The famous UEFA Youth League coaches

The UEFA Youth League provides a platform for Europe's most talented youngsters to gain invaluable experience against the best, easing their transition to senior continental football if, and when, that opportunity arises.

Nurturing some of the leading Under-19 players in this season's competition are a number of coaches who have seen it and done it at the highest level. Among them are two FIFA World Cup winners and the man whose FC Basel 1893 side ended Manchester United FC's UEFA Champions League campaign in 2011.

UEFA.com shines a light on the famous names coaching in the 2014/15 edition.

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Patrick Vieira (Manchester City FC)
Vieira has been in charge of City's elite development squad since June 2013. During his playing days as an imposing, rangy midfielder, Vieira represented AS Cannes, AC Milan, Arsenal FC, Juventus, FC Internazionale Milano and, towards the end, his current employers. His 107 caps for France include appearances in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2000 finals, both of which Les Bleus won. Last season, Vieira guided the Citizens to the UEFA Youth League quarter-finals. This term, City are one of five teams who have qualified for the last 16 with two games to spare.

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Fabio Grosso (Juventus)
An attacking midfielder in the formative stages of his career, Grosso became a successful left-back who claimed the Serie A title with Inter and Juventus as well as the Ligue 1 crown with Olympique Lyonnais. However, his exploits for Italy at the 2006 World Cup are what stand out in the memory. Grosso struck the opener in extra time of the semi-final win against hosts Germany before converting the decisive penalty in the shoot-out triumph over France in the Berlin decider.

After becoming assistant to Andrea Zanchetta with Juventus's Primavera youth side in 2013, he took command the following season. "When you wear this shirt, you always play to win," he said. "But our main objective is to help players grow as footballers and men in order to be ready to play at the top level. The European stage is the best place for this."

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Heiko Vogel (FC Bayern München)
Vogel's coaching CV is notable for the fact he has steered a club into the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, an achievement none of his UEFA Youth League peers can boast. Vogel is in his second spell as a youth coach at Bayern, where he previously worked for nine years and became acquainted with Thorsten Fink. Vogel subsequently worked under Fink at FC Ingolstadt, then succeeding his friend as Basel boss in October 2011.

While Vogel's first European game at the helm ended in a 2-0 home defeat by SL Benfica, Basel responded by taking seven points from their last three group fixtures, the last of them a famous 2-1 victory over Manchester United FC that secured second place in the section at the expense of their decorated opponents. "The story of this game is told quickly: David beat Goliath," said Vogel, who left his post in October 2012, after the match. "Yes, I had tears in my eyes."

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Alberto De Rossi (AS Roma)
A former defender who represented several teams in the Italian lower leagues, Alberto De Rossi is the father of Italy and AS Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi. He is one of the most famous coaches in Italian youth football, both for results achieved and the quantity of players promoted from his sides to the seniors. "I don't have much interest in football at the top level," said the 57-year-old, in his 12th consecutive campaign as coach of Roma's Primavera squad. "I received several offers, but I prefer working with young players; they are my real passion. It's not a matter of lacking ambition, I just think my qualities are perfect for the job I'm doing now."

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Bryan Roy (AFC Ajax)
Roy graduated from the Amsterdam club's celebrated academy in 1987 aged 17. Given his first-team debut by Johan Cruyff, Roy marked it with a goal and quickly became a fans' favourite for his dazzling performances on the left wing, from where he provided the ammunition for Dennis Bergkamp and Stefan Petterson. In 1992 he was part of the Ajax squad that landed the UEFA Cup under Louis van Gaal, while a few months later he helped the Oranje to the last four of EURO '92. Roy, who subsequently turned out for Foggia Calcio, Nottingham Forest FC and Hertha BSC Berlin, retired in 2001 following a stint with NAC Breda.