Netherlands

The Netherlands started as they meant to go on, scoring 17 unanswered goals in qualifying round Group 11, including five second-half strikes from Ezra Walian in a competition record-equalling 12-0 triumph over San Marino. They continued in a similar fashion in elite round Group 3, beating France 3-1 in a winner-takes-all denouement to become the first team to join Malta in the final tournament.

It marked an impressive return for the Netherlands, who lifted the trophy under Albert Stuivenberg in 2011 and 2012 but did not make it to the Slovakia finals last summer. "Everything we have worked hard for in the recent period all came together at once," said coach Maarten Stekelenburg after qualification was secured. "We have all fought really hard for this and have played excellently – it is a well-deserved qualification."

Qualifying round: Faroe Islands 4-0, San Marino 12-0, Georgia 1-0 (Group 11 winners)

Elite round: Austria 2-1, Sweden 2-0, France 3-1 (Group 3 winners)

Key players
Keziah Veendorp (defender, FC Groningen), Marlon Slabbekoorn (midfielder, Feyenoord), Dani van der Moot (forward, PSV Eindhoven)

Coach: Maarten Stekelenburg

Date of Birth: 13 December 1972
Nationality: Netherlands
Playing career: SV Argon, SV Huizen, Amsterdamsche FC (all amateur)
Coaching career: AFC Ajax (academy), Ajax Cape Town FC, Amsterdamsche FC, Netherlands U17s

The Netherlands' U17 coach since July 2013, Stekelenburg has guided the Jong Oranje to the finals in his first campaign with a 100% record. He arrived in the post having guided AFC to safety in the Dutch third tier, and after a stint as coach of Ajax Cape Town. A former defender at amateur sides SV Argon, SV Huizen and AFC, he went to South Africa to head up the Ajax Cape Town youth academy, having briefly held a similar role at Ajax in Amsterdam. He is no relation of the identically named former Dutch international goalkeeper.

Team records

Qualifying top scorer
Ezra Walian: 5

UEFA European Under-17 Championship best
Winners: 2011, 2012
Runners-up: 2005, 2009

Honours in UEFA youth competitions
International Youth Tournament (U18)
Runners-up: 1948, 1949, 1970