For the second time in the wonderkid factories series we're taking a trip to Portugal for our highlighted team today. Another of the 'big three' in the Portuguese top flight, Sporting Lisbon have more than earnt their place on this list with some of the players that they have produced.
Sporting were founded in 1906 and quite obviously they retain a fierce rivalry with their Lisbon counterparts Benfica. They also have a rivalry with Porto as the other side in the big three but ultimately the Lions can't quite sport the same level of silverware as the other two. Both Porto and Benfica have lifted a European Cup, something Sporting have never managed, and they also have less Portuguese titles, ending a 19 year drought by winning the league last season.
However, the Green and Whites could quite conceivably boast the best youth system of the three. They were the first Portuguese club to open a youth academy in 2002 and although they use the same 4-3-3 template as the other big two teams, their coaches will travel far and wide to soak up knowledge from other youth systems to see how things are done differently.
The Lions also pride themselves on turning raw prospects into world talents as they would much rather have a skinny 14 year old than a finished product at 16.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the perfect example of this philosophy. Ronaldo arrived as a young boy with very little and a tendency to not pass the ball. Even by the time he had broken into Sporting's first team, he was still slightly weedy and far from the chiselled Adonis that graces the Old Trafford turf today.
Part of the reason for Ronaldo's drive and success is the club's approach to coaching. The Green and Whites like to allow players to analyse and correct their own mistakes, in an attempt to impart players with a unique puzzle solving ability that is rarely found in the English system of being shouted at following a mistake.
Eric Dier, who spent eight years with the club, believes that's why the club has had so many successful graduates "a good player for them was someone who could understand when they made a mistake and correct it for themselves."
A special focus is also placed on attacking players and specifically wingers with the club boasting two Ballon d'Or winners in Ronaldo and
Luis Figo, and eight of the 11 players that started for Portugal in the Euro 2016 final with 10 in the squad.
The list of Green and White graduates includes Ronaldo, Figo,
Nuno Mendes,
Ricardo Pereira,
Daniel Podence,
Rafael Leao, Eric Dier,
Nani,
Ricardo Quaresma,
Joao Palhinha,
Gelson Martins,
William Carvalho,
Joao Mario,
Rui Patricio,
Cedric,
Nuno Tavares,
Joao Moutinho,
Silvestre Varela and
William Carvalho.
So who is next up to join that impressive list of players? Well, here are our three picks for the potential stars to come from Lisbon in the next few years.
Goncalo Inacio (Centre Back)
Inacio may be the pick of the bunch on this list, having only just turned 20 he's already established himself as a regular fixture in Sporting's first team. He's netted a goal in the Liga Bwin this season and has earned himself a Portugal call up although he is yet to make a debut. Goncalo also has the highest accolade possible, being recognised as a wonderkid on the new Football Manager.
Daniel Braganca (Centre Midfield)
Braganca is the oldest of the three at 22 years old but it also means he's the most regular player of the three. He's featured in all three of Sporting's Champions League games and made 13 appearances for Portugal's U21's. He's come all the way through the ranks with the Lions and embodies the 'one of our own' philosophy.
Tiago Tomas (Centre Forward)
Tomas is the youngest player on this list and although currently injured he's already made quite a splash in the first team. The striker has made 8 appearances in the league and made cameos in every Champions League game. He also has 6 appearances and a goal for Portugal's U21's.
