One group will be strengthened by as many as two double Champions League winners, while the other features a four-time laureate of the elite European club competition... Such a repertoire awaits us from Thursday to Sunday on the junior pitches in the southwestern part of Maksimir Stadium. This week, on Thursday, August 6th, the 23rd edition of the prestigious international Memorial Junior Tournament Mladen Ramljak will begin, featuring the debut appearance of four-time European champion Ajax at this competition, and for the third consecutive year, double European crown winner – Juventus. Additionally, another double winner of Europe's biggest club competition, Portuguese side Benfica, will participate in the Ramljak tournament for the fourth time, their second consecutive appearance.

Live broadcasts of all matches can be followed exclusively on our platform "Dinamo +".

Attractive football and strong competition are part of the rich content at this new edition of the prestigious international junior tournament. The strength and significance of the competition is confirmed by looking at this year's participants, as we are once again awaiting a football festival, a showcase of brilliant teams and talented young players who will test themselves in extremely demanding competition and have the opportunity to compete against opponents with different playing styles.

Dinamo is the defending champion from last season. The Blues are also back-to-back winners of this trophy. In summer 2024, they brought this trophy back to their cabinet after a nine-year absence, defeating Manchester United 3-2 in that final, and a year later defended their title by beating Bologna 1-0 in the final match. The Maksimir team was led to the 2024 trophy by coach Ivica Banović, the following season by Jerko Leko, while this year Milan Badelj will take on the role of strategist.

This edition will feature clubs that have collectively won eight Champions League trophies and reached the final 15 times.

In Group A, alongside hosts Dinamo, will compete Juventus, Benfica and Brugge, while Group B consists of Ajax, Bologna, Athletic Bilbao and Hajduk. This season will also mark the return of the Split club to the Ramljak tournament after a full 13 years: Hajduk last appeared in 2013. Throughout the tournament's history, other Croatian representatives have also participated – Osijek last played in 2009, Rijeka in 2017, Zagreb in 2007, Split in 2016, and the Croatian U-19 national team has also competed at one point.

In the 23 editions to date, from 2003 including this year's tournament, teams from 83 different clubs or national teams have participated, representing 35 countries across five continents.

During this period, as many as 13 continental club champions have participated, including nine Champions League/European Cup winners, two winners of the prestigious Copa Libertadores competition in South America, and two Asian Champions League winners. The tournament has also featured 18 different clubs from the five strongest European national leagues.

Competition schedule; Thursday, August 6th; Group B: Ajax vs Athletic Bilbao (9:30), Hajduk – Bologna (11:15); Group A: Brugge – Benfica (17:30), Dinamo – Juventus (19:15); Friday, August 7th; Group B: Athletic Bilbao – Bologna (9:30), Hajduk – Ajax (11:15); Group A: Benfica – Juventus (17:30), Dinamo – Brugge (19:15); Saturday, August 8th; Group B: Ajax – Bologna (9:30), Hajduk – Athletic Bilbao (11:15); Group A: Dinamo – Benfica (17:30), Juventus – Brugge (19:15); Sunday, August 9th: 7th place playoff (8:30), 5th place playoff (8:30), 3rd place playoff (10:15), final (18:30)