Barcelona and Ajax’s Approach Cultivating the Next Generation of A-League Stars

In this week’s episode of Total A-Leagues, former Socceroo Tommy Oar reflected on the impressive achievements of A-Leagues academies following a landmark weekend in Melbourne.

The rise of Lawrence Wong can’t be overstated.

While he has now claimed the title of the youngest goalscorer in Melbourne City’s Isuzu UTE A-League history, it’s the broader implications of his journey with the club that truly stand out.

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The 17-year-old academy product is the first individual to ascend through City’s entire Player Development Pathway before making his A-League debut last month.

While Jayden Necovski, Peter Antoniou, and Lachie Charles have also made the step from City Football Schools to the first team, Wong is the inaugural player to feature in the Isuzu UTE A-League after his debut in January against Western United.

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Last week, the rising star outshone teammate and fellow academy graduate Medin Memeti to become the youngest Isuzu UTE A-League scorer for City, who have elevated seven young talents into their senior A-Leagues squad this season.

This trend has been prevalent throughout the 2024-25 season, with clubs like Western United, Central Coast Mariners, Adelaide United, and Sydney FC reaping the rewards of their investment in academies.

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During this week’s episode of Total A-Leagues, Tommy Oar shared his insights on A-Leagues academies after Wong’s record-breaking performance against Perth Glory in Round 19, just before the much-anticipated derby clash with Melbourne Victory on Saturday.

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“I believe this marks the first time since the inception of the A-League that we’re witnessing the emergence of a second generation of players,” Oar remarked.

“We’ve seen instances at other clubs where early A-League players now have their children participating in the A-League Women or some capacity. It’s truly inspiring to witness.”

“In this context, it’s fantastic to observe. Interestingly, when you look at major European clubs like Ajax and Barcelona, that’s exactly the model they follow.”

“From a young age, around 10, players are trained to adopt a certain playing style, so when a player leaves during a transfer period, the next in line knows precisely what is expected of them on the pitch.”

“This fosters accountability across the board. It’s genuinely commendable, and Melbourne City deserves praise for the exceptional work they’re doing.”