Manchester City Football School (MCFC)

Aiglon College in partnership with Manchester City Football Club, one of the leading football clubs in the world, provides our students with a world leading football programme that aims to develop all of our students as people and as footballers.

The Manchester City Football School is not only focused on delivering football coaching, but alongside the school's educational ethos, this partnership provides lessons to the students in regard to nutrition, health and wellbeing, mindset and leadership in line with the football curriculum and as part of the Discovery in Action sessions.

Our Partnership

Our school was founded on the belief that education goes beyond the classroom and through a commitment to the natural and physical world we are able to pursue the development of personal character and the human spirit.

The Manchester City Football School likewise offers a unique programme that looks to both improve an individual’s football skills and instil the benefits of team sport, leadership skills, passion, motivation and an appreciation of nutrition and personal development.

Manchester City Press Release

Aiglon is the only school in Europe to establish this partnership with Manchester City. This is a real opportunity to develop a world class football programme with the rigour and dedication to excellence that is at the heart of our approach. We are really impressed with Manchester City for their work at the intersection of football and holistic education to create unique learning opportunities.

Nicola Sparrow
School Director

How does the programme work?

In August 2023, Aiglon welcomed Gareth Whalley as the full-time Manchester City football coach, trained and qualified to deliver their world-leading programme. This offers a deep and broad football curriculum focusing on children's individual and collective needs, regardless of their level or gender.

Discovery Years

The Manchester City Football Coach will work closely with students in the Discovery Years (5 - 9).

Our curriculum seeks to embody our school's educational philosophy by providing an academically challenging education supported by real world experience. Discovery students' learning is framed around key questions that underpin their learning across all subjects and through practical experience.

In this football programme, these students will receive the highest level of coaching available. The goal is not to create footballers, but instead show students the benefit of team sport. This establishes a collaborative approach, understanding that personal physical and sporting development is closely associated to character development as we teach how to achieve success ‘the right way’.

Coaching

All students at Aiglon will have the opportunity through the school's wider Character Curriculum and co-curricular activities to have access to Manchester City coaching sessions under the direction of Gareth Whalley, full-time Manchester City football coach.

Whether it is part of our football teams, every day after school, in the evenings or on the weekend, coaching sessions will be offered to all for passionate and enthusiastic young footballers. In this way, all of our students can benefit from our fully qualified and trained Manchester City coach.

Multi-Disciplinary

The MCFC coach is not only focused on delivering football coaching, but alongside the school's educational ethos, this partnership will also provide lessons to the students in regard to nutrition, health and wellbeing, mindset and leadership in line with the football curriculum and as part of the Discovery in Action sessions.

We also look forward to further developing this relationship with access to football clubs around the world, exciting trips, and other cross-curricular opportunities for students studying business or other subjects.

Summer Programmes

Beginning in Summer 2024, those attending Aiglon's Summer School programmes will also be able to benefit from our Manchester City Football Club partnership!

Designed to give students a taste of life on the mountain during the summer months, Aiglon's variety of summer offerings has something for everyone. We are excited to work with our dedicated Manchester City coach to expand our Summer School football programmes!

Learn more about Aiglon Summer School

Frequent Questions

Why Manchester City?

Aiglon College and the City Football Group share values centred on quality, authenticity, and safeguarding. The partnership aligns with Aiglon's educational ethos of balanced development of mind, body, and spirit.

The City Football Group is also a world-renowned football team and a wider football group with 12 clubs, 130 teams, 3,400 players and staff, and one billion followers around the world.

What benefits does this partnership offer to Aiglon students?

Aiglon College is the only school in Europe to have established this partnership. The partnership provides full-time coaching by a Manchester City Football Club coach and extensive coaching sessions for Aiglon students.

A range of trips to clubs and training grounds around the world, internships for Aiglon students, entrance to international football competitions, visits to the school from past players and trophies, education for Aiglon’s coaching staff, and opportunities for wider non-football related work experience and leadership training in areas such as media, journalism, and business are also part of the partnership.

How does this impact Aiglon’s other sports?

This offering does not change the amount of football we offer at Aiglon. Instead, it looks to provide a higher standard of provision and coaching for our students. Alongside this programme we continue to offer our full range of sporting opportunities for students such as: skiing, rugby, netball, hockey, climbing, cricket, volleyball, basketball, badminton, tennis, athletics, boxing, golf, swimming, fitness, dance and yoga.

What is AIglon's approach to the partnership?

What is the Manchester City Football Club?

Manchester City Football Club, originally established as St Mark's West Gorton in 1880, is a prominent English Premier League team. In 1894, it officially changed its name to Manchester City FC, and since then, it has achieved numerous accolades, including the European Cup Winners' Cup, eight League Championship titles, and six FA Cups, including six Premier League titles won in 2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022.

As a part of the City Football Group, which comprises 12 clubs, including New York City FC and Melbourne City FC, Manchester City FC is managed by Pep Guardiola, one of the most decorated managers in world football. The Etihad Stadium, a remarkable 55,000-seat arena, has been the Club's domestic and UEFA Champions League home venue since 2003. The stadium is situated on the extensive Etihad Campus, which includes the City Football Academy, a state-of-the-art performance training and youth development facility located in the heart of East Manchester.

The City Football Academy features a 7,000-seat Academy Stadium, which is the training ground and home venue for Manchester City Women's Football Club and the Elite Development Squad. For more details, please visit www.mancity.com.

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