November 13 – UEFA hosted its inaugural Youth Football Forum last Friday, marking the first event tailored for technical and academy directors and youth coaches of both clubs and national teams.
The forum, held in Brdo, Slovenia, provided a much-needed platform for these often under-the-radar professionals in European football to enhance their expertise, exchange insights and debate best practices among key stakeholders in youth football development.
This forum seeks to transcend traditional boundaries, bringing together experts, visionaries, and influencers to collectively shape the future of youth football across the continent.
Zvonimir Boban, UEFA technical director and chief of football, said: “I am proud of this programme and the fact that, for the first time, the clubs’ academy directors participated in an event like this. Their inclusion in such discussions is essential, as they are the driving force of talent development.
“This forum provided an opportunity for attendees to learn from real-world scenarios and to forge connections with like-minded professionals from different footballing cultures. We can only move forward if we learn how to share the knowledge and experiences and, above all, to listen to each other.”
The UEFA Youth Football Forum is expected not just to be a meeting point for academy coaches but also a catalyst for positive change and advancement in player development.
The initiative saw participation from five European national associations: Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, and Slovenia.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1714152270labto1714152270ofdlr1714152270owedi1714152270sni@g1714152270niwe.1714152270yrrah1714152270