Sporting CP (youth)
Association football club in Portugal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sporting Clube de Portugal Youth system is divided into six levels: Escolinhas (under-8), Infantis (under-13), Iniciados (under-15), Juvenis (under-17), Juniores (under-19) and Sub-23 (under-23).
| Full name | Sporting Clube de Portugal | ||
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| Founded | 1 July 1906 | ||
| Ground | Academia Cristiano Ronaldo | ||
| Capacity | 1,180 | ||
| League | Several Youth Leagues | ||
| Website | escolasacademia | ||
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The two youngest levels compete at regional level, being spread between the Academia Aurélio Pereira and the Pólo EUL, in Lisbon, and the Sporting CP Academies around the world. The four oldest levels compete at national level, being based at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo.
At international level, the youth teams compete in several international tournaments, and the under-19 team competes in the UEFA Youth League.
Youth Squads
Under-23 Team
- As of 15 March 2026[citation needed]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Staff
- Head Coach: João Santos Cardoso
- Assistant Coach: Tiago Moreira
- Assistant Coach: Carlos Finisterra
- Goalkeeper Coach: Jaime Pombo
- Fitness Coach: Ricardo Dinis
- Analytics Coach: Pedro Garrido
- Goalkeeper Training Coordinator: João Spínola
- Personnel Development Coach: José Violante
- Personnel Development Coach: Eduardo Almeida
- Team Manager: Pedro Solha
Under-19 Team - Juniores
- As of 15 March 2026[citation needed]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Staff
- Head Coach: Mauro Miguel
- Assistant Coach: Rafael Pinto
- Assistant Coach: José Gomes
- Assistant Coach: Diogo Souto
- Goalkeeper Coach: Luís Caetano
- Fitness Coach: Hélder Jesus
- Analytics Coach: João Jorge
- Scout: Carlos Santos
- Scout: Rui Pedro de Sousa
- Scout: Rui Pinto
- Scout: André Figueiró
Under-17 Team - Juvenis
- As of 15 March 2026[citation needed]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Staff
- Head Coach: Pedro Pontes
- Assistant Coach: Rúben Martinho
- Assistant Coach: Miguel Almeida
- Goalkeeper Coach: Diogo Neves
- Goalkeeper Coach: João Santos
- Fitness Coach: André Milheiro
- Analytics Coach: Gonçalo Garrido
- Nurse: Bruno Salgueiro
- Personnel Development Coach: Fábio Santos
- Equipment Technician: João Ribeiro
Under-15 Team - Iniciados
- As of 16 March 2026[citation needed]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Staff
- Head Coach: João Lourenço
- Assistant Coach: Rodrigo Gato
- Fitness Coach: José Pereira
- Analytics Coach: João Proença
- Trainee Coach: Diogo D'Aquino
Academia Cristiano Ronaldo
Inaugurated in 2002, with 250,000 square meters, the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo is the football headquarters of Sporting CP.
In addition to being the training ground for the main team, the B team and the women's team, it is also where the under-15s, under-17s, under-19s and the under-23 team practice.
Estádio Aurélio Pereira
The Estádio Aurélio Pereira, located inside the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo, is where the under-15, the under-17, the under-19 and the under-23 teams play their home matches.
With a capacity for 1,189 spectators, it is named after Aurélio Pereira, the mentor and creator of Sporting CP world-renowned youth recruitment and development department, which he coordinated for over 30 years.
Youth Program
The two most famous players to have come through Sporting CP youth system are Cristiano Ronaldo and Luís Figo, both elected as the best football player in the world.
Notable Academy Graduates
- List Criteria
- Player has made 25 appearances or more for his country at the highest international level
- Player who has been at least nominated for a world's best men's player award (Ballon d'Or/FIFA Ballon d'Or, FIFA World Player of the Year/The Best FIFA Men's Player) or won a continental best men's player award (UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award).
Pólo EUL and EAS Aurélio Pereira
In 2007, Sporting CP and the University of Lisbon signed an protocol giving the club exclusive rights to use of some existing facilities located at the Lisbon University Stadium, known as the Pólo EUL. It is at this location where the Escolinhas and the rugby team are based.[1]
In 2018, the president Frederico Varandas decided to open the first Escola Academia Sporting 100% owned exclusively by the club. Located on the three pitches surrounding the Pavilhão João Rocha (named after Fernando Peyroteo, Luís Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo), the EAS Aurélio Pereira it is named after the club’s youth development icon, Aurélio Pereira, has capacity for 500 children and serves as a complement to the Pólo EUL.[2]
Escolas Academia Sporting
Launched in 2006, the Escolas Academia Sporting project is part of the Sporting CP youth development program. Consisting of a network with more than 50 academies located around the world, it currently has 6,500 athletes in its training program.[3]
The purpose of this project is to identify players who may go on to complete their training at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo, with a goal of becoming Sporting CP footballers.[4]
The Escolas Academia Sporting implement the club’s training model into practice, through an integrated approach that combines excellent facilities, the quality of the staff involved, and a fun but rigorous concept, with a clear pedagogical focus on how to take advantage of free time. The project aims to bring these training and working methods to young players between the ages of 5 to 14, regardless of their gender.[5] [6]
Honours
Domestic Competitions
- Campeonato Nacional de Juniores – Under-19: 17
- 1938/1939, 1945/1946, 1947/1948, 1955/1956, 1960/1961, 1964/1965, 1973/1974, 1982/1983, 1991/1992, 1995/1996, 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2007/2008, 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2011/2012, 2016/2017
- Campeonato Nacional de Juvenis – Under-17: 14
- 1962/1963, 1964/1965, 1975/1976, 1983/1984, 1986/1987, 1993/1994, 1998/1999, 2003/2004, 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2006/2007, 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2021/2022
- Campeonato Nacional de Iniciados – Under-15: 15
- 1982/1983, 1983/1984, 1986/1987, 1991/1992, 1992/1993, 1993/1994, 2002/2003, 2003/2004, 2005/2006, 2007/2008, 2012/2013, 2014/2015, 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2021/2022
- Campeonato Nacional de Infantis – Under-13: 3
- 1991/1992, 1994/1995, 1996/1997