European U-12 stars join Lech Cup

The Blues

The current leaders of the Premier League have brought to their team top world players, among them Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa, the latter being one of the best scorers on the Islands in the current season. But its the homegrown players who defend their own goal in every match. The captain of the London team, John Terry and his younger teammate Gary Cahill have both began their football career in Chelsea youth teams. Today they play an important role for The Blues who aim for the most prestigious trophies each season. The 12 year-old kids wearing the same shirts have made it to the last years final in the Lech Cup tournament. This time The Blues will return hungry for success, with ambitions to add yet another trophy to their collection.

Swiss success

FC Basel 1893 is a Swiss club that can be proud of not only their achievements at the senior level but also when it comes to the youth players. Ivan Rakitić, Alexander Frei and Xherdan Shaqiri are only few of the tenths of footballers that have blossomed in the academy located in Basel. Since 2001, when the Swiss club moved its home ground St. Jakob-Park, over 40 young players that started in FC Basel have joined first teams of top European clubs. One of such footballers is Darko Jevtić, a midfielder that is currently wearing no. 16 for Lech Poznań. "FC Basel has a very good youth system run by coaching staff that knows how to prepare kids for professional football. The style taught at the younger level resembles the way the senior team plays, making Basel successful at many different levels," says the player of Kolejorz. He also recalls the beginnings of his career. "The time I spent in FC Basel's academy was great; I had to work hard but otherwise I wouldnt be where I am now."

Legendary Czechs

The club from the capital is the absolute legend in their country. Sparta has 36 league cups in their collection and its players have been the base of the national team, both senior and youth, for a long time now. This time the Czechs will visit Poznan together with their most talented 12 year-olds. The current champions of Czech Republic in their age category will face the top European youth teams with a dream to lift the Lech Cup trophy on December 7th.