Discover the heart of the José Manuel Llaneza Training Ground, whose academy residence has recently been refurbished. It is where stars such as Rodri, Gerard, Cazorla and Baena took their first steps, among many other elite players
A place to dream. Spanning 100,000 square metres and housing nine football pitches, the José Manuel Llaneza Training Ground is not only the regular workplace of the senior team, but also the entire Villarreal CF academy. It also features a residence for academy players who come from around the world to grow both as footballers and as people.
The facilities include five artificial grass pitches, four natural grass pitches, a multi-purpose area and two large buildings. The main building is the residence, which acts as the headquarters for both the senior team and the academy squads. The other building is the offices, home to the administrative staff and club executives.
Would you like to discover the inner workings of the Submarine’s nerve centre?
Roig’s first big project and a tribute to Llaneza
The Miralcamp Training Ground was the first major project undertaken by Fernando Roig as Villarreal CF president back in 1998. In 2013, it was renamed the José Manuel Llaneza Training Ground in honour of the club’s long-serving vice-president, who had dedicated 29 years to Villarreal.
The first-team residence: a yellow home
A yellow home. Inaugurated in 2018, the residence at the José Manuel Llaneza Training Ground is the usual base for the first team. With a surface area of nearly 1,000 square metres, the state-of-the-art facility includes 21 rooms, a conference room, two lounges and a stunning terrace. The space is equipped with high-end furnishings, premium finishes and smart automation systems in every room.
This pioneering residence, unique in European football, is located in the same building as the first-team dressing room, gym and the club’s private medical clinic, which are on the ground floor.
A hundred academy players call it home
Villarreal CF is renowned for its commitment to developing young talent, with many players arriving each year to pursue their dreams of becoming professional footballers in yellow.
Around 100 players live in the residence, which features 28 rooms across two floors. These rooms are fully equipped to ensure comfort and make it easier for the boys to balance their training with their education. The youngest players – from the U11 to U16 squads – live on the ground floor, while the U17, U18 and U19 players and the staff who supervise them live upstairs. The coordinators ensure the boys fulfil their duties, share experiences and also enjoy leisure time in common spaces like the video room, games room, library and computers with internet access. These young talents come from all over Spain and abroad.
In the last two seasons, the residence has undergone a major refurbishment, with two successive renovation projects that have modernised the facilities. Each room now hosts four players and features a study room, table football, billiards and table tennis – all to help the players feel at home even far from their families. Education is not neglected, as the players study at the IES Miralcamp secondary school, just a few metres from the training ground.
Home of a Ballon d’Or winner
The Yellow family proudly looks back on the many elite players who once lived and trained at the José Manuel Llaneza Training Ground. There, they grew not only as players, but also as people. One of the most remarkable examples is Rodri Hernández. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner arrived at Villarreal CF in 2013 to join the academy. He made history by winning the 2014/15 Copa de Campeones with the U19s (Juvenil A) and also lifted the U19 European Championship with Spain.
In 2015, at just 19 years old, Rodri made his first-team debut under current head coach Marcelino García Toral in a Copa del Rey win over SD Huesca (2-0). He went on to feature in five more matches that season.
After impressing with the B team, he earned a first-team spot and learnt from club legends like Bruno Soriano and Manu Trigueros. In 2017/18, he became a regular starter and caught the attention of the footballing world wearing yellow. He played 84 matches with the Villarreal first team.
A long list of role models
Rodri is far from the only player to reach the top after passing through the José Manuel Llaneza Training Ground. The list includes Gerard Moreno, Santi Cazorla, Álex Baena, Yeremy Pino, Filip Jörgensen, Nicolas Jackson, Samu Chukwueze, Moi Gómez, Mario Gaspar, Borja Iglesias, Isi Palazón, Nahuel Leiva, Iñaki Peña, Jordi Pablo, Brais Méndez, Darío Poveda, Aleix García and Iván Martín, among many others.
Alfonso Pedraza, part of Villarreal’s current first-team squad, also spent time at the residence. An examples to follow.
José Ramón Villalba: a life in yellow
The residence is the heart of the club’s academy, where each year new aspiring players arrive to grow personally and athletically, guided by tutors and coordinators who are fully committed to their development.
Among these dedicated professionals is José Ramón Villalba, director of the residence. A life in yellow. That phrase perfectly sums up José Ramón Villalba, who is now in his 25th year at the helm.
A long-awaited reunion
This season marks the 25th anniversary of the academy residence at the José Manuel Llaneza Training Ground. To celebrate, the club organised a touching reunion with former academy players who once lived there. It was an unforgettable day.
The offices
Villarreal CF’s growth is not limited to the sporting side. The club also has a 1,500 m² office building opposite the first-team training pitch, which houses its management and administrative departments. From marketing, protocol and communications to the technical secretariat and executive offices, everything is based in this modern and functional building. It also features a café for Yellow fans and even a travel agency.
Two training grounds
Finally, it is worth noting that the José Manuel Llaneza Training Ground is not Villarreal CF’s only training facility. In 2015, the PAMESA Cerámica Training Ground was unveiled.
Located to the south of the town and easily accessible via the N-340 road, the Pamesa Cerámica Training Ground covers more than 40,000 square metres and includes three full-size pitches and one smaller pitch, with seating for up to 250 spectators.
The complex features a modern two-storey building clad in ceramic tiles and designed with the latest energy efficiency measures. It is fitted with solar panels, LED lighting and systems to reuse wastewater for pitch irrigation.
It is fully equipped to support sporting activity, with a cutting-edge gym, 24 changing rooms for different age groups and a dedicated medical area.
