FC Maribor is a club with a rich history (established in 1960) and a successful present, but it certainly did not forget about the future – everyone at FC Maribor agrees that children are its greatest asset. Youth academy is a very important piece of the puzzle. They are aware that only through professional work and good organization they can incite interest in football in children. Their aim is to make children and youth fall in love with the beautiful game and to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. To ensure the best possibilities for their development, they are advancing with big strides and aim to employ an all-professional staff.
Through the years, FC Maribor’s Youth Academy has raised young boys who proudly represent their city and football all over Slovenia and abroad. The success of its younger selections – and as a consequence of the first team – and the individual players who started their careers in its academy, provide a never-ending inspiration to try to improve and work even harder. But through all this they always keep in mind the social aspect and the broader impact of the academy: children acquire more than just football skills – its staff is preparing them for their future. They learn the meaning of discipline, teamwork, subordination, leadership, they make new friends, they get to travel Slovenia and Europe.
In recent years, FC Maribor’s academy is the most successful academy in Slovenia. More than 220 young players are divided into ten categories, according to their age. Since the foundation of the academy in its current form (in 1990), it has won numerous league and cup trophies. It is the only club that has managed to win the titles in the U-12, U-14, U-16 and U-18 categories in a single season. Through success in international tournaments, the name of FC Maribor has also gained a lot of recognition abroad. Although they are focused on achieving sporting excellence, everyone in the academy is aware that education always comes first. Because of this, only children who do not neglect their schoolwork and continue to succeed in school can be members of the academy. They can look for role models in its first team where some of the players, besides being professional football players, successfully continue with their studies as well.