EXCLUSIVE: Sydney's AC Milan academy has won its first international trophy with an exciting victory in the final of the AC Milan Friendship Cup in Italy last week.
The Aussie nippers stunned quality opposition from other AC Milan academies around the world including Mexico, Egypt, Costa Rica, USA, Canada and Italy to register a 7-6 win in the final.
The tournament matches were played as seven v seven on ¾ pitches over three 15 minute thirds. In temperatures of up to 36 degrees, the Aussie AC Milan kids played three games per day over the two week tournament to bring home the trophy.
According to the Football Development Australia (FDA) – the company that runs the AC Milan academy – the Aussie kids were commended for their technical style of play by AC Milan officials.
FDA Director Cormac Begley said the victory was reward for the hard work the academy's elite players have put in over the last 12 months.
"For the past year these players have worked very hard on improving the technical aspects of their game as individuals and also as a team.
"The AC Milan Friendship Cup was a wonderful opportunity for them to express themselves as footballers in an international environment and learn to cope with the pressures of tournament football."
The Aussie side is coached by former AC Milan star Andrea Icardi. The former Serie A midfielder lives works with the young Aussie talent at the academy on a daily basis.
The win capped a memorable trip to Milan for the Australian based academy players.
The players participated in an elite clinic and trained under the guidance of the official AC Milan Academy coaches before carrying the Australian flag for the opening ceremony of the tournament.
The tournament matches were played as seven v seven on ¾ pitches over three 15 minute thirds. In temperatures of up to 36 degrees, the Aussie AC Milan kids played three games per day over the two week tournament to bring home the trophy.
According to the Football Development Australia (FDA) – the company that runs the AC Milan academy – the Aussie kids were commended for their technical style of play by AC Milan officials.
FDA Director Cormac Begley said the victory was reward for the hard work the academy's elite players have put in over the last 12 months.
"For the past year these players have worked very hard on improving the technical aspects of their game as individuals and also as a team.
"The AC Milan Friendship Cup was a wonderful opportunity for them to express themselves as footballers in an international environment and learn to cope with the pressures of tournament football."
The Aussie side is coached by former AC Milan star Andrea Icardi. The former Serie A midfielder lives works with the young Aussie talent at the academy on a daily basis.
The win capped a memorable trip to Milan for the Australian based academy players.
The players participated in an elite clinic and trained under the guidance of the official AC Milan Academy coaches before carrying the Australian flag for the opening ceremony of the tournament.
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