The Yellow Submarine has been the third-highest team in LaLiga in terms of former youth players in the squad (10)
The future is bright for the Yellows. This season, Villarreal has been one of the teams in LaLiga with the most players who have come through their academy. A total of ten players in the current Yellow Submarine squad have come through the Yellows Academy. That number is only beaten by Athletic Club (18) and Real Sociedad (12).
The four first-team captains: Bruno Bruno Soriano, Mario Gaspar, Jaume Costa and Manu Trigueros were all formed in the Yellows Academy, like other first-team players Santi Cazorla, Gerard Moreno, Pablo Fornals, Alfonso Pedraza, Miguelón and Dani Raba.
Moreover, young talents like Manu Morlanes, Samu Chukwueze and Xavi Quintillà, who were not given a first-team number, have become important players for Javi Calleja, totally integrated into the side.
Pepe Castaño, Iván Martín and Andrei Ratiu have also made their first-team debuts this season.
Calleja’s arrival, a real push for the Yellows Academy
Villarreal CF has always been known for the backing it gives to youth football. Since the Yellows were promoted to the top flight, 80 Yellows Academy players have debuted for the first team, with the following footballers playing more than 200 times: Bruno Soriano, Mario Gaspar, Manu Trigueros, Santi Cazorla, Mateo Musacchio and Jaume Costa.
Javi Calleja’s arrival as first-team manager has even further showed this support. Since he took charge, the manager has given 12 players from the Yellows Academy in less than two seasons: Raba, Ramiro Guerra, Ander Cantero, Genís Montolio, Manu Morlanes, Pedro Martínez, Sergio Lozano, Chukwueze, Quintillà, Castaño, Martín and Ratiu.
Yellows Academy players who have played for Villarreal CF since the club’s first promotion to the top flight:
- 1999-00: Javi Calleja, Carlos Vila.
- 2002-03: Javi Venta, Héctor Font, César Arzo, José María Cases, Verza, Xisco Nadal.
- 2003-04: Pere Martí, Cazorla, Miguel Ángel Tena, David Galindo.
- 2004-05: Carlos Alcántara, Marcos García.
- 2005-06: Javi Rubio, Óscar López.
- 2006-07: Jonathan Pereira, Bruno Soriano.
- 2007-08: Juan Carlos.
- 2008-09: Jordi Pablo, Matilla, Joan Tomás, Mario Gaspar.
- 2009-10: David Fuster, Musacchio, Marco Ruben, Kiko Olivas, Jefferson Montero, Marcos Gullón, Joan Oriol.
- 2010-11: Catalá, Hernán Pérez, Cristóbal, Carlos Tomás, Natxo Insa, Nickie Billie Nielsen, Wakaso.
- 2011-12: Joselu Moreno, Jaume Costa, Castellani, Gerard Bordás, Florian Lejeune, Moi Gómez.
- 2012-13: Diego Mariño, Salva Chamorro, Pablo González, Jorge Palatsí, Guillem Truyols, Daniel Toribio, Pablo Íñiguez, Manu Trigueros, Gerard Moreno.
- 2013-14: Nahuel Leiva, Edu Ramos.
- 2014-15: Sergio Marcos, Adrián Marín, Pedraza, Fran Sol, José Naranjo, Israel Puerto, Aleix García.
- 2015-16: Rodrigo Hernández, Miguelón Llambrich.
- 2016-17 Leo Suárez, Mario González, Pau Torres, Aitor Cantalapiedra.
- 2017-18: Dani Raba, Chuca, Ramiro Guerra, Ander Cantero, Genís Montolio, Manu Morlanes, Pedro Martínez, Sergio Lozano, Darío Poveda.
- 2018-19: Samu Chukwueze, Xavi Quintillà, Pepe Castaño, Iván Martín, Andrei Ratiu.
