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Which clubs have the youngest average age of Starting XIs in major five European leagues this season?

Let us have a look at the top three clubs that have the youngest average age of Starting XIs in the top five European leagues this season.

By Karthik Raman | Apr 27, 2023 | 3 Min Read

There are not many clubs that depend primarily on youngsters to achieve success in a league campaign. Teams do invest heavily in their young players, with most of the professional clubs having academy that nurture their budding talents. However, this approach is considered for long term success rather than immediate short-term gains. Besides, even a club that invests a lot in their youngsters will not have the senior squad filled with academy talents. Instead, it would be a mix of young and senior players.

It is appealing to have plenty of young legs in a side, which allows them to quickly close down opponents in a high-pressing system. Besides, a team with young players are known to play fearless attacking football. However, the lack of experience could cost them in crucial moments of the season. When the pressure gets to the boiling point, it is a player’s experience that helps him see out the difficult situation. Despite these concerns, there are some clubs that prefer to play with younger players. Let us have a look at the top three clubs that have the youngest average age of Starting XIs in the top five European leagues this season.

1) Valencia (24 years, 260 days)

It is massively surprising to see the Spanish team at the top of this list. With the top five European leagues comprising of Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1, not many would have anticipated Valencia to have the youngest average age of Starting XI. Opta Analyst states that their average age of Starting XI is only 24 years and 260 days. However, it is not necessarily a recipe for success, as Valencia are languishing at the 18^th spot in the La Liga table. At a time when the Spanish club needs experienced players with calm heads to get them out of trouble, they are filled with young guns.

Southampton beat Brentford 4-1 in the Premier League fixture on Tuesday; Credit: Twitter/@premierleague — Southampton players in a file photo; Credit: Twitter/@premierleague

2) Southampton (24 years, 298 days)

Struggling Premier League outfit Southampton is placed second in this list. It is equally surprising to see the Saints at the second place. While it is a welcome approach to hand young players more minutes to gain experience, it has not worked out effectively for them this campaign. With Southampton placed at the bottom of the table, they would now need a miracle to climb out of the relegation zone. It would be interesting to see if their promising young players can bail them out of trouble this season.

3) Arsenal (24 years, 343 days)

Arsenal though have benefitted a lot from having plenty of young promising players in their ranks. They have been leading the Premier League table for majority of the campaign and at one point looked favourite to clinch the title. However, a late wobble in the business end of the season has proven costly for them. Maybe if they had more experienced players in their ranks, the Gunners could have dealt with the setbacks in a much better way. Either way, they will be happy with how the current campaign has turned out and will take plenty of positives from it, largely thanks to their promising youngsters.