2016–17 UEFA Youth League
The 2016–17 UEFA Youth League was the fourth season of the UEFA Youth League, a European youth club football competition organised by UEFA.
The Colovray Stadium in Nyon hosted the semi-finals and final. | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 13 September 2016 – 24 April 2017 |
| Teams | 64 (from 40 associations) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Red Bull Salzburg (1st title) |
| Runners-up | Benfica |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 167 |
| Goals scored | 550 (3.29 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) | Jordi Mboula Kaj Sierhuis (8 goals each) |
Chelsea were the title holders after winning the previous two editions. However, since the UEFA Youth League title holders were not given an automatic qualifying place, and both the Chelsea senior team failed to qualify for the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League and the Chelsea academy team failed to win the 2015–16 Professional U18 Development League 1, they did not qualify for this tournament to defend their title.
Red Bull Salzburg won their first title after defeating Benfica 2–1 in the final. This was the first occasion that the winner (or a finalist) had come through the Domestic Champions Path of the competition and as of 2022 the only season not to won by a side whom previously have won a European trophy.