UEFA Youth League

The UEFA Youth League is a full registered since the 2013/14 season football club competition for male soccer players under the age of 19 under the care of UEFA. Eligible are respectively the 32 youth teams of clubs participating in the UEFA Champions League group stage. The competition is so, though with different access criteria, the successor of the already twice been transferred to private initiative NextGen Series and is comparable to the discharged in South America since 2011 Copa Libertadores Sub-20, although Rules and Competition mode are not identical.

History

Beginning in December 2012 gave the UEFA announced that UEFA Youth League will be introduced from the 2013/14 season. Thus, the association aims to offer young players the opportunity to gain international experience. First, the competition is for two years as completed before to be thinking about changes.

Mode

For the group stage of the grouping and the Schedule of the UEFA Champions League is adopted. So game is played in eight groups of four teams in a return match. The First and Second of the groups remain in the competition, while the third - and fourth-placed drop out of the European Cup.

After completion of all group matches, where two or more teams are equal on points, decides ( in that order)

After the group stage of the tournament follows ( in knock-out system ). In contrast to the UEFA Champions League matches will be decided in the final round only in a game. The matches will be for the individual finals drawn separately, and in the second round to meet the group winners and runners-up of the former enjoy the home advantage. Failing to meet in the last sixteen teams that have already taken in the first round each other or belong to the same football association. From the quarter- finals, these restrictions no longer apply and the draw will decide which team is hosting. The semi-finals and finals will then be played in the form of a final tournament at a neutral site. A 3rd place match does not exist. Thus, no team needs to complete more than ten games. If after the regular season tied, the game will be decided directly by penalties.

Trophy

The trophy and the UEFA Youth League is named after the UEFA honorary president Lennart Johansson.