In 1981 in Moscow started the first Granatkin Memorial – the International youth football tournament initiated by the
FIFA President
Joao Havelange to perpetuate the memory of the FIFA First Vice-President
Valentin Granatkin. The tournament attracted the attention of both professionals and football fans. The matches of the Memorial were attended by the President of the
International Olympic Committee Juan Antonio Samaranch. The prize to the winners was presented by Granatkin’s daughter Marina Valentinovna. In 1981 and 1982 the tournament was held in
Moscow. Since 1983
Leningrad became the Memorial residence. Till 1992 in twelve tournaments have taken part combined teams from 16 countries. The second period of the Memorial started in the year 2001. Since that time the scheme of the competition radically changed. The number of the participants increased to 8 combined teams, which are divided into two groups. Every group plays round robin. When in play-off teams contest the places from 1 to 8. Granatkin tournament is noted as a place of discoveries. Memorial is a first loud word from the future stars of world football –
Andreas Moeller,
Tony Meola,
Oliver Bierhoff,
Carsten Jancker,
Marcel Desailly,
Igor Kolyvanov,
Anatoliy Tymoshchuk and
Alexandr Mostovoi — many used to participate in the tournament. File:Covers of the SU - Valentin A. Granatkin Memorial International Youth Football Tournament 1986.jpg|Cover of the Soviet Union, 1985 File:Covers of the SU - Valentin A. Granatkin Memorial International Youth Football Tournament 1987.jpg|Cover of the Soviet Union, 1986 File:Covers of the SU - Valentin A. Granatkin Memorial International Youth Football Tournament 1988.jpg|Cover of the Soviet Union, 1987 File:Covers of the SU - Valentin A. Granatkin Memorial International Youth Football Tournament 1989.jpg|Cover of the Soviet Union, 1988 ==Results==