What is the best training center in France? The FFF answered this question by unveiling its annual ranking last July. This ranking establishes according to several specific criteria (number of professional contracts signed by players trained at the club, number of matches played in the first team by players trained at the club, number of matches played in national teams by players trained at the club, number of school diplomas obtained by players trained at the club, coaching contracts).
1. Le Paris Saint-Germain
As in 2018-2019, Paris Saint-Germain confirms its rank and remains leader in the ranking of French professional club training centers. The capital club, which has released players of the calibre of Presnel Kimpembe or Colin Dagba in recent years, is therefore the best French trainer. Created in 1975, it is located in Saint-Germain-en-Laye in Île-de-France. In addition, Paris Saint-Germain topped the ranking of the Challenge of the best professional youth club of the FFF on 4 occasions, for the seasons 1988-1989, 2010-2011, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. The capital club won the Gambardella Cup in 1991. In 2020, the CIES Football Observatory ranks PSG's training centre in4th place at European level. A good progression for the Parisian club. 
2. The Stade Rennais
Rennes consolidate their second place. Created in 1977 on the initiative of the mayor of Rennes, Edmond Hervé, the Stade Rennais training centre really developed from 1987. It was directed for more than 25 years by Patrick Rampillo. This center was consecrated between 2006 and 2011, being designated as the best French training center. In addition, it has seen the emergence of players such as Sylvain Wiltord, Mikaël Silvestre, Anthony Réveillère, Grégory Bourillon, Yoann Gourcuff, Moussa Sow, Romain Danzé, Yacine Brahimi and Yann M'vila. More recently, Ousmane Dembélé and Eduardo Camavinga have come out.The Breton club won two Gambardella in 2003 and 2008. 
3. Olympique Lyonnais
After being ranked fourth in the 2018-2019 season, OL climbed back on the podium of the best training centers in France for the 2019-2020 season by placing on the third step of the podium.As a reminder, Olympique Lyonnais held first place in the standings for six seasons (from 2012-2013 to 2017-2018). The OL Academy is ranked 3rd European training center behind Real Madrid and FC Barcelona for the 2019-2020 season. Jean-Michel Aulas' club has also been in the European Top 4 for 8 consecutive years. We no longer even count the number of talents and stars who come out of this training center. Karim Benzema, Hatem Ben Arfa, Nabil Fekir, Samuel Umtiti or Alexandre Lacazette to name a few. Lyon have won the Gambardella 3 times in 1971, 1994 and 1997. 
4. ASSE
At the end of the 2019-2020 season, the Saint-Etienne club gained 4 places to appear in the top 4 of the ranking. The Centre de l'Étrat has been home to the ASSE training centre since 1997. AS Saint-Etienne has indeed become a talent factory again. According to the ranking of the football observatory, the training center of the Greens is the 11th in Europe. He ranked 38th last year. Julien Sablé is the initiator of the "green mine" project launched in 2017. His objective was to restore its nobility to the Saint-Etienne formation. With players like Fofana or Saliba, the former director of the training center is achieving this. 22 players trained abroad now play in a major championship. The Saint-Etienne have won the Gambardella 4 times in 1963, 1970, 1998 and 2019. 
5. AS Monaco
The club of the principality consolidates its fifth place in this ranking of the best training centers. At the European level, the club of the Rock ranks in the 12th position. This rank could be improved with the construction of a new training center called La Diagonale in the neighboring town of Cap-d'Ail. Many great players have come from this training center including Emmanuel Petit, Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet, Lilian Thuram or Kylian Mbappé more recently. Like ASSE, Monaco has raised the Gambardella 4 times: 1962, 1972, 2011, 2016. 
