Former AC Milan and Chelsea footballer Ruud Gullit has announced the launch of his very own FIFA eSports academy.
The Dutchman said he was drawn to the FIFA world through one of his sons, whom he says prefers playing FIFA over the actual physical sport.
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“One of [my sons] plays professional football and my other son enjoys playing FIFA more than playing football in real life,” Gullit said according to SkySports, “When I visited the FIFA World Championships last year, I realised that there is such an enormous world behind the video game.”
“The strategy and the choices that the FIFA-players make have a strong resemblance to the real-life sport.”
‘Team Gullit’ as the academy is known is the first professional independent eSports academy in the world with a sole focus on FIFA. It appears Gullit is joining the trend early, as FIFA has only recently begun to grow in the eSports world.
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The academy has already signed three FIFA youngsters; Floris Jorna, 18, Julian van den Berg, 17 and Dani Visser, 16.
The idea behind the academy is not too dissimilar to a traditional footballing academy. The gamers will receive coaching and training whilst also analysing and strategical and tactical aspects of the game, just as they do in physical football.
Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, the kids will also be provided with social media advice
with the view of developing their own brand which has become a huge part of the eSports world.
With all of the advice and guidance, the academy should stand them in great stead to make it big time in the eSports world.
Gullit himself never won the FIFA World Cup, but he will surely be hoping for one of his academy products to win the FIFA eWorld Cup at some point down the line.
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England’s Spencer Ealing took home the highly coveted eSports competition and was crowned FIFA champion of the world after winning the final in London, taking home a delightful cheque worth $200,000.
With more and more professional football teams beginning to sign their own FIFA players the academy may well find a place as a feeder organisation for the larger powerhouses in eSports, providing well developed youngsters who are ready to take on the FIFA world.
Exciting times for Gullit and his academy boys.
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