Global Fútbol

Internationalisation and the promotion of the club brand are among the main institutional objectives at Real Valladolid. This is why there is great excitement at the launch of the RV International Academy, a sporting and academic programme that will welcome youngsters from around the world into the club’s facilities.

The White and Violets have signed an agreement with Campus and Sports Events to overhaul the club’s international campus, one that has already welcomed in youngsters from more than 30 different countries. Campus and Sports Events are experts in this field, having worked with more than 30,000 participants from over 100 different countries, and the methodology of the project is based on the three pillars of: an immersive experience, top-level footballing development and complete schooling at prestigious private centres.

The club explained: “For this season, we made the decision to take a step forward and to relaunch the RV International Academy brand, with the aim of driving the project in the post-pandemic timeframe. We are still at the point of launching the programme and have already had applications from various countries. The interest from youngsters in South America, Israel and Iran particularly stands out.”

Boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 17 from anywhere in the world can apply for a place in the programme, where they will stay in top-class accommodation and train at state-of-the-art facilities that are also used by professional players. Real Valladolid’s academy coaches will run sessions built from the club’s successful methodology, while classes at bilingual schools will allow participants to continue their academic studies in a rewarding environment.

Students can also attend all the matches of the Real Valladolid first team and B team. Furthermore, for older students there is even the possibility of working with the club’s marketing team on some matchday activations, offering an opportunity to gain real life experience with one of the most important departments of a professional Spanish football club.

The RV International Academy as a cornerstone of the club’s internationalisation

Ever since Ronaldo Nazário assumed the presidency of the club in 2018, Real Valladolid have worked extensively to make the team better known outside of its region of Castile and León, even opening a commercial office in the centre of Madrid to bring the institution closer to national and international opportunities.

They have successfully achieved this growth, identifying specific communications and branding plans for each of their strategic markets, including Brazil, China, Israel, Mexico and Russia. English language social media accounts have been set up, interviews have been organised with publications such as the Financial Times or New York Times and the club has even featured in global documentaries. Now, the RV International Academy will also be key to establishing the LaLiga SmartBank club as a top brand in the world of football and, specifically, youth development.

In the view of the club: “This project is a key part of the internationalisation strategy for the Real Valladolid brand, given that it opens up the doors of the club to young players from around the world who want to maximise their potential.”

At the same time, Real Valladolid will continue to work on internationalisation projects away from the pitch. For those in charge at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla, professional communications strategies remain key when it comes to spreading the club’s message and LaLiga has been an important ally in this process, even setting up some valuable meetings with G2 Strategic, a consultancy for global sports business solutions.

On their future plans, Real Valladolid have stated: “Positioning our brand internationally will be developed more so through content and communication than through sporting projects. We are strengthening our global presence thanks to the support that LaLiga gives us in every territory, ensuring that we reach football fans in different countries and cultures in the right way.”

Given the broad range of nationalities to have expressed interest in the RV International Academy at this early stage, Real Valladolid are growing their brand beyond Spain’s borders. As they continue to work with LaLiga and with expert partners such as Campus and Sports Events, that should only continue.