With Russia set to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup the pressure is on the home nation to produce a winning team. Academies are being built across the country to improve grass roots football, with Krasnodar boasting one of the best.

The future of football in Russia looks in good hands as the state of the art academy in Krasnodar, teaches over 3.000 kids from around the south of the country, from the ages of 7 to 18.

The training is free with the only requirement is to have footballing ability.

The complex has numerous pitches, both outdoors – where the grass would grace any Premier League Club – while there are also indoor pitches, with a synthetic surface, for when the weather gets colder.

Although all the children dream of becoming professional footballers, the stark reality is that only a handful will make it into the big leagues.




That's why FC Krasnodar are taking education seriously, providing their pupils with an excellent standard of education.

The day at the academy starts early, with some of the young footballers on the pitch at 8 am.

After an hour or so of training in the morning, it's time for the class room where they enjoy some interesting activities amongst the usual subjects.

“Chess is really useful in helping children both in their football careers and in life in general,” Anatoly Demidov, chess teacher, told RT. “Through Chess, people are encouraged to think logically, and think ahead. In terms of football, it helps with the development of tactics and strategy. While in terms of their studies, it helps them to increase their memory amongst other things.”

One man, who knows a thing or two about how to develop young players, is Jurgen Klinsmann.

He and his assistant Jochim Low, who's now Germany's head coach, were responsible for producing perhaps one of the most exciting generations of football players in decades, with the likes of Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller and Marco Reus to name a few.

And Klinsmann, who was in Krasnodar as head coach of the USA team for a friendly with Russia, had a few simple words of advice. 

“One thing is certain – you need to give young players opportunities to play and to get experience,” he said. “Second you need to introduce the same methods and the same style of how you want to play one day with your junior levels – Under-20s, Under-18s and Under-17s need to be integrated into this entire approach, which we did in 2004. So, all the coaches and different age groups worked the same way.”  

The facilities on offer to the kids training in Krasnodar are phenomenal, the envy of any club side from around the world.

Krasnodar's unique warm climate means that the children can train outdoors almost 12 months a year.

The academy has only been open for a few months, but come 2018, it may even produce a few graduates, who will try and help Russia win their home World Cup.

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