No. 22 – February 2004 2.04 competitions Youth disabled people Football for Japanese eyes Through League UEFA Champions competitions Youth disabled people Football for Japanese eyes Through League UEFA Champions 12 09 06 03 12 09 06 03 COVER IN THIS ISSUE Second round At the end of February, the UEFA of the youth competitions 12 Champions League enters its direct UEFA Champions League knock-out phase. All eyes will first knock-out round 03 Executive again be on the starball, including those Committee elections 15 of Marcelo Zalayeta (Juventus). Football in 06 News from PHOTO: BONGARTS Football for disabled people 09 member associations 17

Focus onEditorial European football

A new calendar year is ahead of us but we are in the middle of the UEFA club competition season. I have just taken over from Gerhard Aigner as the CEO of UEFA. It is one of the most interesting jobs in football and, together with my colleagues, I will continue building on the founda- tions laid down by Mr Aigner in serving European football in the best possible way. The new format of the UEFA Champions League has been a success. After an interesting group stage we are now entering the knock-out stage, with some very exciting matches on the pro- gramme. We are just finalising the fine- tuning of the new format for the UEFA Cup, so as to be prepared for an interesting start to next season. The most challenging and important project in European club football in recent years is now under implementation. I am referring to the UEFA club licensing system which comes into force for qualification next season. All member associations and leagues are taking part in developing club football towards better finances and infrastructure which will safeguard the future of our game. Now it is up to the clubs, leagues, associations and UEFA to make it work for the benefit of all involved. The 16 teams in the final round of EURO 2004 are now preparing for the in Portugal. Nothing beats a final round for national teams when it comes to public interest and excitement. National pride is at stake and you can feel the intensity already in the preparations. The Portuguese FA, Government and local authorities are doing their utmost to prepare for the best football tournament in the world. 2004 promises to be an exciting year, with the entire world’s football interest focused on Europe.

Lars-Christer Olsson Spain Chief Executive (Juan Carlos Valeron) and the other 15 finalists are into their preparations for EURO 2004.

FLASH PRESS we care about football

02 uefadirect 2.04 UEFA Champions League More open than ever BONGARTS

Bayern Munich ( in the forefront, in red) had to wait until their last match, against Anderlecht, to qualify.

“AT LEAST NINE TEAMS ARE CAPABLE OF WINNING THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Deportivo – Juventus:

THIS SEASON,” SAID EMILIO BUTRAGUEÑO, FORMER STAR STRIKER AND CURRENT old acquaintances This pairing is already a DIRECTOR OF REAL MADRID, IN NYON IN DECEMBER. Champions League classic. Juventus and Deportivo have met in each of Despite a few surprises in the These two giants are squaring up the past three seasons: in the second first stage, the majority of European in the first knock-out round because group stage in 2002/03 and football’s biggest clubs have qualified the Germans only finished second 2001/02, and in the first phase for the first knock-out round in their group. Having been in 2000/01. The honours are even of UEFA’s flagship competi- knocked out in last year’s so far, with one victory each and four tion, starting on 24 February. group stages, the Bavarians draws. In other words, the outcome And with one more knock-out had to rely on a tight 1-0 win of this two-legged tie is anyone’s round than last season, there over Anderlecht in their final guess! However, this season the is no doubt that every match in order to book their “Old Lady” has enjoyed a better start moment of every match will be full ticket. Real, on the other hand, were to the competition, qualifying with of suspense. Here we take a brief look head and shoulders above their two matches to spare, whereas the at each of the eight ties. Group F opponents. However, both Spaniards had to battle until the last sides are so packed with stars that match to overcome the formidable Bayern Munich – Real Madrid: any outcome is possible. These two opposition of PSV Eindhoven. a duel between kings clubs faced each other in the quarter- This could easily have been the finals in 2001/02 and in the previous United – Porto: final. Between them, Real Madrid and year’s semi-finals. Each time, the eight in a row for the Red Devils? Bayern Munich have won the Champion winner went on to lift the trophy Manchester United are intent Clubs’ Cup/Champions League 13 times! (Real in 2002 and Bayern in 2001). on qualifying for the Champions Deportivo La Coruña (Diego Tristan, in blue) faced strong resistance from PSV Eindhoven. CONTINENTAL AFP/

League quarter-finals for the eighth against Lazio (1-0) to book their year in a row. Despite David place in the first knock-out round. Beckham’s departure, Alex Ferguson’s men had no problems Celta Vigo – Arsenal: progressing through the first round, Gunners’ amazing comeback displaying a high quality of football After three matches, Arsenal along the way. However, Porto, UEFA had only one point in Group B. Cup holders, will provide a tough With 87 minutes on the clock in test for United. José Mourinho’s their fourth game, the side team is not only highly technical, looked to be heading out of the but can also display immense men- Champions League. However, AFP/JULIEN FC Porto (José Bosingwa) tal toughness. They managed Ashley Cole’s goal in the 88th managed to keep their cool against . to qualify by winning their second minute against Dynamo Kyiv (1-0) match against Olympique de triggered an amazing comeback. Marseille, for example, without their Arsène Wenger’s men then annihi- suspended playmaker, Deco. lated Inter in the San Siro (1-5) Porto, however, will have to face and disposed of Lokomotiv the English champions with a major (2-0) in order to top the group. handicap, since their top striker Celta Vigo, struggling in their Derlei seriously injured his right national championship, booked knee ligaments in a league match their ticket with a 2-1 win in their against Alverca on 22 December. last match against AC Milan, who had already qualified. Sparta Prague – AC Milan: miracle men face reigning champions Although last season four Italian teams progressed through the first round, only two have quali- fied this time. However, they are the top two, since Milan and Juventus were last year’s Champions League finalists. The current holders qualified with one match to spare. Although their football is less Chelsea’s Damien Duff. flamboyant than last season, their solidity has been impressive, partic- ularly during their 1-0 win in Bruges, when they had a man sent off. They are favourites to beat Sparta Prague, who had to wait until

EMPICS stoppage time in their final match

04 uefadirect 2.04 After By keeping Thierry Henry S.S. Lazio, Sparta Galatasaray (centre) Prague (Frank de Boer, played (Lukas Zelenka, left) at bay, a major role centre) Real Sociedad in Arsenal’s find themselves (Valery Karpin) qualification. up against have made another it through to the Italian club. fourth round. AFP/RUZICKA AFP/SORIANO AFP/DENNIS

Lokomotiv Moscow – Monaco: Real Sociedad – Olympique “Blues” to indulge in an unprece- Monegasques impress Lyonnais: Spanish poker dented transfer campaign. Their Monaco recorded the most As last season, all four attacking line-up has particularly unexpected result of the first Spanish teams have qualified been strengthened through the stage of the Champions League, for the second stage. The overall acquisition of Duff, Mutu and with a pulsating 8-3 win over quality of Spanish football is partic- Crespo, while the midfield has been Deportivo La Coruna. Never before ularly evident, given that, like Celta, bolstered by the arrival of Veron and had so many goals been scored Real Sociedad are having enormous Makelele. Chelsea’s attack-minded in a single UEFA Champions problems in this season. team will be facing the ’s League match. At times, Monaco This did not prevent Raynald meanest defence. However, Felix showed the most sparkling foot- Denoueix’s men from qualifying Magath’s men also possess ball in Europe. The quality of their thanks to a 1-1 draw in their an outstanding attacking talent attacking play, with playmakers last match against Galatasaray. in the person of young Kevin Rothen and Giuly supporting centre- The French champions for the Kuranyi, recently awarded his first forwards Prso and Morientes, past two seasons also had to wait cap by . This tie looks enthralled many spectators. until their final game and a penalty like being one of the closest Lokomotiv Moscow, reaching the in the closing stages against Celtic of all. second stage of the competition (3-2) before reaching the Emanuele Saraceno for the second successive year, second stage of the also created a minor sensation by Champions League for the knocking out Inter, semi-finalists second time in their his- last year, thanks to their four- tory (after 2000/01). point haul against the Italians. The French clubs have therefore shown that their failure to proceed beyond the first round last year was merely a blip. Monaco have been playing attractive and VfB Stuttgart – Chelsea: effective football, thanks to their two contrasting philosophies striker Dado Prso, among others. Stuttgart and Chelsea both booked their passage into this round with a match to spare. This

Juninho is perhaps the only thing these two (Olympique Lyonnais) scores against Celtic. clubs, with very different philoso- phies, have in common. The arrival of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich at the helm of the London club AFP/DUFOUR

enabled the FLASH PRESS Awaiting The UEFA kick-off Champions between League (Bayern AC Milan and Munich vs RSC Anderlecht) at the and the national team stadium. (against ) are very popular in Japan. SABATTINI BONGARTS EMPICS Closer links Long before the 2002 World Football under Cup, the European/South American Cup, contested UEFAthe Champions rising Leaguesun in since 1980, began to create close links between hugely popular Japanese and European foot- ball. Having been strengthened THE ENTHUSIASM GENERATED BY THE CREATION OF THE J-LEAGUE IN 1993 HAS by the transfer of several NOW COOLED. HOWEVER, THE ECONOMIC CRISIS CURRENTLY HITTING JAPAN HAS NOT European stars to Japan and, AFFECTED FOOTBALL, WHICH HAS BECOME THE SECOND NATIONAL SPORT AFTER more recently, by the arrival in Europe of some Japanese . WOMEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF PLAYERS IN JAPAN. players, these links have gener- ated a genuine interest in Shuichi Tamura, a football All UEFA Champions League, analyst, follows the top Japanese and Premiership matches are televised European football and its com- players. He is able to make interesting via satellite. We also get TV coverage petitions in Japan and, at the comparisons as he travels all over of the leagues in Germany, the Nether- same time, opened the world. Like many Japanese jour- lands, France, Belgium, Portugal, Brazil nalists, he is independent. Salaried and Argentina. up new commercial reporters usually have to cover several Which are the most popular opportunities in a other sports as well as football. competitions? saturated European What impact did the World Serie A, which has been broad- market. Cup have? cast since 1992, followed by the It particularly enabled the public Premiership and the Primera División. UEFA has to get to know the players. The Japanese The standard of play, the atmosphere also turned team is still enormously popular. However, and the number of star players all help towards Japan the World Cup did not have much impact to attract viewers. The Bundesliga and at club level nor on the national champ- the Dutch championship are also very by providing ionship. Average attendances popular because (SV its football are slightly up, but the Hamburg), () and fans with their exodus of internationals (Utrecht) play in them. own Japanese means that the Japanese However, the Champions League are more interested in foreign leagues. is more popular than all the national version of the The economic crisis has actually forced leagues because it involves the world's .com web- clubs to cut their budgets and sell best players. site, which their star players. , the What is the standard Croatian coach of JEF United, has of the J-League? enables them sounded the alarm bell, saying It is comparable with that to keep up-to-date that we need to keep the of the second-rate European leagues. with football on our Japanese internationals in Compared to European football, continent. December's the J-League so it becomes the game in Japan is lacking in indivi- more popular. dualism. It is dominated by the clash in Tokyo between How interested are the midfield and defence, with little AC Milan and Boca Juniors Japanese in European football? incisive forward play due to the lower was an opportunity to turn the Numerous pages are standards of penetration and finishing devoted to it in our magazines. compared to defending. Football tables and to go and find out is becoming more and more complex. about Japanese football and Tactics, training and diet assume great Shinji Ono (Feyenoord),

its competitions. SHOTS PRO a Japanese in Europe. importance.

06 uefadirect 2.04 The (Manchester United vs Bolton, left) and Serie A (Juventus vs Inter) add to what the J-League (Yokohama F Marinos vs Jubilo Iwata) has to offer. EMPICS AFP/HERTZOG AFP/JIJI PRESS

Nevertheless, the national team has The coaches, particularly Arsène The Japanese women have made enormous progress and is now Wenger, have also helped a great deal. made a good impression… ranked in the top 25 by FIFA. Others who have played an important There is a semi-professional Has the arrival of numer- role include Osvaldo Ardiles, Josip Kuze, league which has attracted foreign ous foreigners helped the develop- , Joao Carlos, Eddie stars from Norway, Sweden, ment of Japanese football? Thompson, Nelsinho, Holger Osiek, America and China. Unfortunately, Yes. The foreign stars, who Emerson Leao, Carlos Rexach, René the recession has forced the clubs have come from every continent, Desaeyere, Steve Perryman, Jozef to part with their foreign players. have created a lot of interest. Venglos and Ivica Osim. Two national However, the national team tends The Europeans include people coaches have also left their mark to qualify for every World Cup, like Stojkovic, Beguiristain, Massaro, on Japan: Dutchman Marius Ooft, who reaching the quarter-finals in 1995. Buchwald, Basile Boli, Stoitchkov, also coached Jubilo Iwata, Kyoto Perple They also participated in the 1996 Ivan Hasek, Salinas, Vanenburg, Sanga and , Olympic Games. Bickel, Michael Laudrup, etc. and Frenchman . Pascale Pierard

AC Milan defeated in Tokyo After winning last season's UEFA In the penalty shoot-out, Milan failed third major success of the year after Champions League final on miserably, converting only one of their winning the Argentinian championship penalties, AC Milan were less for- first four kicks. The fifth penalty was and the Copa Libertadores. tunate in Tokyo on 14 December, not needed, as Boca scored with three Boca now join AC Milan, Real when they failed to win their of their four to secure the trophy. Madrid and the clubs fourth European/South American AC Milan have now therefore lost three Penarol and Nacional as three-times Cup against Argentinian side times in a row in Tokyo, whereas all good winners of the trophy. Overall, Boca Juniors. things come in threes for Boca Juniors and the South American clubs have their coach Carlos Bianchi: their third won 22 times compared to Europe's The end justifies the means… European/South American Cup and their 20 victories. but only if the goal is achieved. This was not the case for AC Milan who, in order to prepare for the match in Tokyo, had rested some of their star players in the last match of the UEFA Champions League group stage. Their preparations were in vain because, in the Yokohama stadium, 's men failed to per- form to their full potential, although they might have thought they had done the hardest part by opening the scoring through their Danish striker Tomasson after 20 minutes. However, the Argentinians managed to equalise five minutes later and, despite several chances for each

side, the score remained unchanged AFP/KITAMURA until the end of extra time. Filippo Inzaghi avoids a Boca Juniors defender, but the Argentinians had the last word. Japan met Philippe Troussier (left) Germany and Japan’s captain in the 2003 Ryuzo Morioka are Women’s congratulated by World Cup. FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter on finishing the 2001 Confederations Cup in second place. BONGARTS SPORTIMAGE Beckham, the star AFP/NOGI

The final of the 2004 Emperor’s Cup early this year between Jubilo Iwata and Cerezo Osaka. KEYSTONE The Japanese David Beckham surrounded by Japanese schoolchildren. press While football fans, who are International players are therefore The Land of the Rising Sun still in the minority in Japan, like treated as real stars, even if they is saturated with sports publi- to read reports on the technical are not really known in Europe. cations. Football magazines were and tactical side of the game, Sports dailies have to inundate pioneered by the monthly World most Japanese people are more their readers every day with news Soccer Graphic, which was excited by interviews with the stars. of the stars. Journalists go to founded at the same time as the David Beckham's recent tour of the training ground every day, even J-League. Its success has led Asia triggered scenes of mass if the players don’t have anything to further magazines being hysteria. Shuichi Tamura says, to say and they come away empty- launched, including World Soccer “The quality of tactical reporting has handed... magazine, World Soccer Digest, improved. More and more column After the World Cup, Pierluigi Calcio 2002, Premiership, Soccer inches are being devoted to tactical Collina, Beckham, Oliver Kahn, Critique and Football Nippon analysis, although interviews remain Ilhan Mansiz and Ronaldo all Magazine. There are also three very popular: people like to read starred in advertising campaigns general sports magazines: Sports exactly what the players are saying. in Japan. Two players are espe- Graphic Number, Sports Yeah The Japanese idolise footballers as cially popular: Katana and and Sportiva Magazine. The eight much as actors or singers. Rather Beckham. Why Beckham? Firstly sports dailies are actually than the game itself or the clubs, because he is good-looking, tabloids which sometimes also it is the national team and the secondly because he is good- include articles on horse-racing, players who make football popular. looking and thirdly because he cycling and political affairs… We still do not have any real football is good-looking!” as well as pornographic material. tradition or culture of our own. P.P. P.P.

08 uefadirect 2.04 First meeting of the Football for the Handicapped Panel. PHOTOS: UEFA-WOODS PHOTOS:

Football forFirst the meeting Handicapped in Nyon UEFA HAS BEEN WORKING WITH SPECIAL OLYMPICS EUROPE/EURASIA FOR SEVERAL YEARS

AND FINANCIALLY SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO MAKE FOOTBALL

ACCESSIBLE TO AS MANY PARTICIPANTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES AS POSSIBLE.

UEFA itself is also taking a direct interest in sport for disabled people The FA Development programme and has set up the Football for the Handicapped Panel, which met The FA has launched its Disability objective of ' becoming the world's for the first time on 18 December, Football Strategy for the period of leading governing body in the at the House of European Football 2004-2006 as part of its Football development of disability football'. Development programme. This falls in Nyon. These targets are to: in line with one of The FA's key strategic ■ Under the leadership of UEFA’s establish competition structures objectives within this programme ■ Technical Director, Andy Roxburgh, improve quality of training, entitled 'Opportunities for All', which the members of the panel, together coaching and administrative support is a commitment to providing everybody to disabled people with representatives from specialised – boys, girls, old and young alike – ■ create performance pathways – institutions, were familiarised first with the opportunity to play, coach, talent identification to progress with the structures and functioning referee, administer or volunteer in the players to county (regional) squads, of UEFA. national game. then national squads They then heard about programmes The FA first made a commitment ■ support elite performers that are already operated by Euro- to Disability Football in 1999, support- ■ raise the profile of Disability pean national football associations ing the 'Ability Counts' programme and, football to facilitate the participation of in 2001, committed £6 million to the The FA will commit £900,000 people with disabilities. Presen- provision of free coaching, equipment to both grassroots participation tations were also given on the foot- and training cards for all mainstream and National Disability Squads over ball activities of Special Olympics junior and Special Schools in England. the period 2004-2006. as well as on the mission and activi- The new FA Disability Football Strategy For more information, email ties of the International Blind Sports 2004-2006 has a number of key targets [email protected] Federation (IBSF) and Plusport, for the next three years, with the overall Jane Bateman Switzerland’s national organisation for sport for disabled people.

After that, attention turned to con- The pleasures sidering ways to promote football of football should also be accessible for disabled participants and its to visually-impaired people. activities, for example, by making it a permanent feature of uefa.com, by organising a European confer- ence to encourage UEFA member associations to take charge of foot- ball for people with disabilities in their territories, by making it part of grassroots football courses, by examining the possibility of allocating funds, or by designating special ambassadors. All these NEWS PHOTO proposalsJean-Pierre willMeersseman now be forwarded to the relevant UEFA bodies. THE FA/MOONEY PHOTO Fernandinho’s Left to right: goal enabled the players Brazil of the Republic to get the of Ireland, better Slovakia and of Spain. Spain had some tough matches. AFP/JAAFAR AFP/YOUNES AFP/YOUNES AFP/JAAFAR World Youth ChampionshipBrazil from top to bottom

FOLLOWING THE WORLD CUP WIN BY ITS SENIOR NATIONAL TEAM IN JAPAN AND KOREA IN 2002

AND THE UNDER-17 WORLD CROWN WON IN FINLAND IN 2003, BRAZIL ESTABLISHED ITS DOMINATION OF WORLD FOOTBALL

IN THE MEN’S SECTOR BY WINNING THE UNDER-20 WORLD TITLE IN DECEMBER.

As in Finland last August, was scored in the closing minutes The three other European it was Spain who faced Brazil at the of a match for which Spain were teams were certainly not outclassed final hurdle, but Spain’s Under-20s down to ten men for most of the by their rivals but generally lacked the were no more successful than their time, following the early dismissal of edge that separates the winners from Under-17 counterparts and lost one of their defenders. the losers. The Czech Republic, for the final by the same score of 1-0. So Spain ended the World example, lost only one of their three On this occasion, the winning goal Youth Championship – staged group matches, against Canada, in the United Arab Emirates from and only by a hair’s breadth at that, 27 November to 19 December – and they even held the future champ- as they had begun it, with a ions to a draw. But they could not narrow defeat. But in between manage a single win and were left at they did not lose a single the bottom of their group. match, winning their last two Germany won only one group matches and thereby finishing of their matches and suffered the in the runners-up spot behind same fate, with some regrets no Argentina, then going on to elimi- doubt, since their only ‘victim’, the nate Paraguay, Canada and Colom- USA, finished top of the group. bia in the direct knock-out stage. As for England, their only Europe had another five rep- useful result was a draw against resentatives involved in the Colombia. Unable to score a single tournament. The Republic goal in any of their three matches, of Ireland won their group the English also finished at the bottom with two wins and a draw, but of the table. were then knocked out in Brazil, meanwhile, celebrated extra time in the next round their fourth victory in this competition, by formidable Colombia, who went on following previous titles in 1983, 1985 to finish the championship in third and 1993. They are now on a par place. Slovakia also made it past the with Argentina, who have also won the group match stage, finishing in competition four times and who also second place behind Burkina Faso. made it through to the semi-finals this They then put up a keen fight time round. Between them, Argentina

Brazil’s Daniel against Brazil, forcing the future and Brazil alone have won the com- wins his challenge world champions into extra time to petition more times than Europe, which with Spain’s Pina

AFP/JAAFAR in the final. determine the outcome. has six titles to its name.

10 uefadirect 2.04 Three of the final round venues: (left to right) Mainz, Bochum and Mannheim. PHOTOS: BONGARTS PHOTOS:

■ The groups for the 2004-06 European Under-21 Championship have been formed on the basis of the qualifying groups for the 2006 World Cup, as drawn in Frankfurt in early Under-21 December. Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Liechtenstein and Northern Ireland have not entered the Under-21 competition but Germany is included. finalPreparations round under way Group 1 Czech Republic, Netherlands, Romania, Finland, FYR Macedonia, JUST FOUR DAYS AFTER THE UEFA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DECIDED TO ENTRUST Armenia

THE GERMAN FA (DFB) WITH THE HOSTING OF THIS YEAR’S FINAL ROUND OF THE EUROPEAN Group 2 UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP, REPRESENTATIVES OF UEFA AND THE DFB MET IN GERMANY Turkey, Denmark, Greece, Ukraine, Georgia, Albania, Kazakhstan FROM 15 TO 17 DECEMBER FOR A FIRST WORKING MEETING REGARDING THE ORGANISATION Group 3 OF THE TOURNAMENT, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE FROM 27 MAY TO 8 JUNE. Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Latvia, Estonia, Luxembourg All four proposed match venues Croatia, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and Group 4 were inspected during the three-day visit: and Montenegro. France, Republic of Ireland, the Carl Benz stadium in Mannheim, The two group winners and run- Switzerland, Israel, Cyprus the Bruchweg stadium in Mainz, the Ruhr ners-up cross over to play the semi-finals, Group 5 stadium in Bochum and the and the winners go into the final. Italy, Slovenia, Scotland, Norway, Niederrhein stadium in Ober- For the first time, a match for Belarus, Moldova hausen. In particular, close atten- third and fourth place is also tion was paid to safety and secu- scheduled this time round. This Group 6 England, Poland, , Wales, rity arrangements. is because the European Under-21 Germany, Azerbaijan Another focus of atten- Championship final round serves tion was the media suitability as the qualifying competition Group 7 of the venues, with good reason, for this year’s Olympic Games Spain, Belgium, Serbia and since the European Under-21 in Athens. Apart from hosts Greece, Montenegro, , Championship is now starting to attract UEFA is entitled to another three repre- Lithuania, San Marino a lot of media attention. Coverage of the sentatives, which makes the third-place Group 8 2002 final round in Switzerland was play-off in the Under-21 final round all Sweden, Croatia, Bulgaria, considerable. Some180 representatives the more important. Iceland, Hungary, Malta of the written press, 50 photographers, 40 radio broadcasters, 20 TV stations and ten Internet providers were accredited. Worldwide, 100 million viewers followed the tournament on television, mostly in the participating countries but also in Asia and Australia. It was also announced during the visit that the draw to form the groups for the final round would take place at the Hotel Intercontinental in Frankfurt on Wednesday, 11 February. Initial decisions regarding the organisation of the draw have already been taken, whereby hosts Germany and four-time winners Italy, with the best coefficients of all the finalists, will be seeded. Italy will be in pole posi- tion in Group A and play their three group matches in Bochum. Germany will be seeded in Group B and will play twice in

Mainz and once in Mannheim to start BAUMAN/BOZZANI with. The other finalists are Belarus, Eliminated by Switzerland, the Czech Republic will not be defending the title they won in Switzerland in 2002. Italy – Portugal Fair play in the Under-19 is one 2003 final, of the most won by Italy. important values of the youth competitions. UEFA UEFA UEFA UEFA youth Headingcompetitions into the second round

THE FIRST QUALIFYING ROUNDS OF THE 2003/04 EUROPEAN

UNDER-17 AND UNDER-19 CHAMPIONSHIPS WERE COMPLETED LAST YEAR.

Germany (Lukas Podolski, in white, against Luxembourg) head for a place in the All of UEFA’s member asso- they will be joined by three teams European Under-19 ciations entered these two men’s which had a bye in the first round on Championship second round. youth competitions, which, as account of their previous results. a result of Kazakhstan making UEFA’s num- In the Under-17 competition, bers up to 52, meant the three teams which did not that one more have to contest the mini-tournament first round were than last time England, Poland round had to be and Spain. Some organised in the distinguished con- first qualifying round tenders fell by the of each competition. In each wayside at that first case, therefore, the matches hurdle, the Republic of Ireland, were played in 12 groups winners in 1998, and Switzerland, of four, from which the group who won the title in 2002. The winners, runners-up and suspense continued even after the best third-placed team quali- the matches had been completed, fied for the second round, where while the calculations were made

Group 1 Group 5 Spain, Hungary, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Slovakia, Russia Ukraine Group 2 England, Norway, Armenia, Group 6 Iceland Finland, Romania, Austria, Group 3 Moldova Poland, Italy, Serbia and Montenegro, Turkey Group 7 Group 4 Northern Ireland, Belgium, Portugal, Israel, Greece, Wales Belarus, Scotland BONGARTS

0012 uefadirectuefadirect 2.044.03 Portugal France (in blue) beat Spain won the last in the Under-19 European Women’s Under-17 Championship. Championship final in 2003. UEFA UEFA UEFA

to determine the best third-placed The matches have to be Group 1 team, which turned out to be Hungary. completed by the end of May. Germany, Iceland, Poland, The 28 teams which remain The group winners qualify for Hungary in contention have been divided into the final round, which will seven groups of four and will play be staged in Switzerland in July, Group 2 their matches in the form of mini-tour- as a UEFA Golden Jubilee event. Denmark, Spain, Slovakia, naments up until the end of March. Switzerland qualify automatically Republic of Ireland as host nation. Only the group winners will go through Group 3 to the next stage, which will take them France, England, Netherlands, Women’s final round in Finland to France for the final round, where Belgium they will be joined by the host nation, The 3rd European Women's who qualify automatically. Under-19 Championship will culmi- Group 4 nate in a final round Norway, Russia, Austria, In the 3rd European Under-19 in Finland from Ukraine Championship, the Czech Republic, 26 July to 9 August. Group 5 Slovakia and Spain The first qualifying Sweden, Switzerland, Serbia earned byes from the round was also and Montenegro, Italy first round thanks to played at the their previous results. end of last year, There were a few involving 36 of the 39 teams entered. If two teams still cannot surprises here too, Apart from Finland, who qualify be separated, their fate will be including the elimina- automatically for the final round, determined by means of a draw. tion of four-time winners France. Like Denmark and Germany were also their younger compatriots, Hungary’s exempt from the first qualifying ■ The draws for the 2004/05 Under-19s had the good fortune to round on account of their past UEFA men’s youth competitions will qualify as the best third-placed team. performance. The second qualifying be made in -Potsdam on The groups for the second round were round involves 18 teams – the group 29 January on the occasion of the also formed according to the regulations. winners and runners-up from the UEFA Youth Football Conference. nine first-round groups. For the second round, ■ Having undergone Group 1 which will be played between a change of name in terms Spain, Hungary, Lithuania, Netherlands 19 and 25 April, the 20 teams in of age category, from 16 to 17 contention have been divided into and 18 to 19 respectively, the Group 2 Czech Republic, Italy, Belarus, five groups of four. UEFA youth competitions now Israel The group winners go also have new logos, as presented Group 3 straight through to the final round on these pages. The European Slovakia, Germany, Portugal, with Finland, while the remaining Under-21 Championship also has Armenia two places will be allocated to a new logo (page 11). Group 4 the best two runners-up. They will Produced by the Geneva Slovenia, Denmark, England, be determined according to the agency Blue Infinity, the new Ukraine following criteria, in sequence: logos are designed to reflect the Group 5 ● number of points obtained in qualities generally associated Romania, Croatia, Russia, Turkey the second round; with youth: energy, enthusiasm Group 6 ● goal difference from those and a competitive spirit. A system Poland, Finland, Austria, Scotland matches; of stars, on the left of the logo, Group 7 ● number of goals scored in those symbolises the progress of young Norway, Republic of Ireland, Serbia and Montenegro, Belgium matches; footballers from one category ● fair-play behaviour. to the next. Refereeing equipment was put to use right away.

MeridianFirst benefits Projectof direct aid

ONE OF THE THREE COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAMME OF COOPERATION BETWEEN

THE AFRICAN FOOTBALL CONFEDERATION (CAF) AND UEFA IS THE DIRECT

AID PROVIDED FOR TWO YEARS TO TWO CAF MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS. THE CURRENT Computer equipment for the headquarters of the FA of the Central African Republic. BENEFICIARIES ARE THE FAS OF ETHIOPIA AND OF THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC.

Following a first visit to Addis districts received its proportion of of equipment for 150 youth teams Abeba last May to make initial con- the balls. The association also and 50 referees, the purchase of tact with the Ethiopian FA and evalu- received medical equipment and 11 computers with modems and ate its needs, a UEFA/CAF delegation referee accessories (whistles, yellow printers to improve communications returned to Ethiopia at the end of and red cards, substitution boards, between the districts, and the organi- the year to see how the projects were assistant referee flags). The first lot sation of courses. The first courses, coming along. was distributed on the occasion which could take place this spring, As a first step, 1000 plastic of a league match and the rest will will be devoted to coaching and footballs were supplied to the associ- be shared among the eleven districts. medicine, and other courses, ation for its school football develop- Among the other direct aid covering refereeing and administra- ment programme. Each of the eleven projects foreseen are the purchase tion, could follow. A similar visit was also paid to the FA of the Central African Republic at the end of the year. The association has also received 1000 plastic footballs to develop football in schools. It has also received four computers with printers as well as a fax and photocopier. In addition, first aid kits and referee accessories have been supplied for distribution among the 13 districts, and equipment for 90 youth teams and 50 referees was delivered at the end of the year. Other projects in the pipeline include the construction of an annexe to the association’s head- quarters for meetings and training courses, furniture for the head- quarters and the organisation of courses, with priority given to coach- Footballs ing and medicine, particularly the waiting

to be blown up. UEFA PHOTOS: training of youth coaches.

1414 uefadirectuefadirect 11.03 2.04 , received pictured with the Artemio Franchi Prize Joseph S. Blatter, in , in recognition attended of his career as a player and official. the traditional Michel Platini is pictured with FIFA new year Francesco Franchi, son of the former cocktail party UEFA president, and the in Zurich. two comperes of the evening. SCHORRER SABE Meetings and other activitiesElections at the Cyprus Congress Report THE 18TH ORDINARY UEFA CONGRESS from Brussels WILL BE HELD IN CYPRUS AND WILL BE ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS

OF UEFA’S GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS. UEFA has announced its support for the EU’s ‘European Year of Education through Sport’, which runs for the whole of 2004. UEFA joins The Congress opens on their best player (Golden Player) several other sporting bodies Thursday, 22 April with a celebratory of the last 50 years. All the Golden involved in the campaign, which will part. The next morning will Players will be honoured on run under the slogan 'Move your body, stretch your mind'. be devoted to the usual busi- uefa.com when their national UEFA’s support for the Year ness of a UEFA general assem- association is featured. began last September, when it took part in the jury that selected the bly, notably elections, which Each week of the year will be winning entry in the competition take place at Congresses held devoted to one member asso- years to design the campaign’s logo. in even years. ciation in turn, with a mes- Throughout this year, UEFA will be helping the European Commission Seven seats on the Executive sage from its president, the history to promote the objectives and activ- Committee are concerned, namely of football in the nation in question ities of the Year, by sharing media those currently held by Viacheslav and a look to the future. After the opportunities and offering space in our publications. Koloskov, Marios Lefkaritis, Gerhard football association With a budget of around 11 mil- Mayer-Vorfelder, Joseph Mifsud, of Albania, lion euros, the EU is aiming to Per Ravn Omdal, Mathieu Sprengers Andorra, attract even more citizens to sport than is already the case. A third and Geoffrey Thompson, whose of EU citizens actively participate terms are coming to an end. All the in some type of sport on a regular new terms are for four years. basis, and the number of sports associations in Europe also contin- The delegates also have to ues to increase, numbering more elect four UEFA representatives for than 700,000 at present. Another objective of the cam- the FIFA Executive Committee for a paign is to stress the relationship four-year period. The terms of Michel between sport and education, and D’Hooghe, Senes Erzik, Viacheslav to enhance the role of physical activities in the school curriculum. Koloskov and Michel Platini are com- "The partnership of sport and ing to an end. education has a long and vivid his- Candidatures must be tory in Europe," says Viviane Reding, Herbert Prohaska, the EU Commissioner for Education received by the UEFA Administration Austria’s and Culture, who is responsible for by 22 February. Golden Player. the campaign. "More needs to be ■ As part of the Jubilee done to make sports an integral part of people's education and life. celebrations, UEFA’s member Sport can contribute to all-round ➔

associations have named EMPICS The national associations have until 27 February to indicate how many teams they would like to enter for the 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup (Heerenveen- Villarreal in 2003). PRO SHOTS PRO

development, teaching social skills Armenia and Austria in January, Cup, may be the result of the intro- and a spirit of fair play, as well it is the turn of Azerbaijan, duction of separate weeks for as self-awareness and a sense of competitiveness." Belarus, Belgium and Bosnia and matches in the two competitions. The campaign truly got under Herzegovina in February. UEFA Champions League television way at the end of January in an viewing figures have also increased. opening event in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, which featured several Club Forum European sports personalities, in UEFA Women’s Cup including international football semi-finals referee, . The European Club Forum UEFA’s support for the Euro- will hold its next meeting in The 3rd UEFA Women’s Cup pean Year of Education through Sport 2004 is further proof Barcelona on 16 and 17 February. has reached the semi-final stage. of UEFA’s commitment to dialogue The winners of the The agenda will be devoted and cooperation with the EU. first two competitions, It highlights the organisation’s essentially to the new UEFA Cup 1. FFC Frankfurt and own emphasis on youth training, format, relations between clubs and and any initiative that gets young Umea, are both national teams and the UEFA club people playing more sport is one through to the last that it should endorse. licensing system. four. The semi-finals will be played Further information about the Concerning the UEFA Cup, campaign can be found on the fol- over two legs at the end of March and following the decision taken last July lowing website: www.eyes-2004.info beginning of April. The line-up is: to introduce a group match stage, Brøndby IF – Umea IK a number of questions still have to Malmö FF – 1. FFC Frankfurt be resolved, such as the coefficient system, marketing and the promotion Announcements of the competition. ■ In December, the Russian FA re-elected Viacheslav Koloskov The result of the final as its president for a further four- accounts of the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League year term. shows a surplus of ■ FIFA has new phone and CHF 8.5 million, which fax numbers: +41 43 222 7777 was shared out in January (phone) and +41 43 222 7878 (fax). between the 32 participants, each receiving CHF 267,718. ■ The Moldovan FA can now be contacted on: +373 22 21 04 10 (phone, international department) and The Club Competitions +373 22 21 04 32 (fax). Committee, which will be meeting in ■ Nyon a few days earlier, also dealt The Executive Committee with these points at its last meeting will meet as follows this year: in December, when it received the ● 4/5 February, in Nyon proposals of the working group set ● 22/23 March, in Nyon or Dublin up to look into a new UEFA Cup for- ● 21/22 April, in Cyprus Umea ● (Hanna mat. The Committee was pleased to 18/19 May, in Ljungberg) learn that stadium attendance in the ● 29/30 June, in Lisbon are still in the top UEFA Champions League and UEFA ● 22/23 September, in Bulgaria flight of women’s Cup is so far higher this season than ● 10/11 November, in club ● BILDBYRAN football. last, which, in the case of the UEFA 15/16 December, in Nyon.

16 uefadirect 2.04 BELARUS BELARUS BFF President ...and player Gennady Alexander Nevyglas Hleb. presents awards to coach Yuri Puntus... SERGEY SHELEG SERGEY SHELEG SERGEY

The fans were disappointed by the other national teams – the Under-17s, Under-19s and the women’s teams. from member associations Domestic competitions in all these cate- News gories should be set up, so the quality can increase, as it already has in the Premier League, where most players are playing better as a result of the champ- BELARUS As a result of the European ionship being unified. Championship qualifying competition, the Fuad Krvavac Golden players of head coach Blaz Sliskovic are selection 2003 now a force to be reckoned with and they On 23 December, will have an important role to play in the CYPRUS the Belarus Football qualifying competition for the 2006 World Federation gathered in its whole comple- Cup in Germany, in a group which finds International ment together in the metropolitan restau- them up against Belgium, Lithuania, tournament San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, rant with the symbolic name of “Seventh For the eighth consecutive and Spain. The favourites are Spain, Heaven” for the ceremonial celebration year, the Cyprus Football while Belgium, Serbia and Montenegro of the 2003 football season. Traditionally, Federation is organising an international and Bosnia and Herzegovina are expected guests who have devoted many years of football tournament for men’s national teams. to be fighting for the runners-up spot their lives to the service of football as well From 15 to 22 February, some of the biggest as state officials for whom the game and a place in the play-offs. In addition, the national futsal names in European football and their teams has also become a part of their lives are will have the opportunity to begin their prepa- invited to this occasion to pay tribute team came close to major success and a place in the Futsal World Champion- rations for the World Cup qualifying rounds to the sportsmen. In his words of welcome, which begin in September. BFF President Gennady Nevyglas thanked ships in Chinese Taipei. In the qualifying tournament in the Zetra Olympic stadium, Apart from Cyprus, this year’s tour- all those present for their respect and for nament will involve another seven teams: love of football, wished everyone a happy the team of head coach Tomislav Curcic and his assistant Muhamed Poricanin beat Latvia, who impressed during the EURO 2004 and successful new year, and expressed his qualifiers and reached the final round, belief that in the coming season Belarussian Russia and FYR Macedonia. They then Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Hungary, Romania football would prove that it deserves its faced the Czech Republic in the play-offs. and Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan and Belarus place in the world football family. In , the visitors won 7-5, while are newcomers to this annual tournament. In a warm and friendly atmos- the return leg in Brno finished in a According to the regulations, the competition phere, the 15 prize-winners were presented 4-4 draw. Although Bosnia and Herze- takes the form of knock-out matches, with with their awards and memorable gifts, govina did not make it to the finals, they still did very well to get so far. every team playing three matches. followed by a festive programme prepared by Belarussian entertainers. And, of course, the culminating point of the celebration was the Player of the Year and Coach of the Year awards. For the first time in the history of Belarussian football, Alexander Hleb (VfB Stuttgart and Belarus U21 team player) has been honoured with the “Player of the Year” title for the second consecutive year. And his coach, Yuri Puntus (head coach of the Belarus U21s and of FC Bate), was named Coach of the Year for the fourth time (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003). Sviatoslav Kiselev

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Successful season The last year was a remarkable one in the life of football in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and probably the most successful to date. The success of the national team, which got to within a step of the EURO 2004 in Portugal, is still a top subject. Just one goal was all that it would have taken, but the match against Denmark showed that we can still put on a good performance on WITTERS the field and achieve good results. GERMANY DFB President Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder has an eye on the future. BOSNIA AND CYPRUS HUNGARY HERZEGOVINA Interesting pre- Coach Lothar The national parations for Matthäus futsal team. Cyprus (in white), and Hungarian shown here FA President in their EURO 2004 Imre Bozóky. qualifier against France. F.KRVAVAC FLASH PRESS THALY ZOLTAN

The idea of organising this interna- The impetus for this initiative came "Hungarian football was once among the tional tournament goes back to 1997, when from DFB President Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder best in Europe. We gave the world an enter- it was suggested by Marios Lefkaritis, and the reason behind it is the certainty that taining and successful way of playing the ex-president and now honorary chairman of clubs and their staff will have to meet even game with our players and our managers, the Cyprus Football Association and member higher standards in the near future. To do so, both of whom were very successful of the UEFA Executive Committee. Ever since, the clubs will need greater support, and the abroad. Now Hungary has fallen on hard it has been staged on an annual basis. Up DFB sees meeting this need as part of its times so maybe it is time to ask the until last year, 19 countries had participated, role. “Qualified staff in the clubs are indis- footballing world to return the favour. and that list will rise to 21 this year. Out of a pensable if we are to guarantee our foot- Hopefully Matthäus represents that favour total of seven , Cyprus has won ball’s future”, says Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder. and with his help we can re-establish two, while Poland, Greece, Romania, the Czech The DFB and its state associations will be pro- Hungarian football and put it back where Republic and Russia have each won once. viding a real service in the form of these it should be". Kyriacos Georgallis short courses. To begin with, teams of The immediate concern though instructors, trained under the direction of the is to qualify once again for the World Cup, association’s coaches, will travel around the in which Hungary were once major competi- GERMANY country. In the short time available during tors. Hungary has not reached football's such courses, they are expected to give prior- greatest competition since Mexico in 1986, Short, decentralised but qualifying for Germany in two years’ time ity to the transfer of essential knowledge courses for coaches would be the perfect scenario for Matthäus, of a practical nature. In consequence, they This year, the German FA who says he wants to achieve as much as will also have to adapt the course content to (DFB) is launching a he can with Hungary. It will be a hard task the coaches’ particular interests, motivational campaign to upgrade the qualifications of for Hungary in perhaps the toughest World club and youth coaches. From now on, short factors and needs, respond to special Cup qualifying group, but with the appoint- courses will be held on a decentralised basis requests and take a flexible approach. The ment of a footballing legend they have at regional and state level for those coaches main purpose is to offer practical aids and much optimism and the best possible start interested. At these half- or one-day courses suggestions as to how to resolve typical to the new year. with a maximum of six modules, the club situations encountered by coaches in their Márton Dinnyés/ volunteers will be provided with material day-to-day work on the field. Matthew Watson-Broughton and information that should help them to Niels Barnhofer dispense up-to-date training adapted to the age of their players. The first club courses FINLAND will be for children’s and “E” youth coaches, HUNGARY an area where volunteer coaches train some Second annual 50,000 teams. Changing times Academy Hungarian football has a Tournament new atmosphere after the kicks off appointment of FIFA World In mid-January, the Cup and European Championship winner second annual Academy Tournament kicked Lothar Matthäus as the new national coach. off in Finland, with 19 Under-19 teams Last year ended disappointingly, after competing nationally. The competition was Hungary missed out on a place in EURO first planned and organised last year, in order 2004 and were then beaten at home by to achieve goals which impact on Finnish Estonia 1-0, a defeat that signalled the end football on many levels. The model is taken of coach Imre Gellei's initially promising from countries such as France and England, but ultimately unrewarding reign. However, but modified to serve domestic purposes. the appointment of Gellei's replacement The Academy Tournament group is being seen as encouraging news for stage is played between January and March. Hungarian football. The two best teams from six groups proceed The aim of employing Matthäus, to the knock-out stage in June. In mid-July, who recently guided Partizan Belgrade into the six best teams play a tournament to decide the national youth champion. During the UEFA Champions League, is to return the finals, Academy players can also test their Hungary to the footballing power they were talents and tricks in an individual freestyle in the early fifties when, with greats like skill competition. Ferenc Puskás, Nándor Hidegkuti and Sándor The FA of Finland selects the partic- Kocsis, they reshaped the European game ipating academies based on the applications. with their new brand of attacking football. To be eligible, an academy has to have a They famously shocked England by winning coach with the highest Finnish coaching 6-3 at Wembley and won Olympic gold in licence. Some of academy coaches even hold 1952 as well as reaching the World Cup final the UEFA Pro licence. In addition, eligibility in 1954. There will be a friendly with Germany requires cooperation with local schools FINLAND next year to mark the fiftieth anniversary attended by the players and adequate facili- Marko Tyyskä of that match and so the appointment of ties for year-round training. (left) and Tuomo ex-Germany captain Lothar Matthäus makes “We achieve three important goals Turunen shined that game even more special. in the 2003 by organising the Academy Tournament. individual freestyle Imre Bozóky, President of the We can develop our clubs to better fulfil

JUSSI ESKOLA skill competition. Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) says, the UEFA club licensing criteria, as they

18 uefadirect 2.04 HUNGARY ITALY Hungary (Peter Lipscei, The Italian Players’ left) hope that their Association has awarded World Cup qualifying its “Oscars” for last season. campaign will be The Referee of the Year a success and take award went to Pierluigi them through Collina, who was presented to their first final with his statuette by former round since 1986. international referee . AFP/KISBENEDEK BOZZANI improve their organisation and youth pro- LITHUANIA FYR MACEDONIA grammes. As a result, coach education will receive more attention. And last but not First New league system least, through the tournament we are able licensed coaches Beginning with the 2004/05 to extend our season to bring it closer to the The end of the year was season, the football champ- international format, as the youth teams memorable for 20 Lithuanian ionships of the Former get tough competition matches during the football coaches; they were the first to Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (first and winter”, says the FAF’s Technical Director, obtain the “A” level coach licence of the second divisions) will be played according Jarmo Matikainen. Sami Terävä Lithuanian FA. These coaches are among to a new competition system. On the pro- the first to obtain the licence, not only posal of the Executive Committee of the in football but also among the coaches Football Association of FYR Macedonia, ITALY of other kinds of sport. this decision was adopted by the Ordinary The Lithuanian Football Federa- Congress at the end of December. Combined doping tests tion organised courses for the “A” level Under the new system, the sec- An important new step has been coaches throughout the year, before ond will be decreased from taken in Italy in the fight against setting the exam, which concentrated 18 to 12 clubs and promotion/relegation doping with the introduction of on four areas: physiology/medicine, sport play-offs will be played among the teams combined blood and urine tests psychology, sport management, sport that finish the in third for the detection of EPO in the Serie A and training and sport tactics. and fourth place and the teams in ninth professional leagues. The new pro- According to Raimondas Statke- and tenth position in the first division, gramme, based on an agreement between the vicius, Director of the LFF’s Methodical which will continue to be composed Italian Football Association (FIGC), the Foot- Centre, the student coaches displayed of 12 clubs. ballers' Association and the Federation of a rather high professional level and were The aim of the new system is Sports Medicine, came into force on 6 January, well worthy of their “A” level licences. to concentrate the quality of football when the first matches in 2004 were played. The newly licensed coaches players in a smaller number of clubs and "I am proud that Italian football include the coach of the Lithuanian to make the competitions more evenly has decided to step up the fight against national team, Algimantas Liubinskas, balanced. doping and is the first country in the world and his assistant, Saulius Sirmelis, as well Among other recent activities, to adopt combined blood and urine testing as the coach of the Olympic team, Vir- our Player of the Year for 2003 has been for erythropoietin", said FIGC President ginijus Liubsys, and his assistant Vitalijus nominated. He is national team striker Franco Carraro. Stankevicius. The other “A” licence-holders Draganco Dimitrovski, leading scorer in The President also stressed the are E. Riabovas, K. Latoza, R. Lavrina- the first part of the present domestic sense of responsibility and willingness to vicius, V. Sukristovas, V. Buzmakovas, participate demonstrated by the players in championship, whose goals for FC Pobeda V. Osetrovas, A. Ramozka, R. Zalys, from Prilep have put the club in the lead- accepting the new programme which, like all V. Jodenis, I. Pankratjevas, A. Gabrys, forms of blood testing, is legally dependent ership spot at the halfway stage for the S. Stankunas, V. Janciauskas, R. Tavoras, first time. Best Macedonian international on the players giving their consent. R. Mikocionis and A. Klimavicius. The FIGC Anti-Doping Commission player of 2003 is Goce Sedloski, who plays has been working closely with the Italian Vaiva Zizaite for Dinamo in Zagreb. He is a regular Federation of Sports Doctors, chaired by Professor Giorgio Santilli, to devise the pro- gramme, under which three league matches (two in Serie A and one in Serie B) will be scrutinised each week. The Federation of Sports Doctors itself will supervise the post- match taking of samples, which will be tested at the official laboratory of the National Olympic Committee (CONI) at the Acqua Acetosa Centre. At each match where testing takes place, two players from each team will be required to submit samples. The system for selecting the matches is designed to ensure that all clubs are tested at least once per season. A number of surprise out-of-compe- tition tests will also be carried out. Of course, the testing will be fully confidential and in line with data protection standards. Finally, in case one of the four players selected at random 30 minutes before the end of the match refuses to give a blood sample, all players will also give urine sam- ples which can be tested (at greater cost but with the same level of reliability) for EPO, with confidentiality guaranteed until the final result is available. BOZZANI Antonello Valentini ITALY and Pavel Nedved shared the Italian Player of the Year award for 2002/03. MALTA NETHERLANDS The draw Ten years in in Frankfurt the president’s in December. seat for Matthieu Sprengers. WITTERS KNVB national-team player and is not far off MALTA NETHERLANDS earning his fiftieth cap. Club of the Year is FC Vardar from Skopje, who has brought Difficult Mathieu Sprengers FYR Macedonian club football the greatest but not extravagant ten years at the helm success so far on the European scene. For the Maltese, whose Last month the KNVB cele- The first man of this club, Zoran Stratev, patriotic feelings have as brated the fact that Mathieu received the Coach of the Year award. a backdrop a wider scenario of distant Sprengers has been at the At the end of December, the but heartfelt allegiance towards big teams helm for ten years. Sprengers succeeded national team suffered a setback when such as England, Italy, Brazil and Germany, KNVB legend Jo van Marle in 1993. Van their match against the Spanish province amongst a few others, the 2006 FIFA World Marle had been president of the KNVB of Cantabria was cancelled unexpectedly. Cup draw held in Frankfurt on 5 December since 1980 and a member of the UEFA Head coach Kanatlarovski there- failed to spark enthusiasm. Executive Committee from 1982 until 1995. fore lost another opportunity to check This not so much because Sprengers, an open-minded and out more candidates for the national team Malta will be facing familiar nations as cheerful character who is always ready to from among the ranks of the country’s because they do not have one of the bring a few smiles to the people around most promising youth players. plum teams in their group. France, the him, has since then been the best of Kanatlarovski should, however, Netherlands or Spain would have also ambassadors for the KNVB and Dutch get such an opportunity at the end of been a sumptuous treat in the absence of football in general. Sprengers is generally January, when matches against the Chinese any of the glamorous three European considered to be an undisputed binding national team are scheduled. ‘favourites’. It could have easily been an force between the often clashing interests Zoran Nikolovski extravagant draw for the Maltese. But that of professional and amateur football. was not to be. No one doubts his sincerity and his ability So far Malta has played a total to choose what is best in the interest of of 31 games against their five group oppo- Dutch football in general. nents, winning twice, and drawing four During his reign, the Belgium and times. Of these, 22 were competitive Dutch football associations were elected matches, with Malta managing two wins the first ever co-hosts of a European against Iceland and three draws, two Championship. EURO 2000 turned out to against Hungary and one against Croatia. be a success for European football as well The defeats came at the hands as for both host associations and helped of Sweden (six times), Bulgaria and Iceland the KNVB to support its bid to host (four times each), twice against Hungary another major event, the FIFA World Youth and the other when the Reds faced Championship, which will be staged in the Croatia. In the other nine friendlies Netherlands in 2005. Malta failed to register a victory, only Since his appointment Sprengers obtaining one draw against Bulgaria. has been a major force in the restructuring These statistics are far of the KNVB sports centre, where the costs from positive for Malta, even when of hotel, swimming pool, sports hall and considering that these five nations other facilities weighed heavily on the currently enjoy creditable inter- shoulders of all football clubs. These facili- national rankings. The qualifica- ties have now all been made self-support- tion of Sweden, Bulgaria and ing. Furthermore, in 1998 the KNVB Croatia for the EURO 2004 final employees moved into a modern office – round is a sufficient pointer, while shaped like a football stand and appro- it should be remembered that both priately called “the kick-off spot of The Hungary and Iceland did not miss Netherlands” – where they have been able out by much. to face the challenges of the new century. The primary objective for Another large project has been Malta is to surpass the three-point launched during Sprengers’ years at the mark which they reached in the 1994 helm of Dutch football. The master plan World Cup qualifying matches. for youth football took off in 2000, giving Anything better, given the quality amateur clubs all around the country the of the opposition, would probably be guarantee of support from the football satisfactory for newly-appointed association. Most of the benefits from EURO 2000 were allocated to this substan- coach Horst Heese and his assistant, tial gesture in favour of the clubs. The former Malta international Carmel appointment of over 50 regional coaches Busuttil. A seven- rather than a is enabling the KNVB to reach out a six-team group would have set a higher helping hand to a club that is in need target for the Maltese. of assistance of any kind. The idea is that Will it be moans and groans a solid basis will provide security for the for Malta at the end of this first part future of Dutch football. of the long and winding road to the The general assembly showed its Germany finals? Time will tell. The appreciation for the good work that Malta FA is leaving no stone unturned Mathieu (Jeu) Sprengers has done in the to make it a better World Cup adven- past ten years at its meeting in December. FYR MACEDONIA ture for the Mediterranean island. Goce Sedloski, best Macedonian Four ten-year-olds from an amateur club

international player in 2003. EMPICS Alex Vella in Zeist, where the head office of the

20 uefadirect 2.04 REPUBLIC REPUBLIC OF IRELAND OF IRELAND The Republic Lansdowne Road of Ireland again or a new stadium find themselves for the World Cup up against qualifiers? Switzerland who blocked their way to EURO 2004. AFP/HERTZOG KEYSTONE KEYSTONE

KNVB is located, turned up with a large Ireland were always going to be looking for- officials will be home venues for these cake with the inscription “Eeuwig JEUgdig” ward to the draw for the 2006 World Cup. matches, due to the uncertain future meaning ‘youthful forever’. That is certainly And when the pairings were made known of a stadium in Dublin. With talks about something that applies to Sprengers. in Frankfurt on 5 December, the Irish were the possibility of a government-backed Rob de Leede not disappointed. national stadium being built and a refur- In a group of six countries, the bishment plan being talked about for the Irish were drawn with France, Switzerland, Irish rugby headquarters at Lansdowne NORTHERN Israel, Cyprus and the Faroe Islands. And Road, a suitable venue for Ireland's home IRELAND in the pairings that this group threw up, soccer matches remains in the realms of Linfield’s work there are a number of outstanding games the unknown at this particular time. for the community for the Irish, among them some with inter- Suggestions have been made that esting and telling connotations. the FAI may consider playing their home A massive club with a proud Take Switzerland as a prime exam- matches at venues in England, like Anfield tradition, Linfield and its supporters are mak- ple. The Swiss allowed the Irish only one or Old Trafford, or even in Scotland, at the ing big efforts to strengthen the identity of home of Celtic in Glasgow. the club, encourage more family support and point out of a possible six from their two meetings in the qualifying group for EURO At present, these are mere sug- improve community relations. The work that gestions, but unless there is some suitable 2004 and were therefore one of the chief Linfield is carrying out through its Football compromise or arrangement reached reasons why the Republic will not be in Development Centre is strategic, forward regarding Lansdowne Road or the pro- thinking and a credit to the club. Portugal next June. What a sense of posed national stadium in the near future, Women’s football, special needs revenge the two qualifying games in the these suggestions may become a reality football and cross-community football are World Cup present for the Irish, particularly both for the association and for the loyal promoted through Linfield’s Football in the light of the insipid display the Irish Irish football supporters. Development Centre, overseen by Linfield’s put up in the Basle last October, when It is hoped answers will be found Youth Development Officer, David Chisholm. a victory would have ensured them a place before the proposed Lifelong Linfield supporter Andrew Conn man- in those Portuguese finals. World Cup fixtures ages the successful Junior Blues, which That performance has left a bitter meeting is held early encourages young fans to identify with the taste in the mouths both of the players in the new year. club, make new friends with young fans from other clubs and challenges young people to and supporters, and there will be a huge Brendan McKenna promote respect through football. Junior Blues sense of making amends when the Republic have collected a considerable amount of face the Swiss again. money for a number of charities in recent And take France. World Champ- years. Linfield’s “Boost Our Support” campaign ions of 1998 – what a mouth-watering involves a number of Management Committee prospect they will provide for the Irish. members and supporters working in partner- In previous meetings between the two ship to encourage more family support. nations the French have always been This involves a number of joint initiatives to huge opponents and a major attrac- encourage fans to support their team with tion. They will be more so now in the passion in a way that respects all the Linfield light of the many world famous players, supporters and football community: names they have in their line-up ■ Linfield FC offer free tickets to these days. community groups for all senior games; Cyprus are old friends ■ Linfield FC is currently involved in community and youth development of the Irish, having been in the work in partnership with the Upper Ardoyne same group for the World Cup Youth Centre; qualifiers for the World Cup ■ the club is also committed to sup- finals of 2002, while Israel porting the South Belfast Regeneration Project; will provide their own level ■ cross-community mini-soccer of challenge for the Irish. It is played at all pre-match home games at was way back in 1987 that Windsor Park; Ireland last played Israel, ■ through its Football Development with a 5–0 win in Dublin Centre and Centre of Excellence, the club being the decisive outcome. Could encourages respect for different cultures, pro- that be a sign of what is to moting personal development and social skills. SWITZERLAND come? Johan Vonlanthen Michael Boyd And the trip to the is one of the young talents on whom Faroe Islands, the first for Switzerland is an Irish team, will also counting in order REPUBLIC carry a big air of mys- to continue OF IRELAND tery about it. its current success. But the Which venue for the big question World Cup qualifiers? for Football Having failed to qualify for the finals of the Association

European Championships, the Republic of of Ireland ASF TURKEY UKRAINE Dr Urs Vogel, FFU President Chairman Grigoryi Surkis of UEFA’s with UEFA Medical Chief Executive Committee. Lars-Christer Olsson. TFA FFU

SWITZERLAND These efforts will also give renewed Altogether, some 400 participants impetus to youth training at club and national from different branches attended this Riding on the crest level. In order to put these plans into action, seminar, which was obligatory for physicians, of a wave the association has picked out the most prom- physiotherapists and masseurs employed The Swiss FA is riding on the ising players in the 17 to 20 age range and by Turkish leagues. It was pronounced a great crest of a wave right now. concluded agreements of cooperation with success by all parties involved. The senior national team have qualified for their clubs, in close cooperation with which the The grassroots project developed EURO 2004 in Portugal, the Under-21s are Swiss FA’s coaching staff have assessed the by UEFA to increase overall participation in through to the European Under-21 Champion- current situation of the players in terms of their football around Europe has attracted great interest in Turkey. The Turkish Football ship final round in Germany, and the Under-19s training, development and their lives in gen- Association has started to study this project are expected to do well in the European Under- eral, and analysed them from a medical and under the leadership of Gündüz Tekin Onay, 19 Championship final round, which is being performance-related perspective. On the basis staged on their home turf next July. its youth teams coordinator. We believe of these analyses, and with the input of various However, the leaders of the associa- that many youth and talented players will specialists, individualised training and develop- tion know only too well that it cannot rest on its come onto the scene and that interest in and ment programmes will be prepared for each laurels and be content with the current success, love of football will increase all over Turkey credit for which must be given to the coaches. player and put into practice in the clubs. as a result. No, that success has to be built on and further In addition, there will be special The Turkish Football Association achievements sought, namely a place in the training for strikers and goalkeepers, under the fully supports the grassroots philosophy and 2006 World Cup finals in Germany and as supervision of the national coach, the technical believes that this project, which will be one of the frontrunners in EURO 2008, which director and coaching specialists. launched in 2004 in conjunction with UEFA’s Switzerland is co-hosting with Austria. The Swiss FA hopes and expects that Golden Jubilee, with the slogan “Football for To do so, a whole string of extraordi- thanks to all these (and many other) measures, Everyone, Football Everywhere”, has the nary talents have to be specially trained and the future of the national teams will be at least potential to reform football. Therefore, the developed. Today’s players will still be in the as rosy as their present situation. TFA has started to look for sponsors to sup- picture come EURO 2008, but the squad will port this important project, which it hopes Pierre Benoit also have fresh blood injected into it by then, to be able to realise in the different cities of with some of today’s Under-21s and youth the country as soon as possible. players making the grade. Attention therefore Mustafa Kemal Artalan has to be concentrated already on the cream TURKEY of the crop of Switzerland’s current youth players Medical seminars to get them ready for EURO 2008. for football UKRAINE Aiming to realise all necessary FFU has to move projects for the development of in right direction TURKEY football in Turkey to bring it up to world stan- A professional football Besiktas- dards, the Turkish Football Association organ- seminar with the participa- Galatasaray: ises medical seminars every year during the tion of UEFA representa- skilful play on the field winter break. We believe that medical staff are tives was held in Ukraine takes efficient a very important part of the team and need to in December. New UEFA Chief Executive work behind kept abreast of the last scientific developments Lars-Christer Olsson provided information the scenes. relating to football and health matters. about how UEFA assists its 52 member asso- This year’s seminar – the third such ciations as well as about its national-team and event – took place in on 23/24 De- club competitions and the development of cember under the coordination of TFA Medical children’s and youth football. Marcel Benz, Committee Chairman Prof. Vahit Özmen and Senior Manager Legal Services and National Vice-Chairman Prof. Türker Bulut. UEFA Medical Associations, Alex Phillips, Senior Manager Professional Football and League Services, and Committee Chairman Dr Urs Vogel and Vice- Henk Kesler, member of the UEFA Professional Chairman Prof. Stewart Hillis also participated, Football Committee, gave an account of together with a number of scientists, sports the principal trends in professional football. physicians, instructors and other experts. During the two days of the seminar, spe- Several lecturers presented their cialists discussed the theme of professional scientific approaches to football football development – from its social role and health relations and those to realisation of successful marketing by approaches were then associations, leagues and clubs. discussed in plenary One of the key conclusions of the session and panels. seminar was that the Football Federation of Among the topics Ukraine has to move in the right direction. broached were doping The FFU and the seminar participants received in football, club team comprehensive information on leading physicians, first aid, football countries, examples of successful player psychology, rehabili- marketing, national football funds, division tation, football and vio- of competence between an association lence, medical organisation and its members, licensing of football clubs, at club level and the UEFA relationships of clubs and trade unions.

EMPICS/TURKSPORTFOTO club licence criteria. Valeriy Nykonenko

22 uefadirect 2.04 UEFA

CommunicationsBirthdays – Calendar New publications ALMANACCO ILLUSTRATO DEL CALCIO 2004 The Almanacco comes out every year (it is up to its 63rd edition) ● Birthdays Eggert Magnusson (Iceland, 20.2) and is always appreciated by statis- ● Adriatik Gjashta (Albania, 20.2) ticians and fans of Italian football. Leonardus van der Kroft (Netherlands), member ● Ralph M. Zloczower (Switzerland, 21.2) Tradition does not however dictate of the circle of former UEFA committee members, ● Lidia Borska (Poland, 21.2) that no changes can be made to this work celebrates his 75th birthday on 2 February. ● Vlado Sajn (Slovenia, 22.2) produced by Fabrizio Melegari and published On 9 February, Donald McVicar (Scotland), mem- ● Ana Caetano (Portugal, 22.2) by Panini S.p.A (Viale Emilio Po, 3809 – IT-41100 ber of the Referee Observers Panel, turns 60. ● Boris Nemec (Croatia, 23.2) Modena), and one of the new features in He is joined at the same milestone on 15 February ● Richard N. Parry (England, 23.2) the 2004 edition is a section devoted to the by fellow Scot John McBeth, member of the Match ● Niamh O’Donoghue (Republic of Ireland, 23.2) European Champion Clubs’ Cup/UEFA Champ- Delegates Panel; on 18 February by Borislav ● Petr Dolezal (Czech Republic, 24.2) ions League. It contains a condensed history Alexandrov (Bulgaria), member of the Referee ● Wladyslaw Puchalski (Poland, 26.2) of the competition, details of all the finals (line- Observers Panel; and on 27 February by Alfonso ● Egidius Braun (Germany, 27.2) ups, scorers and referees, attendance figures) Moreno Gonzalez (Spain), member of the Medical ● Maurizio Mattei (Italy, 27.2) as well as rankings and other statistics. Committee. Peter Jones (England), another ● Allan Hansen (Denmark, 27.2) member of the Referee Observers Panel, reaches ● Zorislav Srebric (Croatia, 28.2) ROCZNIK 2003-2004 the half-century mark on 24 February. UEFA also ● (Germany, 28.2) The Encyklopedia pilkarska FUJI wishes many happy returns to: ● Gerhard Zvolánek (Slovakia, 28.2) has enriched its collection with ● (Germany, 1.2) the publication of the first official ● Karen Espelund (Norway, 1.2) handbook of Polish football. ● Alfred W. Grey (England, 2.2) Upcoming events It contains full information on Polish clubs and competitions, and ● Trygve Bornø (Norway, 2.2) ● also takes a look at other European and South Steen Dahrup (Denmark, 3.2) MEETINGS American top domestic championships as well ● Pascal Fratellia (France, 3.2) as the major international competitions. The ● Vaclav Krondl (Czech Republic, 5.2) 2.2.2004, Madrid encyclopaedia is available from: Wydawnictwo ● Dusko Grabovac (Croatia, 7.2) Referees Committee GiA – P.O. Box 2772 – PL-40-357 Katowice 14 / ● Erich Rutemöller (Germany, 8.2) fax: +48-32-2523621. ● Yusuf Namoglu (Turkey, 8.2) 2-5.2.2004, Madrid ● Fino Fini (Italy, 9.2) Annual referee courses GUIDE DU FOOTBALL 2003 ● Rinus Michels (Netherlands, 9.2) ● Vladimir Modelevski (Russia, 9.2) 4-5.2.2004, Nyon Daniel Masnari is not only a recog- ● nised statistician but also someone Nuno Cristóvão (Portugal, 10.2) Executive Committee who is always looking for ways ● William McDougall (Scotland, 11.2) to improve, as his latest guide ● Antonio Ferreira de Sequeira (Portugal, 11.2) 10.2.2004, Nyon shows, with its new, more practical ● Efstratios Papaefstratiou (Greece, 12.2) Professional Football Committee format and additional information. ● Nicolae Pantea (Romania, 12.2) It lists all the players in the first two Swiss divi- ● John Blankenstein (Netherlands, 12.2) 11.2.2004, Nyon sions, all the 2002/03 league and cup fixtures, ● Oleksandr Bandurko (Ukraine, 13.2) Club Competitions Committee and has a large section devoted to international ● Heinz-Herbert Kreh (Germany, 14.2) football, notably the UEFA competitions. ● (Germany, 14.2) 11.2.2004, Frankfurt It also provides the calendars of the main ● Marinus Engelsman (Netherlands, 14.2) Draw for the final round of the European European domestic championships. The guide ● Manuel Lopez Fernandez (Spain, 14.2) Under-21 Championship is available from: Global Vision.sport, Route des ● Georges Konrath (France, 15.2) Jeunes 5d – CH-1227 Les Acacias/Geneva / ● Susanne Erlandsson (Sweden, 15.2) 12.2.2004, Nyon fax: +41 – 22 307 13 55 ; e-mail: [email protected] ● Svitlana Shkil (Ukraine, 15.2) 1st Women’s National Team Coaches ● Fritz Scherer (Germany, 16.2) RAPPORTS ANNUELS 2002-03 ● Adalbert Kassai (Romania, 16.2) Forum The 2002/03 annual reports of the Swiss FA, ● Jozef Venglos (Slovakia, 18.2) 16-17.2.2004, Barcelona in figures and words (the majority of the reports ● Georgios Girtzikis (Greece, 18.2) are in German but a few are in French). ● Flemming Serritslev (Denmark, 18.2) European Club Forum ● Patrick Kelly (Republic of Ireland, 18.2) LES IMMORTELS DU FOOTBALL ● Pertti Alaja (Finland, 18.2) COMPETITIONS POITOU-CHARENTES ● Antonello Valentini (Italy, 18.2) ● Antonio Violante (Portugal, 18.2) 24-25.2.2004 As part of the Mémoire du football collection, ● publishers Alan Sutton (8, rue du Docteur Mihai Anghel (Moldova, 19.2) UEFA Champions League: first knock-out Ramon – FR-37540 Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire) propose ● Richard Murray (England, 19.2) round (first legs) this work by Bruno Ahime, who draws an origi- ● Jaroslav Vacek (Czech Republic, 19.2) nal portrait of a hundred or so players, coaches ● Janis Mezeckis (Latvia, 19.2) 26.2.2004 and managers who have marked football in the ● Lars Arnesson (Sweden, 20.2) UEFA Cup: third round (first legs) Poitou-Charentes region.

we care about football Editor André Vieli The views expressed in signed articles are not necessarily the Produced by Atema Communication SA, CH-1196 Gland official views of UEFA. Official publication of the The reproduction of articles Union des associations or extracts of any information européennes de football Printed by Cavin SA, CH-1422 Grandson published in uefadirect is authorised, provided the Communications and Public Affairs Division Editorial deadline: 16 January 2004 source is indicated. UEFA Route de Genève 46 Union des associations CH-1260 Nyon européennes de football Suisse Téléphone +41 22 994 44 44 Téléfax +41 22 994 44 88 uefa.com