Youngsters Named U17 Tournament Winners

That set up a semi-final clash with AC Ajaccio, which City drew 0-0, despite dominating the game. Leicester emerged victorious on penalties, winning 4-2, with goalkeeper Cameron Yates saving a spot-kick to help his side to the final. 

Coming up against an impressive Le Havre side, it was Leicester who would win the fixture 2-0 and return home with the trophy. 

Reflecting on the tournament, Academy coach Trevor Peake told LCFC.com: “It was a great experience for the lads and obviously winning the tournament will give them some great memories. We had a young group and took a number of Under-15s. 

“We finished second in the group stages with six points, and Le Havre, who we eventually faced twice, won the group with nine points. 

“The semi-final against Ajaccio was a tough game, because although we dominated, we couldn’t score the decisive goal. It went to a penalty shoot-out, which the lads don’t get every week. Cameron Yates saved a penalty which obviously helped the cause, so he had a good input in that result.” 

City first-teamer Riyad Mahrez rose through the ranks at Le Havre before joining the Foxes in 2014, and unsurprisingly, their youth team that Leicester faced in France were one of the best sides in the tournament, according to Peake. 

He added: “Le Havre were one of the first teams on. They were a very strong outfit and had physically powerful players. Four of the players that played against us were regulars in Le Havre’s Under-19s side. 

“They were the strongest outfit out of the eight teams that competed. We rode our luck a little bit in the final, but we caught them on the counter just before half-time to go 1-0 up. 

“We defended really well in the second half and added a second goal to win the tournament, which was obviously terrific. It’s the first year that we’ve participated in this tournament, and as holders now, we get invited back to play again next year.” 

It proved to be a highly-competitive tournament that provided a range of different challenges, with Croatia outfit HNK Hajduk Split, Slovakian side FK Senika and French hosts Gonfreville completing the other group alongside semi-final opponents Ajaccio. 

Preparing for those challenges are always difficult, but Peake felt that fellow Academy coach Matt Goodwin, who took the team, can take a lot of credit for his success with the young Foxes. 

“The players really took on the team ethic right from the first game,” Peake said. “Matt Goodwin took the group, and I was there overseeing it, so it was all Goody’s ideas.

“He changed the system a number of times for different games and the majority got a full game, so they all got a taste of what it’s like to play there. 

“Matt can take a lot of credit with the way he organised things. He was very thorough and the lads stuck to the game plans that he put forward.”