Italian Championship. Dante Berretti
The Dante Berretti Italian Championship is a prestigious national youth tournament featuring U19 teams from Serie A and Serie B clubs. It acts as a vital springboard for talent development, where promising youngsters under 19 compete at a semi-professional level. Organized by Lega Pro, it brings together reserve squads from Italy's top academies, embodying the nation's focus on tactical discipline and long-term youth investment in football.
History and foundation
Named after Dante Berretti, a pioneering Italian coach born in 1901 who championed youth football, the competition began in 1958 under FIGC as the Trofeo Dante Berretti for Primavera sides. It evolved through expansions in the 1980s to 20 teams and Lega Pro integrations in the 2000s. Highlights include Juventus' dominance in the 2010s, a 1990s match-fixing controversy, and the 2020 pandemic interruption. Stars like Federico Chiesa honed skills here early in their Fiorentina youth days, marking its legacy in producing Serie A talents.
Tournament format
The format features two groups of 10-12 teams in a round-robin setup with home-and-away fixtures. Group winners advance to a final for the title, with playoffs for 3rd-4th. Running from September to May, it's restricted to U19 academy players from Serie A/B clubs, limiting foreigners to three per squad. Matches occur on Lega Pro-standard pitches, bridging youth and pro levels.
Interesting facts
Average goals per game hover at 2.8, favoring defensive masterclasses true to Italian roots. Top scorers: Matteo Dell'Orco (Juventus, 28 goals in 2018/19) and Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma, 22 in 2015). Standouts include Nicolò Zaniolo's flair for Roma in 2016, Federico Cherubini (Juventus), and Moise Kean (Verona, 18 goals in 2017). It's a proven pipeline to Serie A, nurturing names now shining in Europe's elite leagues.