STRONG FOUNDATIONS


MILAN – Ahead of the final verdicts for the Primavera (U19) and Allievi Nazionali (U17) championships, we look back at another very successful season for the teams at the lower end of the Milan youth academy, confirming the excellent job carried out by the coaches with the club’s youth. Another demonstration of the club’s reputation as one of the best for youth at home and abroad is the number of call-ups to the national teams: this year a total of 37 players were called-up to international duty, a record in Italy and Europe.The main objective though is the development of the individual and creating youth teams that play good football and mould them so that they can eventually make the step-up to the first team. Results and winning are important, but not the ultimate aim. The likes of Calabria, Donnarumma and Locatelli are the most satisfying results from the youth sector and for all those people involved in working with the club’s future.Season round-up:Giovanissimi Regionali 2002: the team coached by Bertuzzo enjoyed an excellent season, showing massive improvement and ending in third place. The team also managed to collect silverware, winning the Torneo delle Sirene where they beat Napoli 4-0 in the final.Giovanissimi Regionali 2003: Misso’s lads won the league as well as three tournaments over the course of the season. They were: Nico Giovannini Memorial, Davide Eleni Tournament (running out 3-0 winners over Inter) and Protti Tournament.Esordienti 2004: a season to remember for the Rossoneri youngsters which ended with the league title thanks to 27 wins as well as clearing up in a number of tournaments such as the Montecatini International where they beat PSG.Esordienti 2005: an attacking brand of football took the team all the way to the league title.Esordienti 2005 B: Morin’s lads also won the league courtesy of 11 wins as well as lifting the Albioni Memorial.Finally, the Pulcini 2006 & 2007 impressed everyone with their talent and triumphs in several tournaments at home and abroad such as the Venlo Tournament where they beat Spartak Moscow in the final.