Inter Academy expands to Hungary

BUDAPEST – Inter Academy Szent Pál Hungary was launched in Budapest today as the Nerazzurri’s global coaching project branched out into Hungary for the first time. 

Inter vice-president Javier Zanetti attended the ceremony to announce the new partnership with the prestigious Hungarian educational institution, which caters for over 6000 students from primary school to post-graduate level and has its own football club. Szent Pál Akadémia Football Club has a number of teams from U7 to U19 level, with the U15 and U19 sides registered with the Hungarian FA.

Inter Academy coaches will begin work with the players and coaching staff of Szent Pál Akadémia Football Club – 150 youngsters aged 6-17 plus eight local trainers – before expanding within the school network on a national level. 

The Inter Academy team will share FC Internazionale Milano’s coaching expertise, offering youngsters the opportunity to develop by training according to Inter’s high technical and ethical standards while remaining in their home country – the ideal setting for them to grow not just as footballers but as human beings too. 

Besides the youngsters themselves, the local coaches – the players’ first port of call – will also benefit directly from Inter’s experience, as we believe this is the only way to create a system capable of developing youth football in a comprehensive manner.

“All children like to play football and sporting values help young people to grow as human beings,” said Javier Zanetti. “This is what we offer at Inter Academy, as well as coaches with substantial experience in developing budding footballers around the world. I am happy that, thanks to Inter Academy, the dream can become a reality for many young boys and girls here in Hungary.

“I was always proud to wear the Nerazzurri shirt during my playing days and I am honoured to represent the club now, as vice-president, through projects such as Inter Academy that are imbued with passion and strong human values.

“I am sure this Inter Academy in Hungary will be a success as we are working with a competent partner and an established network of schools. It is the ideal set-up for sharing moral and sporting values, and for helping children to grow as human beings as well as footballers.”

The training programme at Inter Academy Hungary will be modelled around the youngsters’ natural development process, with activities designed for the younger children and a competitive-style programme for the older boys and girls. 

Two Inter coaches will work on site initially to coordinate and train the local instructors: Aldo Montinaro will serve as senior technical operations manager, while Luigi Mainolfi will remain in Hungary as the first permanent coach.