Features
MAR 16.02.2016
It's 37 years old and has produced some of Asturias's best known football players. The Escuela de Futbol de Mareo is the heart and soul of Liga BBVA side Sporting de Gijon. The Academy was inaugurated on 28 March 1978 and is in Leorio, seven kilometres from the centre of Gijon on Spain's north coast. The seven football pitches, five grass and two artificial, have helped nurture some of the best players to have been produced from the region, including Sporting coach Abelardo and Wednesday night's visitor Luis Enrique.
Sporting host Barcelona bringing together two coaches who used to play together when they were kids in Gijon. Abelardo, known as 'Pitu' and Luis Enrique, 'Lucho', grew up in the same neighbourhood and started their playing careers in the same team, Xeitosa. Later at Mareo, they played together in the Under 12s and Under 14s. In the 1990's they were team mates again at FC Barcelona in the Liga BBVA. Other players who followed in their footsteps at Mareo have included Juanele, Pablo Amo and David Villa.
In the grounds at the Mareo Academy there are seven cabins which are used to house youngsters at the summer football schools, each one bearing the name of a former Sporting idol. They're named: Quini, Abelardo, Luis Enrique, Manjarin, Eloy Olaya, Joaquin Alonso and Manolo Jimenez. The eighth, used as a meeting and games room, is called David Villa.
On Wednesday evening two of those idols meet up again at Sporting's stadium El Molinon, where both can be assured of a warm reception.
© LALIGA - 2016