Legendary Dutch football trio Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit have signed up with a newly established Beijing-based youth football academy Hua’ao Qidi as their principle consultants.

The agreement will see the Dutch trio help the academy offer standardised professional training programs at Beijing schools using Dutch expertise in football development.

"We are planning to introduce the entire youth training system from the Netherlands and combine it with the Chinese way in every detail of the system," said Shan Lie, CEO of the football academy.

"I think it's an easy and a good combination allowing them go to school to study and play together. I hope I can help Chinese football with my experience," said Van Basten.

The new football academy was founded by Beijing Sports Data. It has teamed up with the Beijing Campus Football Association to organise training camps in around 200 schools in Beijing and help train 1,200 PE teachers over the next three years.

Source: China Daily

Proofread by Sean O Diobhilin