Under coach Jens Bäumer, the Integrated Residential Academy Team launched alongside Borussia Mönchengladbach last year. A targeted scouting process selected 20 U18 players from the USA and Canada, who then received nine months of footballing and personal development support from the Foals. “The first year has demonstrated the potential of the Integrated Academy Team,” says Daniel Brendel, Manager of International Projects at Borussia. “We have created structures that give young North American players the opportunity to experience European football in a highly professional environment and to develop both as players and as individuals.”
The success of the project is evident in the next career steps of the talented players. Six players – Taewook Kim, Noah Hanke, Alexis AuCoin, Lucas Müller, Bryson Antoci, and Matthew Tweedy – will remain in Germany. They will play for various youth teams of Berliner AK, SV Bergisch Gladbach, FC Wegberg Beck, and Bonner SC. “The fact that almost a third of all the boys have managed to find a club in Germany is a success we can build on,” said Brendel.