Great representation of the Yellow Reserves and Academy after the first cut of 77 players
The Submarine keeps going in the Fútbol Draft’16. Nine of the initial ten Academy players selected –from a total of 132- have got past the first cut of 77 players for the 2016 Football Draft (the Fútbol Draft 2016) after the decision of the Technical Committee who choose the nation’s best talented youths between 16 and 20 years old.
The Technical Committee, their president Iñaki Sáez, and all the head selectors from the youth leagues, have reduced the number of players to 77, after collecting information on all the most promising Spanish footballers. They have chosen 12 per position, who will have the chance to win one of the prestigious Fútbol Draft awards, previously won by Piqué, Silva, Ramos, Llorente, Cesc and Mata.
There will be three more Committees to carry out the ever difficult job of narrowing down the top 77 players to just 55. From there they will cut down the bunch again to get the final top 33 players, who will then be split into the Spanish Reserve and Academy Gold, Silver and Bronze elevens. On the other hand, in Women’s football, the list of candidates will be published in the second Technical Committee of the year and at the end of the season will be cut down to the Women’s Gold eleven.
The Yellow Reserve and Academy players are in the categories for the following awards:
- Best Left Back: Adrián Marín (First Team, 1997) and Edu Adell (U19 A team, 1999).
- Best Right Centre Back: Pepe Castaño (U19 A team, 1998).
- Best Right Centre Midfielder: Manu Morlanes (Villarreal C team, 1999).
- Best Left Centre Midfielder: Rodri Hernández (Villarreal B team, 1996).
- Best Right Midfielder: Nahuel Leiva (First Team, 1996).
- Best Left Midfielder: Alfonso Pedraza (Villarreal B team, 1996) and Iván Martín (U19 A Roda team, 1999).
- Best Centre Forward: Darío Poveda (U19 A team, 1997).
