Under-17 EURO "a unique landmark" in young players' careers
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
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UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin and Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) president Sándor Csányi look ahead to a tournament that provides a crucial stepping stone for elite youth players.
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Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA president:
Welcome to Hungary for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship final tournament.
These finals are a unique landmark in any young player’s career. It is a first chance for the upcoming generations to test themselves against their European peers, showcase their talents on the international stage and compete for European silverware.
The Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) has been a fantastic host of UEFA events in recent years, staging a number of prestigious events, including games at UEFA EURO 2020, the 2020 UEFA Super Cup, the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in 2019 and the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final tournament, co-hosted with my native Slovenia. And let’s not forget that the winners of this season’s UEFA Europa League will also be crowned in Budapest just two days before the end of this tournament.
I want to thank the host association and their president Sándor Csányi for their hospitality and outstanding work in preparation for what promises to be another tournament to remember.
I wish the best of luck to the 16 competing teams. And may the best one win!
Sándor Csányi, MLSZ president:
I am delighted and honoured to welcome the participants of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship to Hungary.
The development of young footballers is of particular importance to the Hungarian Football Federation. Talented players need to be given an opportunity as soon as possible to prove themselves at senior level.
If 17 and 18-year-olds are entrusted with playing time, it’s not rare for them at that young age to become key members of their senior sides.
Hungary’s Under-17 men’s team has qualified for two of the four most recent final tournaments at this age group, progressing to the knockout stages on both occasions. I am confident that Attila Belvon’s team will also hold their own against the exceptional list of contenders this time and will delight the Hungarian supporters with some memorable football.
It just remains for me to wish the organisers good luck with their work, the participants much success with football played in the right spirit and for the supporters to enjoy discovering some great stars of the future here in Hungary!
