Unless you are a diehard fan of Spanish football, you may not have even heard of Unión Esportiva Cornellá (or UE Cornellá as they are more commonly known). This small team from Catalonia was founded in 1951 and plies its trade in Group 3 of the Segunda División B, which represents the third tier of Spanish football.
The Barcelona-based club were briefly thrust into the spotlight last year when they were drawn against La Liga giants Real Madrid in the third round of the Copa del Rey – a match they eventually lost 9-1 on aggregate over two legs. That game may have been the pinnacle of their on-pitch achievements; it is away from the professional field of play that the small club from Cornella de Llobregat has made its name in Spanish football.
Since its foundation in 1985, the Escola de Futbol Cornellà (Cornellá School of Football) has grown into one of Spain’s top proving grounds for professional footballers. In what has become a model for grassroots football that has inspired clubs in many other countries; the Cornellá football academy now has the facilities to train and educate players between the ages of eight and 18 from all over the world. At any one time the club has up to 1,000 players on its books playing in more than 50 teams across six categories.
As well as grooming home-grown talent, the academy also offers coaching to young players from all over the globe via seasonal or annual soccer camps. And while not every attendee goes on to become a household name, a large number of Cornellá graduates do enjoy successful careers at various levels within the game.
The success of the club’s academy has been attributed to the values that are instilled into the students. Education and personal development are considered equal to physical training and athletic prowess, and students are expected to subscribe to a philosophy of fair play.
A staff of highly-qualified coaches is employed to oversee the development of the players, and with so many teams across all categories every student has the chance to improve their skills in a competitive environment.
Unión Esportiva Cornellá now boasts some of the best training facilities in Europe. Ongoing investment in coaching staff, technology, equipment and infrastructure has ensured that one of Spain’s most well-respected training centers will continue to produce some of the game’s brightest stars.
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Here are just a few examples of current professional football players who have passed through the doors of UE Cornellá:
Jordi Alba
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Barcelona and Spain’s current first choice left-back left the youth ranks of his current club to join UE Cornellá in 2005. After two seasons of development, he was signed by Valencia where he soon became a first team regular under coach Unai Emery. In 2012, he returned to Barca for a fee of €14 million.
Víctor Ruiz
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Central defender Victor Ruiz spent four years at Cornellà before embarking on a professional career that brought him to his current club Villarreal via Espanyol, Napoli and Valencia.
David Raya
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Despite being just 20 years old, former UE Cornellá academy goalkeeper David Raya is now making a name for himself in the second tier of English football. Since joining Blackburn Rovers in 2012, he has worked his way up through the ranks and is now a regular in the first team having made five appearances already in the 2015/16 campaign.
Ignasi Miquel
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After being released by Barcelona’s academy, defender Miquel spent four years at UE Cornellá before he was signed by English Premier League side Arsenal at the age of 16. He made 14 senior appearances for the Gunners in all competitions before he was eventually sold at the age of 20. He is currently playing for SD Ponferradina in the Spanish Segunda Division.
Alberto García
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Garcia had a brief spell at Barcelona’s academy but it was while playing at UE Cornellá that he got his first offer of a senior contract from third-tier Madrid side CF Rayo Majadahonda. From there he went on to Villarreal and then Murcia before settling in Cordoba where he made over 100 appearances for the first team. He is now playing in the top flight of Spanish football for newly-promoted Sporting Gijon.
Hugo Fernández
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Still only 21, Hugo Fernández started his career at Cornellà before moving to Blackburn Rovers in England. After three seasons playing at U-18, U-21 and senior levels, he eventually moved back to Spain and is currently playing in the Tercera Divison for Catalan side UE Sant Andreu.
Ilie Sánchez
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After impressing during a two year spell at UE Cornellá between 2005 and 2007, Sanchez earned a move back to Barcelona, the club that had released him when he was just nine years old. He made 114 appearances for the B team where he was named Captain under current Barcelona Coach Luis Enrique. In 2014, he signed for German side 1860 Munich where he made 18 appearances before moving on loan to Spanish club Elche in the summer of 2015.
