On Sunday, June 23, all Club NXT staff and players and parents (from U8 to U16) gathered at the BMCC in Bruges for the annual Club NXT Kick-Off. After a small review of last season, the main focus was on the optimizations for the 2024-2025 season, within the 2027 strategic plan.
It was a sun-drenched Sunday in Bruges. The perfect time for all Club NXT'ers to get together and look back on a wonderful season. And also to look ahead to the new structure and strategic plans.
Club NXT rewarded for hard work
Season 2023 - 2024 was a very nice season for Club NXT:
- Kyriani Sabbe, Maxime De Cuyper and Jorne Spileers broke through into the A core, were decisive and helped Club Brugge to its 19thnational title. Maxime was rewarded with a selection for the 2024 European Championship.
- Club NXT now also received official confirmation from the Pro League: we are the best youth academy in the country. In terms of flow, infrastructure and sports staff.
But even more important is the perseverance to keep developing our youth and preparing them for the next step, in order to deliver more better, complete players Club A.
The strategic lines until 2027 were discussed in detail, thus also undermining the ambition to remain an established player in the Challenger Pro League with the U23. While also refining and strengthening the flow from the U8 to the U23 by recruiting, developing and retaining the best coaches and players.
The mission and vision of Club NXT remain: to deliver quality players and coaches to the A core, who should be able to take prizes at the highest level and be competitive in Europe. This will allow Club Brugge to further profile itself as a leading training club in Europe.
Renewed organization
To achieve these objectives, some changes have happened on the organizational level. With Steve Colpaert, Club NXT brings back an old acquaintance. After a period as assistant at Westerlo, he will start working as Talent Coach starting this season. Steve will form the bridge from Club NXT to the A-core and ensure a more individualized follow-up of the young players.
Jarno Verheye, who is entering his 10thseason at Club NXT, will assume the role of Academy Director, working with CEO Guilian Preud'homme and the NXT team to put the mission and vision into practice. In addition, he will ensure streamlined integration within Club NXT U23 to maximize training.
Finally, Club NXT is further specializing with the addition of a Head of Performance Development. This role aims to further develop and implement the Performance vision, building on the expertise of existing experts and individualized athleticization within a team context. This involves working with special attention on physical, mental and social development, focus on nutrition and hydration, sleep coaching and medical follow-up. In this way we can develop our youth in a more focused way into complete Club A players.
After this day we could send the staff, players and parents on a very well-deserved vacation with peace of mind and the necessary outlook. Everyone is ready to represent the best youth team in Belgium and make it even better, day by day.