TRAVEL TRENDS

5 of the best places to learn football

Last updated 12th February 2018

Buccament

1/5 Buccament Bay, St Vincent, Caribbean

This resort combines scenery with coaching from Liverpool Football Club Soccer School on state-of-the-art artificial and grass pitches. Expect an impressive array of guest coaches, including football legends John Barnes, Gareth Southgate and Ronnie Whelan, who have all taught at the resort, and the focus is on technical knowhow as much as skill.

Price: A week’s stay in a one-bedroom villa costs around £1,800pp; includes flights and daily coaching sessions at the soccer school.

Find out more about Buccament Bay.

Martinhal

2/5 Martinhal Luxury Beach Resort, Portugal

The luxury Algarve resort features a football clinic run by former professional Mark McCarrick that is aimed at providing top-class coaching for all ages and abilities.

Prices: For residents from £16 per hour-long session; sessions run daily during school holidays.

Find out more about Martinhal.

Ac Milan course

3/5 AC Milan Course, Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy

Renowned Italian giants AC Milan hosts holiday courses for seven- to 17-year-olds at four venues, including this one in Cortina d’Ampezzo, a picturesque town in the north of Italy surrounded by the Dolomite mountains that is a UNESCO World Heritage zone. Participants stay at the four-star Hotel Alaska in the town centre and have 20 hours of expert daily tuition at football grounds located 4km and 8km from the hotel.

Price: Starting from £650.

Find out more about AC Milan course

Forte Village best places to learn football

4/5 Forte Village, Sardinia

Not far from Chia Laguna, this resort offers children aged five to 16 the chance to learn the footballing ropes with Chelsea FC’s Academy coaches. With some former Chelsea pros, such as Paulo Ferreira, and Tore Andre Flo, likely to be thrown in for good measure, it is alluring to young Premier League fans.

Price: A one-week (five-day) package costs around £305 for Forte Village residents, and includes kit.

Find out more about Forte Village.

La Manga - Spain

5/5 La Manga Club, Spain

With eight grass FIFA- standard pitches, the La Manga football centre is a hotspot for top international and club sides looking for a warm-weather training break. But your kids can take part in the junior football academy, run by FA- and UEFA- qualified coaches, who drill them on everything from technical theory to tactics. There’s also a goalkeeping academy for 10- to 16-year-olds.

Price: For La Manga Club residents range from £147 for five days in winter to £193 per child in the summer. For parents not keen on using the sports facilities, there are beaches and national parks galore to explore.

Find out more about La Manga Club

Planning your next summer getaway? Don’t miss these stunning European villas with pools.