AS Monaco’s rising stars have etched their names into history by winning the prestigious Otten Innovation Cup 2025 in Eindhoven, becoming the first French club ever to do so.
The Red and Whites stunned the field, dispatching PSV Eindhoven in the semi-final before toppling Atlético Madrid in a gripping final. The triumph places Monaco alongside past winners such as Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Ajax, and Barcelona in a tournament regarded as the gold standard for U19 football since its creation in 1947.
The Monegasques had already impressed in the group stage with victories over Chelsea and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, losing narrowly to Atlético. But it was on Sunday that Djimi Traoré’s side truly announced themselves.
In the semi-final, Monaco dismantled host favourites PSV, who had lifted the trophy in both 2023 and 2024, with a dazzling first-half display. Nahël Haddani opened the scoring with a thunderous strike before Yannick Dodo doubled the advantage just seconds later. Mehdi Tlili sealed the 3-0 win after the break, as PSV unraveled, finishing with just nine men on the pitch.
That set up a dramatic rematch with Atlético Madrid in the final, where Monaco delivered a performance full of resilience and precision to claim the cup.
For the Principality’s academy, this victory is more than just silverware: it’s a landmark moment, confirming Monaco as a new force in European youth football and proving that their next generation is ready to challenge the continent’s elite.
