Ireland to host Uefa European Under 17 Championship Finals
Credit: Steve Alfred (ETPhotos)
The FAI have confirmed that Ireland will be hosting the 2019 UEFA European Under 17 Championship Finals, following on from this week’s announcement that Northern Ireland will play host to the Under-19 edition of the competition in 2020.
FAI President Tony Fitzgerald praised the announcement by saying: “This achievement, in gaining one of the most prestigious underage football tournaments, brings to an end, a remarkable year for Irish football.
“The successes of our underage international teams, the performance of our men’s senior team at UEFA EURO 2016, the Dublin launch of UEFA EURO 2020 and being awarded this tournament are the highlights of a great year.”
Not only will the tournament serve as a litmus test for the FAI’s hosting skills ahead of Dublin’s involvement in Euro 2020 but also provides an opportunity for Ireland’s developing talent to test themselves at an elite level with qualification already assured.
Despite Ireland’s inability to win a game in their previous two outings at the final stages of the Under-17 competition, FAI Director of High Performance Rudd Dokter is confident that the progress made at grass roots level is beginning to bear fruit.
“This announcement comes on the back of the successes of our Under 17s and Under 19s for both men and women, who have qualified for the Elite Rounds of their respective UEFA European Championship campaigns,” said Dokter.
"We have so much in place now with the progression of the National Leagues, from Under 15 through to Under 19 level, developing the elite pathway for young players in this country. There have been many examples of our young players progressing, such as Cork City excelling in the UEFA Youth League, and this tournament will mean Irish people will get to see the best young players in Europe.”
The FAI are hopeful that the tournament will capture the imaginations of the public and increase the profile of underage football across the country in a way which hasn’t been seen since the exploits of the Brian Kerr-led teams of the late 90’s.
With continued investment in underage football at a national level coupled with the benefit of home advantage it might not beyond the realms of possibility to emulate the successes of Kerr's Malaysian Marvels who finished 3rd at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship and followed up by European glory at the U-16 and U-18 finals the subsequent year.
