To be a part of China’s rapid football development and to leave a legacy for generations to come by sharing the expertise we have built over the past 100 years is quite important.”

Founded in 1908, Feyenoord’s conveyor belt of talent from its academy at the Varkenoord complex in Rotterdam has helped secure the club 15 Eredivisie league titles in the Netherlands, one European Cup (now the Champions League) in 1970 and two UEFA Cups (now the Europa League) in 1974 and 2002.

According to the International to invest tens of millions of dollars into building an academy on the southern China island to bring youth training knowhow from its fabled La Masia academy, the alma mater of superstar striker Lionel Messi.

Two months later, German goliath Bayern Munich launched a full-time soccer school in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, to benefit young talent and coaches while enhancing the club’s presence and brand value in China.

The lack of qualified coaching staff and facilities in China has opened the door for expert overseas assistance to achieve the goal of developing 50,000 specialized soccer schools in the country by 2025.

Last year, branch facilities of the Winning League Figo Football Academy in Chengdu, Shanghai and Beijing, co-founded by Portuguese legend Luis Figo in 2014, were reported to have shut down without giving notice or refunds to parents who signed up for expensive training sessions for their children.

Figo, a former FIFA Player of the Year, subsequently released a statement through Titan Sports that he prematurely ended the contract with local operators due to chaotic management and lack of back pay for coaches.

“Similar cases have occurred elsewhere in the country, reminding us that the governing body should step up monitoring and management of the surging youth training market,” said Wang Dazhao, a Beijing-based soccer commentator.

Koevermans believes Feyenoord’s traditional emphasis on nurturing its own talent will help it succeed in the increasingly competitive sector.

“We depend on the development of our own players. We don’t buy a lot of expensive players like the Spanish or English clubs do,” he said.

“We excel in growing kids from a young age to technically prepare them to become professional players.

“That’s the advantage we have compared to other clubs.”

ZHANG WENKUI / XINHUA A Dutch soccer coach demonstrates skills to students in Shenyang, Liaoning province, in March 2016. China is looking to enhance cooperation and exchanges with soccer powerhouses like the Netherlands, Germany, France and England in order to develop...

PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY Viva China chairman Li Ning (left) and Feyenoord chief commercial officer Mark Koevermans at the launch of the Dutch club’s new academy project on Wednesday in Beijing. Mark Koevermans, chief commercial officer of Feyenoord