The Dutch Football Academy
The Dutch Football Academy is a football school based in Zaandam, The Netherlands, and provides football training for youth football players, football clubs and football coaches. The Dutch Football Academy has got several locations in The Netherlands and abroad:
- Zaandam, Purmerend – The Netherlands
- Fortaleza, Beberibe, Barbalha, Crato, Itapipoca, Itarema, Juazeiro do Norte, Paraibaba, Sobral, Boa Viagem, Morada Nova – Brazil
- Santiago, Antofagasta – Chili
- Tel Aviv – Israel
Management
The technical staff of The Dutch Football Academy is managed by Joop Lensen. Lensen represents more than 20 years of knowledge and experience in professional football. During the first 15 years, Lensen worked for The Royal Dutch Football Federation (KNVB). Here, among other things, he developed KNVB youth football training programme and was closely involved in technical affairs. Lensen also wrote two KNVB books: “4 vs. 4” and “7 vs. 7”.
From 1985 to 1988 he was the assistant trainer of the Dutch National Under-15 team, and subsequently he became head trainer at the moment the team reached the World Cup finals in France. Lensen was assistant-trainer of the Oranje Under-16s, and in 1988 was part of the support staff for the Dutch team during the victorious European Championship in Germany.
In the period 2000-2005, Lensen was appointed Head of Youth System and Education at AZ in Alkmaar. There he was responsible for setting up the so-called ‘LOOT school’ (National Consultation Board for Top-Class Sport Education), a structure in which study is adjusted to the practice of top sports. In 2005, Lensen was appointed Head of Youth System and Head Scout (International) at the top Turkish club Fenerbahce SK.
Besides his position as Sports Director of the Dutch Football Academy he remains active as a guest teacher and advisor for several football organizations, including the KNVB and the Turkish Football Federation (Turkiye Futbol Federasyonu).
The Dutch Football Academy has got a joint venture in South America with Ganamos Todos, the foundation of Harold Mayne Nichols, ex president of the Chilean Socces Association and head of development FIFA South America.
Sponsor
Since 2011 Nike is equipment sponsor of The Dutch Football Academy. Besides Nike the following companies has got a sponsor contract with The Dutch Football Academy:
- Mercedes Benz
- Inntel Hotels
- Apeople
- IFootball plus
Logo
The logo of The Dutch Football Academy has got a royal crown (orange) and a classic image of a football player (blue).
References
- Voetbal International, number 26, 2005.
- Hoijtink, Henk. Trouw Hollandse Hervorming bij Fenerbahce, 09/28, 2005.
- Fenerbahce.org. Youth football set for Dutch revolution, 06/29. 2005.
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