Reds Announce Indian Based Academy

Liverpool will officially open a 'world-class, purpose-built' football academy in India at the start of next year...

In a partnership with Indian side DSK Shivajians, Liverpool FC have today revealed plans to open a full-time coaching academy in Pune.

The facility, officially named the LFC International Football Academy DSK, is described as a purpose-built residential complex featuring full-size pitches, practice areas, classrooms, changing rooms, a gym, canteen, lecture theatre and medical facilities.

Catering for aspiring young footballers up to the age of 18, the project will be supported by coaches from the club's UK-based academy in Kikby and opens in the first week of January 2014.

In quotes published by Liverpoolfc.com, academy director Frank McParland commented: "At the Academy in Liverpool we aim to develop outstanding players and good human beings.

"The results speak for themselves, as last season seven Academy players made their first-team debuts. Education and community work is key to the development of our young players and we look forward to taking our knowledge and experience of developing young footballers to India."

The longer-term plan is to introduce full-time coaches, honed at Kirby, to oversee each age group at the new academy.

"This is the first time an English top-flight club has partnered with an Indian team to help them bring through local talent," added Billy Hogan, LFC's chief commercial officer.

"We have millions of fans in India so we are very excited to be working with DSK Shivajians FC and being part of the game's development in the country."

Speaking about the partnership from a DSK perspective, Mr Shirish Kulkarni, executive director, said: "This is a strategic move for us at DSK Shivajians FC which will give aspiring young footballers the opportunity to be coached by one of the world's most famous football clubs - Liverpool FC.

"We are delighted with this partnership and believe that this will go a long way in inspiring and honing the skills of both the current players and those who aspire to follow them into the game. This will give them an opportunity to realise their potential."