The Technician N°45•E :Anglais 11.1.2010 15:16 Page 1

Editorial: Image Rights and Responsibilities

Interview:

Football – Art or Science?

Footballing Questions

The World Cup Experience

Refereeing Matters

Including

NEWSLETTER FOR COACHES N O 45 FEBRUARY 2010 The Technician N°45•E :Anglais 11.1.2010 15:16 Page 2

Andres Iniesta up against in the UEFA Champions League tie between FC Barcelona and Inter

IMPRESSUM

EDITORIAL GROUP Andy Roxburgh Graham Turner PRODUCTION André Vieli Dominique Maurer Atema Communication SA Printed by Artgraphic Cavin SA ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Hélène Fors COVER By beating Bosnia-Herze- govina in the play-offs clinched a place in the World Cup finals in South Africa. Coach is counting on his star striker, , to bring his team success there. (Photo: Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images) Getty Images

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EDITORIAL In football today, with the global ex- football community, offer their support posure which the game gets from TV to the governing bodies and the au- BY ANDY ROXBURGH, and other media, the coaches’ actions thorities in the battle to keep the game UEFA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR are constantly exposed to detailed fair and attractive. Everybody in foot- public scrutiny. The behaviour of the ball has a duty to guard it from exploita- players on the pitch is also a reflection tion, manipulation and dishonesty. on the coach, because ultimately he is responsible for the way his team If the product is poor and the image performs and acts. For example, if his is bad, then the brand will be weak. What do FC Barcelona, players are prone to diving, to cheating In football, this means that coaches and and the UEFA Champions League have the referee, this damages the image players must play their part in promot- in common? Our marketing colleagues of the game and the good name of ing and protecting the game. Many would immediately shout: they’re all the club. AC Milan’s Leonardo is in no will make money from image rights, but brands. In today’s world of commercial doubt: “Top clubs need to set an exam- with those rights comes responsibility. jargon, football players, clubs, competi- ple – it is about ethics.“ And Sir Alex The terminology is new – brands, im- tions, even coaches, are considered Ferguson concurs when he declares: ages, products – but the story is an to be a brand – that means they have “Something must be done about div- old one. Skill, authenticity, attractiveness an identity, a trademark which is in- ing.“ Protecting the image of the prod- and fair play are the cornerstones of stantly recognisable and, in professional uct, the game itself, the brand, the club the game and are fundamental ingredi- sport, sellable. Supporters are said to and the competition, therefore needs ents for the customers. It is said that a have brand loyalty because they faith- to be part and parcel of every coach’s brand is a promise, but it is much more fully follow their teams, while the popu- job. As Arsène Wenger says, “the team than that – FC Barcelona, David Beck- larity of the player, the club, the compe- is a reflection of the coach,“ and this ham, and the UEFA Champions League tition depends on the brand’s image: means the team’s attitude as well as its should be a guarantee of quality, and how it is perceived by the public at playing performance, style and results. football’s technicians should be at the large. Of course, there is no brand, no forefront in delivering a ‘product’ which image without a product and in football The coach’s personal image also comes is dramatic, spectacular and clean. that means the game itself, with its into this equation. The way he conducts sporting, social and historical values. himself, as well as the success of his But surely all this talk of brands, images team, has an impact on the public per- and products has very little to do with ception of him. Gérard Houllier, the top coaches – their job is to win foot- former Liverpool FC and Olympique ball matches, period. Or is it? Lyonnais manager, once said that “the most important moment of the week The NFL (American football) is very for a coach is the 30-second sound protective of its brand name and im- bite after a match.“ This is especially true age. It makes sure that players, coaches when the team has lost, because what and officials follow league rules, laws the coach says at that moment and guidelines. Winning games is only will be heard on 24-hour TV channels part of the equation for them. The by the players, their wives, the board, Rugby Football Union in has the supporters and the next opponents. created an “image of the game“ task It is therefore important to convey a force following recent scandals, which positive image, even during difficult included fabricated blood injuries de- times. Most important of all, the coach signed to deceive the opponents and must be genuine and natural, and not the officials. The image of rugby as a the product of some marketing or PR gentleman’s game has been tarnished advice – the football fan wants the real by gamesmanship, foul play, violence thing and not a glossy caricature. and feigned injuries. So the product – Some things which have a negative the game – may have a lot to offer, impact on the image of the game are but if its reputation is damaged, then not necessarily within the influence of

the fans, the lifeblood of professional the coach, such as hooliganism, illicit Empics sports, could lose faith, and, subse- betting, doping, etc. But it is helpful if David Beckham is an expert at taking quently, interest. they, as high-profile members of the care of his image.

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INTERVIEW BY ANDY ROXBURGH, UEFA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Empics Sport

AS A PLAYER, BERT VAN MARWIJK PLAYED ON THE LEFT WING, THEN MOVED TO MIDFIELD, BEFORE ENDING HIS CAREER AS A DEFENDER. HE PLAYED FOR , AZ ALKMAAR AND MVV MAASTRICHT AMONG OTHERS, AND WAS CAPPED FOR THE NATIONAL TEAM. UNFORTUNATELY, INJURY DEPRIVED HIM OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY IN THE FIFA WORLD CUP IN IN 1978. HIS COACHING CAREER WAS LAUNCHED IN THE YOUTH PROGRAMME OF MVV MAASTRICHT AND, AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF NURTURING YOUNG PLAYERS, HE MOVED TO THE PROFESSIONAL RANKS. HIS FIRST TASTE OF A CUP FINAL CAME IN THE WITH FC, BUT IT WAS IN 2002 THAT HE STRUCK GOLD WHEN HE WON THE UEFA CUP WITH . FOLLOWING A TWO-YEAR STINT AT BV IN , HE RETURNED TO FEYENOORD AND WON THE KNVB CUP IN 2008. IN THE AFTERMATH OF THAT SUCCESS, HE REPLACED AS THE HEAD COACH OF THE DUTCH NATIONAL TEAM FOLLOWING EURO 2008 IN AUSTRIA/SWITZERLAND. IN HIS NEW ROLE, HE TOOK THE NETHERLANDS TO THE FINALS OF THE 2010 WORLD CUP BY WINNING THEIR QUALIFYING GROUP IN IMPRESSIVE STYLE. HE WAS A CREATIVE PLAYER WHO HAS DEVELOPED INTO A POSITIVE, IMAGINATIVE COACH AT THE TOP LEVEL – HE IS… BERT VAN MARWIJK 1 • How would you describe your technical football things and, above 3 • Rinus [Michels] used to say style of management/leadership? all, you must have respect. that it took a certain type of perso- I think it is very important that you have nality to handle the Dutch team. the respect of your players. How you 2 • Who influenced your Do you agree? do that can vary. I think you have to be development as a coach? In the Netherlands it is never good a personality and maybe a father figure. Nobody in particular. From an early enough, even when you win 7-0 – You have to have a style that makes age I was a player, a left-winger, and enough is not enough. But we played the players want to do something for I thought I knew everything. But, in EURO 2008 and we beat Italy and you. That’s important. The best thing later I moved to midfield and saw France and everything was so good. is that they will do it because of your the game differently. Finally, I played Suddenly, we lost the next game be- quality. I’m not really democratic, but at the back and had another per- cause we lost focus. We seem to live in I think it is vital that the players can spective and it is during those play- extremes. Because we are a small trust you, that they know you can love ing times that I learned the most. country we need to be creative. Some them, and that you can stand among I learned a lot from good and bad would say we have an arrogance, but them when appropriate. But you must coaches, but not anyone special. I this can be a strength if it means con- also be able to keep your distance. learned from my own mistakes, and fidence and tactical intelligence. We You have to be clear and honest with I learned, from my own experiences, are always thinking about tactics and your players and I try to be both. Also, how players feel. When I come into how we can beat the other team. you have to have the guts to give them the dressing room, the players must I like to use the same organisation but responsibility. The youth of the moment have the feeling that I know what with a difference in the details. We are programmed not to take responsi- they are thinking and feeling. They always want to outsmart the opponent, bility. When we were growing up in the have to know that I understand. because when you don’t have great streets, we took our decisions. Now I have great respect for coaches depth in your squad, it is not enough players ask you what to do next. So we who didn’t have a professional foot- to battle; you have to be clever. From must point them in the right direction ball career, because for me it is very our history, we have always been and they must know that you can important that the coach and the creative people. And from what I have take decisions. You must be clear in players can understand each other. previously said, Rinus is right that it is

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BERT VAN MARWIJK PICTURED AFTER THE DRAW

FOR THE WORLD CUP FINALS WITH THE COACHES OF TWO

OF THE TEAMS THAT THE NETHERLANDS WILL BE

COMING UP AGAINST IN SOUTH AFRICA:

(, LEFT) AND (CAMEROON) Marit/AFP/Getty Images

The Netherlands did not drop a single point in their qualifying group. in action against Scotland. PA Archive/PA Images PA

very difficult to handle a Dutch team, told the team to go for a draw. We The execution of the pass, the timing, because everyone wants to be an indi- come with our approach but are able is so important. vidual. Also, our players are coming to deal with every type of opponent. from different countries to join the My organisation stays, so that we can 5 • You started out as a youth coach. national team and they earn a lot of play our game. Some countries can per- What was your attitude towards money. We have a lot of different per- form well without the ball, while Dutch player development? sonalities to deal with, but the one players only feel good when they have I started as a youth coach when I common ingredient is that they all love possession. Our philosophy is to build stopped playing and I did that for eight the game, just like me and my staff. the play, to use the ball in a constructive years. The emphasis was very much way and not just to play long. One of on technical work. For 19 years I was a 4 • From a playing perspective, what the most important things today is the professional player, but I never thought is your philosophy of the game? transition, particularly when you lose of becoming a coach. However, when What is important for me is that we play the ball. Because we like to dominate you stop playing you want to stay in the in a way that suits the players, but also the ball, the counter against us can be game, because football is your world. me as the coach. They have to have the the biggest danger. We try to get the So with the youths I started my coach- qualities to do what you want – you ball back as quickly as possible. This ing career and I focused on technical, can’t ask them to do things they can’t means that the front and middle players tactical training. I am also a believer do. They have to be motivated to do must understand the need to react that, when possible, young players what you want them to do. It is impor- and to press the ball. If FC Barcelona’s should stay at home. When you are tant to use the whole field and I like to stars can do that, we can do that. When really talented you will always become have players on the wings. In midfield, people look at Barça, they see their cre- a good player anyway. But it is also im- we have either two deep and one in an ative players, but they are also impres- portant to take care of your education, advanced position, or the other way sive in the way they respond to losing to have your friends. Maybe when you around, both shapes creating a triangle. the ball. Their philosophy is the same as are 14 years old you can move to an- We are always trying to create a third mine. What I like is to create situations other town to join a big club. The organ- man situation. I like to play in a creative where we have an extra man in the isation in youth clubs in Holland is very way, but I also like to win. I have never midfield; we train a lot to achieve that. good, even the structure of amateur

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BERT FACE THE CAMERAS

Antonisse/AFP/Getty Images IN ZEIST

football is good. We can, however, up to 80,000 every game. I learned a frequently but then the intensity is far, improve the quality of the coaches. You lot because I was exposed to a differ- far greater. That is the big difference. can always make improvements. Also, ent mentality. We in Holland are taught we need to pay the youth coaches bet- to say what we think and this is not 9 • You have successfully worked ter, because then you motivate them the norm in Germany. I really liked with a lot of top players, many even more. Youth players at top clubs being there and I gained a lot from the with strong personalities. Is there don’t take responsibility any more, they experience. The German players were anything in particular which you don’t think for themselves. Everybody very focused on the physical side of have learned from this experience? tells them what to do, but I like them the game, while we in Holland are ob- When you are working with superstar to be trained to think for themselves. sessed by the technical/tactical. But we players and you deal with them and talk When we played on the streets we can definitely learn some things from to them in a normal way, and you show were very self-reliant. They don’t do them. The amazing thing about Ger- them that you love football, they like that any more. There needs to be time man players is that they can win when that. I remember my son-in-law, Mark for free play and they need to be playing a bad game, whereas for us van Bommel from FC Bayern München challenged more. it is very difficult to win a match when and Holland, telling my daughter that he we don’t play well. The Germans have thought I was a good player. He only 6 • When you won the 2002 a great winning mentality. We can all saw me kick the ball once but, like all UEFA Cup with Feyenoord, what was learn from each other and I can’t un- top players, he could instantly recognise special about that campaign? derstand when some people are not someone who could play. The things One thing for me was very important – open and willing to learn from others. you say, the way you walk, the way you we were not the biggest club, with the kick the ball are all indications to players most money, but we had the best team 8 • Do you find the demands that you are a football person. They can that year, in that competition. The cur- of the national team greater than relate to you and you can communicate rent Dutch team is capable of beating those at club level? with them, but it must be in a natural anyone, but they have to be able to When you are a club coach here, at way. Ultimately, the players have to re- sustain a high level over a long period. AFC Ajax or PSV Eindhoven, everyone alise that we can only succeed by doing This is what we did at Feyenoord. We talks about you and you are on TV things together. I agree with Sir Alex were very confident, a positive arro- every week, but when you are the Ferguson when he says that it is good gance you could call it, and this showed. coach of Holland, they talk about you for players to have an ego, a pride in For example, we won away to Inter every four or five weeks. But the pres- what they do, and that we need to have Milan, motivated by their disregard for us. sure is ten times greater and that is those star players to succeed. the big difference. I cannot train with 7 • How do you reflect on the players every day like a club coach, 10 • As a graduate of the Dutch your time as the head coach but I still have to produce results. coaching school, what is special of Borussia Dortmund? With a club, the attention, the impact, about the training that young I had a very good time at Dortmund. is regular week after week, while the coaches receive there? The crowd there was fantastic, with national coach comes into focus less When you train as a coach here in Holland, the most important thing they teach you is how to watch a game – to analyse what is going wrong and then how to train the players. What we do well here is to make the training of coaches as realistic as possible. I have contributed to our pro licence courses and talked about practical things, such as how to deal with pres- sure, how to deal with other cultures, how to manage your staff, etc. We want young coaches to think for them- selves, to be themselves.

11 • As you look forward to the World Cup in South Africa, what are your expectations in relation to the standard of competition and the Netherlands’ chances of success? Vos/AFP/Getty Images Vos/AFP/Getty I’m very realistic, but at the same time Bert van Marwijk leading a coaching session with the Dutch national team I believe in something. We are capable

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WITH BORUSSIA DORTMUND, BERT VAN MARWIJK GIVES FINAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SAHR SENESIE BEFORE

PUTTING HIM ON THE FIELD. Winde/Bongarts/Getty Images

best. All of our backroom staff are ex-players – the chief scout was a team-mate of mine and I trust him totally. If any one in your technical/ medical staff becomes negative then they must go, because one little nega- tive thing and you don’t win the final. Bert van Marwijk lifts the UEFA Cup he won with 13 • How do you see the future Feyenoord in 2002. of international football? The signals now suggest that the biggest clubs in the world must be controlled in terms of financial fair play, and it seems that the financial crisis is helping to bring football people to- gether. Technically the game is getting faster and better. But everyone needs to keep their own style. Because many of our players are playing abroad, the first thing I have to say to them is ”now we play the Dutch way”. This, of course, is possible because they were brought up and developed in Holland. The best compliment we can get is when someone says, without knowing the names of the competing sides, that it is a Dutch team. As I said be- fore, I am realistic, but I am also ideal- istic, and because of that, I am very

Getty Images hopeful that international football will continue to blossom in the future. of winning against any team, but we stay fit and be at our best, mentally will have to be well structured and the and tactically, if we are going to suc- 14 • What are the main compe- players will have to realise that. In the ceed. In my opinion, is the tences/qualities that a top coach qualifying group, we had an impor- best team at the moment, but Eng- needs today? tant moment up in Iceland. We only land and Brazil are very dangerous. Personality is a vital quality. The way needed a point to reach the finals and you deal with things can be different, we had four games still to play, so 12 • What kind of team- but you must gain respect. You must we could have relaxed but instead we behind-the-team will you have be able to influence people and to get played very well. The players now re- in South Africa? them to do what you want. As I said alise that it never stops, that we always Our team-behind-the-team includes earlier, when I was young I thought have to be at our best. Sometimes four scouts, a goalkeeping coach and that I knew everything, but now I have we don’t have our top players avail- three assistant coaches – Frank de learned to listen, although I still make able, either at the front or the back, Boer and are part of this my own decisions. When you are coach but we must always defend as a team staff because they have so much of a top team and you lose three or – this is very important and something experience in the EURO, World Cup four games everyone is talking to you I have tried to impart to them. When and UEFA Champions League. They and some coaches are swayed by you defend as a team there needs are at an age when it is easy for what they hear. For me, it is important to be trust among the players, and them to relate to the players, and not to show fear and not to be influ- when there is trust, the confidence they also get a lot of respect from enced by others’ opinions – you must grows. I think we have improved in everyone in our team. Also Frank trust yourself. You also need the this aspect of the game. Added to this played at the back, Phillip was a mid- courage to risk making mistakes. Team we have players who can make a dif- fielder and I was an attacker, and this selection is a priority – the right people ference. But we are a country of only means we have specialists in each on the pitch and the right people in 16 million people and when we lose area. I give them a lot of responsi- the backroom staff. Your philosophy three or four of our key players, it is bility because the team-behind-the- of football, your personality and your not possible to open a door and bring team is one of the most important attitude are the main coaching compe- in others of that level. We have to things if we are to perform at our tences at the top level of the game.

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CARLO ANCELOTTI IN DISCUSSION WITH HIS ASSISTANT

PA Wire/PA Images PA AT CHELSEA, BRUNO DEMICHELIS – FOOTBALL – ART OR SCIENCE? THE TITLE IS PROVOCATIVE BECAUSE IT HINTS AT PITTING ART AGAINST SCIENCE AS IF THEY WERE OPPONENTS ON THE PITCH. ON THE FACE OF IT, FOOTBALL AND SCIENCE CAN SEEM TO BE AS ALIEN TO EACH OTHER AS A FOOTBALLER AND A SCIENTIST. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE TECHNICIANS UTTERED THE WORDS “FOOTBALL IS NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE”? BUT, IN RECENT TIMES, THERE HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT SYMPTOMS OF COMPATIBILITY AND A DETECTABLE TREND TOWARDS THE USE OF SCIENCE TO UNDERPIN FOOTBALLING QUALITIES.

One of the problems is that ‘science’ at their Milanello training complex, programmes based on specific require- has become a nebulous term since its the MilanLab – a name which clearly ments in terms of, for example, physi- original definition as ‘possession of links science and footballing tradition. cal training loads, nutrition or psycho- knowledge’. Having evolved into ‘sys- logical preparation. tematised knowledge that can be made The declared aim of the MilanLab was a specific object of study’, the term has to “contribute strongly to optimising One of the salient features of the since been diverted into all sorts of the team’s results”. The tools, including system is the predictive analysis server curious areas, such as ‘science fiction’. chiropractic elements, were to be found designed to flag up psycho-physical The history of football has been marked in science, technology, cybernetics parameters that may indicate risk of by an increasing use of medical science and psychology – only the last of which injury. The medical staff react immedi- but, in the 21st century, maybe the could be considered as one of the ately by proposing measures to correct most publicised marriage took place technician’s ‘traditional’ domains. The any anomalous values. At one point, in 2002, when AC Milan inaugurated, use of specialised sports psychologists AC Milan reported a 92% reduction in in football was initially controversial non-traumatic injuries and a dramatic (a major debating point when Spain’s drop in the need for injections. gold-medal 1992 Olympic team em- ployed one, for example) but has now The potential benefits of such a sys- become a common feature among tem were underlined when Carlo An- top clubs and national teams. However, celotti left the Italian club for Chelsea analysis was taken a stage further by FC last summer – and took Bruno one of the other publicised features of Demichelis to London with him. Bruno, the MilanLab: a glassed-in ‘mind room’ having joined AC Milan’s backroom where up to eight players can relax in staff in 1987, had worked with Carlo ergonomic seats after training and relax as a player and with technicians such for 20 minutes while their mental state as and . is being analysed via electrodes which are attached to their scalp, chest and “My task is to act as scientific coordi- fingers and which transmit measure- nator as I did in Milan,” he told the ments of brainwave activity, muscle Chelsea website when he arrived in tension and sweat response to a com- London. “As a sports psychologist, my puter. The results are combined with role is to assist the coach in order to biochemical and neurostructural data coordinate all the activities that support in a fully computerised system which the team and individual players to help assesses each player’s physical and them reach their highest performance

Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images mental condition according to objective levels. At top, top level, the difference The stars of AC Milan are closely monitored scientific data. This allows the MilanLab between winners and losers is some- by the MilanLab. team to design individual preparation times very, very small details: a hun-

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FRANK DICK, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN ATHLETIC COACHES ASSOCIATION,

SPEAKING AT A UEFA CONFERENCE UEFA-Woods

dredth of a second or a few centime- included high-stress scenarios, such encroachment on their coaching space. tres. The key is therefore to be thor- as penalty shoot-outs or how to play “The way Bruno fits in,” he explains, oughly professional in every area and 10 v 11. But that’s another story… “is as one of three assistant managers, to be able to take decisions based on alongside and Paul Clement. solid data rather than personal opinion.” Going back to Milan and Chelsea, In terms of piecing everything together, Carlo and Bruno arrived at Stamford we’re talking about collating data from The English media were quick to high- Bridge with the advantage of having around 20 subdisciplines in physical, light the installation of a Milan-style previously worked together. Other tech- psychological, technical and tactical mind room at the Chelsea training cen- nicians less versed in MilanLab princi- areas with a very concise objective of tre in Cobham and to underline its ples might, however, express a degree helping Carlo to get the best out of value at a club which had sustained psy- of reticence based on territorial ques- his players – and the players to get the chological trauma, such as the penalty tions. Some coaches might regard best out of themselves. At this particu- shoot-out in the 2008 UEFA Champions the ‘scientific’ input as intrusion or en- lar club, we’re talking about a group League final in Moscow or last season’s croachment, just as some technicians of 18 different nationalities, great cul- semi-final elimination by FC Barcelona. wonder what percentage of training tural diversity and a workload of around As part of their mental training, they sessions should best be conducted by 60 games. The aim is to make sure reported, players were encouraged to the fitness coach. To what extent, for that the players are technically, tacti- confront stressful moments rather than example, should laboratory data be cally, mentally and physically prepared sweep them under the mental carpet. allowed to influence team selection? to cope with it.” The same theme – and its relevance – were underscored during the recent At Chelsea, a club which had already “Apart from preparing the squad for UEFA Women’s National Team Coaches made significant progress along scien- the present, we also have to project Conference where, under the title of tific paths before the arrival of Carlo into the future,” he adds. “The current ‘A Winning Mindset’, the renowned ath- and Bruno, this is where Mike Forde squad provides the benchmarks for letics coach, Dr Frank Dick, explained steps in. As the club’s performance future recruitment and we use science how the preparation of medal-winning director, he represents a direct link with to make sure that we are assessing athletes such as Sebastian Coe, Steve the board of directors and, on a day- players in the right way. Science should Ovett or Daley Thompson included to-day basis he regards one of the im- be integrated in the processes of foot- some tough tests of mental resilience portant areas of his job description as ball but we definitely never look to based on worst case scenarios. This being to make sure that everything fits replace the art of it. The art of coaching, was echoed by the English coach, Hope together, to allocate the right resources the art of playing, the emotions gen- Powell, when she revealed that the to the right places and to ensure that erated – that is the heart of the game silver-medallists’ preparations had also Carlo and his backroom staff suffer no and what makes it successful.”

Penalty kicks require good mental preparation. Getty Images

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FRANZ BECKENBAUER, WORLD CHAMPION IN 1974, WITH

Empics COACH HELMUT SCHÖN FOOTBALLING QUESTIONS AT UEFA, WHO DISCUSSES ISSUES RELATED TO FOOTBALL AND FORMULATES THE PROPOSALS WHICH MAKE THEIR WAY TOWARDS THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND, MAYBE, TOWARDS FIFA AND THE INTERNATIONAL BOARD? ANNUAL GATHERINGS SUCH AS THE UEFA ELITE CLUB COACHES FORUM PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR DEBATE ON PITCH-RELATED SUBJECTS. BUT THE UEFA BODY BRIEFED TO DRAW UP RECOMMENDATIONS ON NATIONAL TEAM AND CLUB ISSUES, THE LAWS OF THE GAME, PLAYER PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT, AND OTHER FOOTBALL-RELATED MATTERS WHICH MIGHT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE GAME IS THE UEFA FOOTBALL COMMITTEE.

The first meeting of the restructured the president, , and The agenda included an appraisal committee – with seven new mem- general secretary, Gianni Infantino, of incidents and debate bers – took place last November. teamed up with the technical director, on the triple-punishment scenario was in the chair Andy Roxburgh, to provide strong which can arise when a player is (helpfully, he is also chairman of UEFA support to a committee which deemed to have committed a last- FIFA’s equivalent committee), while features 15 nationalities. defender offence, which entails a penalty kick against his team, a red card that leaves his side a man short, and an automatic suspension of at least one match. This type of inci- dent frequently raises questions about whether the punishment fits the crime.

Still in the penalty area, the commit- tee offered ‘so far so good’ support to the UEFA Europa League experi- ment with two additional pairs of eyes on the goal lines. Apart from helping referees to minimise errors, it was felt that the mere presence of the extra official often acted as a deterrent

Like Franz Beckenbauer, who chairs the committee, Fernando Hierro (Real Madrid CF) lifted the European champion clubs’ trophy three times, with Real Madrid. Bongarts/Getty Images

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THE UEFA PRESIDENT, MICHEL PLATINI, IN CONVERSATION WITH TWO MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, IVAN CURKOVIC AND DEMETRIO ALBERTINI, ?????????????????? DURING A MEETING IN NYON UEFA-Woods

to unfair manoeuvring and therefore within the game – from the peak style and identity. In an era when helped to improve players’ conduct in right down to the grassroots. globalisation and migratory patterns are the penalty area – especially in set affecting the composition of many plays. At the same time, ways of pro- Discussions also focused on issues national teams, the need for well-struc- actively encouraging players to behave related to the release of players to tured player development and coach in a professional manner and not national teams – at youth levels as education programmes was regarded deceive referees or opponents is an well as on senior sides – and the as an important element in terms issue currently being carried forward importance of national team football of integrating diversity and maintaining in conjunction with other bodies with regard to representing national and developing a national identity which inspires pride among the public.

But, apart from the topics which might appear on their agenda, there are some interesting questions to be asked about the committee members themselves, whose terms of office run through to 2011:

● Which of them has won the World Cup as player, captain and coach? ● Which of them has won the UEFA Champions League three times? ● Which of them won bronze medals at the 1974 and 1982 World Cup finals? ● Which of them finished fourth in the 1994 finals? ● Which three of them were team-mates in the 1994 UEFA UEFA-Woods Champions League final? THE UEFA FOOTBALL COMMITTEE ● Which two of them were team- mates in the 1991 final? Chairman: Franz Beckenbauer (Germany) Deputy Chairman: Vitaly Mutko () ● Which of them were opposing captains in a European Champion- 1st Vice-Chairman: Pavel Cebanu (Moldova) ship final? 2nd Vice-Chairman: Dejan Savicevic (Montenegro) 3rd Vice-Chairman: Grzegorz Lato (Poland) ● Which of them was Michel Platini’s team-mate at AS Saint-Etienne? Members: Demetrio Albertini (Italy) Revaz Arveladze (Georgia) ● Which of them was the first player Miodrag Belodedici (Romania) to be champion of Europe with Zvonimir Boban (Croatia) two different clubs? Ivan Curkovic (Serbia) ● Which of the others completed Fernando Hierro (Spain) the same ‘double’ in 1994? Julius Kvedaras (Lithuania) Yordan Letchkov (Bulgaria) Anton Ondrus (Slovakia) And many more. Never has a UEFA Gordon Smith (Scotland) committee raised so many footballing questions…

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OPPONENTS IN THE SAME QUALIFYING GROUP, WITH SWITZERLAND AND GREECE RESPECTIVELY, AND BOTH THROUGH TO THE FINAL ROUND,

Getty Images AND ARE HUGELY ACCOMPLISHED COACHES. THE WORLD CUP EXPERIENCE “EXPERIENCE IS CERTAINLY NOT A DISADVANTAGE,” SAID SIR ON THE EVE OF LAST SEASON’S UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL IN ROME, WHERE HIS MANCHESTER UNITED SIDE TOOK ON AN FC BARCELONA TEAM LED BY ‘ROOKIE’ COACH JOSEP GUARDIOLA, AN AVID ADMIRER OF HIS SCOTTISH RIVAL, AT THE STADIO OLIMPICO. “HOW DOES HE FIND THE STAMINA TO BE SO SUCCESSFUL FOR SO MANY YEARS?” ‘PEP’ OFTEN ASKS. THE RESULT IN ROME COULD BE USED AS A CATALYST FOR DISCUSSION: HOW MUCH OF AN ADVANTAGE IS EXPERIENCE?

More evidence may emerge from the It may be asking a lot for Europe to FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa. provide all four semi-finalists, as was The draw in Cape Town signalled the the case in 2006, though Marcello start of pre-tournament planning: the Lippi and Raymond Domenech would hotels, transport, training grounds, undoubtedly settle for a rematch media arrangements, nutrition, medical between Italy and France in the final. facilities, use of leisure time, tickets for Significantly, they are the only two families and a million other details which coaches of European national teams become something of an obsession to double up at the 2006 and 2010 for coaches who, after a couple of years World Cups. Even this is not an accu- of seeing their players sporadically, rate gauge of longevity, as Marcello suddenly have to manage the group for stepped down after victory in Ger- several weeks – and, in order to satisfy many and returned to the job in the their own and their players’ sporting summer of 2008. On the other hand, ambitions, the longer the better. Joachim Löw could also draw shades of meaning, having started as No. 2 Over half of the coaches heading for to Jürgen Klinsmann in August 2004 South Africa are European. The 13 and shared the bench with him during who’ll be waving the UEFA banner will, Germany’s bronze-medal campaign barring late changes, be joined by five in 2006. others. France’s Paul Le Guen will be leading Cameroon into battle against So what is ‘experience’? Is it experi- the Dutch and the Danes in Group E, ence in coaching? Or is it experience Vahid Halilhodzic from Bosnia-Herze- acquired in the specific task of leading govina will be on the Ivory Coast bench a national team into a major tourna- against Brazilians, Portuguese and ment? North Koreans, Portugal’s José Peseiro is at the South Korean helm in Group B, In terms of coaching experience, the and Serbia’s Milovan Rajevac (Ghana) men at the helms of Europe’s 13 will be taking on his compatriots, Ger- successful qualifiers amass enormous

many and an Australian side led by riches. Four of them – Fabio Capello, Empics Dutch coach in a Group D , Ottmar Hitzfeld Morten Olsen, the longest serving of the where all four technicians are European. and – have been European coaches at the 2010 World Cup

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ALL COACHES DREAM OF EMULATING MARCELLO LIPPI AND WINNING THE WORLD CUP.

Otto is also a front runner in terms of the other type of experience – the experience acquired in a specific job. Having coached the Greek national team since 2001, in terms of con- tinuity he is second only to Morten Olsen, who has been leading the Danish national team since 2000 and whose World Cup coaching experi- ence dates back to the 2002 finals. Having taken the baton of the French team in July 2004, Raymond Dom- enech is third on the long-service list, while Joachim Löw, at the German helm since July 2006, is fourth.

It means that a tenure of four years has been become an exception rather

Getty Images than a rule. Only 3 of the 13 coaches who are heading for South Africa oc- cupied the same position as recently UEFA Champions League winners as EURO 2008. Apart from the four and most of their track records make long-servers previously mentioned, extensive reading. Slovenia’s Matjaz Kek, appointed in 2007, is the ‘senior citizen’. The other When the final tournament kicks off eight were appointed in 2008 – a on 11 June, the average age among statistic which underlines the trend Empics the coaches of the European teams towards relatively brief cycles of na- Vladimir Weiss, national coach of Slovakia, is in the unusual position of having his own son, will be 58 years and 4 months. Curi- tional team management and, in con- and namesake, in his squad. ously, the average is slightly misleading sequence, a limited amount of spe- in that only five are below it: Slovenia’s cific experience carried from one who came successfully through the Matjaz Kek (48), Slovakia’s Vladimir major event to another. Answers to qualification stages and wish them Weiss (the debutants’ head coach is questions about how important this is the best of luck as they prepare to the youngest at 45), Germany’s will be provided in a few months’ take on the rest of the world in South Joachim Löw (50), Portugal’s Carlos time. In the meantime, we can only Africa and, in most cases, enjoy a first Queiroz (57) and, marginally, the congratulate the European technicians taste of the World Cup experience. Dutch head coach, Bert van Marwijk. Six of the other eight will have passed their 60th birthdays. Country Coach Since Denmark Morten Olsen 2000 The trend away from recently retired former players raises a debating point England Fabio Capello 2008 about whether national association France Raymond Domenech 2004 recruiters have been influenced by Germany Joachim Löw 2006 the profiles of recent gold medallists. Greece Otto Rehhagel 2001 Marcello Lippi was 58 when he lifted Italy Marcello Lippi 2008 the Jules Rimet trophy in 2006. Netherlands Bert van Marwijk 2008 Luís Aragonés was a few days short Portugal Carlos Queiroz 2008 of his 70th birthday when the Spanish Serbia Radomir Antic 2008 national team won EURO 2008 in Slovakia Vladimir Weiss 2008 Vienna. And Otto Rehhagel was just Slovenia Matjaz Kek 2007 about to blow out 64 candles when Spain Vicente Del Bosque 2008 Greece became champions of Europe Switzerland Ottmar Hitzfeld 2008 in Lisbon in 2004.

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THE ADDITIONAL REFEREES EXPERIMENT –

UEFA-Woods A TRIAL RUN IN AUGUST

information makes it more difficult for the referee to take instant deci- sions. Positional play has also been REFEREEING readjusted, with the referee no longer running the traditional diagonal but, with a view to forming a visual triangle with the touchline and goal-line assis- tants, taking a more central position MATTERS in the final third of the pitch – where THE 2009/10 SEASON IS HIGHLY ACTIVE ON THE REFEREEING FRONT, there is a potentially higher risk of impeding play. Another factor to WITH LARGE AMOUNTS OF SPACE ON THE SPORTS PAGES DEDICATED bear in mind is that, during the pilot TO THE EXPERIMENT WITH ADDITIONAL ASSISTANT REFEREES WHICH, scheme, referees have to switch AS UEFA’S PRESIDENT, MICHEL PLATINI, HAS STATED, “OFFERS ADDITIONAL between the traditional format for domestic games at weekends and the HUMAN RESOURCES AND DIFFERENT ANGLES TO PROVIDE BETTER experimental formula for a midweek COVERAGE OF INCIDENTS WHICH A SINGLE REFEREE MIGHT NOT SEE.” game in Europe. Time will tell… IT’S PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE THAT THE UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE IS BEING USED AS A TEST BED FOR THE FIVE-MAN TEAMS FEATURING TWO But there has been more activity on the refereeing front. During the GOAL-LINE OFFICIALS. BUT THE BEHIND-THE-GOAL-LINE ACTIVITY HAS build-up to the European Futsal TO BE BACKED BY BEHIND-THE-SCENES ACTIVITY. Championship finals, a course for Category 1 referees was staged at Detailed preparations began last August into the knockout rounds, going right Italy’s national training centre in Cover- with a course for 48 referees in the through to the final in Hamburg on ciano. Apart from DVD sessions, the premier and second categories, plus 12 May and, in the meantime, feed- officials went through the new FIFA 48 observers and International Board back from referees and observers is fitness tests designed specifically for instructors. National associations were being collated by a central coordinator the indoor game, featuring 10-second invited to name two extra officials for before the IFAB makes a final decision. high-intensity yo-yo sprints along three matches apiece during an experi- with agility exercises over a distance ment originally designed to cover the One of the challenges is to maintain of 40 metres. It has to be said that 144 fixtures in the group phase of the optimal communication within a larger the outdoor refs who tried it found UEFA Europa League. But at FIFA’s re- referee team. And it will be interesting it quite tough… After the course, a quest, testing has now been extended to ask whether an increased input of squad of 16 was selected for the first 12-team final tournament in Hungary in January.

By that time, five applications to join the UEFA Referee Convention had been put on the UEFA Executive Com- mittee agenda, with ratification of Cyprus, Italy, Lithuania, Moldova and Wales set to bring the total number of signatories to 30. As the remaining 23 member associations are at vari- ous stages in the process of imple- menting the quality and organisational criteria, the target of completing the circle by the end of the 2011/12 sea- son looks feasible. “We’ve passed the halfway mark in a very short period of time,” says UEFA’s head of refereeing, Yvan Cornu, “but there’s

Getty Images still a long way to go. Let’s just say Fulham v CSKA Sofia in the UEFA Europa League, with an additional assistant referee officiating that it’s a good achievement, but…”

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TRAINING ROUTINE AGENDA BY WIM KOEVERMANS

Sportsfile High Performance Director of the FA of Ireland 2010

January 19 – 30 ● European Futsal Championship The Overlap Practice 2009/10 Final Round (Hungary)

DRAWING 1 February 2 – 4 ● ● 8 players + 1 goalkeeper Elite Referees Course (Malta) ● After warming up, wing play + February 7 finishing ● EURO 2012 Draw (Warsaw) ● A players rotate B players in position February 9 – 11 ● Demand for quality passing / ● 5th UEFA Medical Symposium crossing and finishing (Stockholm) ● Half of full-size pitch ● Other group of 8 + GK work February 16 ● Start of the UEFA Champions on other half of the pitch League 2009/10 knockout phase

February 18 ● Start of the UEFA Europa League DRAWING 2 2009/10 knockout phase ● 4 players + GK : 4 players April 13 – 16 ● Aim: wing play / overlap ● 18th UEFA Course for Coach ● 2 groups of 8 work on half Educators (Florence) of the pitch May 12 ● UEFA Europa League 2009/2010 Final (Hamburg)

May 18 – 30 ● European Under-17 Cham- pionship 2009/10 – Final Tour- nament (Liechtenstein)

DRAWING 3 May 19 ● 16 players + 2 GKs ● 1st UEFA Grassroots Day ● Aim: wing play (Madrid) ● Overlap fullbacks May 20 ● Full-size pitch ● UEFA Women’s Champions ● Left v right wing League Final (Madrid)

May 22 ● UEFA Champions League Final (Madrid)

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UEFA Route de Genève 46 Union des associations CH-1260 Nyon européennes de football Switzerland Phone +41 848 00 27 27 Fax +41 22 707 27 34 .com