Extra Time

BREAKING THROUGH...

For any young player the ultimate goal is to get into the first team of their respective clubs. From the very first time they put on a pair of football boots the journey through professional football can be a daunting one.  Playing with mates is fun. Playing for a good Sunday league team can bring success. In some cases a professional club may notice you. It’s at this stage the serious journey of football begins. This doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying it, but simply now things start to matter more.

Manchester City midfield dynamo and Dutch International Nigel De Jong came through the ranks of the famous Ajax academy. Before making his first team debut he played along side the likes of Tottenham's Rafael Van Der Vaart and Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder. The Ajax youth system breeds young players full of confidence and football knowledge, however it can still be a big step up when making it in the first team squad. De Jong remembers that you have to show more qualities than just technical ability.

FOOTBALL4FOOTBALL ARTICLE: Nigel De Jong Breaking Through To The First Team