Israel : opening a women's national football academy

The IFA (Israeli Football Federation) has created its first women's national football academy, said UEFA (Union of European Football Associations), on the 18/10/2013. The objective is to have a team in the finals of the 2014/2015 European Women's Under-19 championship, which Israel is hosting in 2015.

The academy will welcome 21 players, who were selected in September 2013. Its facilities include a training centre, boarding school and medical center, as well as a social and educational team. Guy Azouri, former coach of Hapoel Kfar Saba (Israeli second division) was named coach, and Jan Telesnikov (former Israeli midfielder) will be his deputy.

The girls will spend 24 hours a day at the academy, from Sunday to Thursday, 11 months a year. They will train twice a day and will play in both the boys league and the Israeli women's first division.

• The 2014 edition of the Women's Euro Under-19 Championship will be played in Norway.
• Israel host in 2015, and Slovakia will host the competition in 2016.