DFB honoured by UEFA for their youth development work in Europe

UEFA have honoured DFB for the third time for their youth development work in Europe, and presented them with the “Maurice Burlaz Trophy.” The award is given out every two years, and is based on the rankings achieved in the U17 and U19 European Championships. DFB have secured the title for the third time in their history, after winning it in 1992 and 2009. The most recent winners prior to this year were France, who won the trophy in 2013.

The crucial factor was the placement of the U17 and U19 teams in their respective European Championships over the last two years. The German sides were the only ones to both reach the final. The U19s were crowned European champions in Hungary in 2014, and the U17s reached the final this year in Bulgaria. Hany Mukhtar scored the only goal against Portugal in Budapest, and the U17s lost 4-1 to France in Burgas.

Germany dethrone France

In the UEFA rankings, the Germany youth sides find themselves four points ahead of France’s 14, with Portugal and Russia both in third on 13. "The trophy confirms our good work in youth development, and is based on our U19 European title and our U17 second placed finish," said DFB sporting director Hansi Flick.

Joti Chatzialexiou added: "We are very proud of this achievement, it confirms our good work that we have shown in recent years," said the head of the youth team office, who accepted the award in Nyon on Thursday ahead of the qualification group draws of the U17 EUROS in Azerbaijan and the U19 EUROs in Germany.

The trophy, which is named after Maurice Burlaz, the former vice-president of the French Football Association and the vice-chairman of UEFA's Youth Commission, has been awarded since 1990. Only the Spanish youth system has been recognised more than the German.

All winners