In a footballing landscape that continues to evolve, Malmö FF’s youth academy stands as a powerful reminder of the enduring benefits of investing in local talent. During a recent ECA Academy visit, a group of academy directors, technical directors and heads of youth development from across Europe had the opportunity to see first-hand how Malmö FF has become a benchmark for club youth development.
Certified by Unicoach as Sweden’s best boys' youth set-up for seven consecutive years, the Malmö FF academy blends technical development with strong values and a commitment to education. The boys’ academy received the top rated 7-star rating in the latest evaluation, while the newly assessed girls’ section matched the national benchmark with 4 out of 5 stars. This level of consistent excellence has helped Malmö FF become the only Swedish club featured in the CIES Football Observatory’s list of the top 50 academies producing players for Europe’s top leagues.
David Burns, Academy Lead at Montrose FC, was struck by the club’s emphasis on creating the right environment for young players. “At Malmö, it’s clear they focus on creating an environment. I think it doesn’t always take money to create a good environment, much of that comes down to people and how you approach things, how you deliver. So, I guess for me, how we recruit coaches and how we recruit people who work with our players at our academy is important in creating the environment that we want.”
For the visiting clubs, the message was clear: Malmö FF’s pathway is more than a slogan, it’s a structure. Ten players in the men’s first-team squad for the 2025 season came through the academy, with five joining before the age of ten. From Oscar Lewicki, who arrived at 13, to Zakaria Loukili, who joined at five, the club has consistently integrated youth into its senior squad, showing a long-term trust in its model.
This system is not just about developing professional footballers but about shaping well-rounded individuals. Malmö’s success owes much to strong school partnerships, high coaching standards and a culture rooted in value-based learning.
This aspect resonated with Kryštof Herold, Head of Foundation Phase U13–U10 at SK Slavia Prague.
“I was most impressed by the school system at Malmö FF, the partner schools and the connection with the club. For me, it was the biggest takeaway. We want to work more on coach education and UEFA courses at our club, so it was interesting to see how this is possible.”
Recent graduates like Hugo Bolin and Nils Zätterström highlight the value of continuity. Bolin returned to the club at 16 after first being involved at 12, while Zätterström, who joined at 8, rose through every youth level to earn a starting role in the senior team last season.
These stories demonstrate how patience and structure can produce top-level players. A key takeaway for the visiting coaches was Malmö FF’s unwavering commitment to continuity, not only in coaching philosophy, but in infrastructure, school integration and leadership. The club has shown that success at senior level is rooted in long-term planning and a shared vision.
Slawomir Czarniecki, Head of Youth Professional Teams at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, valued the opportunity to exchange ideas with fellow professionals.
“The opportunity that the ECA provides to clubs through exchanges and academy visits is unique and important for our daily work. It helps, on the one hand, to look beyond our own horizon, gather ideas and establish new contacts between clubs. On the other hand, it also allows us sometimes to appreciate the great conditions we already have. I have great respect for ECA and the clubs I have been able to participate with, and I am grateful for the always friendly and welcoming atmosphere as well as the openness of the clubs to collaborate.”
Through its Academy Visit Programme, ECA continues to support knowledge-sharing across Europe. In Malmö FF, visiting clubs witnessed a youth system that lives its values, invests in people and consistently delivers on the pitch. For further information on ECA Academy Visits and how your club can take part, please contact us at youth@ecaeurope.com.