Class of ’92 say Chinese clubs must nurture grassroots talent like Manchester United did with them
Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary and Phil Neville, and Nicky Butt discuss how they think China can become a football powerhouse on visit to Hong Kong
They are perhaps the most famous example in footballing history of academy prospects being nurtured together to reach the very top of the game.
Now, Manchester United’s famous ‘Class of 92’ – Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Gary and Phil Neville, and Nicky Butt – are urging the wealthy clubs of the Chinese Super League to follow their example.
In Hong Kong as part of a whistle-stop tour around Asia to promote the new “Ballr” interactive football app, and local broadcaster Now TV’s football coverage for next season, the legendary United quintet had their brains picked at a famous Central members club as part of a discussion panel titled “Building Winning Teams”.
“In any successful team, you can go and buy the Zlatan Ibrahimovics and the Paul Pogbas of the world but you still need to have young players coming through the ranks, who have a feeling for the club, who have a heart for the club, and who want to do well for the club,” said Butt.
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has cottoned on to this notion, and are making attempts to crack down on the influx of big-money foreign signings stemming the development of homegrown players.
