Art Langelier outlines vision for revamping Al Ahly’s youth development

Mohamed Youssef, Al Ahly’s sporting director, highlighted the appointment of Dutch expert Art Langelier as the new technical director of the club’s youth team, a move he calls a major boost given Langelier’s experience with clubs like PSV Eindhoven and the Dutch national youth teams.

Youssef praised Langelier’s blend of academic and practical coaching, stating, “His background as a lecturer at the Dutch FA is especially valuable, given the record of Dutch youth academies.” He emphasized Langelier’s alignment with Al Ahly’s attacking philosophy, which “is always about winning.”

Langelier, in his first statement, voiced his excitement: “Al Ahly is a great club, very organized, with excellent pitches—a vital element for developing young players. I believe in a three-pillar approach: a unified playing style, empowering coaches, and, most crucially, promoting talent to the first team quickly.” Langelier stressed, “Talent is important, but a player’s determination and ambition set them apart.” He recalled coaching the likes of Frenkie de Jong and Cody Gakpo, showing his knack for nurturing future stars.

He called on fans to “support the youth teams positively so we can see today’s prospects become tomorrow’s champions.”