Jamshedpur FC

Jamshedpur, April 5: Jamshedpur FC Head Coach Owen Coyle has praised the club’s youth development system after the U18, U16 and U14 teams all secured qualification for the final rounds of their respective competitions in the 2025–26 season.

The achievement marks a significant milestone for the Men of Steel’s academy, underlining the consistency and depth of talent being nurtured within the system. While the U18 side progressed unbeaten from their Elite League zonal group, the U16 team continued their strong run with a second consecutive final round qualification, and the U14s delivered a dominant campaign, winning all their matches to seal their place.

Reflecting on the progress, Coyle highlighted the importance of developing young players internally rather than relying on external recruitment.

“Already we have Puia, Barla from the academy, playing in the Jamshedpur FC senior team. We have other players also, who have trained with us and developing,” Coyle said.

The Jamshedpur FC head coach emphasised that exposure to the senior setup is a key part of the club’s pathway, with more academy players expected to follow.

“And those other boys will now get an opportunity to do that, so that’s what we’re trying to build. And this is the biggest thing about this club,” he added.

Coyle also placed Jamshedpur’s approach within the broader Indian football landscape, reiterating the club’s unique philosophy.

“If you look, I think it’s something that Punjab have done very well. I think Bengaluru have done it. Jamshedpur have always done it. But we want to do that again. We want to get more young players,” he said.

“We have a different model from others. Unlike other clubs who spend a lot of money scouting top players, we have a philosophy to recruit players from scratch and develop them into top professionals.”

The gaffer was clear that while other clubs may prefer to invest in ready-made talent, Jamshedpur FC remain committed to building from within.

“All credit to them. They can go and spend whatever they want to spend and buy ready-made players. No problem. That’s their plan, great. We like to develop our own young players and grow them and hopefully they develop into the same quality.”

Coyle further pointed to the promising pipeline across age groups, particularly the younger squads, as a reason for optimism.

“If you go into the under-16s, there’s some very good talent there as well. So, I’m excited about the players that will come in years to come for Jamshedpur, for sure.”

With all three teams advancing to their respective final rounds, Jamshedpur FC’s youth structure continues to reinforce its reputation as one of the most sustainable and development-focused setups in Indian football.

A defining feature of Jamshedpur FC’s youth system this season has been its strong emphasis on local talent, with a significant proportion of players across all age groups coming from Jharkhand.

The U14 squad, in particular, stands out with 19 of its 20 players recruited from within the state through an extensive, multi-phase scouting process conducted across districts.

Similarly, the U16 and U18 teams feature a solid core of Jharkhand-based players, reflecting the club’s long-term commitment to grassroots development in the region. This local-first approach not only strengthens the club’s identity and connection with the community but also creates a sustainable pipeline of talent, offering young footballers from the state a clear pathway to elite-level football and, ultimately, the first team.