Life's a pitch: an artist's impression of three of the
training fields
Changing landscape: A graphic depicting the area
post-development
Manchester City have unveiled their plans
for a giant new training complex that the club claim will be the
best in the world.
The 80-acre site next to their stadium in east
Manchester will take years to be completed - with the first step
being whether planning permission is given in December - and will
contain a 7,000-seat mini-stadium, 15 full-size pitches, and
sleeping accommodation for 72 senior and youth players.
Brian Marwood, the club's chief football
operations officer, said: 'This could be the most important
investment the club has ever made under its new
ownership.
'This is part of a 10-year strategy for long-term
sustainable success.
'Phase one culminated in the club winning the FA
Cup and qualifying for the Champions League last season. This
signals the beginning of the next phase.
'We know that youth development has to be at the
heart of this club. Investment in the transfer market has helped us
reach a certain level, to stay there will take investment in player
development, welfare and top-class facilities.
While new signings were making the headlines
there were changes behind the scenes even in the early
days.'
The development has been planned for three years
during which City sent officials to Arsenal, Barcelona and Ajax, as
well as bodies from outside of football including the New York
Giants, LA Lakers, New York Knicks and the Australian Institute of
Sport to look at their operations.
Nick Smith, the project consultant who made most
of the visits to other facilities, said: 'We believe ours will
become the world's best training facility.'
Marwood said an overall cost of the development
had yet to be clarified. City have already bought most of the land,
much of which is polluted by past industries, and are in the
process of cleaning it.
The club have also promised to provide 5.5 acres
for community use, including a sixth form college, and contribute
towards a new public swimming pool.
Patrick Vieira, the French former Arsenal, AC
Milan and Inter Milan midfielder who is now City's football
development executive, described the plans as
'unbelievable'.
He said: 'For any player to have this facility
would be really, really exciting.'