Man City become most successful side in PL2 history with final win

First Team Manager Pep Guardiola said: “To win the Premier League title is such a tough thing to achieve and a matter of huge pride for us all at the club.

“The manner of their victory showed how talented our young players are and also proved that they play with courage and personality too. We see how strong the Academy is every single day, and the quality is there every single time the young players train with us.”

Academy Director Thomas Krücken added: “Congratulations to our coaches Ben Wilkinson and Craig Mudd, Head of Coaching Jan-Moritz Lichte, the players, the MDT and Academy Staff to this incredible achievement! What a great season!” 

City also came close to winning U18 silverware this season, but were thwarted by Aston Villa U18s, led by Head Coach Jimmy Shan, on both occasions.

In the FA Youth Cup final two weeks ago, Shan’s Villa beat Oliver Reiss’s City 3-1 at Villa Park.

Matty Warhurst opened the scoring for last year’s winners City in the second minute, but Villa responded strongly through TJ Carroll, Cole Brannigan and Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba to claim the trophy.

Villa had previously won the Youth Cup in 1972, 1980, 2002 and 2021.

The Villains then beat City 1-0 in the U18 Premier League National final, which pitches the winners of the North and South titles against one another.

Leon Routh scored the decisive goal for Villa in the 75th minute.