o. 167 N EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE bids farewell to five UEFA members in UEFA adopted in Helsinki Governance reforms reforms Governance CONGRESS

THE TECHNICIAN Fabio Capello shares Fabio Capello shares his secrets to success

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATIONS OF THE UNION OF EUROPEAN MAY 2017 MAY OFFICIAL PUBLICATION s head s head HAVING A HAVING FIELD DAY groundsman, Jonathan Calderwood UEFA Direct talks to PSG’ UEFA

No.167 • May 2017 www.uefafoundation.org EDITORIAL

‘SECURITY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY’

he recent attack on a bus carrying To show UEFA’s commitment to ensuring a Borussia Dortmund players to their UEFA safe environment for players, officials and fans, T Champions League quarter-final against we are setting up a new security unit, which AS FC unfortunately highlighted the will work alongside our existing Stadium and challenges that we face in organising some Security Committee. of the world’s biggest sporting events. As you know, in the coming months we Furthermore, this incident served as a have several major events to deliver, including reminder that no matter how great the action youth tournaments, Women’s EURO 2017 and on the pitch, it is the safety and security of the the club competition finals. In each case, players, fans, officials and partners that has to we are working very closely with the local be our number one priority for all our matches authorities in order to guarantee the safety and competitions. of the participants, the fans and everyone UEFA has more than 60 years’ experience else visiting the host countries and cities. of organising football matches and we have I sincerely hope that everyone will be able faced many trials and tribulations along the to enjoy these magnificent occasions to the way. As recently as last year, UEFA EURO 2016 fullest. After all, football has the unique quality was staged against a backdrop of hideous of being able to unite people of all nationalities, terrorist attacks that targeted France and races and faiths – no matter how challenging neighbouring Belgium. the times may be. I remember vividly how we spent countless months in consultation with the local organising committee, the French government and local authorities to ensure the safety of the hundreds of thousands of people who attended the tournament – an event that thankfully passed Theodore Theodoridis without major incident. UEFA General Secretary

UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 – 03 CONTENTS

11 30 UEFA Getty Images CONTENTS

6 UEFA Congress 22 Under-17s Aleksander Čeferin chaired his first Fifteen teams will be competing Official publication of UEFA Congress in Helsinki on 5 April. alongside hosts Croatia in the final the Union of European Football Associations round of the 2016/17 European Chief editor: Under-17 Championship, while the 11 UEFA Europa League final Emmanuel Deconche Czech Republic plays host to the final gears up for 24 May. Deputy chief editor: round of this season’s European Dominique Maurer Women’s Under-17 Championship. 12 Pitch perfect External contributors: Simon Hart (page 12) From the wintry mudbaths and dusty Tomislav Pacak, HNS goalmouths of the not-so-distant past 28 Social responsibility (sidebar, page 23) Terji Nielsen (page 24) to the latest generation of hybrid grass, The EURO 2016 legacy project has left a lasting impact in Saint-Etienne, where Martin Gregor, FACR elite football pitches have become (sidebar, page 26) technological masterpieces. 18 new facilities have been built for the Laure James (page 39) benefit of 24 different communes. Production: Touchline 20 Marketing 30 The Technician Printing: The UEFA GROW programme held its Artgraphic Cavin first summit it , , where Fabio Capello shared an array of CH-1422 Grandson anecdotes and a wealth of advice with the focus was on growing participation Editorial deadline: in eastern Europe. the coaches attending the first UEFA 10 April 2017 Youth League Coaches Forum. Cover photo: UEFA 40 News from member associations

04 – UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 Getty Images 12

6 28 UEFA Saint-Étienne Métropole Saint-Étienne

UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 – 05 ORDINARY CONGRESS UEFA ‘LET US NOT BE AFRAID’

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin’s message to the 41st Ordinary UEFA Congress in Helsinki on 5 April was loud and clear: UEFA is ready to face the future, and it will show no fear whatsoever in meeting the demands posed by football’s ever-changing world.

n his keynote speech at the latest forward thinking in the nurturing of leaders,” he told representatives of gathering of Europe’s football parliament the game. “Football is beautiful. Let UEFA’s 55 member associations and I– his first address to a UEFA Congress us dare to protect it together. Let us prominent guests. since his election last September – the dare to fight for what we believe to “Let us have the courage of our UEFA president called for bravery and be just. That is our responsibility as convictions, our values and our passions.”

06 – UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 ORDINARY CONGRESS

The UEFA president emphasised that while very soon. It is your ideas, projects, hopes Mr Čeferin ruled out a closed European respect should always be shown to UEFA’s and aspirations, and those of your clubs, league. “Quite simply, that is not in line past decisions and traditions, change and players and supporters, that will be at the with our values and ideals,” he said. reform should not be cause for trepidation. heart of this vision.” “But we will work together for the good “Like on the pitch, our formula for success Moving on to the relationship between of club football and correct what needs will be efficiency, simplicity and a touch UEFA and football stakeholders, the UEFA to be put right.” Turning to the leagues, of creativity,” he told the audience. “No president emphasised that Europe’s he said that UEFA would “never give in to empty promises; no empty words; no leagues, clubs and players should not the blackmail of those who think they can scandals. Let’s act. With humility, respect be seen as enemies. “They are key manipulate small leagues or impose their and professionalism.” stakeholders in our game,” he said. will on the associations because they think A series of good governance reforms “Partners that we must respect. So why be they are all-powerful on account of the approved during the Congress (see page 9) afraid of dialogue? Why be afraid of telling astronomical revenues they generate”. were described by Mr Čeferin as a them face to face how we could shape the He insisted that money did not rule and necessary rebuilding of UEFA’s future together, hand in hand, in the best that the football pyramid had to be – and foundations. “We realise that these interests of football?” would be – respected, while explaining measures are far removed from the that UEFA would work with the leagues concerns of pure football fans,” he said. for the good of domestic football, in order “But these changes are essential if we are to find practical solutions to their problems. to rebuild our image, restore our credibility Mr Čeferin pledged to continue the and strengthen our legitimacy.” development of UEFA’s financial fair play “It’s not a question of measures, which have helped to stabilise Vision for tomorrow looking at football as it European clubs’ finances. “Financial Mr Čeferin stressed that now was the time is today and asking ‘Why?’, fair play has been remarkably efficient to start moulding the European football but of dreaming about in reducing club debt,” he explained, of tomorrow, and that the national how it could be and asking stressing that these rules should not associations would play a key role in ‘Why not?’” simply be seen as austerity measures. that process. “Together, we will develop “It must be a support mechanism, a strategic vision for European football,” Aleksander Čeferin encouraging greater justice and stability, he explained. “We will initiate discussions UEFA President but also greater investment.”

NEW FACES

A number of new faces will be present at the next meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee in Cardiff on 1 June, following elections at the UEFA Congress in Helsinki.

Eight seats on the committee were up for election, and out of the 11 candidates in the running, the following were elected/ re-elected for four-year terms:

• Karl-Erik Nilsson (Sweden) 50 votes (new) • John Delaney (Republic of Ireland) 48 votes (new) • Michele Uva (Italy) 46 votes (new) • (Poland) 45 votes (new) • Reinhard Grindel (Germany) 44 votes (new) • David Gill (England) 40 votes • Michael van Praag (Netherlands) 36 votes • Servet Yardımcı (Turkey) 34 votes (new)

Armand Duka (Albania) received 25 votes, Elkhan Mammadov (Azerbaijan) received 24, and Kieran O’Connor (Wales) received UEFA 11. Kairat Boranbayev (Kazakhstan) withdrew his candidature before the election. In addition, four European members of the FIFA Council were Karl-Erik Nilsson was appointed first vice-president, with elected by acclamation: Sándor Csányi (Hungary), Costakis Fernando Gomes (), Reinhard Grindel, Grigoriy Surkis Koutsokoumnis (Cyprus) and Dejan Savićević () (Ukraine) and Ángel María Villar Llona (Spain) being named as the for four-year terms, and Reinhard Grindel (Germany) for a other vice-presidents. David Gill (England) was appointed treasurer. two-year term.

UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 – 07 ORDINARY CONGRESS

Pertti Alaja, president of the Finnish FA, welcomed the Congress participants to Helsinki. UEFA

Fighting negative elements with combating these negative elements. UEFA competitions. “Being a social Mr Čeferin made a firm commitment to He explained that “social fair play” fair play organisation also means being maintaining UEFA’s determined stance on would also be a priority for UEFA in the an organisation that does not tolerate violence, doping, corruption, match-fixing, future, with a focus on making football racism,” the UEFA president emphasised. and ethical and disciplinary problems – fairer and more ethical. This would include “Or sexism. Or homophobia. Or “all the evils that threaten our sport,” as protecting children and incorporating discrimination against disabled people. he put it. This, he said, was why UEFA had respect for human rights and workers’ Here too, I ask you to set an example,” established a new division tasked solely rights in bidding requirements for he said. “Within UEFA and within your

A NEW HONORARY MEMBER

Marios N Lefkaritis was awarded honorary UEFA membership at the Congress in Helsinki, as he retired from UEFA duties after more than two decades of outstanding service to European football.

In recent years, he was a UEFA vice- president and treasurer, while also UEFA honorary president chairing the Finance Committee and Lennart Johansson (Sweden) the National Associations Committee, as well as acting as special advisor to UEFA honorary members the HatTrick Committee. Gerhard Aigner (Germany) Marios N Lefkaritis served UEFA in Hans Bangerter (Switzerland) various different roles over the years, with the first coming way back in 1992. Egidius Braun (Germany) He was first elected to the Executive Des Casey (Republic of Ireland) Committee in 1996 and was, among other Şenes Erzik (Turkey) things, chairman of the European Under-21 Jean Fournet-Fayard (France) Championship Committee and vice- chairman of the European Championship Vyacheslav Koloskov (Russia) Committee. He was also vice-chairman of Marios N Lefkaritis (Cyprus) the board of EURO 2008 SA. (Italy) At national level, he was president Joseph Mifsud (Malta) of the Cyprus Football Association for Per Ravn Omdal (Norway) ten years from 1991, before becoming the association’s honorary president. Giangiorgio Spiess (Switzerland) Marios N Lefkaritis joins a highly select Geoffrey Thompson (England) UEFA group of individuals:

08 – UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 are praiseworthy and respectable values.” respectable and praiseworthy are they fashionable; only not are governance good and all, transparency times? After the with to up keep and “to modernise stability and calm greater towards step “a necessary were changes these that Congress the to September. Mr Čeferin explained last to election his Čeferin, run-up in the Aleksander UEFA president, by the presented manifesto of the element akey were in question reforms The organisation. the strengthen to designed are that proposals reform approving associations national Europe’s with Helsinki, in Congress the at forward step acrucial took programme UEFA’s governance good GOVERNANCE REFORMS APPROVED struggle you while wealth accumulate to “UEFA faced. here not is sometimes associations the that difficulties financial of the aware was he that stressed He in UEFA’s engrained tohas be DNA.” that avalue is “Solidarity secretaries. and generalthe presidents associations’ word,” told he adirty considered be not ‘sharing’ must society, individualistic 2016. EURO as more ever an “In such tournaments team national by achieved results financial excellent to the owing cycle, current for the association member to each payment €1m solidarity additional an making be UEFA would may be”. they whoever and from come they are, wherever they wherever it, play who to those and it love who to“make those open more football would play fair social that reflected He age.” another from behaviour and words tolerate ourselves we if intentions good and spots of TV by means inclusion social and equality gender for diversity, up stand We cannot bodies. respective “Why should we be afraid,” be we should said, he “Why that announced UEFA president The inUEFA ,” said. he

disappointed, disillusioned or disgusted”. or disillusioned disappointed, embittered, are who those all against and moralists, and killjoys cynics, the all against “defend UEFA would that values football’s asserting people, of the agame remain to had football that ČeferinMr stressed Defending football’s values possible.” as soon as funds the to redistribute propose Iwill cycle, inthis have done they as expectations, our exceed results financial the “When territories,” said. of he your reaches furthest inthe football to develop granted to representatives of the European European of the to representatives granted to are be Committee Executive the on associations. national respective their at executive) chief or secretary general (president,vice-president, office active an hold also must Committee Executive to the for election/re-election candidates on, now From four-year terms. of three amaximum to serve allowed officials with Committee, Executive the of members and UEFA president for the limits term new include reforms These for the current cycle. current the for association member each to payment solidarity €1m additional an making be UEFA that announced would president UEFA The In addition, two full member positions positions full member two addition, In

UEFA of good governance principles.” governance of good backbone the are involvement stakeholder and “Transparency, accountability seriously,” commitments these he said. UEFA taking is that to“I see glad am reforms. to the welcome awarm gave Navracsics, Tibor sport, and youth commissioner for education, culture, reality.” aclear to be has “It acatch-line,” said. just he than future”. abetter build can we which on “an as reforms foundations, of our overhaul pursue our projects for the future.” for the projects our pursue must we that for them is it that forget never us Let generation. younger the and volunteers the supporters, the everywhere: day, every alive football bring who those defend and Together, respect always us let afraid. be not us again: it let say “I will Čeferin Mr concluded. responsibilities,” have we doubt, with beset societies in world, uncertain an in Europe. In movement social biggest the represent we of fans, of millions hundreds and players fear.” and populism towards inclined more ever time same the ever, than at and sanitised and regulated more is that –aworld world paradoxical and acomplex world, inatroubled in us, emotions intense and pure out bring they simply, Quite transcend. They delight. inspire. They They world. the around many homes inso rooms dark up light They artists. are “Footballers urged. he to dream,” reason people give football –force. “Let adivisive than – rather aunifying as to act had said, he Football, now be allowed to UEFA chair committees. allowed be now will experts Finally, association national objective. astatutory governance good and make will ethics article another while process, bidding of atransparent by means manner objective inafully selected are UEFA for all competitions venues that UEFA Statutes inthe included to five. of members number total the bringing appointed, being members independent additional two with strengthened, tois be Compliance Committee and Governance UEFA’s Meanwhile, Club Association. Addressing the Congress, the European European the Congress, the Addressing more to has be by example’ “‘Leading “With tens of millions of registered of registered of millions tens “With Aleksander Čeferin described the the Čeferin described Aleksander be is to article Moreover, aspecific UEFA DIRECT •May ORDINARY CONGRESS , to ensure 2017–

09 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

NEW STRATEGY IN PLACE

A new strategy for futsal and the staging of the UEFA Europa League final in the same week as the UEFA Champions League final in the 2018–21 cycle were the main focal points of the latest UEFA Executive Committee meeting, which took place in Helsinki on 4 April.

Thus, as of 2022, the UEFA Futsal EURO will take place every four years (rather than every two years) and will be contested by 16 teams (rather than 12). The structure of this competition will be improved, with the qualifying stage spanning two seasons, and the clash with the Futsal World Cup every four years will be avoided. The 2020–22 European Futsal Championship will kick off in the 2020/21 season, with no Futsal EURO final round taking place in 2020. In addition, a UEFA Women’s Futsal EURO is to take place every two years, starting in 2019. This will be contested by four teams, reflecting the fact that the number of national women’s futsal teams remains limited at present. Meanwhile, on the youth front, a European Under-19 Futsal Championship is to take place every two years, also starting in 2019, and will be contested by eight teams. The Executive Committee also endorsed changes to the format of the UEFA Futsal Cup. From 2017/18, the top three member associations in UEFA’s futsal rankings will be UEFA entitled to enter a second representative, in addition to their domestic champions. Then, as of the 2018/19 season, the competition will he recent Executive Committee meeting Giancarlo Abete, Avraham Luzon, be renamed the UEFA Futsal Champions League, in the Finnish capital was not just Marios N Lefkaritis, František further increasing the prestige associated with important because of the decisions that Laurinec and Allen Hansen after UEFA’s premier futsal club competition. T their final Executive Committee were taken; it was also an opportunity to thank meeting in Helsinki. Turning to the 11-a-side game, the Executive members who were taking their leave of the Committee gave the green light to playing committee ahead of the following day’s 41st the Europa League final in the same week Ordinary UEFA Congress. as the Champions League final for the entire Farewells and gratitude for years of 2018–21 cycle. This move has been made so outstanding service went to vice-presidents that the Europa League final is played – like the Giancarlo Abete (Italy) and Marios N Lefkaritis Champions League final – after the end of the (Cyprus), as well as fellow committee members domestic season. Consequently, the final of Allan Hansen (), Avraham Luzon (Israel) the 2018/19 Europa League will take place on and František Laurinec (Slovakia). All five can Wednesday 29 May 2019. The two finals will reflect with pride on their crucial work on behalf be staged at different venues, as is the case of UEFA and European football at a time when at present. the game has been evolving more rapidly than Finally, the Executive Committee confirmed ever before. that the final round of the 2017–19 European One of the Executive Committee’s eternal Under-21 Championship would take place in characteristics is its desire to ensure that Italy from 16 to 30 June 2019. European football keeps pace with modern The next meeting of the Executive Committee times, and a number of key strategic decisions will take place in Cardiff on 1 June, the day of were made in Helsinki in relation to futsal, the Women's Champions League final, and two seeking to take the game forward as it continues days before the Welsh city also plays host to to grow in popularity. the Champions League final.

10 – UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE

STOCKHOLM SET TO PUT ON A SHOW

The stage is set in Sweden’s capital for the final of the 2016/17 UEFA Europa League on 24 May.

tockholm’s Friends Arena is providing builds on that written at the Råsunda, which became the first player to find the net the stage for the much-anticipated hosted finals of the men’s and women’s five times in a single Europa League S climax of this season’s Europa League, World Cup. It was there that Pelé fired match when he scored all of Athletic adding another layer of football history to Brazil to glory against the hosts in 1958, Club’s goals (including three penalties) both the Swedish capital and its state-of- and Norway’s women triumphed against in their 5-3 victory over KRC Genk on the-art stadium. Germany in 1995. 3 November. Friends Arena is proving a worthy heir Whoever ultimately prevails in to the historic Råsunda Stadium, which it Record numbers Stockholm on 24 May, there will be a replaced as the seat of Swedish football five Another memorable occasion now awaits new name on the trophy for the first time years ago. Located roughly 1km from the with the culmination of the 2016/17 UEFA in four years, with Sevilla FC not back to site of the old ground in Solna, just north of Europa League. A total of 188 teams – from defend their hat-trick of titles. Whoever Stockholm, the arena was inaugurated on continental heavyweights to European takes their crown will be the cream of a 14 November 2012, a night celebrated for debutants – entered the competition and remarkably diverse crop. Zlatan Ibrahimović’s extraordinary bicycle the action has been followed in record Of the 188 contenders, 139 entered kick from outside the box in Sweden’s 4-2 numbers. Manchester United FC’s home in the qualifying rounds, 16 were given victory over England. match against Fenerbahçe SK on matchday 3 direct access to the group stage and More high drama followed at the drew a group-stage record of 73,063 to Old 33 joined at various intervals from the Women’s EURO 2013 final, where a crowd Trafford, and a new knockout stage and UEFA Champions League. of 41,301 watched Nadine Angerer save two overall competition high was recorded at Since the old UEFA Cup was rebranded penalties and Anja Mittag score for Germany Wembley as 80,465 watched Tottenham ahead of the 2009/10 campaign, against Norway to take the European crown. Hotspur FC take on KAA Gent in the round 190 clubs representing more than 30 Home to both the Swedish national of 32. countries have taken part in the group team and local club AIK, Friends Arena The competition’s large audiences stage of the Europa League, with 13 is Scandinavia’s biggest football arena. The have been rewarded with compelling making their debuts this season alone. footballing history it has helped to create action. Jan Sýkora’s opening goal of the At Friends Arena on 24 May, though, it group stage – for FC Slovan Liberec against will be all about the last two standing Qarabağ FK – came after just 10.69 seconds in 2016/17, and to paraphrase a certain The Friends Arena in Stockholm has a and was the quickest successful strike in Swedish super group, the winner will retractable roof and can seat 50,000. Europa League history. Aritz Aduriz then take it all. Getty Images THE GAME

PITCH PERFECT

Modern football pitches are as smooth as billiard tables and perfect for a fast-flowing spectacle. But what is the science behind them? Award- winning grounds manager Jonathan Calderwood explains how times have changed and what exactly goes into making the perfect pitch. Getty Images THE GAME

t has earned praise from Lionel Saint-Germain FC’s The man responsible for the pitch at Messi and Neymar in the UEFA is a perfect example of the modern Parc des Princes is the club’s grounds Champions League. UEFA declared football pitch. manager, Jonathan Calderwood. it the best pitch at EURO 2016. It is not the only one, of course. Think The Northern Irishman, who was And it has been ’s best pitch of all the lights shining on emerald carpets lured to the French capital from Aston Ifor the last three seasons. Even in an age across the continent on a Champions Villa FC, where he had won eight of beautifully telegenic playing surfaces, League night, and suddenly that not-so- separate awards for his work, chuckles it manages to stand out from the rest. distant age of wintry mudbaths and dusty as he reflects on how expectations The pristine rectangle of grass at goalmouths seems light years away. have changed.

PSG’s grounds manager, Jonathan Calderwood, tends to the Parc des Princes pitch.

UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 – 13 THE GAME

“I’ve been doing this job for 22 years now, the watering facilities were and was told mid-90s, the forensic approach found and back then all you did was prepare the they had none. In that era, clubs would today had yet to arrive. pitch as best you could, and that was it,” use braziers and flame throwers to try to He even cites the example – albeit he says. “You’d just cut it, mark it out melt the ice on frozen grounds. Another unusual in any era – of a grounds manager and make it look the best you could – no English club, Halifax Town AFC, even in one European country who would stay questions asked. Now, it’s all about trying responded to the ‘Big Freeze’ of 1963 at home on the day of a game, considering to keep the players on the pitch and give by opening their pitch up to the public his work done. Needless to say, that would the coach the type of pitch he wants for as an ice rink. Even when Calderwood never happen today. whatever type of football he plays. It’s all began working in the game in the “The grounds manager is now such a about how quick the pitch is, how much massive part of the club and the team, it’s water is on there, the height of the grass, unbelievable,” says the Northern Irishman, how hard or soft the pitch is, the traction ‘The pressure now to who has a 15-strong team working under on the pitch – whether players slip over – produce this perfect pitch him in Paris. “We’ve got better tools and so on. Even a bad bobble can cost a 12 months a year is to do the job, but the pressure now to club tens of millions.” unbelievable. Any injury at produce this perfect pitch 12 months a This search for pitch perfection is a all is scrutinised, and any year is unbelievable. With the amount relatively new phenomenon. When Bill bad bounce is scrutinised.’ of money that is involved in the game, Shankly became manager at Liverpool FC, these big teams are buying massive he asked the groundsman where Jonathan Calderwood players, and they want to keep them

A muddy Anfield pitch during a match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in 1971. Getty Images

14 – UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 THE GAME

Grassmaster pitch containing 3% synthetic fibre, which gives added stability to the pitch. “There’s 180mm of it sitting below the surface and 20mm sitting above the surface. So, the whole synthetic fibre is 200mm long, and that is stitched every 2cm apart. That makes it a reinforced Getty Images pitch, with the natural grass roots growing around these synthetic fibres.” There are three distinct layers below The Switzerland v Turkey match at EURO 2008 was played in difficult conditions following the grass surface of the pitch, starting a downpour. with the ‘root zone’, which is 120mm deep and made up of 95% sand and 5% organic matter to help the grass grow. Beneath this, Calderwood explains, is 180mm of sand to aid drainage. Then comes the undersoil Getting the perfect pitch heating system and 100mm of gravel. So, what exactly goes into making the Then, at the very bottom, elite clubs will perfect pitch? Let us start with the playing all have a sophisticated drainage system. surface itself. In the case of Calderwood’s “Some guys might have a SubAir system Getty Images pitch at Parc des Princes, the surface is which can blow warm air or cold air stripped every summer and new grass through the pitch,” explains Calderwood on the pitch. Any injury at all is scrutinised, seed is sown, using perennial rye grass – of one example of the hi-tech systems and any bad bounce is scrutinised. a cool-season grass well suited to the available. “You can also reverse it and pull “We’re continually talking to the coach northern European climate. water through the pitch. So, if you have a and the fitness coach and the performance Not every club has this luxury. Those big downpour an hour before kick-off, you guy and the doctor and the physio. You’re in urgent need will buy readymade turf just push a button and it sucks the water really in the middle of that team now, grown at a nursery or farm and roll it out. out of the pitch. Sometimes, if you have whereas before you were just seen as the However, seeded grass pitches tend to a lot of water, the smell becomes a bit guy who looked after the pitch and cut be stronger. At Parc des Princes, as stagnant, and you can hit the button the grass and put some white lines on it.” Calderwood explains, they have a Desso and it sucks the bad gasses out of the soil.

‘IT’S A PASSION’ JONATHAN CALDERWOOD

Jonathan Calderwood talks about 1997–2001 the dedication required to be an Getty Images Deputy Head Groundsman, award-winning grounds manager.

“The working life of a groundsman at 2001–06 the elite level is so demanding – the Head Groundsman, Aston Villa FC days can be long and you need absolute and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC commitment. We work all day Saturday and all day Sunday, because most of our 2006–13 matches are at nine o’clock on a Sunday Head Groundsman, Aston Villa FC night. But when you do this job, 95% of the time you are doing it because it’s 2013-present a passion – you love pitches and you Head Groundsman, love grass. You don’t really do it for Paris Saint-Germain FC money. I love football, and for some reason I love grass. It comes from my Leading a team of 15 groundsmen father. He was a keen gardener back in at Parc des Princes and the Saint- Northern Ireland, and growing up I was out in the garden all the time working for him, Germain-en-Laye training ground, cutting the grass and doing the flowers. I loved football as well, so the two came hand and working on preparations for a in hand.” new 18-pitch training centre

UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 – 15 THE GAME Getty Images Getty Images

You can also blow air up and crack all the “This dirty water is full of bacteria, and Changing technology: from the laying of sand to allow air to come into the sand.” it goes into the soil and helps the fight Highbury’s under soil heating in 1964 to Not all the technology is below the against bad bacteria and breaks down today’s special lighting to help grass growth. ground, either. “There are ultra violet the fertiliser to make it readily available lights we wheel on to replicate the sun,” for the grass to grow better.” Memo to he adds. “Think about all these stadiums visitors to his office: think twice if he which block out the sunlight. It’s good offers you a cup of tea. in one way because budgets are growing, respect for the job is increasing, and technology is improving too, but stadiums are getting bigger, which is making things more complicated.” SHIFTING DIMENSIONS And yet, grounds managers are finding solutions in the natural world too. “The maximum length of ground shall be 200 yards, the maximum breadth shall Manchester City FC’s use of garlic on be 100 yards.” Thus, the dimensions of the football pitch – decided in 1863 at the their pitch to counter the menace of founding meeting of – were set out in the first printed nematodes – minute worms which feed version of the complete Laws of the Game. In metric measurements, this means on grass roots – is an example of a trend 183m by 91m. By any measure, this was an astonishingly loose regulation, allowing towards using natural products in the daily pitches to vary considerably in size. upkeep of pitches. “You have your main A subsequent amendment in 1897(1) stipulated that pitches should be 91–119m basic feeding programme made up of long and 46–91m wide, albeit with greater precision required for international liquid and fertiliser, and that will be matches (101–110m long and 64–73m wide). Today, the regulations governing supplemented with other bio-stimulants UEFA’s competitions allow for fewer surprises, with pitches required to be 100–105m like sugars, compost teas and seaweeds long and 64–68m wide. to try to enhance the grass and the This ensures – no pun intended – a more level playing field, although the lack of strength of the grass. It is all about trying uniformity of old certainly allowed for some wonderfully quirky pitches. For instance, to make the grass as strong as possible English club Yeovil Town FC’s former ground, Huish, had a 2.4m slope from sideline for when players are twisting and turning to sideline. It also allowed coaches to use pitches to their advantage, with teams and sliding on it,” Calderwood explains. who were strong at set pieces (such as long throws) favouring narrow pitches, In Calderwood’s case, he takes compost for example. collected from the forest and ‘brews’ it in a teapot before spraying it on his pitch. (1) Rous, S., & Ford, D. (1974). A History of the Laws of . FIFA.

16 – UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 THE GAME

Cut and watered and not only in certain areas. As a general weather forecast, to consult the captain Modern footballers are now finely rule, pitch watering must finish 60 minutes and a member of the coaching staff on tuned, scientifically honed athletes, before kick-off. However, upon decision how much watering was required during and the pitches they play on are also of the home club, pitch watering may also the interval. prepared to the nth degree – up to and take place after that time, provided it takes This leads us to another intriguing beyond the first whistle. The way the place: (a) between 10 and 5 minutes before point about today’s pitches. Their impact grass is cut is of no little significance kick-off, and/or (b) during half-time (for a on the way the game is played is clear for in this regard, as Calderwood explains. maximum of 5 minutes).” all to see. Their speed and smoothness “Some clubs use the height of the One club where pitch watering is as are integral to the -style grass to their advantage. If you’re a integral to the team’s culture as their spectacle that is often witnessed in quick-passing, free-flowing football pre-match anthem is FC . Prior to matches marked by lightning-quick team, you are going to want your grass their 1994 Champions League final against counterattacks. Yet their impact on as short as possible so the ball moves AC Milan in , opposition coach Fabio players’ bodies is still being assessed. quickly across the surface. But if you’re Capello refused a request from the Catalan not such a passing team and want to club for the pitch to be watered, and the ‘A different injury pattern’ upset the other team a little bit and Italian’s logic was clear: why allow the “It increases the speed of the game, slow the pitch down, you might decide Dream Team a slicker surface on which to which means you get a different injury to leave the grass 30mm long.” play their scarily swift football? pattern,” says Professor Jan Ekstrand from According to UEFA’s regulations, After all, watering the grass close to the UEFA Injury Study Group. “If you look the height of the grass “may not, in kick-off is all about increasing the speed at the injury studies we have done over principle, exceed 30mm” in any game at which the ball skims over the surface. the last 15 years, we can see that the in its competitions. There are also detailed Indeed, during ’s time at general injury risk has not changed, but specifications regarding the watering the club, the groundsman would even some types of injury have increased, of pitches, with regulations stating: enter the dressing room at half-time, such as muscle injuries, and some “The pitch must be watered evenly armed with an up-to-the-minute local have decreased, like ankle sprains.”

Fabio Capello wanted the pitch as dry as possible before his Milan side’s 1994 UEFA Champions League final win over Barcelona. Getty Images THE GAME

Professor Jan Esktrand has observed changing injury patterns on today’s pitches with more hamstring and fewer groin injuries. Getty Images

A quicker sport has resulted in more It is also worth nothing another piece “dries the pitch, and a dry pitch has hamstring injuries, but Professor Ekstrand of research – from a nine-season study greater friction, which means you can get is also working on fresh research – due spanning nine different European countries your foot caught in the pitch and get a to be sent to the British Journal of Sports – which points to a higher incidence of twisting rotation of the knee, which Medicine – which identifies, he says, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries increases the risk of ACL injuries”. “a clear decrease in groin injuries over among players who play on harder, drier While that is more of a climatic factor, the last 15 years”. On the heavier pitches pitches in southern Europe.(1) There may a long-serving doctor at one Champions of old, where players’ feet would get be more injuries overall in the colder League club has identified another stuck in the mud, groin injuries were far northern European countries, but, as potential injury risk directly connected more prevalent. Professor Ekstrand observes, a hot sun to the make-up of the modern pitch –

PLASTIC FANTASTIC

It was a decade ago, during the 2006/07 – which provided a place to train and was season, that the first Champions League a year-round, revenue-raising community group stage fixture took place on artificial resource – as well as the widespread turf, with FC Moskva hosting scepticism surrounding such surfaces. Sporting Clube de Portugal at Stadion “QPR’s pitch”, Royle says, “was basically Luzhniki. That came four years after the Getty Images a plastic mat of grass laid on concrete. I launch of UEFA’s Project, remember a game there when the featuring pilot project partners in Austria, FC Spartak Moskva v Sporting Clube de Portugal on 27 September 2006 was the first ball bounced once and went over the the Netherlands, Russia and Sweden. UEFA Champions League match to be played bar.” In Oldham’s case, the pitch at Today, Andorra play all of their on artificial turf. Boundary Park was “on a rubber dynamic European Championship and World base with a long pile of plastic grass, two- Cup qualifying games on a 3G surface pitches in a major European league. thirds filled by sand. So you could actually at Estadi Nacional. Further afield, the Two other lower-league clubs, Oldham pass the ball on it and pass it forward entire 2015 Women’s World Cup in Athletic FC and Preston North End FC, without it running out of play.” Canada was held on artificial pitches. followed suit, although by the time Opponents remained suspicious, Suffice to say, these synthetic Oldham won promotion to the top flight however. “I remember a last-minute carpets are a world away from the early on a 2G plastic pitch in 1991, the rules equaliser at Southampton in the League experiments witnessed in the English game had changed and they had to revert to Cup,” he chuckles. “I found myself in the 1980s, when Queens Park Rangers natural grass. jumping out of the dugout shouting FC and Luton Town FC became the first Joe Royle, Oldham’s manager at the ‘Back to plastic!’ and it was totally for clubs to host top-flight football on plastic time, remembers the benefits of that pitch their benefit.”

18 – UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 THE GAME

THE PITCH OF THE PARC DES PRINCES IN PARIS

‘A dry pitch has greater friction, which means you can get your foot caught in the pitch and get a twisting ‘Root zone’ rotation of the knee, which increases the risk of ACL injuries.’

Professor Jan Ekstrand UEFA Injury Study Group Grass Sand

95% Sand namely, the strip of artificial turf that runs 5% Organic matter the other side of the touchline at many of today’s grounds. “That, to me, makes no sense,” he says. “If you are a full-back, you might have to be half off the pitch and still running. You’ve got one foot 120mm on there and one foot on the grass, and that is potentially dangerous.” 180mm The football pitch will continue to evolve, but one thing that is not in doubt is the fact that today’s surfaces are now 100mm more conducive to good football than ever before. When Manchester United FC visited FC Rostov recently in the UEFA Europa League, their round of 16 match was played on an uncharacteristically bumpy pitch, giving their players a glimpse of how things used to be for their predecessors – not easy at all. As Jonathan Calderwood – a creator of many fine pitches himself – observes, the overall quality has never been so high. “I saw a game on TV the other night, and the commentator was saying the pitch was not very good,” he says. “In front of the goals was a bit brown, Drainage Gravel Heating but the rest of it was looking pretty good. system system But according to the TV, it was a ‘disaster’. Even in front of the goals, you’ve got grass covering the goalmouths all year round now. When you look back at the pitches in the 70s and 80s, they were mudbaths. It’s incredible how expectations have changed.” Pitch contains 3% synthetic fibre which gives added stability

(1) Waldén, M., Hägglund, M., Orchard, J., Kristenson, K., & Ekstrand, J. (2013). Regional differences in injury incidence in European professional football. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 23(4), 424–430.

UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 – 19 MARKETING – UEFA GROW

GROWING THE GAME IN EASTERN EUROPE Achieving higher participation figures in eastern Europe is an increasingly important challenge. This subject was analysed in detail at a regional UEFA GROW summit hosted by the Georgian Football Federation in Tbilisi on 2 and 3 March.

rowing Participation in Eastern explained UEFA’s national associations Europe was the title of a director, Zoran Laković. Gconference which brought together representatives of the national associations Facts and figures of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, , The figures presented in Tbilisi make for Georgia, Kazakhstan, , , interesting reading. For instance, although Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Turkey around 50% of the total population of and Ukraine. They were joined by 11 UEFA's member associations live in the 14 ministers from those countries, a number of eastern European countries in question, senior government representatives as well as those countries are home to just 14% of delegates from the Council of Europe. Europe’s registered players. Indeed, just This regional summit was organised under 0.68% of the people in those countries the auspices of UEFA GROW, a programme are registered players, compared with an which helps national associations to GFF average of 3.37% in other UEFA countries. develop football at all levels across Europe. UEFA Grassroots Ambassador Per Ravn Omdal in For every football club in those 14 Discussions focused on the reasons why discussion with some of the delegates in Georgia. countries, there are 8 in the rest of Europe. participation levels in sport – especially There are also 18 times as many female football – are lower in eastern Europe than coaches and 10 times as many female in the rest of the continent. referees in the other UEFA countries as The key objective was to seek common there are in those eastern European solutions to challenges that are shared by countries. The lack of physical activity in national associations across eastern Europe those countries is another concern, with in terms of getting more people playing 47% of adults, 52% of women and 43% of football, fostering greater understanding 0.68% children considered to have been physically of the importance of the grassroots, and of the people in the 14 inactive for the last 12 months. generating greater support for efforts to eastern European countries The meeting in Georgia noted that boost participation. “Through UEFA GROW, low participation levels were having a are registered players, supporting the UEFA Grassroots Charter, we negative impact not only on eastern realised that participation rates were low compared with an average Europe’s performances on the international across eastern Europe, and that this was a of 3.37% in other UEFA stage, but also on commercial revenues. challenge that was particular to the region,” countries. Only one eastern European country – Russia GFF

20 – UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 MARKETING – UEFA GROW

LOCAL SOLUTIONS TO LOCAL ISSUES

Participants at the summit in Tbilisi welcomed the opportunity to examine the issue of participation levels in eastern Europe, and returned home with new ideas and GFF fresh perspectives on this subject. Here are some of the many positive reactions to Kakha Kaladze, Georgia's vice-prime minister this event: and energy minister, addressed the summit.

– will take part in this summer’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2017, compared with 15 “We in Poland are “Organising a UEFA from elsewhere in Europe. Meanwhile, just embarking on a GROW summit on in men’s football, none of the 14 eastern large participation such a key issue was European associations feature in the top 15 growth project in an excellent idea, of UEFA’s aggregated U17 and U19 boys' cooperation with UEFA, as it shows that UEFA and girls' coefficient rankings. Various so this summit came at exactly really understands the issues that major issues were identified, including a the right time. It gave us the the various regions face, and is lack of accurate participation data, the opportunity to develop our thinking ready to tackle them. Having the absence of a grassroots philosophy, a in this area, and we are now focused Council of Europe and sports and lack of insight into players’ wants and on delivering great results for Polish education ministers present was really needs, and a failure to establish grassroots football in the coming years.” important, as we need to build strong club infrastructures to deliver a clear Zbigniew Boniek, president of partnerships with them in order to participation growth strategy. the Polish Football Federation achieve the mass participation that “The objective of the summit was to fully we desire.” understand the participation challenges Răzvan Burleanu, president of faced by our national associations the Romanian Football Federation in eastern Europe and find solutions “Having just together, so that more people would developed our have opportunities to play the game, right new Towards 2020 across the region,” Laković explained. strategy, this summit “The Georgian Football gave us the opportunity Federation was Next steps to bring our government officials delighted to host such Various measures are now being here to see how serious we – the an important UEFA implemented as a result of the gathering national associations and UEFA GROW summit, as we in Tbilisi. UEFA has pledged to provide – are about growing grassroots really believe that we must all get the national associations with even better participation. This will certainly more people to play the game. This data demonstrating the business case help us to deliver on our objectives summit offered us the chance to for investing in the grassroots, while also in Lithuania.” showcase the grassroots programmes seeking to have a positive influence on Edvinas Eimontas, president of that we have introduced over the policy at the highest levels within the the Lithuanian Football Federation last year, and show how well European Union and the Council of Europe. they are progressing.” National associations will continue to work Levan Kobiashvili, president of with their governments to assess the gaps the Georgian Football Federation in grassroots sports, in order to invest in a “We are currently strategic manner to grow participation. moving forward In addition, greater emphasis will be with our grassroots placed on strategically driving participation plan, so it was “We are delighted that growth through the UEFA GROW important for us to see UEFA is seeking to find programme. The associations stressed the the clear link between the number local solutions to local need for closer alignment with government of people who play football at issues facing football. objectives and policies, in order to ensure grassroots level and the impact We had great discussions that they and their governments could on international performances with other national associations work in tandem to grow participation in and revenues. We look forward to facing similar challenges, and football, and sport in general. strong cooperation with UEFA in received insights and research that The 14 national associations also terms of growing the grassroots will be most useful in developing our underlined their firm commitment to in Ukraine.” grassroots programmes.” nurturing grassroots football, and ensuring Andriy Pavelko, president of Armen Minasyan, general secretary the presence of the structures necessary to the Football Federation of of the Football Federation of deliver participation growth. Ukraine Armenia

UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 – 21 DESTINATION CROATIA T 22 Under-17European Championship. will line up alongside hosts Croatia in the final round of the 2016/17 After atotal of 126 qualifying matches, we now know which 15 teams to 16 in2014/15 teams of titles. ahat-trick to win side first the to become bidding be will and twice competition the have won 11th. their contesting be each four All will who Spain, and Netherlands the France, are as level, this at tournament 12th for arecord back are England final Under-17 at tournament –Norway. level final first intheir competing side another inCroatia by joined be will Faroe Islands The of Portugal. ahead runners-up, best seven the of one as finished They time. first very for the of aUEFA competition finals for the qualifying after celebrating have been however, Faroe Islands the and team’s team’s another is One gain, pain rivals. Iberian to their 2-0 game round elite final their losing after out missing title, their inCroatia to defend be not will in2016, trophy the to in Baku lift they but penalties on Spain beat Portugal surprises. fair of share its up thrown has competition The final tournament was expanded expanded was tournament final The familiar. largely are contenders other The in Croatia. tournament final the to through both are Norway Stenevik’s Halldor Norman Timari’s and (left) Hungary – UEFA DIRECT •May begins on 3 May and already the the already and 3 May on begins Under-17European Championship the 2016/17 of round final he to 2017 give more more give

Stadium Kostrena Stadium Varaždin, Rujevica, Stadium Stadium Sesvete, Stadium VelikaStadium Gorica, Lučko, Stadium Zaprešić, Stadium Venues Final: Semi-finals: May 16 U-17 play-off: Cup World Quarter-finals: 6/7, 3/4, 9/10 May stage: Group CALENDAR 19 May 19

16 May 16

12/13 May 12/13 point their careers in the right direction.” right in the careers their point and quality their to prove opportunity have an They for them. experience big a be will This talent. their to develop how and advice to accept how to learn for them crucial is It football. European inelite stand they where them show and experience valuable players the give will This possible. as matches many big as to have important extremely is it age this at and level, ahigh to at play players for all important very is in Europe. It teams best the among here playing than opportunity development of“I abetter think can’t stage: international the of on capable are they what to show for them opportunity an and players for his experience learning important an be will this that believes Bašić, Dario coach, their tournament, youth UEFA first-ever their Croatia hosting With ‘A big experience’ fixture. of asenior atmosphere the all provided certainly Portugal match against opening Azerbaijan’s hosts watched that of 33,000 crowd record the and competition, of high-level intensity the chanceyoungsters the to experience

Peter Hilbert an “organisational challenge”, “organisational an says: but represents tournament this that admits Šuker, Davor Federation, Croatian Football of the president the around, time this 2012.EURO 16 With competing teams Futsal and CupUEFA in2009 Regions’ the of round final the tournaments: UEFA previous two Croatia hosted has Welcoming hosts happiness.” you bring will what are victories because to win, try and best your give badly, always or but awinner. and well humble Play be always to have to is goal best The well. country your represent always and tournaments inthose best your to is give players to younger give Iwould advice The learn. to for you away They’re well. country your represent and best your to give you push tournaments Those of responsibility. grow,”and “You explains. he have alot to develop you help tournaments “Those Under-17s. inthe time of his memories fond has He process. inthe award tournament of the player young the up 2016,at EURO title senior picking first their win Portugal to help on going before years in2014 inMalta tournament of this –two semi-finals the reached that side Portugal of the part was recently. Sanches – more – RenatoSanches Portuguese another did as stage, this on steps international first their took all Ronaldo Cristiano and Götze Rooney,Wayne Mario Iniesta, likes of Andrés The things. greater to lead soon can level this at competing of experience the of how example an far for have to not look do players The 6 to 28 October 2017. October 28 6 to from India, in Cup World U-17 the at berths five competition for Europe’s qualifying the as act also will tournament final The right) writing the tournament’s anthem are stronger and our hearts beat as one.” as beat hearts our and stronger are we together that says It tournament. for the ‘As is song One’, slogan the also is which way. of the name their on The them to help I’mable be and to dreams happy their fulfil to trying people young are these because involved, “I’m to be delighted says. she message,” motivational astrong has and cheerful is song “The like football. just the tournament and feel really honoured.” really feel and tournament amajor for such ambassador an to be 2001,” “I delighted am explains. Kranjčar Under-16s the with medal a bronze in Iwon and teams, youth national for our of playing memories “I have wonderful hosts.” as goal our is that –and pitch the off and on enjoy the tournament experience, both can trophy, the guests of our all lift can team one only Though representatives. media and fans officials, staff, coaches, players, cuisine, to participating and culture hospitality, our as well as wonders, many its to introducing forward looking are we and countries, beautiful most world’s of the Croatia one is tournament. atop-class to delivering dedicated totally is team hard-working and “Our talented to welcoming to welcoming forward looking are both and ambassadors Niko Niko international former and Eni Jurišić of Varazdin. Croatian pop city northern the in final the with capital, the , and coast Adriatic the on Rijeka Jurišić’s duties, meanwhile, include include meanwhile, duties, Jurišić’s around staged be will tournament The Kranjčar are the tournament’s tournament’s the are Kranjčar , which she hopes will be a big hit, hit, abig be will hopes she , which fans to their country inMay. country fans to their (see (see

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UEFA DIRECT •

May 2017

– 23 HNS EUROPEAN UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP

FAROE ISLANDS MAKE HISTORY

The Faroese Under-17 team have caused a sensation by qualifying for the European Under-17 Championship finals in Croatia in May.

he team already made Faroese have done a tremendous job to achieve footballing history in Luxembourg this result. But now the focus of the Faroese T last October when they qualified for FA is on giving the team the best possible the elite round. They were drawn into a group circumstances in which to prepare for the with Cyprus, the Republic of Ireland and final tournament in Croatia. Slovakia, which was considered relatively lucky, Only the top 16 Under-17 teams in Europe but no one ever imagined they would make it take part in the finals, and it is worth as far as the final tournament. mentioning that the Faroe Islands and Norway are the only Nordic countries to have qualified. Holding on to vital victory The Faroe Islands’ elite round mini-tournament Motivating other teams was played in Cyprus, and the Faroese team The Under-17s’ achievements are tremendous got off to a poor start, losing 4-0 to the Irish not only for the team and the staff, but also favourites. But in the following match, against for other Faroese youth teams who dream of the hosts, they held on for a 0-0 draw. This qualifying for the finals of a UEFA competition. meant that a win against Slovakia in the final The team have now shown not only that it is group game could result in a place in the finals possible to qualify for an elite round, but to go The Under-17s' if the Republic of Ireland beat Cyprus at the all the way to the finals. With the island’s other achievements are same time. teams all watching closely, the question now is: tremendous not only The boys got off to a very good start against who will be next? for the team, but also Slovakia, with Tórur Jacobsen giving the This should motivate not only the Faroe for other Faroese Faroe Islands the lead after a rebound off the Islands’ youth teams, but teams from other youth teams who crossbar. At half-time the Faroe Islands were small nations too. Size is not all that counts still leading Slovakia 1-0, and when Hanus and sometimes the underdogs really do pull dream of qualifying Sørensen, who had just recently signed an off a sensation, as the Faroese Under-17s for the finals of a academy contract with Danish Super League have shown. UEFA competition. side FC Midtjylland, scored with a header to make it 2-0, the Faroese players and staff could barely believe their own eyes – they had the finals in their sights. Slovakia did manage to pull one back, and they put some pressure on the Faroese side, but the underdogs stood firm and held on to a vital victory, as did the Republic of Ireland. When Albanian referee Andi Koçi blew the final whistle the whole Faroese squad stormed onto the pitch to celebrate their sensational qualification. “It was a fantastic feeling and it really took some time to sink in,” coach Áki Johansen told Faroese radio after the match.

Massive credit to players and staff The result is a massive credit to the players and staff. For the Faroe Islands Football Association the result is of immense importance. It shows that even if you are a country of only 50,000 inhabitants, on the pitch it is 11 against 11 and anything can happen. Johansen and his assistant, Pól F. Joensen,

an IT sales manager and a carpenter by trade, H. E. Danielsen/FSF

24 – UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 FOR THE RECORD

U17 CHAMPIONSHIP GOAL STATISTICS

NUMBER OF MATCHES/GOALS/GOALS PER GAME

450 3.40 3.32 3.15 3.03 2.64 3.01 3.02 3.08 3.05 2.96 2.92 2.82 2.83 2.84 2.83 2.36

300

150

95 323 124 373 130 432 130 392 130 400 130 397 135 400 135 381 135 394 135 382 135 384 134 406 135 382 159 375 157 415 126 397 0 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 (as at 28/3/2017 before final Number of matches Number of goals Average goals per game tournament)

ALL-TIME TOP SCORERS England 12 2010, 2014 France 11 2004, 2015

Netherlands 11 2011, 2012

Spain 11 2007, 2008

Germany 10 2009 8 Italy 7 Odsonne Édouard France Switzerland 7 2002

Turkey 7 2005

Portugal 6 2003, 2016 7 Ukraine 6 Bojan Krkić Spain Austria 5 David Spain José Gomes Portugal Belgium 5 Jonatan Soriano Spain Czech Republic 5 5 Serbia 5 Croatia 4 6 Denmark 4 Paco Alcácer Spain Hungary 4 Morten Rasmussen Denmark Republic of Ireland 3 Tevfik Köse Turkey Russia 3 2006, 2013 Slovenia 3 Bosnia-Herzegovina 2 5 Georgia 2 Denis Calincov Moldova Greece 2 Germany Iceland 2 Collins John Netherlands Israel 2 Tomáš Necid Czech Republic England Poland 2 Sweden 2 Azerbaijan 1 4 Belarus 1 Bulgaria 1 NUMBER OF Portugal Faroe Islands 1 APPEARANCES Jaime Gavilán Spain SINCE 2001/02 Sandro Iashvili Georgia Finland 1 Nikola Kalinić Croatia Luxembourg 1 Germany Malta 1 Milan Purović Montenegro Moldova 1 Abel Ruiz Spain Netherlands Northern Ireland 1 England Norway 1 France Romania 1 Simon Vukčević Montenegro Deniz Yilmaz Azerbaijan Slovakia 1

UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 – 25 EUROPEAN WOMEN’S UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP

STRONG LINE-UP FOR FINALS The final round of the tenth European Women’s Under-17 Championship is taking place in the Czech Republic from 2 to 14 May, with a suitably strong cast contesting the trophy.

The contenders

The FA Group A Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, France

Group B Republic of Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, England

Match schedule Group stage 2, 5 & 8 May (Plzen, Pribram, Domazlice, Prestice)

Semi-finals: 11 May (Domazlice, Pribram)

Final: 14 May in Plzen

he holders and five-time champions In the elite round, England beat Germany was a Czechoslovak international and Germany are back to defend their 2-1 at home on 27 March. Both teams AC Sparta Praha great, while her brother crown, but they did not have things have qualified for the final round in the Michal also played professionally. She was T Czech Republic. all their own way in qualifying. Indeed, named Czech female footballer of the year they had to wait to find out whether they five times, and her impressive CV features had qualified as the best runners-up after clubs such as AC Sparta Praha, FC Bayern finishing second to England in their elite the Republic of Ireland (runners-up in München, Philadelphia Charge and LdB round group. England’s 2-1 victory over 2010), France (three-time runners-up), Malmö. She hopes that this tournament the defending champions in Telford was the Netherlands and the Czech Republic will help to inspire the next generation sweet revenge for the Lionesses, who complete the line-up. of players. had been knocked out by Germany in Tournament ambassador and former “This will be an invaluable experience the semi-finals in Belarus last season. Czech international Pavlína Nováková- for them,” she says. “They will gain Spain are the second most successful Ščasná believes the event could have a confidence and great memories. But it’s side at this level with three titles, and lasting impact on women’s football in her also important to enjoy the occasion. they will be hoping to make it four in country. “This is a real milestone for Czech This is a unique experience that cannot the Czech Republic after comfortably women’s football,” she says. “We’ve never be had anywhere else.” advancing through qualifying with victories hosted a tournament like this. I hope a lot Matches will be played at four venues against Iceland and Portugal and a draw of youngsters start playing after this. I will in Bohemia, west of the capital , with Sweden. Spain have reached the take my children to the games so they can in Plzen, Pribram, Domazlice and Prestice, last three finals, winning one in 2015 see how beautiful women’s football is.” with the final being contested at Stadion and losing the other two to Germany. Football certainly runs in Nováková- města Plzně on 14 May. The final will Norway (semi-finalists last season), Ščasná’s family. Her father, Zdeněk Ščasný, also be screened live on Eurosport.

26 – UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 ‘ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL’

Karel Rada won 43 caps for the Czech Republic as a defender and played in the final of EURO ‘96. Now coach of the Czech women’s Under-17s, the 46-year-old will be hoping to make that experience tell when his country hosts the finals of the 2016/17 European Women’s Under-17 Championship.

The Czech Republic month. There is time for us to show them I know from my own career what a great qualified for the how to organise their training regimes, bonus that is for the players. We are FACR final tournament not only regarding football, but also as looking forward to having the fans on for the first time regards healthy lifestyles. Things like that our side and inspiring their support. last summer. How are also important if they want to reach I hope they will be proud of us. important was the top. They understand what elite sport that experience means and what they must do to reach You were one of the pioneering for your players? that level. coaches of Czech women’s It was a tremendously valuable experience. football at youth level … They faced the very best European teams. What are your side’s strengths? We started many years ago. At that I realised the value of that recently when If we want to succeed – and for me, point, we only had weekend training we played Spain for a second time. The getting out of our group would be a great camps for representative teams from players’ performance in that game was achievement – we have to work as a team Bohemia and Moravia. We established significantly different. The first game as much as possible, be ready to help each an Under-15 team and saw them against such a strong side is all about not other and support each other. It’s a case progress with every game they played. showing too much respect and dealing with of ‘all for one and one for all’. The UEFA development tournaments your nerves. As you get used to playing at Under-16 level are also a great thing them, your self-confidence really grows. Is there extra pressure on the for the players. They arrive ready for home team? the Under-17s with at least a handful What are the key things to Whether you admit it or not, there is. of international caps. The difference teach players of this age? Friends, family in the stands, media is visible from the first minute of We are still working on individual skills interest, spectators … Players put pressure the game. and players’ technical abilities. We also on themselves. Suddenly, they start trying work on team tactics, developing the too hard and that eagerness destroys the Your surname means ‘advice’ ability to play in different formations. quality of their performance. We talk in Czech. What advice will you The players should be equipped with about it a lot with the girls. We will be giving your players? those skills by Under-19 level. need to include some activities in our I will remind them that they already tournament programme that are have some experience from last year What sort of impact has the unconnected with football to allow and that there is nothing to be afraid of. new Czech women’s academy them to relax mentally. We have done our homework and are had on your work? well prepared. We just need just to put It represents a truly giant leap forward. But how important is home our hearts into each game and keep I see improvements in the players every support? chasing our goal – to qualify from day. We work with them for a week every It would be great to have full stadiums. the group.

Czech Republic set to organise its biggest-ever women’s football event Hosting the final round of the European cooperating closely with regional and Under-17 Women’s Championship will city authorities. Communication with hopefully result in a great boost for local schools is also very important in this women’s football in the Czech Republic. regard, with 12,000 schoolchildren set to The country’s hosting of the European attend the first games. Those children can Under-21 Championship finals in 2015 also look forward to receiving motivational was a resounding success, and the Football packages containing sports equipment. Association of the Czech Republic (FAČR) Fun sports festivals will be organised is hoping for a repeat performance in May. as an important social element of the This final tournament will be the largest event. These will be aimed primarily at women’s football event ever staged in FACR families with children, placing them at the Czech Republic. The FAČR has left the very heart of the tournament. no stone unturned when it comes to among fans in the four host cities – The organising committee is also planning making the tournament a success, not Plzen, Pribram, Domazlice and Prestice. a music competition for bands and several only in terms of organisational matters, The FAČR has been working with local accompanying football tournaments for but also as regards raising awareness clubs to promote the tournament, and children and young people.

UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 – 27 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

A SHARED LEGACY

The UEFA EURO 2016 legacy project, through which each of the tournament’s ten host cities were given €2m to invest in football-related infrastructure, has had a tangible and lasting impact in France, and nowhere more so than in and around Saint-Étienne, where 18 new facilities have been built for the benefit of 24 different communes.

URO 2016 may have ended nine the construction of new facilities wanted EURO 2016 to leave a lasting months ago, but it is having a lasting and €68,000 for renovation work, legacy throughout our urban community Eimpact in and around the ten host with the proviso that all grounds should of 400,000 people. The initial €2m cities thanks to a €20m legacy project meet the standards required to host attracted additional funding that brought aimed at developing football-related competition matches. the overall investment to €12m, which is infrastructure. In Saint-Étienne, for Jean-Jacques Fradin, director of sport an enormous sum for an area of our size.” example, the authorities decided to divide at the local authority of Saint-Étienne Managed by the communes themselves, their share of the funds among different Métropole, describes how the projects the new and renovated grounds provide communities in the greater urban area were selected: “Rather than investing the amateur players with much nicer, better- to create a network of infrastructure and whole €2m in a single project, we wanted equipped facilities, which offer a real encourage people to play at their local the money to benefit as many people as boost in terms of attracting and retaining clubs. They limited the level of funding for possible across the 45 communes that players and increasing the game’s overall

each community project to €170,000 for make up our metropolitan area. We appeal. “In the city of Saint-Étienne, Saint-Étienne Métropole

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which has a population of 170,000,we decided to invest in a pitch that anyone can use, whereas in the surrounding Saint-Étienne communes, most of which have fewer than 10,000 inhabitants, we focused our efforts on facilities for clubs and their players. That is why all renovated pitches had to be capable of staging competition matches,” says Roland Goujon, the Saint- Étienne Métropole local authority’s vice- chairman responsible for sport. “We didn’t want to pour all our resources into one €2M DIVIDED location, but to share the funds among Saint-Étienne 18 stadiums in 24 municipalities. That BY 18 EQUALS €12M way, the local impact was obviously much greater. In an area like ours, which has a The 18 projects that received legacy 5km great football tradition, all our clubs have funding were spread across 24 different lots of registered players, and they were communes in and around Saint-Étienne all able to benefit. Some still played on dirt and the initial €2m from UEFA stimulated pitches or on very old grass. These projects matched funding that brought the total improved training and playing conditions, investment to €12m. which in turn led to an increase in the number of registered players.” 1 Cellieu Chagnon Renovated 10 Génilac Newly built 2 Fraisses Renovated 11 Andrézieux-Bouthéon Newly built ‘A real godsend’ 3 Roche-la-Molière Newly built 12 Saint-Joseph/Saint-Martin-la-Plaine Newly built One club that benefited is Roche-Saint- 4 Le Chambon-Feugerolles Renovated 13 Saint-Christo-en-Jarez Newly built Genest, which straddles the municipalities 5 Lorette Newly built 14 Saint-Étienne – Etivallière Renovated of Roche-la-Molière (population: 10,000) 6 L’Étrat/La Tour-en-Jarez Renovated 15 Saint-Étienne – Etivallière Newly built and Saint-Genest-d’Erlept (6,000). Despite 7 Saint-Priest-en-Jarez Renovated 16 Saint-Victor-sur-Loire Newly built being barely 10km from the centre of 8 Saint-Héand Renovated 17 Rive-de-Gier Renovated Saint-Étienne, these two large villages 9 Firminy Newly built 18 La Fouillouse Renovated are in a very rural area. At an altitude of about 500m and with winter temperatures plummeting to around -10°C, playing In terms of tangible benefits, half of “To sum up,” Stéphane Kunz adds, football in winter used to be something the 18 clubs that benefited from the “this sustainable investment has of a challenge. However, thanks to the EURO 2016 legacy project have seen enabled us to increase both the legacy project, the old dirt pitch, which a significant increase in their numbers quality and quantity of our training had certainly seen better days, was of registered players, while the others sessions. Not only that, but our club’s replaced with a state-of-the-art artificial now enjoy greatly improved training brand image has also been enhanced pitch with floodlights that could be used facilities for all age groups: “For the in the minds of our 500 registered for regional and district competitions. small municipalities that used to have players and their families. Finally, The club’s president, Stéphane Kunz, dirt pitches, the improvement in playing and this is perhaps the most important explains: “Our grass pitches used to cause conditions is phenomenal, not only for thing, people who might want to join problems because the local authorities the adults but also for all the youth us – players and coaches alike – find wanted us to go easy on them. Depending teams, both boys and girls,” Roland the club more appealing now. It's given on the time of year, up to three official Goujon explains. us a boost in every sense of the term." matches can be played on a pitch every week: one on Saturday, one on Sunday morning and one on Sunday afternoon. But in winter, you can’t play more than one match a week, and sometimes none at all! So we converted our old 100m by 60m dirt pitch, which we hardly ever used because it was usually unplayable and even dangerous in winter, into a 105m by 68m artificial pitch. It’s a real godsend for training and matches in winter. Unless Saint-Joseph received €145,000 from the legacy fund to build it’s covered in frozen snow, we will be able a brand-new pitch (left), which to use this pitch all the time.” promises to be just as popular as the new artificial turf installed Saint-Étienne Métropole here in Chambon-Feugerolles. THE TECHNICIAN

THE FUTURE OF FOOTBALL The coaches of all the clubs involved in this season’s UEFA Youth League were invited to the House of European Football in Nyon on 20 and 21 March for the inaugural UEFA Youth League Coaches Forum.

total of 75 coaches and heads of tomorrow. As a result, academy and One of the ensuing discussions focused of academies participated in the youth team coaches are spending more on the role of academies, and there was A first-ever UEFA Youth League time readying their players for the step unanimous support for even greater Coaches Forum, which featured discussions up to first-team duty, thereby playing emphasis being placed on the and debate on coaching trends, the Laws an increasingly important role in young development of young players. of the Game and the role and importance players’ careers. “Academies play a fundamental role, of the Youth League, as well as a question and all of us here have the huge and answer session with UEFA Champions ‘A better chance of succeeding’ responsibility of coaching those players League-winning coach Fabio Capello. “In the past, players often had to go and helping them to become the future All attendees received a certificate into the world of professional football of football,” said Valencia CF coach Mista. recognising their participation in the and adapt very quickly on the hoof,” “Everything is much more professional event as further education within the said Manuel Jesús Cano Martín, coach now. There is no doubt about that. These meaning of Articles 24 and 29 of the of Club Atlético de ’s youth team. days, a player at an academy is already UEFA Coaching Convention. “But now, a footballer from the youth semi-professional. That’s the trend within The event began with a look at the academy can go in with their Youth football nowadays. Maybe youngsters technical report on the 2015/16 Youth League experience, having played one will now start to have a lifestyle that’s League and a presentation on coaching or two seasons in a competition like this, exclusively dedicated to football at a trends by UEFA’s managing director of and they’ll know a lot more about that younger age.” technical development, Ioan Lupescu. environment and that atmosphere. They However, what these players may lack That presentation highlighted the will be much more used to playing at in comparison with previous generations variety of playing styles being used that level, which will give them a better is raw talent shaped by the largely by successful teams at EURO 2016 chance of succeeding.” disappearing phenomenon of street and in the Champions League. The presentation also looked at the football. While players of the past were It is noticeable that the approaches need for coaches to strike a balance brought up playing – sometimes barefoot adopted by the top teams of today between the players they have at their – on cobbled streets and in alleyways, tend to be reflected in the youth teams disposal and their favoured philosophy. improvements in facilities and across

75 coaches and heads of academies attended the inaugural UEFA Youth League Coaches Forum in Nyon. UEFA

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society as a whole mean that this tends not to be the case nowadays. Participants were asked whether this was leading to UEFA a decline in the number of naturally creative footballers, with fewer players now capable of running at opponents with the ball.

Innate talent and development “It’s true that, with today’s academies and systems of play, players improve, but they also lose the value of that innate talent,” Mista said. “Academies churn out mechanical players in many cases, and you lose some of that talent. I think 50% of each would be the ideal ratio, so that a player can be part of the team dynamic, but once he takes to the pitch within a structure, he can play his own football. We sign players because they have innate talent, so we have to foster that, rather return to Nyon on 21 April with his side than take it away from them.” in the final four of this season’s Youth Sevilla FC coach Agustín López Páez League. “That forces them to compete at had a contrasting view on the subject, a level exceeding their own ability – which, with the forum encouraging coaches to of course, helps their development. I think air their opinions and discuss them with the future of European football looks their colleagues. He said: “I don’t feel like bright, as many young players are street football has been ‘lost’. In reality, increasing in value and standing out in we’re evolving at an incredible rate, and in this major competition.” practical terms, coaches and coaching staff As part of the two-day forum, are much better prepared and the players A presentation on the Tralhão and the coaches of the other are much better prepared. There are still a Laws of the Game by three semi-finalists, Real Madrid CF, lot of talented players, and they’re getting UEFA refereeing officer FC Barcelona and FC Salzburg, all took even better. But if we’re going to focus on part in an entertaining friendly match the essence of what we’ve talked about, Hugh Dallas ensured the at Colovray Stadium – the venue for playing in the village square, we can’t go coaches were up to date the semi-finals and the final. Those four into that kind of teaching, because hardly on recent refereeing issues. footballing pedagogues were exemplary anyone plays in village squares nowadays! in their respect for one another on the We have to adapt to how life has changed. pitch, and that will continue when they I also think it’s positive that, at all the return to Nyon later this month. various youth academies, there is also A presentation on the Laws of the work being done at an individual level, Game by UEFA refereeing officer Hugh with technical development departments Dallas ensured the coaches were up to helping players to refine their technical date on recent refereeing issues, before skills. Players nowadays are much better Fabio Capello, who guided AC Milan to prepared in every way, and we have to the 1993/94 UEFA Champions League title try to avoid getting confused by this kind and has won domestic league titles in of terminology.” both Italy and Spain, talked to participants Participants also had the opportunity about coaching and youth development as to exchange views on the Youth League part of a round-table discussion (see and make proposals to UEFA that could interview on next page). potentially benefit the competition and Capello brought with him an array of its development. anecdotes and a wealth of advice, and “This competition is the pinnacle of a the coaches, many of whom are right at youth player’s development and education the beginning of their careers, certainly process, since – as we all know – they are appreciated his input. They will now be playing against the best in Europe, the seeking to emulate the 70-year-old Italian, best players of their generation, and armed with all the insight they gained sometimes older generations,” said SL from the inaugural UEFA Youth League Benfica coach João Tralhão, who will UEFA Coaches Forum.

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FABIO CAPELLO

‘MY PHILOSOPHY? COPY AND MOULD THINGS TO MY OWN IDEAS’ A fine art enthusiast, Fabio Capello can look proudly at the wealth of football silverware that sits alongside the artworks he has acquired over the years. Successful as a midfielder with AS Roma, Juventus and AC Milan, winning four titles and earning 32 caps for Italy, he has gone on to become an outstanding coach, amassing a total of five Italian domestic championships with AS Roma and AC Milan, and two titles at Real Madrid CF.

hen you consider that a coach who had made history in Italian career, I worked under Liedholm, his CV also features football. He had vast experience, and he who made me realise that you can 1994 UEFA Champions had given a lot to the game. always improve technically. To improve League and UEFA tactically is important, but technique is Super Cup titles with You studied at the Italian equally important. WMilan, as well as stints coaching the federation’s technical center in national teams of both England and Russia, Coverciano and gained experience In a discussion with UEFA it is obvious that Fabio Capello draws from in other sports. That must have last year, also a vast reservoir of experience and given you considerable insight mentioned as one knowledge when he talks about football into all aspects of management. of his main mentors, saying he and coaching – as he did as guest of I worked at Mediolanum Sport [Milan’s didn’t copy him, but still learned honour at the recent UEFA Youth League multisport club], where I was in charge a lot from him. Coaches Forum in Nyon. of basketball, , rugby and Liedholm was a very calm person, volleyball. That was actually very important but with great personality. I learned How did you transition for me, as it helped me to understand the from him the importance of from player to coach? psychology of different sports, of different understanding the moments that your I stopped playing in 1980, and I started players, of different ways to approach a team goes through. He always exuded coaching the 15-year-olds at Milan. match. Milan’s president, , extreme calm. I moved on to the 17–18 age group, and sent me on management courses. It was then the 20-year-olds. I coached youth all hugely valuable. Is it fair to say that a coach teams for five years. In my opinion, it’s might take inspiration from very important for coaches with ambition Is there anyone who has had a variety of important sources – to understand how to manage youngsters. a particular influence on your but, in the end, you still have coaching career? to be your own man? When did you have your first I was lucky enough to play at Roma Our job – like the job of any artist – taste of coaching a first team? under , who also is to go around ‘stealing’ and copying. I became assistant to Milan’s first-team coached the great 1960s team. But after you’ve ‘stolen’ and copied, coach, Nils Liedholm, in 1987. The He used to say something very simple: you must mould things according to your president asked me to take charge “You play the way you train.” He said that own ideas. Think of the great artists ... of the last five matches, and we qualified you can’t train at 60km/h and then think Picasso copied the African artists, and for the UEFA Cup. Nils Liedholm stayed that you can play at 100km/h on a he became a genius. So, my philosophy on with us, and I wanted that. He was matchday. Then, at the end of my playing is ‘steal, copy and develop’ ...

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you’re on the pitch. It’s essential to have a group of players who feel part of the ‘I was lucky enough national team and want to win trophies. On the other hand, a club manager works to play at Roma under on a daily basis and understands how he Helenio Herrera [below], needs to work, what he needs to improve who also coached the great and where the relevant strengths lie. Getty Images 1960s Inter Milan team.’ He can work on the team psychologically when they win and when they lose, so it’s a daily job. With a national team, the job is completely different.

Your teams are usually quite intense and physically well prepared. Do you regard specific fitness training as something important within general training? You need to find the right balance. In my opinion, the most important thing is the work that you do in pre-season. I have always stressed the importance of good pre-season preparation. But this depends on the league that you’re coaching in. In England, they are always playing. They don’t train as much because they have to recover. In Spain and Italy, you can do more. It also depends on what competitions you’re in – if you’re taking Presse Sports part in European competitions and playing a lot of matches. I keep saying that you can plan, but the most important thing You’ve managed big clubs and Top left: Fabio Capello’s first senior coaching is the manager’s eye – his ability to national teams. What is the major experience came at AC Milan as assistant to understand the team’s level of fitness Nils Liedholm. difference for a coach between Above: European Cup-winning coach Helenio and understand whether it’s a physical coaching a national team and Herrera (right, holding glass) who Capello played issue or a mental one. And nowadays, coaching a club? under at AS Roma. Below: Capello during his you obviously have to work on things playing days in 1976. It’s a different job. Managing a national like technique and speed as well. team has nothing to do with managing a club. A national team manager is lucky How do managers adapt if he has a consolidated block of players when they coach teams who come from one or two clubs, have a in different countries? winning mentality, have desire, can carry I can say from experience that in Italy, other colleagues along with them and, you have to adapt to the city where you above all, can quickly apply your style work. There are significant differences of play on the pitch. You also have to between coaching Roma, Juventus and find leaders in the squad. If you don’t, Milan. If you change countries and go it’s very difficult. to work in Spain, you have to understand where you are going. The players are You only have a short period to used to doing things in a certain way, work with players for national the football is different, the culture is team matches … different, the media are different … If you’re playing on a Thursday, the players There’s a big difference in Italy between arrive on the Monday after playing a and Milan, and there’s a bigger league match, so you do nothing that day. difference between Italy and Spain. On the Tuesday, you have a ‘half’ training If you go and work in England, you session; on the Wednesday, you prepare need to understand where you are,

for the match; and on the Thursday, Getty Images what their customs are, and so on.

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Capello imparted his wisdom during a question-and-answer session at the UEFA Youth League Coaches Forum in Nyon. Below: The Italian won La Liga in 2007 during his second coaching spell at Real Madrid, pipping FC Barcelona to the title. UEFA

So, you have to be I had two spells at Real Madrid, the second the key role that psychology plays in mentally flexible … of which was after they had gone a few the minds of experienced players … You can have your own ideas about years without a trophy. That second spell or how it can block them. Our last match football and your own way of managing, gave me the greatest satisfaction, as we was against RCD Mallorca. We were level but you must also understand the won the title in 2007 despite having been on points with Barcelona, but having place that you’re working in – because some way behind FC Barcelona with only a drawn in Barcelona and won at home, if you don’t, then you’re going to have few matches remaining. we were top of the table. We just needed huge difficulties. to win the match. However, in the first Quite an achievement … half, international players – experienced If you’re coaching abroad, Tell us more about that. players – were playing with fear. They communication must be I told the team that they were as good weren’t doing anything right. And we extremely important … as Barcelona, both in terms of strength were one goal down at half-time. It can create certain problems, I must say. and in the way they played. I told them that When I was with Russia, two players we had to play each match as if it were a So, what did you do at half-time? spoke Spanish and two spoke English. final – and if Barcelona still ended up ahead I usually asked the players not to say a word My communication with the players was of us, so be it, we would applaud them. for the first four or five minutes. They could always through an interpreter, so you change their kit, wash themselves and do can’t always really express what you’re You must have created a fantastic whatever they needed to do. Because if feeling inside and wanting to get across – team spirit on that late run … you start talking as soon as you enter the whether in difficult times or when things There was a unique team spirit – a level dressing room, you risk saying stupid things are going well. of commitment that was almost crazy. because you are nervous. It’s important It’s very important to tell you about that a coach stays calm. I used those four or Which of your achievements have given you the most satisfaction? Well, one team that gave me many trophies and great feelings of satisfaction was Milan … but that was a team that had already been put together. I changed a few things, but the team had already been built. The biggest struggle for me was at Roma, because I had to bring a winning mentality to the team.

‘That second spell at Real Madrid gave me the greatest satisfaction, as we won the title in 2007 despite having been some way behind FC Barcelona with only a few matches remaining.’ Getty Images

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As coach of the all-conquering AC Milan side of the 1990s, Capello lifted the UEFA Champions League up selling him at Real Madrid! He was so Getty Images trophy, masterminding a 4-0 technically skilful at speed – like no other victory over FC Barcelona in the 1993/94 final. player that I’ve seen. Over 30 metres, he did things at full speed, starting and stopping, changing direction …

You’ve come to UEFA for the UEFA Youth League Coaches Forum. At the clubs where you’ve worked, have you been able to dictate the philosophy and decide how to develop young players? At every club where I’ve coached, when I arrived, I always asked for four or five youngsters from the academy to train with the first team. Sometimes, we would speak with the person responsible for the youth system to assess who deserved to be training with the first team. In this way, ‘I have never accepted compromises. The team is my you would find out about young players’ responsibility. You need to have a strong personality. characters and how they would adapt. You have to be fair, but you need to have the strength of character to stand your ground when you’re in the right.’ What if they had difficulty adapting? If, after training with us, they behaved five minutes to think about how to change And on this particular occasion? arrogantly, we would react by not calling things around, because a tactical switch You can’t always act the same way to them up for first-team training. They then is simple, but there are also times when change things around. There are times understood that if we did call them back, you have to work on the psychology of when you have to shout to wake the they would have to give more – that they the team. players up … but in a moment of fear, had to change. What happens, therefore, what do you do? What do you say? is you find out that one player is ready I used that time to think. Should I get for the first team, while another might upset? Should I laugh? Should I talk perhaps need to be sent out on loan [to quietly? Usually, I would stand up and another club] to gain experience. There tell the players to do this or that. This are young players who have character time, since the players were showing fear, and go out on the pitch with no fear, I asked one of them to make space for me and there are others that don’t have and I sat down. I was sat at the same level such self-confidence. as they were. I simply told them that we’d done something unbelievable and asked How different is managing players why we should gift Barcelona the title now in comparison with the past? now. I said: “Go out on the pitch and The difference is huge. Many things need play like you do in training.” That’s all. to be taken into consideration. In some I didn’t say anything else. And we came respects, managing the group was easier back to win, meaning that we were then. There were no agents, so clubs crowned champions. could manage all of the whims that today’s players have under the influence of their Are there any players you agents. They were also more relaxed times: have coached that stand out? there was a president who took decisions, The greatest player I’ve ever coached is and the manager was in charge of the the Brazilian Ronaldo, although I ended team. Nowadays, you have agents, and club owners come from countries with different cultures. The rules have changed, Left: Capello coached Brazilian great Ronaldo and that makes life difficult for a coach. at Real Madrid during the 2006/07 season. Bottom right: His most recent coaching role was as Russian national team manager between 2012 At some stage, a coach may

Getty Images and 2015. have to make some compromises. THE TECHNICIAN Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images

Where is the limit for a coach in advanced in the area of statistics, and the best. A manager has to be able to making such compromises with through things like heart rate monitors, understand the potential of his team. owners and players? and especially with the use of video I have never accepted compromises. technology, which allows you to watch Finally, what would you say is The team is my responsibility. You need and prepare your team, and then helps the hardest thing for a manager? to have a strong personality. I think you you to sell your ideas to them. Choosing the starting 11, deciding who have to be fair, but you need to have the will sit on the bench and who will be in strength of character to stand your ground What about playing systems? the stands – that’s the hardest thing. It’s when you’re in the right. Because if you I don’t believe that you can play just a matter of courage and having a winning give in – with the players, as well – you one system. It depends what players mentality. The coach has to have the show your weak points. We’re judged you have. I always say that you have to courage to choose. He must be brave and on how we treat the star players, how make your wine using the grapes that understand why a player who is perhaps we treat the young players, how we you have. You can’t produce champagne only at 85% might – or might not – behave after a loss or a win, what our or a Bordeaux with every kind of grape. perform better than another player. reactions are, and so on. You’re constantly So, you have to look at the grape that you And you have to understand players’ under scrutiny, so you need to be have, and you have to be smart enough worth. If you don’t understand the real extremely careful and prepared. I treat to understand it. You have to find the value of your players, you can’t help them stars and youngsters the same way. formation that makes your players perform to improve. No one has ever asked me: “Why aren’t you saying the same thing to that guy?” or “Why can that guy do that?” In a team, we’re all equal – all of us – if we want to win. If you don’t want to win … then accept compromises.

How do you see the game evolving in tactical and technical terms in the future?

I believe that football will be more tactical Getty Images in the future, so we need to be more tactically aware, better prepared and technically faster. There will be a need for much more focus on the pitch. We’re very SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Getty Images

UEFA BACKS PROJECT ON FAN OWNERSHIP AND BETTER GOVERNANCE

A fan-led project focuses on good governance, sustainable finance and volunteer engagement.

EFA is currently co-funding a project EU principles on good governance in sport UEFA has been working with SD Europe that promotes good financial through a two-year training, education for many years. This meeting was a great Upractice in football. The initiative is and exchange programme involving opportunity to see and hear directly how coordinated by UEFA partner SD Europe, project partners from seven EU states. national supporters’ organisations and an organisation that assists supporters in member-run clubs at all levels of the game becoming formally involved in their clubs Malmo workshop have developed and perceive football. as well as developing member ownership As part of this initiative UEFA attended The various project partners are taking of football clubs generally. a workshop in Malmo, Sweden, joined part in a series of exchange visits over The Clubs and Supporters for Better by UEFA social responsibility partners the lifetime of the two-year project, Governance in Football project brings including Football Supporters’ Europe with key learnings and best practices being together six member-run football clubs (FSE), CAFE (Centre for Access to Football compiled to shape a comprehensive online and various European national supporters’ in Europe) and Fare. training tool by the end of 2017. organisations and focuses on three key areas The workshop participants discussed, Antonia Hagemann, CEO of SD Europe, to enable growth: governance, sustainable among other things, ways of achieving said: “It is great to see how member-run finance and member/volunteer engagement. financial sustainability and how clubs can clubs and national supporters’ groups The project, also funded by the operate without neglecting their founding benefit from this project. The feedback has European Union under its Erasmus+ principles. UEFA explained the importance been very positive and we look forward to programme for education, training, of evaluating football finances today and further improving the way we all operate youth and sport, will help promote the various challenges which can arise. based on shared values and principles.”

38 – UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

MAKING FOOTBALL THE NUMBER ONE PARTICIPATION SPORT FOR WOMEN As part of its preparations to launch a five-year campaign to make women’s football the number one participation , UEFA is on the road, working with national associations across the continent in a series of special workshops.

EFA’s women’s football workshop series sponsorship. Stakeholders from women’s kicked off in Northern Ireland, followed football at all levels, from the grassroots to the by events in England, Germany, elite, shared experiences, discussed barriers to U Press Eye the Netherlands, France, Finland, Norway, access and worked together to find solutions. Sweden, Denmark and Wales. Gail Redmond, women’s domestic manager The Together #WePlayStrong campaign will at the Irish FA, said: “We were delighted to be officially launched on 1 June before the be the first country to pilot the Together UEFA Women’s Champions League final in #WePlayStrong workshop and we believe Cardiff. The campaign is underpinned by this initiative will be key in helping us to reach research that will help all those involved at our goal of making football the number one all levels of women’s football to increase sport for women and girls in our country. participation, raise the game’s profile and “We are proud of our close relationship improve access for coaches, teams and players. Northern Ireland hosted the first with UEFA and are excited about the growth Together #WePlayStrong workshop. prospects for women’s and girls’ football Starting in Northern Ireland over the next five years. We want to increase As hosts of this year’s European Women’s participation at all levels and we plan to Under-19 Championship final round, the Irish energise clubs to build capacity by prioritising Football Association in Northern Ireland, club development. which is also launching a drive to recruit “We found the presentations to our women football leaders, is taking significant staff informative and it was helpful to offer steps to boost participation and address stakeholders in Northern Ireland an opportunity inequalities in women’s football. to voice their views on how to improve and At the first of the special workshops, UEFA develop the game here.” delivered advice to delegates from the Irish Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA’s director of Football Association on how to take advantage marketing, applauded Northern Ireland for the of marketing opportunities and encourage enthusiasm and commitment shown by those engagement on the ground and through working in women’s football, particularly the social media, as well as how to maximise many volunteers. “There is a great appetite to develop women’s football in Northern Ireland, and it comes at a time when football has enjoyed good levels of investment,” he said. “The newly opened National Football Stadium at Windsor Park is a beautiful stadium, and the success enjoyed at EURO 2016 has inspired many within football to help children and young people, including girls, to take up the game. “We recognise that putting football at the forefront for women across Europe is a big challenge, but we feel very confident we are on the right track. We have developed a toolkit for all national associations to tailor to their needs, and with UEFA’s support it will help to make football the number one sport played by UEFA women in Europe.”

UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 – 39 MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

AZERBAIJAN www.affa.az ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

FIRUZ ABDULLA

The Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) held its annual general meeting at Boulevard Hotel in Baku on 15 March. AFFA president Rovnag Abdullayev opened the meeting by welcoming the delegates, guests and media representatives in attendance and telling them about what AFFA had done to further the development of football in Azerbaijan during the reporting period, AFFA highlighting some of the positive results. AFFA general secretary Elkhan Mammadov announced that TV channel Min Yuan, deputy representative of UNICEF After all the speeches and reports, CBC Sport had made a video about Azerbaijan, one of AFFA’s partners, was elections were held for a vacancy on AFFA activities during the reporting then invited to take the floor. She talked the AFFA executive committee. There period and gave a detailed overview about UNICEF Azerbaijan’s work in was only one candidate, namely Zaur after the video was shown. cooperation with AFFA and presented Akhundov, president of Azerbaijan’s Tural Piriyev, head of AFFA’s their latest video. futsal federation, so an open vote was marketing and sponsorship department, AFFA’s chief accountant, Khalid Javadov, held and Mr Akhundov was elected. and volunteer programme director presented the 2016 financial report, and The AGM was followed by an Vugar Rustamli also addressed the delegates then heard from Ulvi Hasanov, executive committee meeting and a the meeting. representing AFFA’s independent auditors. press conference with Mr Abdullayev.

BELGIUM www.belgianfootball.be HELP THROUGH FOOTBALL

VALENTIN BOTTE

On 7 March, Belgium’s national training centre in Tubize played host to the Belgian Homeless Cup, in which more than 250 players in 21 teams competed alongside each other in a spirit of fun and friendship. This event is a socio-sporting football tournament for homeless people and other URBSFA acutely vulnerable members of society. With teams coming together from all over Belgium, The event was attended by the secretary part in this project is very important.” it gives people an opportunity to regain of state for the fight against poverty and The Belgian Homeless Devils and confidence in themselves through football equal opportunities, Zuhal Demir, who the Belgian Homeless Flames will soon and enjoy the experience with others. said: “Sport is the best way of restoring be pulling on the national shirt on the “It’s a great honour for us to come and social cohesion. People can meet here international stage, with the men’s and play here at the Red Devils’ training centre,” and talk about their various experiences women’s teams both taking part in the explained Dirk, the goalkeeper of the team in life. Football is giving these homeless 15th Homeless World Cup later this year. from Leuven. “Lots of people need a day people an opportunity to regain That tournament, which will take place like this to put a smile back on their face confidence in themselves and meet other in Oslo from 29 August to 5 September, and connect with other people who have people. Football has a role to play in will be a great opportunity for the experienced the same kinds of difficulty in society, and the fact that the Royal Belgian players to make headlines and show their lives.” Football Association has agreed to take off their skills.

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CROATIA www.hns-cff.hr

During the HNS assembly in March, READY FOR U17 FINALS coaches Željko Huber and Stanislav Vugrinec were presented with the HNS’s highest TOMISLAV PACAK individual accolade for contributions to the development of youth . Two months before the opening Rijeka and Zagreb regions. The HNS has Vedran Ćorluka was presented with the match of the European Under-17 also launched a dedicated tournament Fiery Wings award by the Croatian national Championship finals, the Croatian website, Croatia2017.hr, and social team’s fan club, in honour of his brave EURO Football Federation (HNS) gave a media accounts on Facebook, Twitter 2016 appearance against Turkey when he presentation on the tournament to the and Instagram, all of which are labelled suffered a severe cut to his head. Youngster Croatian media and public. During the @u17EuroCroatia. Ante Ćorić was recognised as young player well-attended media conference, the of the year, while respected coach Stanko HNS presented Niko Kranjčar as football Poklepović received an award for his lifetime ambassador for the tournament and contribution to Croatian football. young singer Eni Jurišić as the music Marijan Kustić was unanimously ambassador and performer of the elected as HNS vice-president after tournament anthem, Kao jedno (As one). Damir Mišković resigned due to his Jurišić was accompanied by Kranjčar for many business obligations. the filming of the official music video, Meanwhile, the Croatian national team and the pair were joined by the Croatian players once again showed their support U17 team and children from local for the ongoing fight against racism, football schools. discrimination and violence at football To further promote the tournament stadiums by promoting national minority and its legacy, the HNS is introducing HNS football camps ahead of their important a project entitled Fun Culture to Niko Kranjčar (left), Eni Jurišić and win against Ukraine in the European elementary and football schools in the Dario Bašić (Croatian U17 coach). Qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.

DENMARK www.dbu.dk WORLD-CLASS WOMEN ENTER DANISH FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME

MARTIN MOGENSEN

For the first time in history, Like Smidt Nielsen, Augustesen played two big names from the for Sanitas Trani and was part of the women’s game have been championship winning team in the inducted into Danish football’s hall 1980s. In total, she won six Italian of fame. championships and was Serie A’s top At this year’s Danish football awards scorer eight times, scoring more than ceremony, Lone Smidt Nielsen and 600 goals during her career overall. Susanne Augustesen were named as the Her list of achievements also includes latest new editions to Danish football’s victory in the then unofficial Women’s hall of fame, making them the first World Cup in Mexico in 1971, when DBU women in the prestigious company she scored all three goals in Denmark’s Lone Smidt Nielsen and Susanne Augustesen. of players such as , 3-0 win against the hosts in the final, Allan Simonsen and Peter Schmeichel. in front of 110,000 spectators at The Danish football hall of fame was During her career, Smidt Nielsen Estadio Azteca. established in 2008, providing a was often described as the best In their acceptance speeches both unique opportunity to remember great female player in the world and, among women underlined how proud they accomplishments and to honour those numerous achievements, won the were to be part of the increased focus responsible for the finest results in Danish Italian championship twice with her club on women’s football in Denmark over football. Candidates for the hall of fame Sanitas Trani. In 2015 she was named recent years and said that they wanted are nominated by a special committee female football player of the century to serve as role models for girls playing and are named at the annual Danish by the Danish FA. football all over the country. football awards ceremony.

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ESTONIA www.jalgpall.ee GEORGIA www.gff.ge AIVAR POHLAK RE-ELECTED NEW AS PRESIDENT BEGINNING

MIHKEL UIBOLEHT FOR NATIONAL

The members of the Estonian Committee member František Laurinec CHAMPIONSHIP Football Association (EJL) have addressed the congress, while UEFA OTAR GIORGADZE re-elected 54-year-old Aivar president Aleksander Čeferin sent Pohlak as president of the organisation a video message. for another four-year term. Mr Pohlak The number of people playing Georgia’s top domestic was first elected as president in 2007. football in Estonia has increased championship kicked off on The EJL congress also elected two exponentially. In 1995 the country 4 March with a new name – vice-presidents and ten board members. had just 2,651 registered players, Erovnuli Liga – and a new format. Three new members have replaced in 2013 the number was 17,359 The league pyramid is now divided veteran football leaders Peeter Küttis, and by 2016 it had reached 20,765. into the following four tiers: Erovnuli Josep Katsev and Arvu Sild. The new Liga, , and the members are Estonia’s top female Regional League. The top two tiers player Anastassia Morkovkina, former have both been given the name Erovnuli professional goalkeeper Daniil Savitski, (Georgian for ‘national’) as a reminder who now works as an attorney-at-law, of the history and character of the early and infrastructure expert Teet Ilves. Brit Maria Tael domestic football competitions. The EJL congress was attended by The Erovnuli Liga features the a record 95 delegates. UEFA Executive country’s top ten clubs, competing for the domestic championship title over four rounds, played from spring GERMANY www.dfb.de until autumn. The Erovnuli Liga branding was produced by the Georgian Football FOOTBALL MUSEUM HOSTS Federation. It includes a new logo, a new anthem and a new online TALKS ON PLAYING CULTURE platform, as well as numerous other innovative features that aim to increase THOMAS HACKBARTH fan engagement and mass participation in Georgian football. This is the first In February, Borussia Dortmund’s before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2015 time that the domestic championship head coach, , and he was regarded throughout Europe as has had its own visual and audio Stanford University chair and one of the most exciting coaches of identity, digital platforms and brand literary theorist Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht his generation. regulations on kit and stadiums. gave the first in a series of talks on playing In his book ‘Lob des Sports’ (In Praise Fans are now able to watch every culture organised by the cultural foundation of Sport), Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht reveals Erovnuli Liga match live online and, of the German Football Association (DFB). that outside his work, it is the world of as the league’s main partner, Georgia’s The talks go beyond the everyday to sport and stadiums that fascinates him the public broadcaster will also televise one address universal topics such as the most because of the ‘moments of intensity live match a week and special weekly relationship between beauty and efficiency and aesthetic pleasure’, as he describes it. and monthly roundups. and the ratio between predictability and Together, the panellists discussed chance in the world’s most popular game. football from a totally new angle, bringing Leading sports journalist Christoph practice and theory together in a unique Biermann moderated the first two format that produced a lively, fresh and intensive 45-minute discussions. often surprising debate. Fast, energetic, Thomas Tuchel is one of the greatest artful and at times heated, it was quite advocates of a modern, technically a match, but after 90 minutes, the final advanced, fast and attacking style of result was unequivocal – there is definitely football, and one of the game’s more a place for intellectual discussions about perceptive and critical thinkers. In 2009, playing culture and healthy debate about when he was in his mid-30s, he became the state of football. The next talks are head coach of 1. FSV Mainz 05 and even planned for the second half of this year. GFF

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GIBRALTAR www.gibraltarfa.com UNDER-21 COACHING TEAM APPOINTED

STEVEN GONZALEZ level to be involved with some of our national youth selections, provided there The Gibraltar Football Association promising Gibraltarian coaches the are no conflicts of interest and they do (GFA) is delighted to announce opportunity to develop their careers in not coach the same age groups at club the appointment of Aaron line with our philosophy for nurturing, and national level. In order to make this Asquez as head coach of Gibraltar’s developing and allowing home-grown project a success, I know we can count national Under-21 team, with Michael talent to flourish on the world stage.” on the cooperation of the clubs going Felice as his assistant. Asquez holds Mr Curry also announced a change forward – it needs all of us pulling in a UEFA B licence and both men bring to the GFA’s policy on coaches who are the same direction.” significant knowledge and expertise to involved with clubs also being allowed the GFA’s coaching staff, having been to have a role with national teams: “The involved in Gibraltarian football for policy is being amended slightly. Gibraltar several years at various levels. is a small place with a very limited pool Their first match in charge will be of coaches, most of whom develop the team’s opening European Under-21 within our clubs and gain their invaluable Championship qualifier, away to Austria knowledge and experience at club level. on 8 June. This will be Gibraltar’s first- As technical director, what I want to see ever appearance in an international is good coaches working consistently competition at this level. at good levels, and that can only be “These are exciting times for achieved by having regular contact with Gibraltarian football,” said the GFA’s club football. The policy I am putting in GFA technical director, Desi Curry. “Today’s place now will therefore look to allow Desi Curry (left), Aaron Asquez appointment gives two young, extremely coaches who may be involved at club and Michael Felice.

ITALY www.figc.it

Emanuele Caroppo presented their findings RETE! PROJECT RETURNS so far. Michele Uva then emphasised the importance of the synergy between the DIEGO ANTENOZIO project partners – namely the FIGC itself, the SPRAR’s national coordination service, As the national team prepared for coordination offices of the SGS,” he said. Italy’s interior ministry and the project’s its evening match against Albania at Since its inception, the Rete! project has key sponsor, the Eni energy company – in Stadio Renzo Barbera in Palermo on grown significantly, with more and more terms of the great social benefits of the 24 March, the CEO of the Italian Football young people participating from one year project, in which the FIGC continues to Federation (FIGC), Michele Uva, was at the to the next. invest and is committed to developing over nearby Villa Niscemi for the official launch Another integral part of the project is the years ahead. of the third annual Rete! project. research by academics from the Catholic During the day, about a hundred Organised by the FIGC’s youth and University of Milan, who are looking at young people from refugee and asylum- schools division (SGS) in partnership with challenging contexts in which football is seeker centres in Agrigento, Barcellona the Catholic University of Milan, the seen to have a positive effect. Speaking Pozzo di Gotto, Bonagia, Caltanissetta, project supports unaccompanied foreign at the launch event for the third edition Mazzarino and Milazzo, all in Sicily, took minors living in centres run by the System of Rete!, research coordinator Professor part in a skills-development session for the Protection of Asylum Seekers and and mini-tournament led by the FIGC’s Refugees (SPRAR) throughout Italy. After local coaching team at the University an opening address by the president of the FIGC of Palermo. Prof. Caroppo took the SGS, Vito Tisci, who stressed the FIGC’s opportunity to meet with SPRAR staff commitment to social responsibility, SGS and learn about their day-to-day work secretary Vito Di Gioia went on to outline with the young people and the issues the scheme and its objectives. “Since 2015, they face. To cap off a special day, this project has provided a programme of following the tournament the young coaching and educational activities, which players were accompanied to Stadio are delivered at the participating centres Renzo Barbera to watch Italy’s 2018 themselves in partnership with the regional World Cup qualifier against Albania.

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LATVIA www.lff.lv LIECHTENSTEIN www.lfv.li FOURTH FEDERATION CUP HUGO FOR YOUTH TEAMS QUADERER

TOMS ĀRMANIS trophy was lifted by the Norwegians. RE-ELECTED This year Ukraine once again proved ANTON BANZER For the fourth year in a row, themselves to be the best team of the Riga, the capital of Latvia, has tournament, winning against Latvia hosted the Federation Cup, and Norway and drawing against FYR The agenda for the Liechtenstein an elite youth competition for national Macedonia. The Norwegians followed Football Association’s 2017 teams organised by the Latvian Football one point adrift, while tournament general assembly, which took Federation. The 2017 edition gathered debutants FYR Macedonia came third. place on 30 March in Ruggell, included together teams of players born in or The hosts lost all three of their games elections for a number of positions on since 1999 from FYR Macedonia, Latvia, to finish fourth. the association’s board. Three board Norway and Ukraine. As well as enabling youth players members’ terms of office had come The annual mini-tournament brings to gain international experience, this to an end, including that of the president, together representatives of some of year’s tournament also supported Hugo Quaderer. The 52-year-old Europe’s leading youth football systems, the learning curve of Latvian coaches former sports minister, who has led the inviting them to test their skills against working towards their UEFA Elite Youth association since 2015, was unanimously each other and their Latvian hosts. This A licences. They analysed every game re-elected for a further four-year term tournament, staged in early spring, serves and put together training and game by delegates from member clubs. as one of the best opportunities for the plans as if they were coaching the teams Looking ahead to the challenges teams to roll up their sleeves before the themselves. Latvia is currently running that the association is set to face in upcoming UEFA qualifying tournaments. its first UEFA Elite Youth A licence the coming years, Hugo Quaderer Ukraine won the first two editions course, on which a total of 21 local reiterated that he would continue to of the competition, while last year the youth coaches are enrolled. do everything in his power to support football in Liechtenstein over the next four years and that all existing projects, LITHUANIA www.lff.lt including the establishment of a new technical centre, would be continued. He also stressed the importance of PRIMARY SCHOOL the association’s board remaining a LEAGUE LAUNCH reliable partner for FIFA and UEFA.

VAIDOTAS JANUŠKA The league aims to be fun for all, and rewarding too, with everyone receiving As part of its efforts to encourage sports equipment and other prizes children of all ages to play football, courtesy of sponsors. For promotional the Lithuanian Football Federation purposes, a well-known local composer (LFF) has launched its first primary school has created a league song, while football league competition. The pilot season fans have been invited to vote on the encompasses five regions and will names of the league mascots on Facebook. involve 72 teams and more than 1,300 For LFF president Edvinas Eimontas, who participants, ranging from first to fourth attended one of the first matches, the grade, playing small-sided indoor football. project had already met expectations after the first week. “We’ve had great success with fun-based football in kindergartens and wanted to do something for children taking their next steps in the game,” he explained. “For the pilot season we couldn’t accommodate everyone who wanted to play, but hopefully in the next few years the number of participants in the league will reach at least 5,000.” The competition is set to expand all over the LFF country as of autumn this year. LFV

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MALTA www.mfa.com.mt CELEBRATING MALTA’S FIRST INTERNATIONAL

ALEX VELLA

are now in their late 80s. Exclusive mementoes and gifts commemorating the match were presented to the veteran players by the MFA president, Norman Darmanin Demajo. An anniversary logo was also unveiled, a video feature commemorating the match was shown and a message sent by FIFA president Gianni Infantino was read out. Other activities included the release of a commemorative publication compiled by the MFA’s communications office, and visits by the Maltese national squads to hospitals and children’s homes under the MFA’s Football for Life Joseph Borg-MFA programme, which is supported by FIFA and UEFA. It is 60 years since Malta played To celebrate this anniversary, the Malta Six decades of international football their first official international Football Association (MFA) organised a have also been earmarked as the main match, a friendly against series of activities, which were coordinated theme of the MFA’s annual awards, Austria on 24 February 1957. That game by MFA vice-president Matthew Paris. which will be presented shortly, and ended 3-2 to the Austrians, who were The first activity was a reception in honour the anniversary celebrations will feature considered one of the best teams in the of the players who lined up for Malta prominently in the build-up to Malta’s world at the time, having finished third on that historic day. It was an emotional much-awaited 2018 World Cup qualifier in the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland. gathering for the players, many of whom against England on 1 September 2017.

MOLDOVA www.fmf.md CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

SVETLANA PATRAȘ

For the fifth year in a row, the team) and Svetlana Patraș (captain of the The match was well attended and Football Association of Moldova women’s team), and Diana Bobuțac and received good media coverage, with (FMF) and CCPA/OFFS Moldova Iana Pogarevici, both of whom work as match reports on the FMF’s official (Cross Cultures Project Association/Open instructors for CCPA/OFFS Moldova. website and on TV. Fun Football Schools) organised a match between former Moldovan women’s and men’s internationals to celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March. The men presented flowers to each of the women before the match, which was hosted by FC Zimbru Chişinău. The head of women’s football at the FMF, Natalia Ceban, and national women’s Under-17 team coach Elena Subbotina played an important part in the match. Representatives of CCPA/ OFFS Moldova were also involved, including assistant coordinators Iurie Conusevici (head coach of the men’s Caftanat Vadim

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NORTHERN IRELAND www.irishfa.com

KICK-OFF TIME FOR EDUCATION IFA AND HERITAGE CENTRE

NIGEL TILSON

The Irish Football Association’s insights into the drama on and off the new Education and Heritage pitch and feel the rush of emotions Centre has officially opened. shared by everyone at the stadium – win, Northern Ireland manager Michael lose or draw. O’Neill and goalkeeping legend Pat Irish FA president David Martin said: Jennings cut the ribbon at the centre, “The creation of our Education and which is housed within the National Heritage Centre at the National Football Michael O’Neill (left) and Pat Jennings. Football Stadium at Windsor Park Stadium presents a fantastic opportunity in Belfast. for the Irish Football Association to national team at EURO 2016, there is all The facility tells the unique story of showcase much of the 136-year history sorts of nostalgic coverage. The British Northern Ireland football using a variety of the game here. Championship Trophy has remained of media, interactive displays and key “From the Irish Challenge Cup and its in Northern Ireland’s possession as we artefacts. Visitors are able to relive the first winners, Moyola Park FC, through to were the last winners in 1984 and it is atmosphere of famous nights, gain the present day and the exploits of our also on display.”

ROMANIA www.frf.ro PARTNERSHIP SIGNED WITH UNICEF

PAUL ZAHARIA

Alongside looking after the of the messages used by the FRF to “Football is a social phenomenon sport itself, which is, of course, communicate the fact that it is neither that brings together millions of fans, the primary concern of all normal nor acceptable to use violence regardless of sex, profession, faith national associations, social responsibility against children or to in any way abuse or social status. We believe that if is a key pillar of the Romanian Football them. It is hoped that the FRF’s support of this force is put to use on behalf of Federation (FRF). With this in mind, UNICEF’s development programmes in the education and to fight against all on 10 March the FRF signed a three-year football community will further reinforce forms of violence, many children will partnership agreement with the United these messages, as well as providing an be able to enjoy quality education in Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF. opportunity to raise awareness of a safe environment and will be inspired The goal of the partnership is to children’s issues, especially those involving to stay in school. In parallel, we can develop and undertake joint action vulnerable and excluded children. help collect more resources for UNICEF and activities to promote quality, programmes, in order to raise the inclusive education and to combat standard of education available,” said violence against children. Răzvan Burleanu, FRF president, at the The FRF will support projects launched official FRF-UNICEF press conference. by UNICEF and the two organisations On the same occasion, Sandie will work together on awareness-raising Blanchet, UNICEF’s representative in campaigns and fundraising activities. The Romania, said: “The partnership with first campaign relates to violence against the FRF will help us raise awareness children and is entitled ‘It is not normal and spread information about to be normal’. Next, funds will be raised educational rights and children’s for a project promoting social inclusion needs. We want to use the FRF’s through integrated community services. channels to communicate campaign Numerous other projects will follow over messages to as many football fans the course of the next three years. as possible. They can help vulnerable ‘The power of football for the future’, children access quality, inclusive ‘YES to education, NO to violence’ and FRF education and help stop violence ‘Normality for children’ are just three Sandie Blanchet (left) and Răzvan Burleanu. against children.”

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SAN MARINO www.fsgc.sm A NEW ERA FOR FOOTBALL IN

MATTEO ROSSI

Fresh from the election of Marco priority being to identify methods and Tura as president, the San Marino practices that will make San Marino’s Football Federation (FSGC) teams more competitive and prepare has taken some important initiatives them for the many challenges they face and made some key appointments to in the months ahead. With making strides consolidate its progress on a number at international level a central objective of fronts. The recently elected FSGC of the FSGC, San Marino played friendlies council has named Alberto Pacchioni as against Andorra and Moldova in the first general director and Massimo Bonini as three months of the year in preparation technical director. Both appointments, for their World Cup qualifier against which were the result of careful Czech Republic. The team will gain more selection processes, reflect the recent invaluable experience with a friendly developments in Sammarinese football against Italy in Empoli on 31 May. and the progress the FSGC has made With these and many more initiatives from an organisational and a technical under way, the FSGC has its sights firmly perspective. Former Juventus and set on a new era of growth for football Bologna star Bonini set straight to work Marco in San Marino, founded on hard work alongside coaches from the FSGC’s Tura. on the pitch and defined by success at national and youth set-ups, his first FSGC international level.

SERBIA www.fss.rs AN IMPORTANT DAY FOR SERBIAN FOOTBALL

MIRKO VRBICA

The Football Association of “The biggest problem that Serbia has in projects, such as the construction of Serbia (FSS) was honoured regard to football is infrastructure. artificial pitches and a national stadium. to receive a visit from UEFA “We have also talked with the UEFA has already given considerable president Aleksander Čeferin recently. Serbian prime minister, who promised help to Serbia, and will continue to do Accompanied by Zoran Laković, UEFA’s to contribute to the financing of various so,” he said. national associations director, Mr Čeferin visited the FSS’s national sports centre Slaviša Kokeza (left) with FFS president Slaviša Kokeza and and Aleksander honorary FSS president Tomislav Karadžić. Čeferin. “This is an important day for Serbian football. Many thanks to Mr Čeferin for taking the time to visit our association. We have talked about the development of football in Serbia and I think we have managed to agree on many great things. The FSS and UEFA have an excellent relationship of cooperation,” said Mr Kokeza during the visit. Mr Čeferin also voiced his satisfaction, saying in excellent Serbian: “I’m pleased to be here. The FSS has always supported me, even when I was a long way from being elected UEFA president.” Mr Čeferin then addressed specific problems facing Serbian football. FSS

UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 – 47 MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

SLOVAKIA www.futbalsfz.sk

Word about Hapal’s great work with the HAPAL EXTENDS CONTRACT Under-21 team spread quickly. Rumours suggested potential interest from Czech AS U21 COACH clubs AC Sparta Praha, SK Slavia Praha and FK Viktoria Plzeň, as well as Polish PETER SURIN top-flight clubs. But Hapal set the record straight: “The Slovakia Under-21 team The Slovak Football Association including potential play-offs and the final remains my priority. There was no time (SFZ) is pleased to announce that tournament in Italy in 2019.” or reason to think about changing jobs.” Under-21 coach Pavel Hapal will “Pavel Hapal was the only candidate However, he also said in an interview continue to lead the team through their for us,” said SFZ president Ján Kováčik. for a Czech newspaper: “I do not want next European qualifying campaign. “He did an outstanding job in his first to forget the daily work of a coach at “Pavel Hapal had signed a contract two years in charge. His team qualified club level. One day I would like to take for the 2015–17 qualifying competition, for the European Under-21 Championship a coaching role at a club and I believe with a clause extending the contract finals as qualifying group winners, I will be able to make the decision on until the end of the European Under-21 played spectacular football and gained the right place in due time.” Championship in Poland [if the team recognition from the experts. But what qualified],” the general secretary of we appreciate most is the way the players the SFZ, Jozef Kliment, explained. under coach Hapal approached the “We presented our interest in further Slovakian football family. They showed extending our cooperation in autumn character, heart, passion and pride. last year. Both sides agreed they wanted And there lies the answer as to why to achieve further goals together, so we have not considered any other we signed a new contract as from 1 candidates for this role for the SFZ January 2017 for the 2017–19 qualifiers, upcoming qualifying campaign.” Pavel Hapal (left) and Ján Kováčik.

SLOVENIA www.nzs.si

the kind that gives fresh impetus, PARENTS SURPRISE PLAYERS stokes passions and strengthens the desire for victory. AHEAD OF KEY GAME That clandestine operation, which was revealed to only a handful of MATJAŽ KRAJNIK people (including the head coach), is set to be depicted in a short film, The Slovenia national team had never having seen their children play which will follow those parents all just finished a training session away from home for the national team. the way from Slovenia to Scotland, in on the eve of their Petrol, which began its association showing their arrival at the training recent European Qualifiers match against with the NZS last year, had been looking session and their emotions during Scotland, when their coach, Srečko for an answer to the question ‘Who the game. Katanec, asked the players to wait on gives you energy?’, searching for the The NZS has also released this video the pitch, as a few fans wanted to come driving force behind the players, from of the surprise visit: http://bit.ly/NZS- and say hello. The players were delighted the first time they stepped onto a Petrol-live to discover that those ‘fans’ were none football pitch and until now, as members other than their parents and other close of the Slovenia national team. This family members. surprise visit was, in a sense, the answer This initiative, which was organised to that question, for those parents and jointly by national team sponsor Petrol family members have been right behind and the Football Association of Slovenia those players every step of the way, (NZS), brought 30 parents from Slovenia cheering their every success over the to Scotland in complete secrecy with years and all their commitment, hard one sole aim – to surprise their children work and persistence. and give them an extra boost of energy The players were entirely unaware and motivation ahead of that important that their nearest and dearest would match. Months of coordination and be coming to see them until the moment organisation went into that one moment they appeared on the pitch. The energy of surprise, with many of those parents that flowed from that surprise visit was NZS

48 – UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

SWEDEN www.svenskfotboll.se NEW NATIONAL TEAM BADGES

ANDREAS NILSSON

Since the early 1970s, the Swedish that everyone is welcome,” says SvFF

national teams have played in general secretary Håkan Sjöstrand. SvFF shirts bearing the hallmark of the Swedish football will now promote Swedish Football Association (SvFF) – seven different brands: the SvFF, the the SvFF badge. But not any more. As Swedish Cup, futsal, development part of a major rebranding project, the and education, the supporters’ club, badges on all national team shirts will the women’s national teams and the now read ‘SVERIGE’ (Sweden) instead. men’s national teams. The SvFF badge “When you play for Sweden you will continue to be used as part of the represent your whole country, simple as national association brand. that. It’s not just about the FA. Football “We needed to make our brands is the national sport of Sweden, and and propositions to the market a lot we want to be inclusive to everyone. clearer. This rebranding will make it We want our brand to be about easier for us to engage fans and to community, joy, diversity and highlight our community work,” friendship and, above all, to say says Sjöstrand.

SWITZERLAND www.football.ch REDUCING THE RISK OF INJURY

PIERRE BENOIT

Football is constantly evolving. Every year, around 45,000 people injure safety. Indeed, the number of injuries at The game is becoming faster, themselves on Switzerland’s football SUVA-supported tournaments has fallen more dynamic, more popular pitches, running up costs totalling 170 significantly in the last few years. SUVA and more competitive – all positive factors million Swiss francs. In response, SUVA provides organisers of community and which are helping to make football even has established an accident prevention corporate tournaments with equipment, more attractive at all levels. Unfortunately, programme aimed specifically at reducing access to qualified referees and financial however, that increased dynamism has the number of football-related accidents support. A SUVA-commissioned study brought with it an increase in the risk of and promoting safe play. Its Safety at on accidents in Swiss football shows that injury, which explains why the Swiss Community Tournaments initiative has 70% of all football injuries occur in the national accident insurance fund (SUVA) led to a marked reduction in the risk of context of formal club football (50% has spent years working with the Swiss injury, with SUVA and tournament during matches; 20% during training), Football Association to prevent accidents. organisers working together to improve with large numbers of accidents being caused by foul play. Knee injuries tend to be the main issue in this regard, resulting in long lay-offs and considerable costs. A number of years ago, SUVA and the Swiss Football Association established the Fair Play Trophy. Every year, the country’s fairest football clubs are honoured and acknowledged, and since 2016 the winners of the trophy have had an automatic place in Switzerland’s national cup competition. Thus, amateur footballers now have a chance of playing against professional sides from the , which is an incentive for all clubs to make a real commitment to SVF fair play.

UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 – 49 MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

TURKEY www.tff.org UEFA REGIONS’ CUP FINAL DRAW

AYDIN GÜVENIR Group A: (Turkey), Ingulec Spa Resort on 22 March. The ceremony (Ukraine), Zagreb (Croatia) was attended by TFF president Yıldırım On 2 March, the Turkish Football and Lisboa (Portugal) Demirören, TFF vice-president Ali Dürüst, Federation (TFF) hosted the Group B: Castilla y León (Spain), TFF executive board members Cengiz final draw for the 2016/17 UEFA Olomouc (Czech Republic), Zülfikaroğlu, Mustafa Çağlar and Alaattin Regions’ Cup, which will be played in Region 2 (Republic of Ireland) Aykaç, Turkish football director Fatih Istanbul from 1 to 9 July. and South Region (Russia) Terim, TFF general secretary Kadir Kardaş, Together with representatives of the In other news, Arçelik is to be one of Koç Holding vice-chairman Ali Koç, Koç eight associations whose teams have the main sponsors of the Turkish national Holding durable consumption group qualified for the finals, the draw was teams. The signing ceremony for this chairman Fatih Kemal Ebiçlioğlu, Arçelik attended by Ali Düşmez, TFF executive important new partnership took place Turkey general manager Can Dinçer and board member and amateur board at the Antalya Regnum Carya Golf & players from the national A team. chairman, Turkey Amateur Sports Clubs Confederation president and tournament TFF ambassador; Şükrü Genç, the mayor of Sariyer; Gürsoy Osman Bilgin, the district governor of Sariyer; Maliki Ejder Batur, the deputy mayor of Umraniye; and other selected guests and TFF officials. The 2016/17 UEFA Regions’ Cup finals, sponsored by Turkcell, will be played at the Hasan Doğan national teams’ camp and training facilities, Umraniye stadium and Yusuf Ziya Öniş stadium. The groups are as follows:

UKRAINE www.ffu.org.ua NEW LOOK FOR NATIONAL TEAMS

YURI MAZNYCHENKO

The Ukrainian national teams in all age categories will soon have a new look after the Football Federation of Ukraine (FFU) signed a four-year deal with sports clothing manufacturer Joma. The Spanish company will also give the FFU 72,000 balls to help develop youth over the four-year period. “Having a unique design for our national team kits before the start of the FIFA and UEFA qualifying campaigns, the social component of the contract and future joint projects – these are the main reasons why we have chosen Joma as our FFU new technical sponsor,” FFU president Andriy Pavelko said. technologies and innovations will help No12 shirt, and the senior men’s Jose Manuel Lopez, managing the Ukrainian national teams to achieve team, coached by Andriy Shevchenko, director of Joma, a brand that has been good results. showcased the new kit in their successfully rolled out in 105 countries On signing the deal, Mr Lopez European Qualifiers match against around the world, hopes that its presented Mr Pavelko with a new-look Croatia in Zagreb.

50 – UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 BIRTHDAYS, NOTICES, FORTHCOMING EVENTS

BIRTHDAYS Andreas Morisbak (Norway, 19 May) Jozef Marko (Slovakia, 19 May) NOTICES Bent Clausen (Denmark, 1 May) Gaetano De Gabriele (Malta, 19 May) • Noël Le Graët was re-elected as Peter Mikkelsen (Denmark, 1 May) Milovan Djukanović (Montenegro, 19 May) president of the French Football Vasko Dojčinovski (FYR Macedonia, 1 May) Rune Pedersen (Norway, 19 May) Federation on 18 March. Alexey Smertin (Russia, 5 May) Raimondas Statkevičius • Karl-Erik Nilsson was re-elected as Anton Fagan (Scotland, 2 May) (Lithuania, 19 May) 50th president of the Swedish Football Association on 25 March. Vladimir Medved (Slovakia, 3 May) Michał Listkiewicz (Poland, 20 May) • Aivar Pohlak was re-elected as president Olivier Chovaux (France, 3 May) Sandra Renon (France, 20 May) 40th of the Estonian Football Association on Haim Jakov (Israel, 3 May) Neli Lozeva (Bulgaria, 20 May) 28 March. Ronen Hershco (Israel, 3 May) Ewa Gajewska (Poland, 21 May) • Hugo Quaderer was re-elected as Anghel Iordanescu (Romania, 4 May) Nicolai Cebotari (Moldova, 21 May) president of the Liechtenstein Football Association on 30 March. Borislav Aleksandrov (Bulgaria, 4 May) 30th Costas Kapitanis (Cyprus, 21 May) Peter Gilliéron (Switzerland, 5 May) Theo van Seggelen (Netherlands, 22 May) (Sweden, 5 May) Christian Welander Karl Dhont (Belgium, 22 May) Costakis Koutsokoumnis (Cyprus, 5 May) OBITUARY Christian Hockenjos (Germany, 23 May) Goran Mihaljević (Montenegro, 5 May) Packie Bonner (Republic of Ireland, 24 May) • Fuad Krvavac (Bosnia and Ken Ridden (England, 6 May) Herzegovina) passed away on 30 Ainar Leppänen (Estonia, 24 May) March. For many years he was the Gudmundur Petursson (Iceland, 6 May) Teresa Romao (Portugal, 24 May) faithful correspondent of his national Karl-Erik Nilsson (Sweden, 6 May) 60th association for UEFA Direct, keeping Andrzej Zareba (Poland, 24 May) Charles Flint (England, 7 May) readers up to date with the association’s Semen Andreev (Russia, 25 May) activities and its teams’ performances. Pekka Luhtanen (Finland, 8 May) Hans Cooman (Belgium, 25 May) Michel Pralong (Switzerland, 8 May) Ivančica Sudac (Croatia, 25 May) Marc Dobbeleir (Belgium, 8 May) Marco Tura (San Marino, 26 May) Miroslav Tulinger (Czech Republic, 8 May) Competitions Evgeni Giner (Russia, 26 May) Dan Vo Quang (France, 8 May) 2/3 May Nikoloz Jgarkava (Georgia, 26 May) UEFA Champions League: semi-finals Magnus Forssblad (Sweden, 10 May) (first legs) Peter Lawwell (Scotland, 27 May) Yuri Baskakov (Russia, 10 May) Jim Stjerne Hansen (Denmark, 28 May) Jean-Marie Gantenbein 2–14 May, Czech Republic (Luxembourg, 11 May) Jean-Pierre Escalettes (France, 29 May) European Women’s Under-17 Championship: final tournament Timo Huttunen (Finland, 11 May) Jacques Antenen (Switzerland, 29 May) Volodymyr Geninson (Ukraine, 12 May) Jozef Kliment (Slovakia, 29 May) 3–19 May, Croatia European Under-17 Championship: Gaston Schreurs (Belgium, 13 May) Donel Conway (Republic of Ireland, 31 May) final tournament Henrik Ravnild (Denmark, 13 May) István Huszár (Hungary, 31 May) Carlos Manuel Ferreira Matos Arnaldo Cunha (Portugal, 31 May) 4 May UEFA Europa League: semi-finals (Portugal, 14 May) Mads Øland (Denmark, 31 May) (first legs) Maria Luisa Villa Gútierrez (Spain, 14 May) Hans-Jörg Eissmann (Germany, 15 May) FORTHCOMING EVENTS 9/10 May Nikolay Levnikov (Russia, 15 May) UEFA Champions League: semi-finals (return legs) Evzen Amler (Czech Republic, 15 May) Meetings Sotirios Sinnis (Greece, 15 May) 11 May 11 May, Bahrain Luis Cuervas Del Real (Spain, 15 May) UEFA Europa League: semi-finals FIFA Congress (return legs) Egon Franck (Germany, 16 May) Svein Johannessen (Norway, 17 May) 18 May, Nyon 20 May–11 June, South Korea Stadium and Security Committee Kadri Jägel (Estonia, 17 May) U-20 World Cup Lars Appelqvist (Sweden, 18 May) 90th 30 May, Nyon 24 May, Stockholm Tamara Chichinadze (Georgia, 18 May) Medical Committee UEFA Europa League: final

UEFA DIRECT • May 2017 – 51 No.167 • May 2017 NO TO RACISM NO TO