The Pulcino d’Oro confirms that youth football is not merely a matter of technique, but a dynamic blend of cultures. The Trentino-based event, chaired by Sandro Beretta, continues to expand its horizons beyond national borders, establishing itself as an event that goes far beyond the scope of a tournament to embrace a truly European dimension. Following the tournaments held in Portugal in mid-February and in Germany in March, the Pulcino d’Oro has proven itself to be a veritable football laboratory.
A meeting of different sporting cultures that generates value, combining the highest technical quality with impeccable organisation. This weekend, on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th April, the event hosted two stages with a strong international flavour, taking its format to nations with deep-rooted footballing traditions: England and the Netherlands.
In England, Leicester have won the Pulcino d’Oro.
On Saturday 11 April, the training grounds of the prestigious Premier League side Leeds United hosted the sixth edition of the UK leg.
In a setting, as always, steeped in a rich sporting culture, the promising young players competed in an event that saw the participation of renowned Premier League academies and beyond, with teams from the top Scottish league such as the historic Celtic Glasgow and from the Irish league such as Shamrock Rovers. Lifting the coveted Pulcino d’Oro (Gold) trophy was Leicester – a club that evokes legendary memories of their Premier League victory under Claudio Ranieri – one of the greatest feats in the history of modern sport. The Foxes finished ahead of Manchester United, who claimed the Pulcino d’Oro Argento (Silver).
The British contingent was rounded off by the success of Ireland’s Shamrock Rovers (Pulcino d’Oro Bronzo – Bronze) ahead of Scotland’s Celtic Glasgow (Pulcino d’Oro GialloBlù – Yellow-Blue). Aston Villa, Leeds United, Sunderland and TNS also added to the festivities.
In the Netherlands, a surprise victory for the Belgians of KAA Gent
On Sunday 12 April, it was the Netherlands’ turn to host the third edition of the Pulcino d’Oro at the campus of PSV Eindhoven, a historic club in world football, former European Cup winners and recent champions of the Eredivisie. PSV boasts a special connection with the event, having won the International Phase of the Pulcino d’Oro in Levico in 2022. In this clash between top-tier academies (Dutch, German and Belgian), it was the Flemish academy that dominated proceedings.
The Pulcino d’Oro was won by KAA Gent, a hotbed of talent. The final group was an all-Belgian affair, with Royal Antwerp winning the Pulcino d’Argento, ahead of Eupen and Standard Liège. The hosts, PSV, lifted the Bronze Chick, whilst the Yellow-Blue Chick went to Anderlecht, with the line-up completed by the German sides Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen.
The double-header between England and the Netherlands symbolises the international nature of an event that has already enjoyed huge success in Germany (a first) and Portugal.
Joining the established Italian stages in Campania, Puglia, Umbria and the city of Rome. The journey, however, continues. From next weekend, the tournament will return to Italy for three regional fixtures. On Sunday 19 April in Matera (Basilicata), hosted by the Franco Selvaggi club; on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 April in Lazio, in Latina; and on Sunday 26 April in the Marche region.
All these stages serve as a prelude to the international final, scheduled to take place from Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 June in Trentino, with the heart of the action in Levico Terme and Valsugana.
A total of 88 clubs will be taking part (including 24 teams from the Pulcino d’Oro Girls). A star-studded line-up that will see the young teams take on the world’s top sides such as Barcelona, Benfica, RB Leipzig, Leeds United, PSV Eindhoven, Inter, Juventus, Atalanta, Roma and Como, to name but a few.