Bulgarian Referee Radoslav Gidzhenov to Officiate 2024 European Under-17 Championship Final

Bulgarian referee Radoslav Gidzhenov, 32, has been appointed to officiate the final of the 2024 European Under-17 Championship in Cyprus. This prestigious assignment marks a significant milestone in Gidzhenov's career, highlighting his expertise and recognition within UEFA's officiating community.

The 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship is the 21st edition of the tournament and is being held in six venues across Cyprus. The tournament, running from May 21 to June 5, features 16 teams with players born on or after January 1, 2007. All 55 UEFA nations entered the competition, with Cyprus qualifying automatically being the host nation.

The final match will be played on June 5, 2024, at the Limassol Stadium, where Italy will face Portugal. Italy reached the final after defeating Denmark 1-0 in the semifinal match held on June 2, 2024, at the Antōnīs Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca. The decisive goal was scored by Federico Coletta in the 30th minute.

This will be Italy's fourth appearance in the final of the European Under-17 Championship, following previous attempts in 2013, 2018, and 2019. Italy's coach, Massimiliano Favo, expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, stating, "We played a great game, dominating the match and maybe we could have scored more goals. I'm very happy because the boys did a great job and deserved to play this final against Portugal."

The tournament has seen a total of 73 goals scored in 24 matches, with an average of 3.04 goals per match as of May 27, 2024. The group winners and runners-up advanced to the quarter-finals, with knockout stage matches decided by penalty shootouts if necessary, as no extra time is played.

Germany, the title holders from the 2023 tournament, failed to qualify for this year's final tournament, leaving the competition wide open for a new champion. The 2024 edition of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship continues to showcase the talents of young footballers from across Europe, setting the stage for future stars of the sport.

The tournament's conclusion will focus all eyes on the final match officiated by Radoslav Gidzhenov, whose appointment highlights his growing reputation for football refereeing excellence. The final promises to be an exciting culmination of a fiercely contested competition, with Italy and Portugal vying for the prestigious title.

Key Takeaways

• Bulgarian referee Radoslav Gidzhenov to officiate 2024 European Under-17 Championship final.
• Italy and Portugal to face off in the final on June 5, 2024, at Limassol Stadium.
• This is Italy's 4th appearance in the final, following 2013, 2018, and 2019.
• 73 goals scored in 24 matches, averaging 3.04 goals per match as of May 27, 2024.
• Germany, the 2023 title holders, failed to qualify for this year's final tournament.