Barça Academy Hungary is part of a global network established by FC Barcelona, offering thousands of children across Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania the opportunity to rise through football. In Europe, following the training centers in Warsaw, Moscow, and Istanbul, Budapest becomes the fourth location to host an institution that gives local children the chance to experience the club’s renowned playing style and philosophy through year-round training. The academy’s most talented players may be given the opportunity to continue their careers as part of the system developed by FC Barcelona — potentially even on the Iberian Peninsula.
The Budapest-based training program provides an opportunity for many young talents in Hungary to develop in a local environment. It allows us to nurture the athletic potential of our children — including those who have previously participated in sports activities offered by other clubs.
The most modern and effective training methods have been made available to us by the Catalan club, and the professional work will be overseen by a Spanish technical director who will supervise the training on-site on a daily basis. In addition, FC Barcelona has developed a comprehensive program for the education of children, based on the “more than a club” philosophy.
As a result, the children gain an understanding of integration, tolerance, respect, solidarity, and friendship — both on and off the field.
We believe that the Barcelona training program will soon have a positive impact on Hungarian football as a whole — including the performance of Hungarian clubs and the national team. Following in the footsteps of legends like Kubala, Kocsis, and Czibor, we hope that the best young Hungarian players will one day wear the FC Barcelona colors.
Respect is one of the fundamental pillars of modern, civilized life — it helps us integrate into society and become part of it. While respect defines individuals, it also carries important social and collective dimensions. In sports, it is indispensable, as we often find ourselves in high-pressure situations that require immediate resolution. Beyond rules and customs, respect is necessary to foster fair and friendly relationships between people. Just like in broader social contexts, these principles are vital in sports — but due to the intensity of the moments, the presence or absence of respect is not only highly visible, it can also significantly influence the outcome of a given situation.
Many societal models downplay the role of effort, instead placing their faith in luck, opportunism, or immediate success and victory. For us, however, perseverance and diligence are values that can elevate us to incredible heights, allowing us to achieve goals that might otherwise seem distant or unattainable. Determination, discipline, consistency, sacrifice, steadfastness — these are all values that lead to long-term success, in contrast to luck, which at best brings only fleeting victories. Just as teachers in school promote learning and the return on invested effort, supported by academic results as a measure, perseverance ensures meaningful and lasting achievement.
Ambition is the desire to achieve the highest possible performance. It is not enough to perform well — one must meet challenges to the fullest, improving a little more each day. This applies to both individuals and teams. The secret to an ambitious person’s success lies in a network of values, including excellence, patience, discipline, order, motivation, and responsibility. Ambition therefore requires and brings to life a wide range of values and qualities, and in return, the reward for well-executed effort is the success it produces. The surest path to achieving goals is paved with ambition, as it fuels a continuous drive for growth and improvement.
Teamwork involves recognizing that an individual is part of a group, and as a member, becomes an important and active part of the whole. One can also act independently on behalf of the group, thereby shaping their own identity and personality. There are undeniable benefits to being aware of being part of a team and having the potential to be an important member; however, this requires the application and emphasis of many other values as well.
When athletes, or people in general, begin to achieve their set goals, it is common for them to start feeling superior — physically, morally, financially, or in other ways. This can lead to forgetting some crucial core values such as effort, perseverance, and self-discipline, without which that particular success would likely have been impossible. We are all aware of how FC Barcelona has handled its victories and successes over the years — always demonstrating humility (as well as discipline, responsibility, and other important values) to earn respect from opponents on the field and from everyone in general. The essence of humility can perhaps be described as having a clear understanding of your own values, along with the strength to maintain and defend them, even in situations where it is evident that you are more successful.