Marie-Christine PHILIPPS

Responsible for the Daily Life of the Academy

«Harmony, a symbol of our daily work.»

Adolescence is a period of transition, of fragility as well as richness: It is essential to always be conscious of this. Charged with the organization of the school as well as the daily life within the AS Monaco FC Youth Academy, I can never forget that the players are just young boys like any others.

Constant and open dialogue with the young players is necessary to deal with problems of insecurity especially in this day and age; however, the young men must understand and accept the rules that accompany life in the academy. Inside our organization, it is necessary to be vigilant, and to work to instill confidence. The young men must be mentally strong and learn to prove to themselves that they can succeed. Only then are the results they desire possible.

These virtues must be instilled. In order to take advantage of their talent, the boys need to understand that without hard work and dedication in all aspects of their lives, their potential for success will greatly decrease. A commitment to excellence is the foundation of success.

Every teacher is confronted with the difficult task of adapting to each new generation of students but even more so to consistently enforce the rules. The biggest challenge of our job is to achieve a balance in the daily life at the center, to perpetually strive to preserve a sense of harmony.

Our organization makes it possible for the young boys to succeed in football while simultaneously earning a diploma. Life in the Center demands a special flexibility. The academic schedule must take into account their unique time constraints (tournaments, selections, and other absences) while simultaneously allowing for the necessity of rest and relaxation.

Our Center works in conjunction with a number of different vital actors and services. We work closely with the trainers, the medical team, the cafeteria staff, transportation services, the teachers, and of course the parents to collect information and ensure the boys receive all the support they need. Such is our daily task.