Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel & Princess Eléonore: News & Events, Oct. 2019 -

[Countessmeout]

Nice to see what he is doing. I wonder if he will go to US or college some where and play collegiatae soccer next year after this.

I guess we have seen royals pursue equestrian careers or compete in Olympic level sports. A professional soccer player is a new step. As third in line he certainly has the freedom.

 

[Marchesina]

So, the various programs they offer are:
- Gap year (10 months focused on getting into collegiate soccer in the USA)
- Men's/Women's Soccer (10 months focused on getting into the Spanish professional soccer competition)
- Coach Program (10 months to 3 years for full licensing)

So, it seems likely that Emmanuel is either in the regular Men's Soccer program or the Gap year - and most likely hopes to become a professional soccer player.

The wording of him doing a 'language and sports program' imho was a bit misleading as he is clearly doing a fully sports (i.e. football)-focused program that happens to take place in Spain. Nowhere on the website is any mention of a 'language-component' to the program.

I've always found it strange that they weren't open about his path. While he is allowed more freedom in comparison to Elisabeth, Gabriel's path has always been transparent which made me wonder if he had gone for an unconventional choice for a royal. And it turns out I was right.
My guess: this is a gap year and the boy will then enroll into a University in the US where he can both study and play soccer.

 

[maria-olivia]

Prince Emmanuel is not able to Study in an American Universtity. What He is doing now is his Dream.

 

[Countessmeout]

Prince Emmanuel is not able to Study in an American Universtity. What He is doing now is his Dream.

Am I missing why he is unable to study in the US? Many foreigners do especially if athletes.

It seems like a logical course for him to be aiming towards doing a program at the academy.

 

[W.Y.CII]

Never know he's a goalkeeper! They didn't even mention he plays football before.

Do I miss something about Emmanuel going to study in US? I didn't follow the news closely recently and I lost track. Anyway just IMO but if he wants to pursue a career in football (either as a footballer or coach), staying in Europe is probably a better option than US.

 

[Somebody]

Never know he's a goalkeeper! They didn't even mention he plays football before.

Do I miss something about Emmanuel going to study in US? I didn't follow the news closely recently and I lost track. Anyway just IMO but if he wants to pursue a career in football (either as a footballer or coach), staying in Europe is probably a better option than US.

The academy he is attending offers both a gap-year for those who want to get into collegiate soccer in the USA as well as (largely the same?) program for those who hope to get into the Spanish competition. I guess the speculation about a potential future in the USA is related to that.

However, as Emmanuel doesn't need a soccer scholarship to attend a university in the USA (his family is not short of cash) and European soccer is typically of a higher level than in the USA (as it is the number one sport unlike the USA), it seems more likely that he is betting on a European professional soccer adventure. Unless, he hopes/intends to combine a university study with a sports career - in that case, the American route may be feasible (as that is not a common combination in Europe: there is no such thing as college sports).

 

[Linda_26]

However, as Emmanuel doesn't need a soccer scholarship to attend a university in the USA (his family is not short of cash) and European soccer is typically of a higher level than in the USA (as it is the number one sport unlike the USA), it seems more likely that he is betting on a European professional soccer adventure.

Isn't it a bit late to become a professional player in Europe? In my experience, people I know who tried to play professionally were recruited by youth sectors of major teams when they were in their early teens (and some even earlier)

 

[W.Y.CII]

Isn't it a bit late to become a professional player in Europe? In my experience, people I know who tried to play professionally were recruited by youth sectors of major teams when they were in their early teens (and some even earlier)

Yes, players at 19 normally have graduated from the academy and received their first professional contract from football club. But not too late if he's interested in coaching, analysis, management, sport science etc etc. Actually I'm thinking he is on the way to those field instead of playing professionally as footballer.

Or we are just over-thinking and it is simply a gap year for him to try something different and he would go to a completely irrelevant path later

 

[Marchesina]

Prince Emmanuel is not able to Study in an American Universtity. What He is doing now is his Dream.

Why can't he study in America? I don't understand.
Sure this could very likely be just a gap year without any further development, and in a way I feel it is (I don't think this academy would refuse to enroll the son a king who just want to play football for a while), but I don't see why he cannot go and study abroad if he wants to.

Answering to those saying he doesn't need a scholarship, maybe this is more about doing things under the radar (was it Gabriel who had withdraw from playing a tennis tournament or something like that because people found out? maybe security and privacy is the reason behind all this).

 

[hereditarytitles]

Isn't it a bit late to become a professional player in Europe? In my experience, people I know who tried to play professionally were recruited by youth sectors of major teams when they were in their early teens (and some even earlier)

Absolutely, it is too late, he is 19. Coaches are scanning all kinds of football clubs to discover new talents. That by the way is done in all kinds of sports.

Just for an example, my granddaughter, just 13, who is a great runner won the championship of the fastest runner at school competition in our city.

Ok, that is an achievement considering how many schools were involved. Directly after that, when she received her honors on the stage, she was encircled by all kinds of coaches who are eager to discover new talents. They tried to lure her into running competitions (or whatever you call that) but she denied.

I am only mentioning that because that is how it is done in every country, which is quite normal, how else would they discover new talents?

Therefore I guess that Emmanuel is interested in football and took the chance to spend his gap year in doing this. Many other young people I know are spending their gap year with going to foreign countries, working in a vineyard in Australia , spending time in Africa to help people there or anything else. There are lots of possibilties for young people nowadays that my generation could have only dreamed of,.

 

[maria-olivia]

The Dutch newspaper who took the pictures refuse to say in which academie He is !

 

[hereditarytitles]

The Dutch newspaper who took the pictures refuse to say in which academie and in which country he is !

Which is a good decision. Those young royals deserve their privacy. But didn't other posters here already find our where he is?

 

[Linda_26]

Which is a good decision. Those young royals deserve their privacy. But didn't other posters here already find our where he is?

Yes, he's at the Mifra Academy in Zaragoza (there are public videos on IG where the Prince is tagged), and it has been mentioned also elsewhere.
Wim Dehandschutter knows where Emmanuel is, of course, he has simply decided not to publish the name of the academy

 

[maria-olivia]

The Dutch Het Laatste Nieuws , and the Royal Palace remain silent about the academie but confirmed it is a gap year for the Prince. To day we know Mifra academie is the best football school in Europa?

Well , well what a shock for us , we knew he was in an academy but not as future football player and in Spain !
At the end they said will He go to the King's Feast dressed as a football player ??

 

[Adda]

Oh, for the love of God. The boy's most likely doing a gap year, if he wants a career in football, it will be as a manager of sorts, not as a player.

And no, he won't attend King's Feast (ever) dressed as a football player, he's not stupid and no child of Mathilde would make such a monumental fool of himself.

 

[maria-olivia]

It was a joke , we all know the King's Children never attend the King's Feast .

 

[Kinan]

More photos of Prince Emmanuel at Mifra Academy. It seems he grew a beard.
Private: Emmanuel at Mifra

 

[Alondra]

I'm a bit surprised photographs of him are being released with the approval of the Belgium Court. Except for the first released pictures, there is a total blackout about him in Spain, similar to what happened with Amalia. His protection is very high.

 

[Adda]

More photos of Prince Emmanuel at Mifra Academy. It seems he grew a beard.
Private: Emmanuel at Mifra

As if I wasn't feeling old enough.

 

[Somebody]

I'm a bit surprised photographs of him are being released with the approval of the Belgium Court. Except for the first released pictures, there is a total blackout about him in Spain, similar to what happened with Amalia. His protection is very high.

What makes you think photographs are released with the approval of the Belgium Court? They’ve been very mysterious about his whereabouts.

 

[Alisa]

Well good for him for carving his own path and choosing what he wants to do