NextGen series
 |
|
| Founded | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Abolished | 2013 |
| Number of teams | 24 (group stage) 12 (knockout) |
| Last champions |
 Aston Villa
|
| Television broadcasters | Eurosport |
The NextGen Series was a European football club cup competition for under-19 footballers. It was designed to provide players with the opportunity to match themselves against other elite European footballers of their agegroup in a competitive environment. The competition was created by sports TV producer Justin Andrews, Mark Warburton and current Brentford F.C. owner Matthew Benham.
On 16 August 2013, organisers confirmed that the NextGen Series had been suspended for the 2013–14 campaign because of funding issues and lacking of competitive space since the creation of UEFA Youth League.
Plans to create a European competition for youth footballers had long been explored. Ajax and Manchester City played a behind closed doors match in November 2010 as did Liverpool and Celtic. This was part of a trial scheme for the new competition.
The goal of the tournament was to help clubs replicate the Champions League experience for younger players. Celtic youth coach, Chris McCart said;
The success of the NextGen Series caught the attention of the UEFA board and at end of 2012, the UEFA Youth League was created. The British media commented that the competition was formed to "limit the growing influence of the NextGen Series". A compromise deal was tabled by Andrews and Warburton, with the aim of combining the two tournaments and giving places to non-Champions League clubs with notable academies, but the proposal was rejected by UEFA. Another proposal, to run both leagues in tandem (with the winners meeting in the final), was also rejected.
Teams were picked for the first season of the tournament through invitation. The organisers selected 16 clubs, influenced by the quality of each club’s academy. The clubs picked for the 2011–12 tournament were:
15 clubs who participated at 2011–12 tournament (with the exception of Basel) took part in 2012–13 and were joined by 9 new entrants:
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