ISSUE 9/10, 20 DECEMBER 2013 ENGLISH EDITION Fédération Internationale de Football Association – Since 1904 Magical moments VICENTE DEL BOSQUE CHRISTMAS TRUCE ATHLETIC BILBAO 2013 WWW.FIFA.COM/THEWEEKLY CONTENTS 2013: Our highlights from a fascinating year North and South America Underdogs Tahiti took a turn on the global football- Central America 10 members ing stage in 2013. Coaching legend Sir Alex Ferguson 35 members www.conmebol.com bade the beautiful game farewell. A women joined www.concacaf.com the FIFA Executive Committee. A visit to the San Siro became a journey into the past. Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund shook up the European game. The FIFA Weekly reviews an incident-filled year, as our reporters and columnists 5 pick out their personal favourite moments. Russian resurgence, Soviet-style 15 The money is rolling in and Russian clubs are in the fast lane on the European football superhighway, but the distribution of power offers a reminder of the Soviet era. The interview: Vicente del Bosque 18 Vicente del Bosque is currently the world’s most successful coach. Now he wants Spain to become the first European team to lift the World Cup in South America. He speaks to The FIFA Weekly about his targets, desires and worries. The expert 21 FIFA Chief Medical Officer Professor Jiri Dvorak discusses head injuries and specifically concussion, calling for the adoption of a simple but crucial maxim: If in doubt, keep the player out. Geniuses in gloves 25 Lev Yashin, Gordon Banks, Dino Zoff and their ilk made history. The FIFA Weekly Top 11 of ’keepers includes somes colourful characters. A club like no other Their policy may seem anachronistic, but La Liga club Wagner Ferreira dos Santos Athletic Bilbao still only recruit players with Basque Escaping the drop with Fluminense 26 roots. Despite their self-imposed constraints, the club has never been relegated. Blatter: This Club World Cup is a milestone 33 The Club World Cup is an established fixture on the international calendar, but the tournament has never Premier League achieved universal acclaim. FIFA President Blatter adds his voice to the debate. 23.12.2013 26.12.2013 Arsenal – Chelsea Hull City – Manchester United Turning point Aston Villa – Crystal Palace 45 Hannu Tihinen withstood countless blows to the head Cardiff City – Southampton during his professional career and was forced to give Chelsea – Swansea City up the game prematurely in 2010. But the Finn does Everton – FC Sunderland not regret a single moment he spent on a football Newcastle – Stoke City pitch. Norwich City – Fulham Tottenham – West Bromwich West Ham – Arsenal Manchester City – Liverpool Cover: Jon Berkeley Inhalt: Getty Images 2 THE FIFA WEEKLY THIS WEEK IN THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL Europe Africa Asia Oceania 53 members 54 members 46 members 11 members www.uefa.com www.cafonline.com www.the-afc.com www.oceaniafootball.com Hannu Tihinen Alex Ferguson Career cut short by Farewell to a legend head injuries ISSUE 9/10, 20 DECEMBER 2013 ENGLISH EDITION Fédération Internationale de Football Association – Since 1904 Magical moments VICENTE DEL BOSQUE CHRISTMAS TRUCE ATHLETIC BILBAO 2013 WWW.FIFA.COM/THEWEEKLY Dash of colour Tahiti captain Nicolas Marcello Lippi Vallar and his team Guiding Guangzhou at provided ample proof at the Club World Cup the Confederations Cup that even the smallest nations are worthy of a place on the biggest stage. Our cover illustration, in the style of French master and Tahiti connoisseur Paul Gauguin, depicts Vallar swapping shirts with Spain captain Cesc Vicente del Bosque Fabregas. The FIFA Weekly interview Premier League 28.12.2013 29.12.2013 01.01.2014 West Ham – West Bromwich Everton – Southampton Swansea City – Manchester City Aston Villa – Swansea City Newcastle – Arsenal Arsenal – Cardiff City Hull City – Fulham Chelsea – Liverpool Crystal Palace – Norwich City Manchester City – Crystal Palace Tottenham – Stoke City Fulham – West Ham Norwich City – Manchester United Liverpool – Hull City Cardiff City – FC Sunderland Southampton – Chelsea Stoke City – Everton FC Sunderland – Aston Villa West Bromwich – Newcastle Manchester United – Tottenham Cover: Jon Berkeley Inhalt: Getty Images THE FIFA WEEKLY 3 Trim: 210mmTrim: 19mm Safety: 19mm Safety: 210mmTrim: Trim: 268mm Safety: 17mm EVERY GASP EVERY SCREAM EVERY ROAR EVERY DIVE EVERY BALL EVERY PASS EVERY CHANCE EVERY STRIKE EVERY BEAUTIFUL DETAIL SHALL BE SEEN SHALL BE HEARD SHALL BE FELT Feel the Beauty BE MOVED THE NEW 4K LED TV Safety: 17mm “SONY” and “make.believe” are trademarks of Sony Corporation. Trim: 268mm TRACKING NUMBER n/a JOB SON BRV G13002 CD Chris Mitton/Danielle Flagg AE Toby Hussey PUB n/a TITLE BRAVIA PRINT AD Patty Orlando AP Amy Carleton ISSUE n/a CLIENT Sony CW Dan Kroeger PHOTO Carlos Serrao BLEED 216 x 274mm FILE SONBRVG13002_Bravia_FSL_SP_Adkit_0418 SA Janine Byrne ILLUS n/a TRIM 210 x 268mm OFFICE PDX SM Lis Moran DESIGN Patty Orlando SAFETY 172 x 234mm ECD Susan Hoffman/Mark Fitzloff PM Danna Bubalo COLOR Kyle Pero/Greg Radich DMAX 300 USAGE Usage is (12) months unlimited WORLDWIDE use in all print and electronic mediums, including but not limited to: consumer and trade print/digital advertising, Out of Home, retail/wholesale, POS, collateral, industrial, PR/events, video, internal, textbook, and online/digital/new electronic media. UNCOVERED A complete underdog challenges the world champion. Farewell to perhaps the greatest manager in modern times. Women are making themselves heard in FIFA’s executive committee. A visit to the San Siro is becoming a journey into the past. FIFA Weekly looks back on the year 2013 in foot- ball. Magical moments from a personal perspective. 2013THE FIFA WEEKLY 5 → http://fifa.to/19A95FI 2013 Tahiti players Lorenzo Tehau, Ricky Aitamai, Samuel Hnanyine and Vincent Simon (left to right) at the Confederations Cup match against Uruguay on 23 June 2013. TAHITIAN DIGNITY AND PRIDE Sven Goldmann Fernando Torres fell in love on the evening of threw himself so heroically at every Spanish On the face of it, the Confederations Cup 20 June 2013. That can happen, of course, but shot that the Brazilian crowd roared “Man of was celebrated as the scene of Brazil’s come- rarely in football, where you respect your the Match” at him, even though this accolade back as a world footballing force, culminating opponents at best. However, on this particular ultimately went to the Chelsea striker. Shortly in a 3-0 win over Spain in the final. But will this evening everything was different, and not before the end of the match, the Spanish super- remain the tournament’s lasting legacy? because Fernando Torres had scored four goals star went one-on-one with the keeper but fired Perhaps, when this competition is remem- at the Maracana, the world’s most famous foot- his shot onto the crossbar, prompting Roche to bered in a few years’ time, the only memorable ball stadium. At the end of the evening, the celebrate so exuberantly that it seemed almost story will be that of Spain and Tahiti: two Spanish international spoke the heart- as though he had cast a spell on the ball. mismatched opponents with a shared football- warming words: “We’re all fans of Tahiti!” This was the night when Rio de Janeiro ing vision. The Tahitians arrived at the tourna- Torres had become smitten with the very burned and football became a sideshow com- ment ranked 139th in the world but keen to be team he and his team-mates had just played off pared to the mass demonstrations unfolding part, making the most of a rare opportunity to the pitch at the Maracana. Nevertheless, nearby, but nevertheless the match was a great play the world champions by attacking with a Spain’s 10-0 win over Tahiti in the group stages occasion. Some 75,000 fans in the Maracana fantastically high defensive line. There were no of the Confederations Cup marked a great foot- sang just as they would if Flamengo or Flumin- fouls, no delays and no unsportsmanlike balling moment. The world and European ense or Botafogo were playing, and adapted behaviour. The Tahitians faced their inevitable champion and Champions League winner’s face their chants in honour of their new-found defeat with dignity and pride. “Today didn’t do lit up as he spoke about the souvenir photos his South Pacific heroes. The match became a football any harm,” said Spain’s coach Vicente team posed for with the Tahitians, the “smiles performance the like of which will not be seen del Bosque. “Today, football won.” on their faces” and a sporting spirit that seems at another official FIFA tournament any time to have long disappeared in the results-driven soon, featuring a David who knew and accepted world of modern football. It was for all these his place and a Goliath who overcame his oppo- reasons that Torres so warmly embraced Tahi- nent with technical footballing precision rather Å tian goalkeeper Mikael Roche, who plays for AS than relying on rebounds, own goals and errors Dragon in the Tahitian capital Papeete and – all for the good of the game. LiveseyAlex Imago 6 THE FIFA WEEKLY 2013 → http://fifa.to/18ZdGkm Last respects: Stefano Borgonovo’s funeral was held in Giussano, Lombardy. STEFANO BORGONOVO LIVES ON Luigi Garlando What will be the abiding memory of 2013? His tireless resistance against the malevolent Stefano Borgonovo’s eyes. Eyes that closed for condition is a timely lesson for every athlete. A ever on 27 June when the former AC Milan, Fi- centre-forward, for example, should continue orentina and Italy striker lost his eight-year to give everything he has through to the final battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), seconds of a match, even with his team three an incurable condition more commonly known goals down and already condemned to defeat.