Fergie looks to go worldwide

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United have a head start over Premiership rivals in their bid to find and groom the stars of tomorrow.

That is why the Old Trafford manager has agreed to play a major part in United's overseas development programme when he retires as manager at the end of next season.

United want to set up academies around the world and Sir Alex, who would monitor their progress, said: 'The club are engaged in a programme of development which will see us operate academies in places like South Africa, China and other parts of the Far East.

'I'll visit these places and make a contribution.'

Already United believe they are in a strong position when it comes to nurturing young talent. Sir Alex played a major part in the tie-up with Belgium's Royal Antwerp, where youngsters like Ronnie Wallwork, Danny Higginbotham - now at Derby County - and Luke Chadwick were on loan to hone their skills. Currently defenders Kirk Hilton and John O'Shea, as well as striker Jimmy Davis, are in Belgium.

United also have ties in Cape Town where Old Traf-ford midfielder Quinton Fortune grew up. Their club there are Fortune United, who play in similar red shirts to their adoptive parent.

Sir Alex last year oversaw a connection with Swedish club Gothenburg and sent striker Erik Nevland there on loan while there are also plans to develop links with clubs in Australia, the Far East and in Dublin.

The overseas connections tie in with the club's global marketing strategy - United have outlets in Dublin, soccer gapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and want more shops in Australia and Canada. But there is also the hope that one major spin-off from the merchandising will see United become a magnet for top youngsters wherever the club are highly visible.

Yet, while United may lead the English rush into the academy culture, they are left trailing by some of the Continent's biggest names.

Dutch models, such as the academy run by Ajax Amsterdam, have attracted visitors from envious clubs around the world. Yet it is often forgotten that clubs such as Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven were among the first to extend their youth development into other European countries - in particular the Nordic nations.

Denmark legend Frank Arnesen, now general manager at PSV, was plucked by the club from Danish youth football as a teenager, while winger Jesper Olsen, later to star with United, was picked up by Ajax from the Danish second division.

Now Ajax fish successfully in Australian waters and have bought a controlling interest in a premier league club in South Africa, Ajax Spurs, to act as a nursery. As for Feyenoord, the Rotterdam club have launched an academy in South America - from where they have unearthed outstanding players like Argentine striker Julio Cruz, now in Italy with Bologna.

Anderlecht of Belgium have developed such a widespread net for talent that several years ago the club decided to make English the official training-ground language.

The French model is different. Clubs such as Nantes and Auxerre were European leaders in building domestic academies. The aim was simple: find talented teenagers either within France or former French colonies in Africa, turn them into stars to win cups and titles, sell them and bring through a new generation.

The reward came when the national team won the 1998 World Cup and last year's European Championship. But, as World Cup-winning coach Aime Jacquet said: 'This was not overnight success. This goes back a decade or more and demanded a lot of work from a lot of people whose names nobody knows.'

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