FCBEscola to open in Qingdao

The FCBEscola Qingdao Huanghai will open on February 22, with about 150 students to be enrolled, according to a Xinhua news story posted yesterday.

Earlier, there was a trial operation of the FCBEscola Qingdao Huanghai, held from January 18 to February 19 with 90 trainees, which is a collaboration of FC Barcelona and Huanghai Pharmaceutical, owner of the China's League One side Qingdao Huanghai.

Six Chinese coaches were chosen from three rounds of selection. FC Qingdao Huanghai selected 15 coaches out of over 100 applicants across China, then six experts from FC Barcelona picked six out of 15 from two tests.

Two coaches from La Masia , FC Barcelona's youth academy, Albert Moratalla and Sergi Pi, trained six Chinese colleagues first and then made a training plan for the camp. They will leave for Barcelona on Thursday to have the belated Christmas holidays.

"We will be back and continue teaching in Qingdao, and we hope to stay in China as long as possible," said Moratalla.

Source: Xinhua