PFF study names Sporting as top provider for under-15 to under-19 squads

What better example is there this season of the quality of Sporting's youth system than the Alvalade skipper, Adrien Silva? In inspirational form and having already banged in 7 goals so far this campaign, Adrien certainly deserves a place in the national team for Euro 2016. Another name on a long list topped by Cristiano Ronaldo of successes, Adrien would be a good bet for a Portuguese squad that has always been dominated by Sporting, starting at under-15 and going right through to the under-19 and on to the A team.

A study by the national under-21 team's assistant coach, Alexandre Silva, released by the Portuguese Football Federation, clearly positions Sporting as the team which has provided most players aged 15 to 19. The study of 430 squad lists from July 2005 to December 2015 sees Sporting dominate with 22.3% of all players lent to the nation, ahead of Benfica (21.9%) and FC Porto (18.5%).