Let’s cross our fingers and hope that UEFA does not destroy the NextGen series. The U19 elite tournament for Europe’s best youth academies has been a stellar success since it was founded in 2011. It has given the world a chance to see the best youth academies around Europe take each other on - a perfect staging ground to see the future stars of Barcelona, Ajax, Juventus and other top academies going toe to toe in a Champions League style tournament.
The annual 24-team tournament is in its second season and operates outside UEFA auspices. However the European football’s governing body aims to create its own 32-team version. But it would only be open to clubs whose senior sides are participating in that season’s Champions League group stages.
Some clubs may have strong youth programmes but relatively poor senior teams. One example would be Aston Villa. The Birmingham club have been involved in the NextGen series from the beginning but would be ineligible for a UEFA tournament due to the struggles of the senior team who could even be relegated from the Premier League come May.
If UEFA hijacks the concept, many young Irish players could miss out on the chance to face the best young players in their age category unless they play for a Champions League club. For example the top scorer of the 2012/13 NextGen series is an Irishman…
Michael Drennan
According to Aston Villa’s academy boss Bryan Jones, Michael Drennan “scores goals for fun”. And he’s not wrong! The 19-year-old has scored six goals in the 2012/13 NextGen series, firing Aston Villa into the quarter-finals where they will face Olympiakos.
Already a goal machine in the Premier League’s academy and reserve league, the Kilkenny native has scored against some of the best youth academies in Europe this season.
Goals have come against Sporting Lisbon (who have produced Figo, Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo in the past), Celtic and PSV in the group stages.
Drennan also played a key role in the Round of 16, scoring the crucial equalizer against the renowned youth team of Ajax in a 2 – 1 win. The Amsterdam side had reached the final of last season’s tournament.
The talented youngster currently represents Ireland at U19 level, but with the technical knowledge gained from playing against Europe’s best young players, the hope is that he can progress to the senior ranks for club and country in the near future.
Graham Burke
Drennan’s team-mate and countryman has been another key figure for Aston Villa in this season’s NextGen series. The Dubliner has netted three times, including a brace in a 5 – 1 thrashing of PSV Eindhoven.
Due to turn 20 in September, he has already made his senior debut for Aston Villa this season, coming on as a sub in the League Cup back in August, following in the footsteps of Ireland U21 international Samir Carruthers who made the step up to the first team after starring in last season’s NextGen tournament.
Other Irish NextGen players at Aston Villa are Republic of Ireland U21 Jack Grealish (above), Robin Dempsey and Kevin Toner
And there could be extra Irish interest next year as rumours abound that Shamrock Rovers’ U19 team will apply to take part in next season’s NextGen series.
2012/13 Next Gen teams: Aston Villa, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Athletic Bilbao, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Wolfsburg, Marseille, PSG, Sporting Lisbon, Ajax, PSV, Fenerbahce, CSKA Moscow, Celtic, Olympiakos, Anderlecht, Molde Rosenberg.
