The UEFA Youth League: Bridging the gap
Monday, April 21, 2025
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Benfica – champions in 2021/22 – have long recognised the importance of the Youth League as a critical step along the pathway from age-grade to senior football.
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"The Youth League is an excellent competitive space."
Pedro Marques, Benfica’s technical director between 2018 and 2024, knows more than most about the opportunities presented by Europe’s premier youth club competition.
During his tenure, the likes of Rúben Dias, João Félix, João Neves and António Silva – all current Portuguese national team players – represented Benfica in the Youth League before making their bows for the first team.
"It’s a unique opportunity [for players] to experience a professional competition in preparation for their future careers," said Marques.
Developmental goals
The players echo Marques’ words. "I think the competition helps us a lot in terms of professional development," said Neves. "We play against clubs with different team dynamics, different ways of playing. It helps us prepare better for the reality of professional football."
"It definitely gives you more encouragement to work because you get a taste of that dream early on," added his Portugal team-mate Dias. "We got to train with the Champions League ball. I don’t know what it’s like for other people, but for me that meant a lot. It’s powerful." Dias now looks back on those days with a 2023 Champions League winners medal to his name. He’s one of the now more than 1,000 Youth League players that have gone on to play in the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League.
Their successes and those of other Youth League graduates will deepen the sense of opportunity for Europe’s next generations, believes Marques. "For them to look at players like Rúben Dias, João Felix and others playing at the highest level today can only be inspiring."
A benchmark for coaches
Up-and-coming coaches recognise the competition’s equally important role in honing their skills and methods in a high-pressure context. More than 20 coaches have graduated from the Youth League to managing in a senior UEFA competition.
"It’s a crash course in preparing for further down the line in a job as a head coach," explained former Feyenoord Under-19 coach Robin van Persie, who has since become the club’s head coach following a spell at fellow Dutch Eredivisie side Heerenveen. "What I learnt in this one season as a [Youth League] coach would normally take three or four seasons. This really is a miniature Champions League."
"The UEFA Youth League is a fantastic opportunity not only for the players but also for coaches to show your ideas in a more competitive environment than you’re used to."
Opening the door to more players
The 2024/25 season of the Youth League adopted a new, expanded format to give more of Europe’s young club players the chance to experience its many benefits.
The domestic champions path expanded from 32 teams to give the youth champions of all our 55 member associations the opportunity to participate, while the Champions League path featured an additional four teams to mirror the new 36-team league phase introduced in the senior competition.
The competition comes to a head this weekend, as the semi-finals of this season’s edition kick off in Nyon, Switzerland. AZ Alkmaar, Barcelona, Salzburg and Trabzonspor are competing for a place in Monday’s final.
