RCD Espanyol renew Academies in Iraq for three additional years

RCD Espanyol de Barcelona have renewed their Academy project in Baghdad and Basra for three more years. The agreement was officially confirmed in Barcelona this week, with several attendees from the parties involved: Mao Ye, CEO of RCD Espanyol; Albert Saus, Director of RCD Espanyol Academies; Mr. Taha Younus Salman, RCD Espanyol’s main partner in Iraq; and Mr Ali Sadek Mohsin, Partnership Manager of the project in Iraq.

 

The renewal gives continuity to a project that began in Baghdad in 2018 and was later expanded to Basra. RCD Espanyol and Mr. Taha were pioneers in establishing an official Academy in Iraq, at a time when no other foreign club had developed a stable and structured youth football project in the country.

 

Since then, the RCD Espanyol Academies have become a reference for youth football development in the Iraq, combining the training of young players with the continuous development of local coaches through RCD Espanyol’s LA21 methodology.

 

Mao Ye highlighted the project, saying: “The excellent work carried out by the Academy coaches, and especially the commitment of Mr Taha, Mr Ali and their entire team, has led us to renew this agreement. We are very satisfied with what we have built together and we hope to continue this partnership for many more years.”

 

Mr Taha also emphasised the importance of the RCDE model, adding that “Today, we are a reference for youth football development in the region. This is the result of replicating RCD Espanyol’s LA21 model and bringing the club’s methodology and philosophy to Iraq.”

 

The connection with Barcelona is also an essential part of the project. Players from Iraq regularly travel to Spain to train with RCDE coaches, visit the club’s facilities and experience first-hand the institution they proudly represent every week in their country.

 

Since 2018, the Academy project has also contributed significantly to RCD Espanyol’s growing presence and fanbase in Iraq. Over this period, the club have seen an increase in television audiences for RCD Espanyol matches in the country, as well as a growing number of Iraqi followers across social media channels.

 

This growth demonstrates how the RCDE Academies go beyond player and coach development, becoming an important platform for strengthening the connection between the club and its international fanbase and building a long-term link between Iraq and Barcelona.