Juventus Academy Shanghai gathered yesterday to celebrate the amazing 2020/21 Spring Season! We welcomed new additions to our coaching staff, took part in fun competitions, said goodbye to a few beloved players, and awarded our teams and individual players for their amazing work this season. It was truly a great Spring season for Juventus, as we saw all our competitive teams finish in the top three within their respective divisions. 

THE CEREMONY BEGINS

After an hour of socializing, playing football, and lunchtime, the ceremony officially began at 12:45 PM! We started by remembering Giampiero Boniperti, Juventus’ legendary player and president who passed away on the 18th this month. His famous quote “winning is not important, but it is the only thing that matters” has been immortalized in what it means to be Juventus, and his legacy will live on forever. Thank you, Presidentissimo. 

We then invited our coaches onto the stage to sing the Juventus Anthem, also accompanied by the enthusiasm from the audience. Coach Sipan and Sara were formally introduced to the players and families as new additions to the coaching staff, and Coach Yura sent his greetings from abroad as well. 

TEAMS AWARDING

Then it was time to acknowledge the team achievements made this season! Every team came to the stage to receive their well-deserved medals, with the U13 Ronaldo team lifting the golden trophy for their amazing performance all season. Thank you to every single player and parent for your hard work and contributions! 

U7: non-competitive, won 8 matches out of 10; U8: non-competitive, won 8 matches out of 10

U9: 3rd place in the league

U11: 3rd place in the league

U12: 2nd place in the league

U16: 2nd place in the league

U13 Ronaldo: Champions in Division A of the league

JUVENTUS HISTORY CONTEST

Here’s where things got competitive. Before the party, our Team Managers and coaches were asked to study an eight-page paper on Juventus’ club history. What awaited them was a competition in which they have to ring the bell before their opponent to answer a question related to the information from that document. Our U16 Team Manager Tony was our host, as he has been crowned the “Juventus Wikipedia” for knowing everything related to the club and its history. Team Ronaldo and Team Dybala faced off, giving each other a tough time as the score remained level for most of the contest. Ultimately, it was Team Ronaldo who would win the contest 8-6, lifting a trophy for their fast reflexes and extended knowledge about Juventus History. Great job to every participant- no wrong answers were given despite the difficulty of the questions! 

FREESTYLE CONTEST

Last season, we had the Celebration Contest. This season, we switched it up and asked our players to submit their best free-styling skills! Matthew M., Ty, Edoardo T., Francesco T., Enzo, Keke, Alvaro, Lucca, Louis, McQueen, and Jonah were gifted an official Juventus pin for their participation, as well as a first-row view of what came afterward. The pressure was then on the coaches, as Coach Meison, Babacar, Sara, and Sipan had to prove their free styling abilities one by one in front of a large audience. Impressive showcasing from each of our coaches! 

The winner of the Freestyle Competition was then announced- McQueen! As a U8 player, his juggling abilities are strong, which is impressive given his young age. McQueen was gifted an official Juventus ball for his great efforts. 

KAHOOT TRIVIA

The last contest of the party, all participants were invited to take part in a Kahoot quiz on Juventus Academy Shanghai facts and history. Instead of asking questions about the first team, this time the questions focused on information about our teams. Some example questions include: “How many Matthews are there in the U16 team?” and “How did Jonah celebrate his last goal of the season?” The winners were Team “Radfandinho”- formed by Alvaro, Francesco, Federico, and Quintin from U16. 

CALL WITH CARLO

Before we moved on to the most anticipated segment of the party, we had the pleasure to give a call to Carlo Mastellone, the technical director of all Juventus Academies around the world. Carlo spoke with us over video call and gave the Academy words of approval and encouragement. It was truly an honor to connect with the headquarters all the way from Shanghai to Italy, as it is a reflection of the good work done by our entire Academy! 

AWARDING CEREMONY

The Awarding Ceremony started a little bittersweet since we had to say goodbye to three amazing players. Rafael (U8), Tilde (U11), and Adam (U13) will be moving away from Shanghai this summer and therefore are leaving Juventus Academy Shanghai, but we wanted to make sure they got a proper sendoff. Thank you for your time with us, and we hope that a smile will come across your faces when you look back at your experiences here!

We started off the individual awards by awarding the U7 and U8, two amazing teams that fight just as hard as anyone else despite their young age. Each player was awarded a certificate for a unique trait of theirs- it has been a great season.

ROLE MODEL AWARD

Tuur (U9) 

Edoardo R. (U11) 

Alan (U12) 

Sky (U13) 

Francesco R. (U16) 

Quintin (U16) 

In football, there is something more important than just the skillful and technical side of things, and that is a mentality. The correct attitude on and off the pitch is what truly makes the difference. We presented the Role Model Award to six exceptional players, who not only are great players who help the team technically/tactically but also pose as a great example to their teammates. Disciplined, motivated, and always reliable, the winners were Tuur (U9), Edoardo (U11), Alan (U12), Sky (U13), Francesco (U16), and Quintin (U16). Each of these players was a key figure in the achievements won by the team, as their composure, consistency, and fighting spirit on the pitch give their peers something to rely on. 

GOALKEEPER OF THE ACADEMY- FEDERICO

Tuur (U9)

Tameem (U9) 

Ryan (U12) 

Keke (U13) 

Federico (U16) 

Goalkeepers make a huge difference on the pitch, as they are the first line of attack and the last line of defense. Not only are they crucial in leading and organizing play, but a good goalkeeper can also help overcome to toughest opponents. Each of our nominees has performed extremely well in this role, making crucial saves in many matches and providing the leadership that every team needs to do well.

DEFENDER OF THE ACADEMY- GIACOMO

Tilde (U11) 

Luscien (U11) 

Karen (U12) 

Joshua (U13) 

Giacomo (U13) 

Roshan (U16)

Though most of the glory in the football world often goes to those who score goals, defenders are where the success ultimately begins. One goal is enough to win if the team can manage not to concede. It was difficult to narrow down the many great defenders we have in the Academy, but the six nominees have done amazing this season to help their team remain strong in the back. These players are steady and reliable, with great ability to read the game and anticipate the attacks of opponent teams.

MIDFIELDER OF THE ACADEMY- JONAH

Raymond (U9) 

Ty (U9) 

Matthew M. (U11) 

Jonah (U11) 

Hanson (U12) 

Jacob F. (U13) 

Yogo (U13) 

Chris J. (U16)

The midfielder category is always difficult to nominate players from, as there are many candidates worthy of winning the Midfielder of the Academy. The eight nominees selected have a range of different styles- from fast wingers to technical playmakers, to box-to-box midfielders. However, what they all share is their strong technical ability to link up the defense to the attack and create chances to score. Every nominee is a key player of their team and has been an important part of every win earned.

STRIKER OF THE ACADEMY- ALVARO

Louis (U8) 

Leon (U11) 

Toby (U13) 

Alvaro (U16) 

Matthew Z. (U16)

Every team needs players that can score and make a numerical impact on the pitch. These five nominees have done great in their respective teams to score crucial, amazing goals as strikers. They are clinical, technically skilled, and possess the killer instinct to make the right attacking runs and decisions at the right time. Their goal-scoring abilities have consistently won their teams the points needed to win a medal.

BALLON D'OR- JACOB

Raymond (U9)

Jonah (U11)

Jacob F. (U13)- 20 votes

Alvaro (U16)

Our Ballon d’Or trophy for the 2020/21 Juventus Academy Shanghai Player of the Academy saw four nominees this Spring season. These four players were selected for their excellence this season, going above and beyond to make an impact within their teams. Their presence in the team was irreplaceable this season, whether it be due to their goals, their leadership, or their ability to organize the team from inside the pitch. Every nominated player deserved this title, but there can only be one winner. After a voting process in which players, Team Managers, and the technical staff each got one vote, the winner was announced. Jacob won with 20 votes, while the next two runner-ups came close with 15 votes each. Congratulations to all four nominees- a nomination is not just a certificate, it is an affirmation from the technical team for all of your hard work and ability as a football player. We also hope that this will encourage, not discourage those who were not nominated, as it is always difficult to narrow down players when there are so many possible candidates. If you continue to work hard and give your 100%, you are sure to be noticed for next season’s nominations and awards.