Co-founders Rio Ferdinand, Bobby Zamora and premiership coach Sam Hubert have expanded the remit of Football Escapes so it is now a full, trade-friendly operator.

Initially set up to offer holidaying families with children’s football training by former Premier League players and Uefa-qualified coaches, the operator will now organise flights, transfers and accommodation for the budding talent and their families on the courses.

Destinations will include Dubai, the Maldives, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece and China, and 2020 coaches will include former England captain Rio Ferdinand, ex-Chelsea defender Ashley Cole, ex-Liverpool striker Michael Owen and former-England Lioness Rachel Yankey.

 
The coaching courses, available to boys and girls aged between five and 15 of all abilities include two-hour daily football sessions spread across a week.
 
Each child who enrols on the course will be provided with a full kit including a shirt, shorts and socks, and a signed certificate and medal on completion.

One of the trips, led by Ashley Cole at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai from 15-22 February 2020 is priced from £11,500 for two adults and two children.