AS Monaco celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Academy on Sunday 19th April, marking five decades of player development, identity, and tradition at the heart of the club.
Founded during the 1975-1976 season, the Academy has become a defining part of AS Monaco’s DNA, producing nearly 150 professional players, including around 50 internationals and five World Cup winners: Emmanuel Petit, Lilian Thuram, Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet, and Kylian Mbappé.
A reunion of generations
The celebrations began with a lap of honor at Stade Louis-II, where more than 200 former and current Academy players took to the track alongside coaches, staff, and educators who have contributed to shaping the club’s youth system. The moment offered former teammates and colleagues the opportunity to reunite with one another, some for the first time in many years.
Among those present were club legends including Jean-Luc Ettori, Bruno Bellone, Claude Puel, Gaël Givet, Sébastien Squillaci, Valère Germain, and Nicolas Nkoulou, alongside current U19 coach Frédéric Barilaro.
Ultras Monaco 1994 unveiled a tribute banner celebrating “50 years of training in the Monegasque style, a club, an identity, our pride.”
Symbolic moments on the pitch
The celebration continued on the pitch with a symbolic kick-off led by Jean-Luc Ettori and Bruno Bellone, joined by Abdel Bakayoko, the Academy’s youngest current player, and first-team talent Maghnes Akliouche. AS Monaco’s first team wore a special 50th anniversary logo on their jerseys as a tribute to the Academy’s lasting impact.
From legacy to future at La Diagonale
Celebrations then moved to La Diagonale, the Academy’s training center, where guests gathered for a cocktail reception and an exhibition created in collaboration with collector Julien Bouron. The exhibition featured historic jerseys, rare photographs, and trophies including the Gambardella Cup.
Guests also had the opportunity to meet current Academy players, with many signing the doors of the rooms now named after former graduates, connecting past and present.
Prince Albert II and AS Monaco President Dmitry Rybolovlev also toured the exhibition alongside senior club figures and former players. The occasion was marked by the ceremonial cutting of a commemorative anniversary cake to wrap up the celebrations.
This milestone served as a reminder of the Academy’s role in AS Monaco’s identity, built on a legacy of excellence, the transmission of knowledge, and a continued commitment to developing future generations.
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Main Photo Credit: AS Monaco