Editorial: The case for the defence Including Interview: Sir

Mañana

Tactics for the future

Autumn leaves

NEWSLETTER FOR COACHES N O .34 OCTOBER 2006 IMPRESSUM

EDITORIAL GROUP Graham Turner Frits Ahlstrøm

PRODUCTION André Vieli Dominique Maurer Atema Communication SA Printed by Cavin SA

COVER Having already won the UEFA Champions League with Juventus, pulled off a unique double in winning the World Cup with this summer.

(PHOTO: ANDERSEN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

FABIO CANNAVARO UP AGAINST IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL. THE ITALIAN DEFENDER WAS ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE COMPETITION. BARON/BONGARTS/GETTY IMAGES BARON/BONGARTS/GETTY

2 THE CASE FOR THE DEFENCE

EDITORIAL the French and, in the latter stages, FC ’s centre back Carles the Italians. On the other hand, the Puyol proved that quality is not BY ANDY ROXBURGH, UEFA Champions League finalists the preserve of the glamour boys UEFA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR (plus seven other top teams) favoured who play up front. Top defenders and the deployment of one ‘vacuum their defensive team-mates proved cleaner’, as the late, great Rinus that good defensive play is a prerequi- Michels described the role. Interest- site to team success in top-level ingly, many of these deep-lying mid- competitions. Italy won the FIFA World Cup 2006 field players have become the initia- with a masterly display in the art of tors of the build-up play, such as The dynamics of football mean that defending. Two goals against, one Italy’s . the game is always in flux. When the a penalty and one an own goal, was defending qualities improve, attacking the sum total of their concessions A side’s basic shape is ‘necessary for solutions are pursued and devel- and tangible evidence of their ability team order’ according to Sir Alex Fer- oped, and vice-versa. We, in the to thwart the opponent. They were, guson of United. But, the coaching profession, can acknowledge it should be noted, also very good same system can operate differently and appreciate the improvements going forward. Even the finalists of depending on the philosophy and in defensive play while simultaneous the UEFA Champions League proved the style employed, and the special accepting the challenge to find the to be miserly in giving anything away. characteristics of the team. During antidote. Counter-attacks, set plays Arsenal, the runners-up, went ten the last , however, one com- and solo actions have become crucial matches in a row without conceding mon feature was to defend a goal (a record); while champions deep and in a compact FC Barcelona, with their flamboyant defensive block. The uncer- style, scored 24 times with only five tainty created by the inter- goals in reply. Indeed, the season pretation of the offside law is 2005/06 produced the lowest goals one of the reasons for this. average in over a decade of UEFA Villarreal, the small Spanish Champions League football. As Rafa club that reached the last Benítez said after the club final in four of the UEFA Champions Paris: “There has been a big improve- League, were an extreme ment in defending in top-level foot- example of this approach. ball.” Fortunately, the lack of scoring During the competition, quantity was offset by the extremely coach said: high quality. “We defend deeper than most sides, and though it

From a structural perspective, the creates more work for our JORDAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES trends were clear. The top 16 teams midfield players, it does Manuel Pellegrini, advocate of a tight that participated in the 2005/06 reduce the space behind our defence with Villarreal. UEFA Champions League operated defenders.” And ’s Gérard Houllier with a zonal back four, as did 14 of summed up the attitude to defend- in breaking down sophisticated packed the sides that reached the World Cup ing when he said: “The trend is to defences. But significantly, the game knock-out phase. In addition, all of bring the opponents into the defen- is moving more towards the assets of the aforementioned teams sive block and then to aggressively speed and skill, and this augurs well selected at least one press the ball.” for the future. Balance is the key word. midfield holding It applies to team organisation, to player, or screen, Some of the outstanding players defending and attacking, and to great in order to protect last season were goalkeepers and competitions. As Marcello Lippi said their back line. defenders. Italy’s No. 1, Gianluigi at UEFA’s recent Elite Club Coaches In the World Cup, Buffon and centre back Fabio Can- Forum: “Balance is number one.” So nine of the leading navaro were two of the best players is Marcello, Italy’s World Champion – teams used a two- at the World Cup in , and a master coach in training the arts of man barrier, including Arsenal’s keeper and attack and defence.

3 INTERVIEW BY ANDY ROXBURGH, UEFA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR EMPICS PA/EMPICS

SIR ALEX FERGUSON OF MANCHESTER UNITED IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREAT COACHES. IN A COACHING CAREER SPANNING OVER THREE DECADES, HE HAS WON THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1999 WITH MANCHESTER UNITED FC), THE WINNERS’ CUP TWICE (1983 WITH ABERDEEN FC AND 1991 WITH MANCHESTER UNITED FC), THE UEFA SUPER CUP (1983 AND 1991), AND THE EUROPEAN/SOUTH AMERICAN CUP (1999). ALEX WAS ALSO NAMED THE UEFA COACH OF THE YEAR IN 1999. DOMESTICALLY, HE HAS ACCUMULATED THREE SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIPS, FOUR SCOTTISH CUPS AND ONE , EIGHT ENGLISH TITLES, FIVE ENGLISH CUPS AND TWO ENGLISH LEAGUE CUPS. HE MANAGED THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL TEAM AT THE FIFA WORLD CUP IN (1986) AND IS THE LONGEST-SERVING HEAD COACH IN THE ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP, HAVING BEEN THE BOSS AT MANCHESTER UNITED FC SINCE 1986. IN ADDITION, ALEX, WHO WAS KNIGHTED FOR HIS SERVICES TO FOOTBALL IN THE UK, IS A REGULAR, VALUED MEMBER OF UEFA’S TECHNICAL GROUPS AND ELITE CLUB COACHES FORUM. CURRENTLY, HE HOLDS THE POSITION OF HONORARY LEADER OF THE UEFA COACHES CIRCLE, A UEFA PROJECT WHICH PROVIDES A TECHNICAL SERVICE FOR PRACTISING COACHES. IT IS THIS GROUP THAT SIR ALEX ADDRESSES IN THE FOLLOWING INTERVIEW. SIR ALEX FERGUSON 1 • What are the main qualities Monday morning after a defeat unusual at the time. So you put this required by a coach at the top level? and you lack this quality of persever- imagination into a player’s mind, and I have thought about that a lot, and ance, then it will show and that will he can then take it to another level, there are a number of things. As I affect the players. So on Monday because he realises that you both progressed as a coach, I learned that morning, you have the ‘fire in the want to try things. You create a chain observation was vital. To coach and belly’, you are ready. The passion has reaction which produces thinking watch at the same time is difficult. to come out. players, and this is a wonderful thing If you are involved too much in the I also think that a top coach needs to develop. coaching, you miss many things. an imagination. When people ask It is also important to have simple I started to delegate more things to my you what was your best ever goal as communication. You see those train- assistant and to stand back sometimes. a coach, you want to identify a per- ing sessions where the coach is Observation is definitely an important fect goal that you influenced. It is talking all the time and the mes- issue in order to make sure that the about your imagination, inculcated sage is lost – the words get lost in quality is high and that you get out of into a training session, and which the the wind. Keep it simple, be brief, a training session what you want. players take on board. They then do but be decisive. Make it perfectly Next, I think you need perseverance it by habit. I remember as a young clear what you are after in a because coaching at the top today is coach teaching take-overs in impor- session. Remember when we not an easy job. If you come in on a tant areas of the pitch which was were players – we were stand-

4 SIR ALEX AND

ROY KEANE. IMAGES GETTY

ing there and we wanted to get on their team but travelling all over the with it and the coach was rambling place to watch players or opponents. on. Talking too much is a big danger When you go into this game you have for a coach. to work extremely hard – you and your family have to sacrifice. You 2 • How did you develop need a natural work ethic. The really as a coach? good coach is the one who is happy Well, I was an apprentice tool-maker, to work, and believe me, it is not easy and then at 22 years of age I got the to work hard in coaching for your chance to become a full-time player. whole life. The drive, the hunger, the I decided to take the gamble, but I passion must be inside you, because was determined not to fail, so I players need to recognise that you wanted to learn everything about the care. And, of course, the aim is to get game. I started going to the Scottish the players to care along with you. coaching school If the young coach has these qualities when I was 23 years I have been referring to, and they old. In the first have the ability, then they have a year, I got my B chance. One last point, they must take licence, and then their steps. I started the right way at quickly progressed on the lowest level and built my way up. to my full badge. I had decided But don’t forget, everyone needs a that when I finished playing, I was bit of luck along the way. going to be prepared to be a coach. My ambitions were not necessarily 4 • What are the biggest problems focused on becoming a manager or a facing coaches today? coach, but I did want to stay in the There is a player ego today that you game in some capacity and I wanted have to deal with. As a coach, the one to be ready for that. I used to read all thing you must have is control. You the coaching books – not that I can’t afford players to take charge of wanted to replicate everything I read, a training session. There has to be a but I was curious and hungry for strong discipline in the training and in knowledge. I was fortunate that the general. Simple rules must apply, Scottish FA’s courses were very practi- such as time-keeping, concentration cal and the staff coaches were top at training, etc. Another thing, of professionals. course, is the pressure of results. When I came into the game the media 3 • What would your advice be demands were less than we have to a young coach? today. No agents or freedom of con- Most young coaches have been play- tract back then. More and more, we ers, and they are cocooned, protected are dealing with player power. I grew by agents or coaches. Most players into all of that, but a young coach live in a fortunate environment. Yes, must realise that he is walking straight you need to sacrifice to be a top into all of that. They have to find a player. But make no mistake, when way of navigating all of these pres- you become a coach there is a bigger sures. Also, if you have a good chair- sacrifice to be made, because you are man and board, then you are lucky. giving up your whole day, every day. If not, then you have to handle that

GETTY IMAGES GETTY Coaches are not only working with situation as well. You need to under-

5 is happening – it’s not possible for me to immerse myself in the youth work as I once did.

7 • Apart from yourself, who are the role models in coaching today? I look at coaches who have a difficult job and do well. And I look at coaches who win with different clubs. Because Italy has been at the forefront for years in terms of success, I look at someone like Marcello (Lippi) who has won the World Cup, the UEFA Champions League and titles in Italy. Fantastic. And he started the right way Gérard Houllier, Rafael Benitez, – at the bottom end and worked his Sir Alex Ferguson, , Andy Roxburgh and Jozef Venglos way up. Also, he survived time. Fabio with the prestigious Champions (Capello) is the same – he was a League before the 2006 success at Roma, at AC , at Real final in Paris. , etc. These colleagues are good examples for young coaches, and if the young coach is still coach- ing in 15 years time, they will under-

EMPICS stand what I am talking about – it’s not easy to stay the course. It needs stand your bosses and what their the video analysis very well now. We a good constitution, great stamina expectations are. There are some have two full-time people taking care (you have to look after yourself), and presidents or chairmen who expect of that. a little luck. A young coach might say, to win a title every day. The main “How am I going to reach Lippi’s advice I would give to a young coach 6 • Many top coaches have a big level? Even if I can, how many years is to focus on his job. Forget all the staff – do you believe in that? will that take?” But there are also peripheral things, don’t get involved In terms of staff, things have pro- good examples of young coaches in the politics, just concentrate on gressed over the years. When I went to who have quickly risen to the top. your job, on your squad, because Manchester United at first, I had a staff Look at Rafa (Benítez) who started as players are the best weapon you of only eight at the club. We had no a youth coach at Real Madrid, went have. full-time doctor. Today, we have an opto - to , and then on to metrist who does all the treatment of FC where he won the Champions 5 • Do you believe in the use of the eyes (she did a great job getting League. Then look at José Mourinho technology as an aid to coaches? back to normal after he who entered the top level as an inter- Yes, I use the various IT tools had blurred vision), we have a full-time preter, but had an ambition and a because it quickly gives me all the doctor, five physios, a fitness coach, a hunger to listen and to learn. He went information I need about opponents, weight coach. I never thought I would on to win the UEFA Champions etc. In the old days, you would work with a backroom squad of this League and the UEFA Cup. This shows painstakingly take notes. And for me, size. As you get older, you learn to del- young coaches what can be achieved. it has always been out of the ques- egate better. You can’t do everything You have another two good examples tion to read out notes at a team yourself at a major club. For example, of young coaches in today’s football. meeting, or to give the notes to the with the youth programme, I put it in (who started as players. We at Manchester United do good hands, and I simply oversee what the Dutch national coach) and Frank

6 Rijkaard (who won the UEFA Champi- been given time to produce. I wish ons League with FC Barcelona). But that the presidents of clubs, and the I like to think about coaches who supporters, would have the same have survived time and had success patience that the coaches have. We with different clubs; clubs which pre- are asking miracles, of course. It is a sented different challenges. These are very emotional game and sometimes IMAGES GETTY the coaches we should look up to the expectations are too high. That and admire. Look at what they have has always been the case and won’t opposite, that longevity can bring done, because winning in this profes- change. For many supporters, their success. And also, the relationship sion is not easy. whole lives are intertwined with the between the coach and the player football club, and that spiritual con- can be stronger when you are there 8 • Is coaching as a profession nection is very strong. You can there- a long time. in good shape? fore understand that losing four I think it is as good as we can expect, games can’t be tolerated. Because of 9 • As the honorary leader of the given that there is an ever-changing that, there is a frequent change of UEFA Coaches Circle, do you have process in our game. But it’s not coach. There is no evidence to sug- a message for practising coaches? healthy that a coach can lose four gest that continual changing of I can only think back to when I was a games and then he is out of a job – coaches brings success. Coaches young man and how keen I was to this is not good for the football indus- such as Fabio, Marcello, Arsène learn. That enthusiasm for knowledge try, especially if the coach has not (Wenger) and myself suggest the should never be lost. For example, I had a great discussion with Marcello (Lippi) about Italy’s tactics in the World Cup. I thought the final was tactically interesting; he thought the semi-final against Germany was bet- ter. And in terms of spectacle, he was right. The main thing is that we are curious and we talk. Apart from staying inquisitive, my message to all practising coaches, including those in the UEFA Coaches Circle, is to per- severe. We all have bad days. I have had some but I always bounced back. When I was at Aberdeen FC, I lost a final, and on the Monday I told the players it was the last time we would lose a final – it was. You have to have that vital drive, and to deal with the disappointments. Players today don’t have the same feeling as the coach has when they lose – so the coach has to deal with that situation. Coaches often think they are alone, GETTY IMAGES GETTY but they are in the same situation as many fellow coaches. It’s important, therefore, to relate to your coaching colleagues because we are all in the Sir Alex with Sir and the new national team coach, Steve McClaren. same boat.

7 UEFA GINÉS MELÉNDEZ MAÑANA NOT MANY PEOPLE NEED TO REACH FOR THE DICTIONARY WHEN CONFRONTED WITH ONE OF THE MOST UNIVERSALLY RECOGNISED WORDS IN THE SPANISH LANGUAGE. IT’S ALSO A FLEXIBLE ONE. THE ADVERB MEANS TOMORROW. AS A NOUN, LA MAÑANA MEANS THE MORNING. BUT, IN ITS MASCULINE FORM, EL MAÑANA STANDS FOR ‘THE TOMORROW’ – THE FUTURE. HAD AFC AJAX BEEN BASED IN , INSTEAD OF NAMING THEIR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTRE THE TOEKOMST – THE FUTURE – THEY WOULD PROBABLY HAVE CALLED IT EL MAÑANA.

Even on the day of the European the , you feel an inner extending their unparalleled record Under-19 final in Poznan, el mañana satisfaction at having done some good of successes in teenage football, the was uppermost in the mind of the work and having helped the young- Scots were in their first UEFA final since Spanish coach, Ginés Meléndez. “To be sters to progress as footballers and as Andy Roxburgh’s team took the honest,” he said, “I’m not concerned people. Winning or losing the final Under-18 title in 1982. Tommy Wilson about whether we win or lose.” It’s a doesn’t change that.” admitted that, on arrival in Poland, sentiment that technicians don’t voice the prime objective had been no more too loudly in the dressing-room for In other words, if asked to cast a vote than laying claim to one of Europe’s fear of it being misinterpreted as lack in the perennial debate between results six places in the forthcoming Under-20 of ambition. But, among colleagues, and development, Ginés would imme- World Championship. Ginés explained, “When you’ve been diately raise a hand in favour of the working with a group for two years latter. So would Tommy Wilson, his Reaching the final made a major or more, when you’ve observed how opposite number in the Poznan final. impact. The Under-19s became a lead they’ve developed, and when you’ve But the circumstances were hardly the story on Scottish pages, BBC seen how well they’ve played during same. Whereas the Spaniards were immediately acquired the right to screen the final, and reporters scurried onto Poznan-bound planes. In other words, results did have their importance in terms of image, promo- tion and, more importantly, confidence in a development programme that was beginning to bear fruits.

On the day of the final, Tommy traced the origins of his team back through the trips to Spain to study their youth devel- opment methods, the visits to Den- mark to study structures in a country of roughly the same stature, the impor- tance of the implantation of small-sided games in Scottish youth football, and a new, enhanced tactical awareness among his young protégés. Eliminating the defending champions, , in

UEFA the qualifiers and going on to reach the Alberto Bueno of Spain and Scott Cuthbert of Scotland during the European final represented a reward for years of Under-19 Championship final. work on a coherently designed project.

8 TOMMY WILSON UEFA

Gerard Pique sets-up Spain’s second goal in the U19 final in Poznan. UEFA

Spain’s 2-1 win over the Scots in the This is one of the issues to be dis- structure has been consolidated, the final brought the total for the tourna- cussed at the 16th UEFA Course for aim is to encourage associations to ment in Poland to 63 goals. UEFA’s tech- Coach Educators, to be staged at add an extra dimension to their nical study group, when selecting their Italy’s national training centre in coaching set-up. team of the tournament, had to contend Coverciano. And it is especially rele- with a surfeit of attacking vant at a time when a UEFA youth There are some interesting questions and forwards. Standards of attacking licence is being mooted. Some coun- to be discussed. During formative and counter-attacking were high. And tries already have such a scheme in years, what sort of mentality should the general willingness to adopt adven- place (the French FA has an excellent prevail? Which facets of the game turous strategies, to take risks and to system, for example) and UEFA’s deserve special attention? What are allow the youngsters a high degree plan is to create criteria for a spe- the best practices when it comes to of freedom to express themselves raised cialised youth coaching diploma schooling youngsters to win – but an important question for the techni- which would represent the equiva- not to win at all costs. Tommy Wilson cian: apart from carefully assembling lent of an ‘A’ licence. No fewer than and Ginés Meléndez will be among the nuts and bolts of a programme, 51 of UEFA’s member associations the speakers in Coverciano, helping how important is the philosophy behind are now enrolled in the coaching to explain how we might best lay player development projects? convention and, now that the basic foundations for el mañana.

9 HIGH FIVE: SIR ALEX FERGUSON, , MARCELLO LIPPI,

UEFA-PJWOODS.CH RAMOS AND . TACTICS FOR THE FUTURE WHAT HAVE THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS TAUGHT US? AND WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? THOSE WERE THE BASIC QUESTIONS POSED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY AT THE 8TH UEFA ELITE CLUB COACHES FORUM, STAGED IN WHILE CALENDARS WERE BEING TURNED FROM AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER. ONE OR TWO OF THE COACHES WERE NOT ENTIRELY COMFORTABLE WITH THE NAME. “I AM NOT ELITE” WAS FRANK RIJKAARD’S IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO THE INVITATION. BUT THE SQUAD PHOTO BEGGED TO DIFFER. FRANK, THE EUROPEAN CHAMPION, AND , WINNER OF THE UEFA CUP AND UEFA SUPER CUP, FLANKED WORLD CHAMPION MARCELLO LIPPI. ALONGSIDE AND BEHIND THEM WERE , , , , TROND SOLLIED, ARSÈNE WENGER, FERNANDO SANTOS, VALERY GAZZAEV, MANUEL PELLEGRINI, , , GÉRARD HOULLIER, FABIO CAPELLO AND SIR ALEX FERGUSON – WITH ANDY ROXBURGH AND HIS FIFA COUNTER- PART, HOLGER OSIECK, RUNNING THE WINGS. IF THAT GATHERING DOESN’T WARRANT AN ‘ELITE’ LABEL, WHAT DOES? WHAT’S MORE, THE SQUAD WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN STRONGER HAD THREE LEADING ITALIAN SIDES NOT BEEN TAKING EACH OTHER ON IN A TRIANGULAR TOURNAMENT THAT EVENING.

But, in one sense, Frank was right. The Forum was all about humility, camaraderie and some serious reflec- tions on the state of the game and its future. The points of reference were the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League and the FIFA World Cup finals. Arsène Wenger was the first of many to comment that, when the group matches in Germany got under way, it was inevitable to start drawing com- parisons with the standard of football in the UEFA Champions League, where the best of various nationalities are concentrated into one line-up.

But statistics provided one evidently common denominator between the two competitions. During the UEFA-PJWOODS.CH 2005/06 UEFA Champions League, An elite team for the forum in Geneva. the four teams that reached the semi-

10

11

reading. When Marcello Lippi and Lippi Marcello When reading. were quick to highlight ‘balance’ as ‘balance’ highlight to quick were

The FIFA World Cup offered similar offered Cup World FIFA The and his compatriot Fabio Capello Fabio compatriot his and

Asked for their comments, Marcello comments, their for Asked (UEFA Cup Winner with Sevilla) with Winner Cup (UEFA

“ been a penalty and one an own goal. own an one and penalty a been Juande Ramos Ramos Juande

four conceded by Barça, one had one Barça, by conceded four ing a goal. a ing “

make the difference. the make

every six hours of football. Of the Of football. of hours six every side went home without conced- without home went side

Individuals often often Individuals

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France, their teams had jointly con- jointly had teams their France, record set in Germany was also a also was Germany in set record

FC on to the pitch at the Stade de Stade the at pitch the to on FC in the editorial on page 4). The only The 4). page on editorial the in

Wenger led FC Barcelona and Arsenal and Barcelona FC led Wenger defensive acumen (as highlighted highlighted (as acumen defensive

ball. When Frank Rijkaard and Arsène and Rijkaard Frank When ball. duce even more striking evidence of evidence striking more even duce

ceded in every three hours of foot- of hours three every in ceded odd bit of extra time thrown in to pro- to in thrown time extra of bit odd discipline displayed during the during displayed discipline

average of one goal con- goal one of average goal per four games, with the with games, four per goal tion was whether the balance and balance the whether was tion

convert this into an into this convert Bleus two. Again, one Again, two. Bleus pation of the playing area. The ques- The area. playing the of pation

matical genius to genius matical six games and Les and games six tactical discipline and a rational occu- rational a and discipline tactical

require a mathe- a require ceded one in in one ceded

tently maintained their shape, their shape, their maintained tently

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It doesn’t It Azzurri had con- had Azzurri

had been the ones who most consis- most who ones the been had

“

Felix Magath Felix

games. games. in Berlin, the Berlin, in sides in the UEFA Champions League Champions UEFA the in sides

the UEFA Champions League. Champions UEFA the

goals in 48 in goals

their sides out sides their revealed how the most successful most the how revealed

“

domestic league is different from from different is league domestic conceded 23 conceded Domenech led Domenech to note that computerised analysis computerised that note to

The tactical approach in the the in approach tactical The finals jointly finals Raymond the keyword. And it was interesting interesting was it And keyword. the

PITMAN/BONGARTS/GETTY IMAGES PITMAN/BONGARTS/GETTY

0 UEFA-PJWOODS.CH RAMOS JUANDE WINNER

TO 2006 UEFA CUP CUP UEFA 2006 TO

MAKES A PRESENTATION A MAKES MARCELLO LIPPI LIPPI MARCELLO CONNOISSEURS’ COMMENTS: FABIO CAPELLO, MARCELLO LIPPI

UEFA-PJWOODS.CH AND ARSÈNE WENGER.

2005/06 campaign amounted to a trend towards cautious, Analysis of the finals in Germany low-risk football – provided evidence that this and another now applies to defend- dimension ing at set plays. At a was free-kick on the added to In terms of defending, the trend right, just outside the “is to bring the opponents into the the box, one team debate defensive block and then aggressively sent a player to during a press the ball. a starting position later ses- near the bye-line Gérard Houllier“ sion () beyond the far post. devoted to He was so the Laws of the flagrantly offside – some Game. 10 metres – that he was, obvi- ously, left unmarked. But Frank Rijkaard, representing a club when the free-kick whose supporters demand a degree was played to of panache as well as results, was an overlap- the leading voice in a chorus which ping team- described the current ‘passive off- mate on side’ rulings as a major threat to the the right, Balance is the key. future of the game as entertainment. he “ Fernando Santos “ Sides whose attacking vocation is sprinted (Benfica) underpinned by pushing up and into the keeping lines within a rational dis- centre of tance of each other are being under- the box and, mined by a rule that allows oppo- had the cross nents to exploit offside positions. from the right reached LOENG/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

him, the goal would have been declared valid, as he had run into a position behind the ball. He would have exploited the ‘passive offside’ ruling to be (a) unmarked and (b) able to run unopposed into a scoring position.

However, what worries the coaches is not so much these situations in GETTY IMAGES GETTY themselves but the response they provoke: the only logical antidote, in open play and at set pieces, is to defend further back. Hence Frank Rijkaard’s deeply-felt Each team has its own concern characteristics,“ but to be a success about a rul- you need quick players, ing which, especially in attack. he fears, could signify Fabio Capello “ (Real Madrid) the end of the

12 TWO OF THE ELITE COACHES’ FORUM REGULARS: GÉRARD HOULLIER

AND SIR ALEX FERGUSON. UEFA-PJWOODS.CH

When it comes to style, endorsement for the current for- calendar and, in the wake of a FIFA it’s winning first – attractive next. “ mat of the UEFA Champions World Cup that had finished on 9 Marcello Lippi “ League, while maintaining certain July, the idea of playing international (Italian World Cup winner) reservations. For example, friendlies on 16 August was with seasoned interna- questioned – espe- tionals often obliged cially bearing in to watch match mind that legis- road action from the lation in most In the UEFA Champions League and for attacking stand, the long- countries philosophies based on an advanced standing call “World Cup finals, the winning coaches entitles foot- defensive line. And, as a Dutchman for a greater (Rijkaard and Lippi) made the difference ballers to steeped in attacking traditions, he number of sub- with their second-half substitutions. a statutory feels that this is a threat to be taken stitutes on the Sir Alex Ferguson “ four-week very seriously. bench remains on (Manchester United) holiday. There its feet. On the other was a proposal for This was one of many messages hand, it gratified the World Cup participants transmitted by the coaches and coaches that proposals from pre- to avoid the August date or, injected into UEFA’s debates on the vious years – such as a standardised at the worst, for the four semi-finalist future of the game and, more par- ball for all UEFA Champions League nations to back out of any pre- ticularly, the future of UEFA’s club matches – have already become arranged fixtures. One of the coaches competitions. The Forum issued an reality. remarked that he would have to wait two months before he could train In terms of competition his entire squad in top gear, bearing structures, there was debate about the UEFA Cup, which has inevitably fallen deeper into the huge shadow cast by the With counter-attacking UEFA Champions League. becoming increasingly important, The coaches voiced sev- “ countering the counter eral opinions about how best to upgrade the com- has become the main trend. petition, but on these Arsène Wenger “ questions, the technicians (Arsenal) acknowledged, there are many voices to be heard. in mind that the players had reported But the club coaches back on widely varying starting dates. unanimously expressed This was a general concern based on malaise about certain the disruption of pre-season sched- aspects of the international ules and the difficulties in finding time SORIANO/AFP/GETTY IMAGES to coach players and teams once the intensive programme of compe- titive fixtures gets under way. As Gérard Houllier said after the meet- You need to be good to win, ing: “Getting the top coaches together is great, but having these intense dis- but you can lose to a poorer team. “ cussions on football issues is an Trond Sollied “ enriching, exciting experience.” That, (Olympiacos) apart from the ideas and proposals that emerge from it, is the funda - mental raison d’être for the Elite Club Coaches Forum.

13 SEVILLA FC, KEYSTONE 2006 UEFA SUPER CUP

VOGEL/BONGARTS/GETTY IMAGES VOGEL/BONGARTS/GETTY WINNERS. SCHNEIDER/

NATIONAL TEAM AUTUMN LEAVES COMPETITIONS FIFA World Cup A LONG, HOT FOOTBALLING SUMMER IS NOW BEING FOLLOWED BY in Germany Italy v France 1-1 SOME AUTUMN LEAVES – IN THE FORM OF THE VARIOUS TECHNICAL (5-3 in penalty shoot-out) REPORTS THAT ARE NOW AVAILABLE. BUT, FIRST THINGS FIRST. Champion: Marcello Lippi Runner-up: AND THE FIRST THING IS TO SIGN OFF THE 2005/06 CAMPAIGN BY Bronze medal: Jürgen Klinsmann SALUTING THE TECHNICIANS WHO HAVE STEPPED ON TO THE PODIUM European Under-19 SINCE OUR LAST ISSUE. THE FIFA WORLD CUP IN GERMANY WAS AN Championship in Poland EDIFYING EXPERIENCE IN THAT TEAMS FROM EUROPE MONOPOLISED Spain v Scotland 2-1 THE SEMI-FINALS, WITH BRAZIL’S LUÍZ FELIPE SCOLARI JOINING Champion: Ginés Meléndez Runner-up: Tommy Wilson THREE EUROPEAN COACHES ON THE BENCHES. European Women’s UEFA/FIFA conference for national Under-19 Championship in Switzerland team coaches in Berlin, while UEFA’s Germany v France 3-0 technical reports on the UCL and Champion: Maren Meinert all the age-limit (the Runner-up: Stéphane Pilard Under-21 finals in , the Under- 19 finals in Poland and the Womens Under-19 finals in Switzerland) either CLUB have been or are being distributed COMPETITIONS in English, French and German. Apart UEFA Super Cup from providing a statistical record of In all the events, the reports contain UEFA FC Barcelona – Sevilla FC 0-3 some interesting comment from the The Spanish youngsters showed their class Champion: Juan de la Cruz once again by winning the European Under-19 members of our technical study groups “Juande” Ramos Championship. about trends in today’s football. Runner-up: Frank Rijkaard

With having taken UEFA’s Under- 17 title and the Dutch making off with the Under-21 crown, honours in age- limit tournaments were shared around the map when a talented Spanish team emerged as the dominant force at the Under-19 finals in Poznan, while Ger- many’s victory in the women’s equiva- lent allowed Maren Meinert to become champion of Europe at the tender coaching age of 32.

At the club level, Sevilla FC, winners of the UEFA Cup 2005/06, made a good entry in the new season beating UCL titel holders FC Barcelona in the UEFA Super Cup in Monaco. ANDERSEN/AFP/GETTY IMAGE FIFA’s technical report on the World Cup was officially launched at the joint A fourth World Cup title for Italy.

14 THE GERMAN WOMEN’S UNDER-19 TEAM, EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS IN 2006.

TRAINING AGENDA Build-up 2006 October 23 – 27 versus 16th UEFA Coach Educators Course (Florence) FLASH PRESS FLASH Counter November 3 – 7 BY GÉRARD HOULLIER UEFT Symposium (Prague) Head Coach, Olympique Lyonnais November 28 – 30 4th UEFA Medical Symposium ● The counter team tries to win the () ball back, and initiates a fast break (a maximum of 5 passes can be December 4 imposed, before a shot on goal). Draw European Women’s Time Under-19 and Women’s Under-17 Competitions () ● Duration – 26 minutes (2 x 12 minutes, plus 2 minutes rest). ● The teams change roles at half- December 5 time – the build-up team UEFA Youth & Amateur Football becomes the countering team, Committee (Nyon) and vice versa. (Intensity 90%). Draw European Under-19 and Under-17 Competitions (Nyon) Alternative ● Aim Each team can use both December 6 approaches (i.e. they build-up nd ● To develop constructive build-up play. 2 European Youth Football or counter, depending on the situ- ● To encourage the fast break. Workshop (Nyon) ation). But they must conform to the rules for each type of attack Numbers (i.e. if it is a counter, they only December 13 ● Two teams – 8 v 8 plus goalkeepers. have 5 passes). 2nd UEFA Women’s Elite Coaches Forum (Nyon) Area Key Coaching Points ● Full pitch, with four zones ● The countering team can press the 2007 (each 20 m). ball and counter in the opponent’s half; or retreat, try to intercept the January 25 – 26 Rules ball, and initiate a fast break from XXXI UEFA Congress (Düsseldorf) ● One team is identified as the build- a deep starting position. up team, but it must conform to the ● The build-up team are encouraged restrictions on passing (i.e. maximum to play composed possession foot- February 26 – March 2 of 4 in the deep defending zone, ball in their own half, and then to UEFA/CAF Meridian Cup 3 in the next zone, 2 in the next, and penetrate quickly with dribbling & Conference (Barcelona) one in the attacking area. In order to movements or fast combinations. score, the whole team must be in ● Concentration, turnover speed April 2 – 7 the opponent’s half of the field (this and effective forward movement 7th UEFA Grassroots Conference creates space behind the defence are key elements in the practice. (Helsinki) for the possible counter). ● Enjoy.

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