FC Barcelona setting up shop in Ballerup

New academy to weed out the next Messi

Mar 26, 2015

It's many a Danish kid's dream to follow in the footsteps of legendary countryman Michael Laudrup and suit up for mighty FC Barcelona. In a few months' time, that dream could move that little bit closer to reality.

FC Barcelona will open its very first year-round Scandinavian academy in August this year when the Spanish football giant launches its FCBEscola Copenhagen in Topdanmark Hallen in the capital's western suburb of Ballerup.

”I am very proud to welcome the world's biggest football club FC Barcelona to Ballerup Municipality,” Jesper Würtzen, the mayor of Ballerup, said. ”The co-operation has become a reality thanks to the hard work by the local football community and we want to support that.”

”There is no doubt that Barcelona has chosen Ballerup because of our great branding value and the decision will rub off on our business community. It's a really good day and a huge welcome to Barcelona in Ballerup.”

Summer success
Xevi Marce, the head of the club's academy program FCBescola, looks forward to the results that the academy in Ballerup will produce.

”For four years FCBEscola has run summer football schools in Denmark, where many boys and girls have benefited from the method and values that FC Barcelona stands for,” Marce said.

”Looking at the success and acceptance that FCBEscola has achieved, we are very pleased to announce the opening of the first official FCBEscola academy in Denmark and Scandinavia.”

The Danish former Barcelona player and European Footballer of the Year Allan Simonsen will be the ambassador to the FCBEscola Copenhagen academy.

Fact Box

– FCBEscola Copenhagen is for boys and girls aged 6-16

– On May 9-10, five FC Barcelona coaches will be in Denmark to run the trials for the boys and girls looking to get into the academy. Other trials will be held at summer camps in Ballerup, Odense, Aarhus and Billund

– A professional Barcelona coach will also move to Ballerup full-time and educate eight to ten Danish coaches in FC Barcelona's training concepts

– FCBEscola Copenhagen will work closely with Ballerup Municipality and local football clubs in the area

– The children will train two to three times a week and play games every Saturday

TOP STORIES

Nørrebro: A battle between identities

Nørrebro is a cornerstone of the city of Copenhagen. However, while it continues to be a popular hang out spot for young and old alike, the neighborhood is in the middle of a transformation from the old working class population, to a younger and more economically stable clientele. This fact raises concern among native Nørrebro-citizens.
Copenhagen celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a grand 20th anniversary parade

The Irish Culture Association Denmark (ICAD) is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Copenhagen on March 16, 2025, with a parade marking its 20th anniversary. Supported by the Irish Embassy, the event will feature Irish music, dance, sports, and cultural displays, bringing the spirit of Ireland to Denmark.
Trump: Greenlandic annexation “will happen.” Greenlandic PM: “Enough is enough”

Yesterday, the President of the United States made some of the strongest statements about Greenland he has ever made during the press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Copenhagen revisited through memoir poetry

Not all students feel like reading Danish poetry after a meeting at a language school with writer and poet Henrik Palle. Yet, a portrayal of Copenhagen as the city once was and the impressions of what the city is today give a deeper impression of the Danes
A book to make Danish idioms easier to understand

It’s difficult to learn Danish, especially with idioms that have figurative meanings. It highlights Christiane Bjørg Nielsen’s book, See What You Say, which serves as a visual guide to understanding these idiomatic expressions in Danish.
Raise the voice of internationals. Take the survey and share your experience in Denmark.

Copenhagen Capacity has launched a survey for all internationals living in Denmark to find out if they are happy here and what challenges they face. The Copenhagen Post is the media partner for this initiative. You can find the survey below in the article.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Career

Copenhagen ranked 4th for career growth

Copenhagen is ranked as the fourth-best city in the world for career growth, according to an analysis by EnjoyTravel. This ranking considers various factors such as living costs, salary levels, workforce availability, and overall quality of life. Copenhagen is noted for its blend of historical and modern elements, particularly in the green energy sector, which influences job opportunities.
Data shows that non-Western immigrants have saved local economies in Denmark

A study reveals how only the massive influx of non-Western immigrants has saved many areas in Denmark from a decline in the workforce and a consequently shrinking economy
Long-term unemployment is double for non-Western immigrants

An analysis from the Labour Movement’s Business Council shows that the rate in long-term unemployment for non-Western immigrants is 1.8 times higher than for Danes. In other words, a chronic unemployment situation is way more probable for non-Western internationals.