CONCEPT

First introduced in 2010 with the aim of rewarding outstanding club performances, encouraging best practice and highlighting successful club management, the objective of the ECA Awards is to create a platform that encourages knowledge sharing and fosters inspiration among ECA Member Clubs.

In other words, a stage where clubs can promote their great projects, initiatives, and partnerships and at the same time receive inspiration from other clubs. However, there can only be one winner per category and we will therefore reward the very best projects, initiatives and partnerships at the occasion of the next ECA General Assembly in September. 

The ECA Awards 2022 consist of the following categories:

  • ECA Youth Football Award
  • ECA Women’s Football Award
  • ECA Social Impact Award
  • ECA Corporate Partnership Award

You can read more about the 2021 edition winners, announced at the 26th ECA General Assembly on 7 September 2021 in Geneva, and watch the project videos here

You can have a look at the winners of the ECA Awards from 2010-2018 here

ECA YOUTH FOOTBALL AWARD

Objective: To award an ECA Member Club, which has shown exemplary efforts in developing their youth sector/academy from an innovative perspective.   

Entries will: be a club-driven project or initiative, which..

  • focuses on the implementation of a creative and innovative process or technology that enables the development of youth players on and off the pitch (from a cognitive, technical, tactical, physical or educational point of view).
  • can serve as inspiration and best practice for all ECA Member Clubs regardless of size/budget

ECA WOMEN'S FOOTBALL AWARD

Objective: To award an ECA Member Club, which has shown exemplary efforts in developing and promoting the women’s game.

Entries will: be a club-driven project or initiative, which..

  • demonstrates positive and significant contribution to the professionalisation of the women’s game (e.g. infrastructure, facilities, player welfare, sponsorship)
  • sets out a long-term vision and strategic approach for the women’s team
  • can serve as inspiration and best practice for all ECA Member Clubs regardless of size/budget

ECA SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD

Objective: To award an ECA Member Club, which has shown exemplary efforts in helping their local community tackling societal issues.

Entries will: be a club-driven project or initiative which..

  • supports the local community by facing specific societal issues and leads to positive results benefiting the local community in which the club has its roots (rather than benefiting the club itself through i.e. brand promotion)
  • has the characteristics of a longer-term project showing continuity and sustainability, rather than a one-off event
  • can serve as inspiration and best practice for all ECA Member Clubs regardless of size/budget

ECA CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP AWARD

Objective: To award an ECA Member Club, which has shown exemplary efforts in creating a corporate partnership that demonstrates a clear win/win/win for both club, brand and fans.

Entries will: be a club/brand partnership which.. 

  • is built on shared values and demonstrates mutual growth as well as creativity and innovation in activation of the partnership
  • can serve as inspiration and best practice for all ECA Member Clubs regardless of size/budget