Just hours to go now until the first four matches of the brand new exciting NextGen Series gets underway.
In the first of his regular blogs, tournament co-founder Mark Warburton (right) tells Sportsmail what to expect...
The NextGen Series is a continental tournament like no other. It heralds a mouthwatering new era in competitive football, featuring the next generation of world-class players - players who have been trained and nurtured by some of the greatest clubs in Europe.
Sixteen international clubs will be playing their stars of the future, (19 and under) in four groups over a six month period.
It promises to be fascinating and as organisers we are hopeful that the fans will be excited by the talent on show. Who knows, we may even be witnessing the development of the next Messi, Ronaldo or Gerrard!
One to watch: Raheem Sterling will be looking to enhance his growing reputation at Liverpool against European opposition
OPENING GAMES
Ajax v Aston Villa (7pm, De Toekomst)
FC Basel v Spurs (7.30pm, Stadium Rankhof)
Liverpool v Sporting Lisbon (8pm, Anfield)
Marseille v Celtic (8.30pm, Stadium Marcel Cerdan)
All games on Wednesday, August 17
Behind the scenes we have been working hard on NextGen for the past two years. The build up has been hectic - liaising with the Clubs, thinking through the fixture programme to ensure nothing clashed with either domestic commitments or existing youth and reserve dates.
We have been securing the venues, arranging hotels and flights for players and staff, and liaising with the football authorities.
But now we are set.
The youngsters of Aston Villa travel to Amsterdam for their game against Ajax while Spurs are in Switzerland to play FC Basel and Liverpool host Sporting Lisbon at Anfield. Celtic are in France to face Marseille.
This tournament was created with huge support from many within the football world, because there is a void in the education of elite youth players across Europe. While there are excellent domestic fixtures in place, it is rare that the best compete against the best in these matches.
Euro stars: Celtic's James Forrest (C) promotes the Glasgow giants' involvement in the inaugural NextGen competition with U19 players Lewis Toshney (L) and Callum McGregor
Following discussions with academy directors and coaches at European clubs, it became clear that a tournament like NextGen would not only aid the education and development of young professionals, but would challenge club staff who would have to prepare them for these games.
It will also provide first-team managers the change to view their young stars and learn more about their capabilities.
HOW THE GROUPS LINE UP...
GROUP ONE
FC Barcelona
Celtic
Marseille
Manchester City
GROUP TWO
Liverpool FC
Sporting Lisbon
Wolfsburg
Molde
GROUP THREE
Ajax
Rosenborg
Aston Villa
Fenerbahce
GROUP FOUR
Inter Milan
FC Basel
Tottenham
PSV
Through my visits to clubs all over Europe, big names such as Kenny Dalglish, Neil Lennon, Rafa Benitez and Harry Redknapp have all expressed their delight at the inaugural tournament and see it as an excellent platform for the stars of tomorrow to develop for the transition to the top level of the game.
There’s always talk about the game getting quicker, ever more physical, and more technical, and this creates enormous challenges for gifted players to breakthrough.
Pointing the way: Both Redknapp and Dalglish have backed the new tournament
The NextGen Series will see every team playing a minimum of six fixtures against top quality European opposition. The home and away qualification matches will allow the boys to experience new venues, new styles of play and new challenges, all of which will give them valuable experience for the hurdles that lie ahead.
The only UK based fixture on Wednesday (August 17) is at Anfield. We are hopeful that the Liverpool faithful will be out in their numbers to witness the likes of Raheem Sterling, Connor Coady and Andre Wisdom take on the might of Portuguese giants, Sporting Lisbon.
Sporting are an excellent team and Rodolfo Borrell - who will manage the Liverpool side, has said they are, 'very quick, technically gifted players who are really well organised'. So we should expect a competitive game.
For the Celtic, Villa and Spurs fans who plan to make their way to Holland, Switzerland and Marseille for their respective fixtures, who should all expect tough games against quality opposition.
The NextGen Series couldn’t have a more exciting start.
For more information about the new NextGen Series visit: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.nextgenseries.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">www.nextgenseries.com</a> or follow the tournament on Twitter at: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.twitter/nextgenseries" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">www.twitter/nextgenseries</a>
