AS Monaco’s Academy celebrated the academic achievements of its young footballers on Thursday 15th October, bringing together graduates, teachers, and club representatives at La Diagonale to recognise another successful year.
Eleven graduates attended the ceremony, where they were presented with their diplomas following the 2025/26 academic year, which saw 95% of the Academy’s baccalauréat candidates pass their examinations.
The graduating class included students who earned general, technological, and vocational baccalauréats, alongside international qualifications from Belgium and Germany.
The ceremony also recognised the dedication required of young footballers as they balanced their professional aspirations with their education, as well as the support provided by the Academy’s staff.
BALANCING AMBITIONS
Among those celebrating were 18-year-olds Checkina Dzabatou Ecko and Melvin Gomes Da Veiga, who completed their secondary education at La Diagonale.
For both players, combining football and education required adapting to demanding schedules, with mornings spent training and afternoons spent in the classroom.
“At first, it’s difficult because it’s a routine you’re not necessarily used to,” Dzabatou Ecko told Monaco Life. “But as the years go by, you find your rhythm, and it becomes easier.”
Gomes Da Veiga echoed these sentiments, describing the importance of consistency when managing both commitments. “You have to sleep well to keep up with the pace and perform in both,” he explained.
The challenge became particularly notable towards the end of the academic year, when preparation for exams coincided with the Academy’s football playoffs.
“Towards the end, it becomes difficult because the year is long, and the matches are important,” Dzabatou Ecko recalled. “We were more focused on the playoffs and, in a way, neglected our studies a little. But in the end, we all passed.”
Despite the challenges, both players expressed gratitude towards their teachers, who regularly adapted their schedules to accommodate training and competition.
“Sometimes we had revision sessions at 10pm after coming back from matches,” Dzabatou Ecko explained. “The teachers would stay until 11pm and then come back at 8am the next morning.”
DEVELOPING MORE THAN FOOTBALLERS
Mathieu Lacan, Deputy Academy Director, explained that education remains critical to the club’s development philosophy, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding professional football careers.
“The path of a footballer is full of obstacles, and not everyone is guaranteed to succeed,” he told Monaco Life. “That’s why it’s important to have another option, to develop yourself, and to grow as a person.”
Lacan emphasised that the Academy’s responsibilities extend beyond producing professional footballers, with academic qualifications providing opportunities regardless of how their football careers develop.
The structure of La Diagonale also provides a significant advantage, bringing together classrooms, housing, dining facilities, and training areas within the same complex.
Michaël Delepine, Deputy Head of Academics, explained that although the sporting and academic programmes work closely together, they remain independent in how students are assessed.
“I don’t want to treat a young person differently depending on their sporting level or whether they have a contract,” he said. “They need to be committed to school for the sake of their education, not because of football.”
For Delepine, the success of the programme is measured not simply by academic results, but by ensuring young players develop the skills and qualifications needed for their futures.
“What’s satisfying is not leaving anyone behind,” he explained. “We don’t know what their futures will look like, either in sport or in further education. What matters to us is ensuring that every young person leaves here with a qualification.”
The Academy’s educational approach has also received recognition from the French Football Federation, with La Diagonale awarded the maximum five-star rating for education in its 2025/26 assessment.
LOOKING BEYOND GRADUATION
Although many graduates will now focus primarily on their football careers, the Academy continues to encourage opportunities for further education.
Delepine acknowledged that pursuing university studies can be difficult for young footballers, whose schedules often include weekday matches, international travel, and intensive training.
Several players are currently pursuing higher education through distance-learning programmes, supported by additional tutoring from the Academy.
For Dzabatou Ecko and Gomes Da Veiga, their immediate priority remains football, although both expressed an openness to continuing their education in the future, potentially through courses related to sport.
“It’s a form of security because you never know what might happen tomorrow,” Gomes Da Veiga explained. “Something could happen that forces us to stop playing football.”
During the ceremony, the graduates were also presented with commemorative shirts and bracelets from club partner APM Monaco.
The evening recognised the students’ contributions beyond sport and education, with the Terminale Pro class presenting a €658 donation to the Monegasque Association for the Protection of Nature, raised through a cup sale organised as part of a school project.
Among those unable to attend was Safouane Benzahra, who had travelled with AS Monaco’s first team to Sofia, Bulgaria, for their Conference League match.
The celebrations concluded with a reception and a screening of the first team’s 2–1 victory over CSKA Sofia, bringing together graduates and staff to mark an important milestone in the young players’ development.
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Photo source: AS Monaco