The 2000s: The Academy at the heart of AS Monaco's successes

On the occasion of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the AS Monaco Academy for the match against AJ Auxerre (Sunday, 3pm), here's a look back at the 2000s at the training centre, a contributor to the successes of the professional team.

Published on 17/04/2026 at 05:16

Reading time: 3 min.

The 2000s began perfectly for AS Monaco, who obtained their seventh French title during the 1999-2000 season. Under the directions of Claude Puel, trained at the Club between 1977 and 1979 and renowned for launching young talents, nine players from the training center participated in at least one league match, among them David Trezeguet, Philippe Christanval, Moussa N’Diaye and Bruno Irles.

Four Euro 2000 winners from the Monaco academy 🇪🇺

The first of these even finished as the top scorer in Division 1 with 25 goals, before shining a few weeks later with the French national team by scoring the golden goal in the Euro 2000 final against Italy (2-1). He shared this title, as he did at the 1998 World Cup, with Thierry Henry, Emmanuel Petit, and Lilian Thuram, all of whom were also developed in Monaco.

A legacy of expertise 🧠

Shaping future talents is something that would continue for years to come, and some of these would be instrumental in the 2003 Coupe de la Ligue triumph, like Sébastien Squillaci, who scored in the final against Sochaux (4-1). The central defender then played a key role in the incredible run to the Champions League final, alongside Gaël Givet, Jaroslav Plasil, and Souleymane Camara, all products of Monaco's youth academy.

A return for some former "Students" to the Academy's Leadership 🔙

But for these values and principles to be continually renewed and never disappear, the presence of former graduates is essential. It is for this reason that Dominique Bijotat, assisted by Didier Christophe, both trained at the center by Gérard Banide twenty-five years earlier, was appointed head of the center in 2006. Two years later, Frédéric Barilaro, a Monegasque and also a former student, took over the position.

French Professional Reserve Champions 🏆

As a result, more trophies have arrived, rewarding all the hard work. After finishing as runners-up in the French U18 Championship in 2006, the club from the Principality won the French Professional Reserve Championship in 2008, thanks to a narrow 1-0 victory over Lille in the final (goal by Yannick Sagbo). This first title would set the stage for an even more successful decade ahead.