Bid to boost China's soccer status kicks off

The Evergrande Football School, a flagship training center in China, will send up to 50 young players to its overseas academies in Spain and the Netherlands this year, aiming to boost China's talents.

The school is a cooperative project between defending Chinese Super League champion Guangzhou Evergrande and Spanish La Liga giant Real Madrid.

The Real Madrid Foundation and SOXNA (Soccer Xcellence Nature) coaches are responsible for the professional training in the school which has kicked off enrollment in Qingyuan, Guangdong province, where the school is based.

Children aged between 9 and 12 are targeted in a nationwide recruitment campaign.

The school's increased involvement is in line with the country's determination to boost soccer development, said Liu Jiangnan, executive president.

An overall reform plan has been published by the Chinese government attaching importance to schools soccer and developing young talent.

The sport will be added to the compulsory curriculum in elementary and middle schools across China. Goals include the women's team returning to world class status and the men's side joining the game's leading powers.