LaLiga and Major League Soccer (MLS) are establishing closer ties and stepping up their collaboration.

Academy directors, coaches and officials from several franchises in the highest tier of the United States’ soccer pyramid have visited LaLiga’s facilities exchanging knowledge with leading Spanish experts on educational methodologies for the training of players and coaches alike.

This week, saw a group made up of 20 academy directors from MLS franchises are taking part in a workshop organised and run by LaLiga specialists, with former Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka, Victor Orta, Oscar Perarnau, Gari Fullaondo and Angel Vales among the speakers.

The aim of the event is to pass on the know-how and experience that have made LaLiga clubs the international benchmark in areas such as working methodology, scouting and recruitment, training and match analysis, and youth development.

The American coaches have also benefited from paying visits to LaLiga clubs’ facilities. The likes of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Rayo Vallecano and Malaga CF have opened their doors to these special guests, who have had the chance to find out first-hand about the work carried out by the clubs’ technical staff, thanks to a series of talks given by the heads of the methodology and analysis departments. For the best betting offers on all LaLiga and MLS you need to have the knowledge.

At the beginning of May, nine MLS coaches – divided into three groups – enjoyed a week-long stay in Spain during which they were granted a behind-the-scenes look at life at several LaLiga clubs.

Atletico Madrid, Malaga and RCD Espanyol welcomed the visitors, who made the most of the opportunity to watch a number of matches and training sessions involving teams of all age groups, gain detailed insight into the clubs’ infrastructure, and met with figures from across their respective set-ups, from the coaching staff to members of the various other sporting departments.

Likewise, the technical coordinator of the New York City FC academy, Rodrigo Marion, recently embarked on an exhaustive two-week tour during which he was able to familiarise himself at close quarters with the work undertaken at Athletic Club, Real Sociedad, FC Barcelona, Espanyol, Villarreal CF and Valencia CF, among others.

The exchange of knowledge exemplifies the growing ties between LaLiga and MLS, on a sporting side and follows. Alfonso Mondelo, the MLS’s technical director, attendance at the first-ever forum of representatives from LaLiga academies, which was held in Villarreal last season.