River Plate lifted the Pulcino d’Oro in front of a full house, repeating the triumph of the previous edition. A comeback edition where both the boys and the girls prizes were won by last year’s winners. The 2024 International Tournament, held from Thursday 13th to Sunday 16th June, saw the Valsugana pitches – in Borgo Valsugana and Caldonazzo, with the heart of the tournament in Levico Terme – filled with young players and sixty clubs from Italy, Europe and South America. Among the latter were River Plate of Argentina and the likes of Atletico Madrid, Atalanta and Benfica, who were battling it out in the final group of four. The final act was as exciting as ever, with everything hanging in the balance throughout the competition. Thrilling final in all the confrontations. The final between River Plate and Atalanta in front of Sportitalia’s cameras was decisive and thrilling. Los Millonarios finished first with 7 points, Atletico Madrid second with 5, Atalanta third with 3 and Benfica fourth with 1. On the other pitches set up in the cosy sports centre in Viale Lido di Levico Terme, the Pulcino d’Argento, Pulcino di Bronzo, Pulcino Gialloblù and Pulcino Arcobaleno (Rosso, Bianco, Azzurro and Verde) trophies were awarded.
The Pulcino d’Argento was won by Inter, ahead of AZ Alkmaar from the Netherlands and Psv Eindhoven, with Franco Selvaggi’s surprise team in a tight group. One of the real surprises of the tournament were the Lucanians, the only amateur team to finish in the top four. Excitement and surprises in the Pulcino di Bronzo, with Nuova Tor Tre Teste winning the trophy ahead of Alcione Milano, who proved to be one of the best teams in the event. Behind them were top teams such as Sunderland from England and Montebelluna from Venice. The Pulcino Gialloblù went to Paraiso from Campania, ahead of Vis Pesaro, Virtus Bolzano and ViPo Trento. The Pulcino Arcobaleno Rosso was won by Liventina Opietrgina. The Pulcino Arcobaleno Bianco was won by Alba Borgo Roma, the blue prize by Junior Jesina-Scuola Calcio Roberto Mancini and the green one by Sacco San Giorgio ahead of Comano Terme Fiavé.
The second edition of Pulcino d’Oro Girls was very well attended. The final between Inter and Cittadella Women was broadcast live on Sportitalia. Inter won the Pulcino d’Oro ahead of Milan, Roma and Cittadella Women. The Pulcino d’Argento was won by Juventus Women in a final with Rhodense, Treviso Women and Calcio Vittuone. The Pulcino di Bronzo was won by Lady Maerne, who finished well behind Pro Vercelli, Lady Maerne B and Sala Bolognese. For the ‘nerazzurri’ it is the second success in a row.
The President of the Pulcino d’Oro Organising Committee, Sandro Beretta, was visibly satisfied at the end of the 2024 edition of the International Tournament: “It has been four days full of emotions and a lot of football, I would say at an excellent level. With each edition, the quality of the game increases exponentially, with more and more well-equipped teams arriving in Levico Terme with really important youth sections, and it is no coincidence that the top clubs ask us to inform them as soon as possible about the date of the next edition of the Pulcino d’Oro. We have raised the level in many ways, and not just for the 60 teams and over 1,300 young players who are in Levico Terme these days. For this edition we have significantly increased the number of regional tournaments in Italy and Europe. This has forced us to make a greater organisational effort, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers, who are really an enormous number, I am talking about around 500 people. A big round of applause is also due to the tried and tested team of organisers who work tirelessly throughout the year for the Pulcino d’Oro, and this makes me very proud”.
The Pulcino d’Oro 2024 has set a new record with 14 regional and European stages and more than 300 teams taking part. Sandro Beretta concludes: “It is undoubtedly an event destined to grow. This weekend Levico Terme was full of young players, families and fans. We want to continue to grow as well and respond to the requests of many clubs to organise qualifying tournaments in Italy and Europe”.