La Fábrica
| La Fábrica | |
|---|---|
Above, the entrance to Ciudad Real Madrid ("Real Madrid City"), where La Fábrica youth players as well as Real Madrid's professional squad train daily
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| Alternative names | The Factory |
| General information | |
| Type | Player farm system |
| Location | Spain |
| Town or city | Madrid |
| Current tenants |
Real Madrid Real Madrid Youth Academy |
| Groundbreaking | 1942 |
| Renovated | 2005 |
| Renovation cost | €100 million |
| Client | Real Madrid Youth Academy |
| Owner | Real Madrid |
| Website | |
| www |
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'La Fábrica' (English: "The Factory") is the name given to the Real Madrid Youth Academy and player farm system, or "cantera." It is a world class youth academy that has contributed to Real Madrid's sporting success throughout its history. For instance, in the 1980s, Real Madrid won five consecutive La Liga titles, two consecutive UEFA Europa Leagues (then known as the UEFA Cup) and reached three consecutive UEFA Champions League semi-finals with a squad composed mostly of players formed at La Fábrica. This batch of "homegrown" Real Madrid players included Emilio Butragueño, Chendo, Manolo Sanchís, Ricardo Gallego, Míchel, Sebastián Losada, Miguel Pardeza and Rafael Martín Vázquez.
La Fábrica is housed in Ciudad Real Madrid, Real Madrid's new training facilities located just outside Madrid in Valdebebas. Inaugurated in 2005 after Real Madrid invested €100 million to develop it, Ciudad Real Madrid serves as the training ground for all teams associated with the club, from the fully professional first-team squad, to the under-8 Prebenjamín youth team.
In 1942, AD Plus Ultra, a local Madrid club then in the Spanish Third Division, agreed to become Real Madrid's feeder club in return for financial support. In 1972, AD Plus Ultra became Real's official reserve team, known today as Real Madrid Castilla. RM Castilla is the most successful reserve side in the history of Spanish football, having amassed more points in the Spanish Second Division than any other reserve side. In 1980, RM Castilla even reached the final of the Copa del Rey, Spain's premier domestic cup competition, where ironically they lost the title to Real Madrid's first team squad.
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