Latest news with #Under-18PremierLeagueCup
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Reading legend on importance of the 'successful' Academy and 'growing your own'
Sir John Madejski & Rob Couhig (Image: ©Jason Dawson) Iconic former Reading owner Sir John Madejski has spoken out on the importance of the Academy while speaking highly of soon-to-be new owner Rob Couhig. The American lawyer, who previously owned Wycombe Wanderers, agreed to buy the club 'in principle' last weekend and is expected to formally ratify the deal this week. Over 21,000 supporters were at the SCL Stadium on Saturday for the final match of the season, a 4-2 defeat to Barnsley which signalled a seventh-place finish for Noel Hunt's side. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Looking ahead to a new era, Madejski- who owned the club between 1990 and 2012 and oversaw two promotions to the Premier League, has underlined the importance of the club's youth system. Reaching the final of the Under-18 Premier League Cup, following on from last year's success at Under-21 level, most of the squad is made up of Academy graduates due to years of transfer embargoes. "Our Academy program has been one of the most successful around. We have to grow our own as much as possible," Madejski told BBC Radio Berkshire. "We have a great young squad as we speak, and I think the fact they have some comfort knowing they are going to get their salaries next month is a to concentrate on more of the same. "Rob knows full well about embellishing new players so I'm sure he will be totally on top of all that. He's a very hard-working man, only yesterday I saw him working away. He will get it right as much as anyone can get it right and we should all be very grateful that we have Rob Couhig here to take the club over. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "I'm delighted it has happened at last because we've been waiting for this for two long years and I am afraid the Dai Yongge administration was a disaster from top to bottom." During Dai Yongge's eight year spell, the club lost over £180m, were relegated to the third tier for the first time in over 30 years and were constantly indebted to organisations.
New York Times
02-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Callum Olusesi signs four-year Tottenham contract
Callum Olusesi has signed a new four-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur. The central midfielder, who only turned 18 last month, made his first-team debut for Spurs earlier this year from the bench in their 3-2 victory over Hoffenheim in the Europa League. He has been an unused substitute on 12 occasions in the Premier League too. Advertisement Olusesi helped Spurs win both the Under-17 and Under-18 Premier League Cup in the 2022-23 campaign and made several appearances for the Under-21s last season as they won the Premier League 2 title. Olusesi is close friends with Mikey Moore and they have progressed through Tottenham's academy together. They have regularly trained with Ange Postecoglou's first-team squad and both represented England at last summer's Under-17 European Championship. Moore, who does not turn 18 until August, has made 16 appearances under Postecoglou this season but missed two months of action due to a virus. Tottenham's 3-0 victory over Elfsborg in the Europa League in January should give young players in their academy, including Olusesi, confidence that there is a clear pathway into the first-team. Damola Ajayi scored on his debut while other academy graduates Moore and Dane Scarlett found the back of the net too. Postecoglou has consistently given young players opportunities across his two seasons in charge including Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray. Spurs have signed highly-rated young players from other clubs including Yang-Min Hyeok and Luka Vuskovic. They are collecting some of the best upcoming talent from around the world but, crucially, keep promoting players they have developed internally too. With a new deal which runs until 2029, Olusesi will hope to follow the path Moore and Will Lankshear have made by stepping up into senior football permanently. ()
