New funding rounds up the push to professionalise LOI academies
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has been allocated an additional €3 million in Budget 2026 to help professionalise 26 League of Ireland (LOI) academies. This top-up comes on top of the €6 million the government already provides to the FAI each year under a memorandum of understanding that runs until 2027. The aim is clear: build a robust, sustainable academy network that can foster home-grown talent and compete internationally.
With the €3 million allocation, the LOI department within the FAI will meet with Sport Ireland to determine how the money is distributed. League director Mark Scanlon indicated that 81% of the €3 million will be directed straight to the clubs, underscoring a club-led approach to development. He noted that European academy systems are aging younger, driving a strategy that places first-team potential and value creation at the forefront of Irish football’s long-term health.
What this means for academy programmes and employment
Prior to the budget decision, the FAI’s plan envisaged creating three full-time roles per academy: a director of football, a lead coach, and an administrator. Given the €3 million cap, the number of full-time positions is expected to be reduced to one or two per club. The shift reflects a more measured investment, prioritising sustainable staffing while still lifting the profession of academy operation across the 26 clubs involved.
Currently, the LOI academies collectively operate with around 10 full-time employees. Clubs like St Patrick’s Athletic and others have integrated full-time coaching duties within broader club roles, highlighting a practical approach to staffing within tighter budgets. The decision to funnel most of the funds directly to clubs is designed to accelerate hands-on development, coaching quality, and pathway clarity for young players.
Recent youth transfers and market implications
Ireland’s academy system has already begun to bear fruit in the transfer market. St Patrick’s Athletic produced Mason Melia, a teenager who moved to Tottenham Hotspur in January for an initial €1.9 million. Shamrock Rovers followed suit with 16-year-old winger Victor Ozhianvuna, transferring to Arsenal for around €2 million. These high-profile deals demonstrate the value of well-funded academies that can attract global attention and generate meaningful revenue streams for clubs and the wider league.
Despite the positive momentum, the original funding ask was more ambitious. The LOI sought €10 million to create 81 full-time jobs across the academies, a request tied to post-Brexit rules affecting younger Irish players seeking UK club opportunities. After negotiations with ministers and a government audit of all 26 academies, the ask was revised downward to €4.45 million and then settled at the €3 million figure for this budget cycle.
What comes next for academy funding and performance metrics
The budget announcement includes a framework to assess academy performance. The FAI and LOI have signaled that negotiations for year-on-year funding will continue, with additional resources directed toward the best-performing academies identified by annual audits. This performance-based approach is intended to reward excellence and ensure funds are allocated to the programmes that deliver the best outcomes for Irish football.
Beyond numbers, the government’s multi-annual investment is described as a vital step toward a “modern, professional academy system” capable of competing on international stages and benefiting communities nationwide. The FAI emphasized gratitude for the government’s support and highlighted that the investment will help Irish football build a sustainable industry that can deliver players, jobs, and long-term growth.
Context within Budget 2026
Budget 2026 also earmarked funds across sport, including a €10.8 million increase for Sport Ireland and targeted boosts for GAA, the GPA, IRFU, and golf, plus a high-performance funding uplift to €28.5 million. These measures collectively aim to strengthen grassroots participation, elite pathways, and infrastructure, all of which feed into Ireland’s broader sporting ambition.
The LOI’s progress and the FAI’s oversight will remain under scrutiny as the year unfolds. With the €3 million allocation, the Irish game takes a tangible step toward a more professional, export-ready academy model that could reshape the country’s football landscape for decades to come.
