Club
201. Chicago Fire (USA)
Clubtrained
U23
matches
67
1.15
67
1.15
66
1.14
163
1.13
1.37
63
1.12
1.37
. CS Martimo (POR)
63
1.12
Club
251. ES Troyes (FRA)
. FC Spartak Moskva (RUS)
1.37
62
1.12
97
1.36
62
1.12
97
1.36
161
1.12
95
1.35
161
1.12
95
1.35
61
1.11
94
1.34
60
1.10
93
1.33
. Lillestrom SK (NOR)
60
1.10
92
1.32
60
1.10
. FC Groningen (NED)
92
1.32
. Valenciennes FC (FRA)
159
1.10
92
1.32
59
1.10
91
1.32
59
1.10
91
1.32
58
1.09
91
1.32
58
1.09
91
1.32
56
1.07
90
1.31
56
1.07
90
1.31
. VG Rondinella (ITA)
56
1.07
. Persepolis FC (IRN)
90
1.31
155
1.07
. FC Twente (NED)
189
1.31
155
1.07
85
1.28
. BK Hcken (SWE)
55
1.07
84
1.27
54
1.06
82
1.26
53
1.05
82
1.26
. Varzim SC (POR)
53
1.05
81
1.25
52
1.05
80
1.24
. FC Wil (SUI)
52
1.05
80
1.24
52
1.05
78
1.23
50
1.03
77
1.22
. EC Juventude (BRA)
49
1.03
76
1.21
. FC Gueugnon (FRA)
49
1.03
. CD Olmedo (ECU)
75
1.21
. JS Kabylie (ALG)
49
1.03
. FC Metz (FRA)
75
1.21
. SC Braga (POR)
49
1.03
174
1.21
48
1.02
74
1.20
. ES Stif (ALG)
48
1.02
74
1.20
48
1.02
74
1.20
47
1.01
73
1.19
47
1.01
72
1.19
47
1.01
71
1.18
46
1.01
. NK Zadar (CRO)
71
1.18
45
1.00
71
1.18
45
1.00
70
1.17
44
0.99
70
1.17
43
0.98
69
1.16
42
0.98
68
1.16
41
0.97
68
1.16
. EA Guingamp (FRA)
41
0.97
U23
matches
Clubtrained
U23
matches
140
0.97
13
0.78
39
37
0.96
13
0.78
0.94
. Barnet FC (ENG)
112
0.78
37
0.94
12
0.77
37
0.94
11
0.76
37
0.94
10
0.76
35
0.93
10
0.76
134
0.93
0.75
34
0.92
. Sampdoria UC (ITA)
108
0.75
. FK eljezniar (BIH)
33
0.92
0.74
33
0.92
106
0.73
33
0.92
105
0.73
33
0.92
0.72
31
0.90
0.72
31
0.90
104
0.72
. Empoli FC (ITA)
130
0.90
104
0.72
30
0.89
0.71
30
0.89
. Le Mans UC (FRA)
103
0.71
30
0.89
0.71
30
0.89
102
0.71
28
0.88
0.70
28
0.88
0.70
27
0.87
0.69
26
0.87
. AC Venezia (ITA)
0.69
26
0.87
0.69
26
0.87
0.69
123
0.85
0.69
. AO Kerkyra (GRE)
23
0.85
0.69
. NK Podgrmec (BIH)
23
0.85
. FC Chur 97 (SUI)
0.69
23
0.85
0.69
21
0.83
0.69
120
0.83
. Kaaseman FC (GHA)
0.69
120
0.83
. Levallois SC (FRA)
0.69
. AD Ramonense (CRC)
20
0.83
0.69
20
0.83
0.69
. CD Ovalle (CHI)
20
0.83
. Quertaro FC (MEX)
0.69
. Beerschot AC (BEL)
20
0.83
0.69
19
0.82
0.69
. Celtic FC (SCO)
118
0.82
0.69
118
0.82
0.69
18
0.81
. US Crteil (FRA)
0.69
18
0.81
. US Viterbese (ITA)
0.69
18
0.81
. WB An Benian (ALG)
0.69
Club
. Asante Kotoko Kumasi (GHA)
Club
17
0.80
0.69
. Oro FC (ECU)
17
0.80
0.69
. FC Lorient (FRA)
116
0.80
0.69
116
0.80
. Somzee FC (BEL)
0.69
. Granada CF (ESP)
115
0.80
0.69
14
0.78
0.69
113
0.78
0.69
U23
matches
Clubtrained
U23
matches
0.69
0.69
. FC Bibo (CIV)
0.69
0.69
0.69
. CO Domoraud (CIV)
0.69
0.69
0.69
0.69
0.69
0.69
0.69
. Botafogo FC (CMR)
0.69
0.69
0.69
97
0.67
. Academia FC (COL)
0.69
93
0.64
. NK Bjelovar (CRO)
0.69
93
0.64
0.69
92
0.64
0.69
91
0.63
0.69
91
0.63
0.69
90
0.62
. FC Saarbrcken (GER)
0.69
. Modena FC (ITA)
90
0.62
. SG Blaubach-Diedelkopf (GER)
0.69
89
0.62
. Aschaffenburg-Damm (GER)
0.69
89
0.62
0.69
89
0.62
0.69
85
0.59
0.69
84
0.58
0.69
84
0.58
. SC Adelaide (GHA)
0.69
. Le Havre AC (FRA)
83
0.58
0.69
82
0.57
. Juticalpa FC (HON)
0.69
82
0.57
0.69
81
0.56
0.69
80
0.55
0.69
. AC Arles-Avignon (FRA)
79
0.55
. Kunimi HS (JPN)
0.69
. CD Nacional (POR)
79
0.55
0.69
78
0.54
0.69
76
0.53
0.69
76
0.53
0.69
75
0.52
. Tohoku HS (JPN)
0.69
. FK Bodo-Glimt (NOR)
75
0.52
0.69
75
0.52
0.69
74
0.51
0.69
73
0.51
. Gwacheon HS (KOR)
0.69
72
0.50
0.69
72
0.50
. Janghoon HS (KOR)
0.69
72
0.50
0.69
. SKA-Energia (RUS)
72
0.50
0.69
71
0.49
0.69
. FC Aarau (SUI)
70
0.49
0.69
70
0.49
. My People FC (NGA)
0.69
70
0.49
. Abuja FC (NGA)
0.69
69
0.48
. Holmlia (NOR)
0.69
69
0.48
. FC Alverca (POR)
0.69
67
0.46
0.69
67
0.46
0.69
66
0.46
0.69
66
0.46
Club
Club
U23
matches
Clubtrained
U23
matches
65
0.45
64
0.44
47
0.33
. Moreirense FC (POR)
47
. Istanbul BB SK (TUR)
64
0.33
0.44
47
0.33
64
0.44
. Quilmes AC (ARG)
47
. AC Bellinzona (SUI)
0.33
63
0.44
47
0.33
. FK Zeljeznicar (BIH)
63
0.44
46
0.32
Club
Club
. Paniliakos FC (GRE)
63
0.44
46
0.32
62
0.43
46
0.32
61
0.42
46
0.32
61
0.42
46
0.32
61
0.42
46
0.32
61
0.42
. SC Farense (POR)
46
0.32
61
0.42
46
0.32
60
0.42
45
0.31
60
0.42
45
0.31
59
0.41
44
0.30
. Malm FF (SWE)
59
0.41
. FC Augsburg (GER)
44
0.30
58
0.40
. FC Kryvbas (UKR)
44
0.30
. CR Belouizdad (ALG)
58
0.40
. Watford FC (ENG)
44
0.30
. Elche CF (ESP)
58
0.40
. AO Kavala (GRE)
43
0.30
57
0.40
. FK Teplice (CZE)
43
0.30
. FK Istra (RUS)
57
0.40
43
0.30
56
0.39
43
0.30
56
0.39
42
0.29
. Rosenborg BK (NOR)
56
0.39
42
0.29
55
0.38
42
0.29
55
0.38
41
0.28
. FC Dallas (USA)
55
0.38
. CD Feirense (POR)
41
0.28
. FC Libourne (FRA)
55
0.38
. Stromsgodset IF (NOR)
41
0.28
. GS Kallithea (GRE)
55
0.38
. UD Almera (ESP)
41
0.28
54
0.37
41
0.28
53
0.37
. US Triestina (ITA)
41
0.28
53
0.37
. AS Yzeure (FRA)
41
0.28
52
0.36
40
0.28
51
0.35
. FC Treviso (ITA)
40
0.28
. CD Alavs (ESP)
50
0.35
. GD Tourizense (POR)
40
0.28
. FC Vaduz (LIE)
50
0.35
. SE Palmeiras (BRA)
40
0.28
. Kayserispor (TUR)
50
0.35
39
0.27
50
0.35
39
0.27
50
0.35
39
0.27
49
0.34
39
0.27
. Iraklis FC (GRE)
49
0.34
. UD Leiria (POR)
39
0.27
. SD Eibar (ESP)
49
0.34
38
0.26
48
0.33
. Levante UD (ESP)
38
0.26
48
0.33
. Limn FC (CRC)
38
0.26
. KamAZ (RUS)
48
0.33
38
0.26
. Oghab FC (IRN)
48
0.33
. rebro SK (SWE)
38
0.26
48
0.33
. CF Indios (MEX)
37
0.26
. Xerez CD (ESP)
48
0.33
37
0.26
. Ferencvrosi TC (HUN)
47
0.33
37
0.26
U23
matches
Clubtrained
U23
matches
. FC Krasnodar (RUS)
37
0.26
37
0.26
. NK Belie (CRO)
28
0.19
27
37
0.19
0.26
. Burnley FC (ENG)
27
0.19
36
0.25
27
0.19
36
0.25
27
0.19
. Ehime FC (JPN)
36
0.25
27
0.19
36
0.25
26
0.18
36
0.25
26
0.18
36
0.25
. Pau FC (FRA)
26
0.18
. Sydney FC (AUS)
36
0.25
26
0.18
35
0.24
. Roda JC (NED)
26
0.18
. CD Leganes (ESP)
35
0.24
. Trabzonspor (TUR)
26
0.18
35
0.24
. Vizela FC (POR)
26
0.18
35
0.24
25
0.17
35
0.24
. Eordaikos FC (GRE)
25
0.17
35
0.24
. Piacenza FC (ITA)
25
0.17
34
0.24
25
0.17
34
0.24
24
0.17
. FK Khimki (RUS)
34
0.24
24
0.17
34
0.24
24
0.17
33
0.23
. Grosseto US (ITA)
24
0.17
33
0.23
24
0.17
. FC Istres (FRA)
33
0.23
24
0.17
33
0.23
24
0.17
33
0.23
. Veria FC (GRE)
24
0.17
33
0.23
23
0.16
33
0.23
23
0.16
33
0.23
23
0.16
. US Foggia (ITA)
33
0.23
23
0.16
33
0.23
23
0.16
32
0.22
. Fulham FC (ENG)
23
0.16
31
0.21
23
0.16
31
0.21
23
0.16
31
0.21
. MC El-Eulma (ALG)
23
0.16
30
0.21
. SO Cassis-Carnoux (FRA)
23
0.16
29
0.20
22
0.15
. Antalyaspor (TUR)
29
0.20
. Falkirk FC (SCO)
22
0.15
. FC Vilnius (LTU)
29
0.20
. FC Ryukyu (JPN)
22
0.15
29
0.20
. Leixes SC (POR)
22
0.15
. Genlerbirlii SK (TUR)
29
0.20
22
0.15
. NK Rudes (CRO)
29
0.20
22
0.15
28
0.19
21
0.15
28
0.19
21
0.15
. CA Bragantino (BRA)
28
0.19
21
0.15
28
0.19
20
0.14
28
0.19
20
0.14
28
0.19
20
0.14
28
0.19
. CD Osorno (CHI)
20
0.14
28
0.19
20
0.14
. Manta FC (ECU)
28
0.19
. Douala AC (CMR)
20
0.14
Club
Club
10
U23
matches
Clubtrained
U23
matches
20
0.14
. Rochdale FC (ENG)
15
0.10
20
20
0.14
15
0.10
0.14
14
0.10
20
0.14
14
0.10
20
0.14
14
0.10
20
0.14
14
0.10
. Vesoul (FRA)
20
0.14
14
0.10
20
0.14
. Middlesbrough FC (ENG)
14
0.10
20
0.14
. O'Higgins FC (CHI)
14
0.10
20
0.14
14
0.10
20
0.14
13
0.09
. SC Cambuur (NED)
20
0.14
13
0.09
. Sharjah SC (UAE)
20
0.14
. CD Ftima (POR)
13
0.09
20
0.14
. FC Ste (FRA)
13
0.09
. US Boulogne (FRA)
20
0.14
. FS Manzanillo (MEX)
13
0.09
. Yverdon-Sports (SUI)
20
0.14
. Penafiel FC (POR)
13
0.09
19
0.13
13
0.09
19
0.13
12
0.08
18
0.12
12
0.08
. Carlton SC (AUS)
18
0.12
12
0.08
. CD Cobresal (CHI)
18
0.12
12
0.08
18
0.12
. FC Emmen (NED)
12
0.08
. FC Homburg (GER)
18
0.12
12
0.08
18
0.12
12
0.08
18
0.12
12
0.08
. SK Kladno (CZE)
18
0.12
12
0.08
. Woking FC (ENG)
18
0.12
11
0.08
17
0.12
11
0.08
. FK Vidnoye (RUS)
17
0.12
11
0.08
. Getafe CF (ESP)
17
0.12
11
0.08
17
0.12
11
0.08
17
0.12
11
0.08
17
0.12
11
0.08
17
0.12
11
0.08
. Wrexham FC (ENG)
17
0.12
10
0.07
16
0.11
10
0.07
. Democrata FC (BRA)
16
0.11
10
0.07
16
0.11
. FC Rouen (FRA)
10
0.07
Club
Club
16
0.11
. Sw Sports (CIV)
10
0.07
16
0.11
10
0.07
16
0.11
0.06
16
0.11
0.06
16
0.11
0.06
16
0.11
. De Graafschap (NED)
0.06
15
0.10
0.06
15
0.10
. FC Schaffhausen (SUI)
0.06
15
0.10
. Langon-Castets FC (FRA)
0.06
. CD Tapato (MEX)
15
0.10
. Lierse SK (BEL)
0.06
. KV Kortrijk (BEL)
15
0.10
0.06
15
0.10
0.06
11
Clubtrained
U23
matches
0.06
0.06
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.03
. US Lecce (ITA)
0.03
0.03
. FC Thun (SUI)
0.03
0.02
0.01
. Kilmarnock FC (SCO)
0.01
0.01
. Paris FC (FRA)
0.01
0.01
12