 | |
| Founded | 1981 |
|---|---|
| Region | International |
| Number of teams | 12 (2019) |
| Current champions |  Argentina (1st title) |
| Most successful club(s) |  Russia (20 titles) |
| Website | Official website |
TheGranatkin Memorial (Russian:Мемориал Гранаткина) is a youthassociation football tournament which traditionally features invited national teams composed of U-17/U-18/U-19 players.[1] The tournament is held inSaint Petersburg since 2006 (previously inMoscow and Leningrad / Saint Petersburg), and since 2017 the final is held in summer (previouslyindoors in winter).
In 1981 in Moscow started the first Granatkin Memorial – the International youth football tournament initiated by theFIFA PresidentJoao Havelange to perpetuate the memory of the FIFA First Vice-PresidentValentin Granatkin.[2]
The tournament attracted the attention of both professionals and football fans. The matches of the Memorial were attended by the President of theInternational Olympic CommitteeJuan Antonio Samaranch.[3] The prize to the winners was presented by Granatkin’s daughter Marina Valentinovna.
In 1981 and 1982 the tournament was held inMoscow. Since 1983Leningrad became the Memorial residence. Till 1992 in twelve tournaments have taken part combined teams from 16 countries.
The second period of the Memorial started in the year 2001. Since that time the scheme of the competition radically changed. The number of the participants increased to 8 combined teams, which are divided into two groups. Every group plays round robin. When in play-off teams contest the places from 1 to 8.
Granatkin tournament is noted as a place of discoveries. Memorial is a first loud word from the future stars of world football –Andreas Moeller,Tony Meola,Oliver Bierhoff,Carsten Jancker,Marcel Desailly,Igor Kolyvanov,Anatoliy Tymoshchuk andAlexandr Mostovoi — many used to participate in the tournament.
In total, eight countries celebrated the victory in the tournament. Young players from 22 countries finished in top 3. The most titled is teamUSSR / Russia with 20 wins. Young talents fromGermany won gold medals four times. The third in the list of successful teams isBelarus (1 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals). In terms of the number of medals, the leaders are: USSR / Russia (38 medals),China andUkraine (7 medals each).
| Team | Titles | Runners-up | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
Russia
| 20
| 9
| 9
|
 Germany
| 4 (1981, 1984, 1992, 2006) | 1 (1986) | 1 (1990) |
 Belarus | 1(2007) | 1 (2008) | 3 (2003, 2004, 2005) |
 Finland | 1 (2011) | 1 (2012) | |
 South Korea | 1 (2003) | 1 (2015) | |
 Slovenia | 1 (2016) | 1 (2015) | |
 Italy | 1 (2012) | ||
 Japan | 1 (2014) | ||
| Argentina | 1 (2019) | ||
 China | 5 (1988, 1990, 2001, 2003, 2011) | 2 (1991, 1992) | |
 Turkey | 3 (2007, 2009, 2018) | 3 (2010, 2012, 2019) | |
 Ukraine | 2 (2005, 2010) | 5 (2002, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013) | |
 France | 2 (1983, 1985) | 2 (1986, 1987) | |
 Belgium | 1 (1989) | 1 (1984) | |
 Slovakia | 1 (2006) | 1 (2014) | |
 Brazil | 1 (1982) | ||
 Lithuania | 1 (2002) | ||
 Poland | 1 (2004) | ||
 Kazakhstan | 1 (2017) | ||
 Spain | 1 (1981) | ||
 Czech Republic
| 1 (1983) | ||
 Iran | 1 (2001) |
| Confederation | Titles | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| UEFA | 28 (1981–2002, 2004–2013, 2015–2018) | 24 (1981, 1983–1987, 1989, 1991–1992, 2002, 2004–2010, 2012–2014, 2016–2019) |
| AFC | 2 (2003, 2014) | 5 (1988, 1990, 2001, 2003, 2011) |
| CONMEBOL | 1 (2019) | 1 (1982) |
| CAF | – | – |
| CONCACAF | – | – |
