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Editorial: A Class Act

Interview:

Golden Oldies and Golden Youngies

Laying the Foundations

The Youth – A different Including Species?

NEWSLETTER FOR COACHES N O .35 JANUARY 2007 LIKE FACCHETTI, HAS ALWAYS SHOWN CLASS, BOTH ON AN OFF THE PITCH.

ROBERTO MANCINI WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH HIS PRESIDENT, PA/EMPICS . DE SOUZA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

IMPRESSUM

EDITORIAL GROUP Graham Turner Frits Ahlstrøm

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

COVER By beating Benfica in their last match, United () secured a place in the direct knockout round of the UEFA Champions League again.

(PHOTO: ALEX LIVESEY/GETTY IMAGES)

GIACINTO FACCHETTI, A PIONEER OF THE ATTACKING FULL BACK. SABATTINI

2 A CLASS ACT

EDITORIAL which goes with it, doesn’t give you the rich and famous. Coach educators class – there are other factors to be can also play a part in helping aspiring BY ANDY ROXBURGH, considered. coaches to concentrate on their pur- UEFA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR pose, and to recognise that in football, The character of a player or coach team success comes before personal (i.e. his personality traits) will ultimately glory. In summary, developing class can dictate the way he is perceived. In a be encouraged but not manufactured. word, it is about behaviour. Class acts Giacinto Facchetti, who passed away are considerate towards other people; People with class, such as Giacinto recently, was a man of class. The former they are honest, loyal, don’t make Facchetti, speak and perform from the captain of Inter and may excuses, take responsibility, graciously heart. As ’s Luís Figo said have left us but his spirit remains as handle defeat and victory, don’t try to about Giacinto, his president: “He was an example to today’s players and be something they are not, and despite someone with a big heart.” A passion coaches. Class on this level is easy to their success, remain extremely hum- for the game, a caring attitude and a recognise, but difficult to define and ble. They understand the maxim: if warm personality are therefore at the to develop. Pelé, Bobby Charlton and you have to tell people you are – you core of such special people. In an era Eusébio (to name but three) are also in aren’t. Arrogance is the very antithesis when ruthlessness, a “win at all costs” this rare category of people who have of the humility shown by the person mentality and cynicism are often preva- displayed class on and off the pitch. of class. Gérard Houllier, the head lent, the players and coaches who coach of Olympique Lyonnais, empha- show real style and class should be So what is class? Does it come from sised the point when he spoke of the recognised and promoted – winning an innate ability and a natural disposi- classy Giacinto Facchetti: “He would does not need to equate with ugliness. tion for thoughtfulness and respect for give examples of his loyalty and his others? Or can it be trained? Certainly, huge humility every day”. And Sandro There is no doubt that Giacinto Facchetti there are two sides to the class “coin” – Mazzola, a European champion with was a role model, on and off the pitch. the performer (player or coach) on Inter Milan and a Facchetti team-mate, one side, and the person (the charac- added another brushstroke to Giac- As Gerhard Aigner, the former CEO of ter) on the other. Both aspects have into’s image when he said: “I remem- UEFA, stated in a tribute to his friend a part to play in producing “an extraor- ber a young man, serene and tranquil.” Giacinto: “Football has lost one of its dinary man”, as , the Most people can recognise the quali- crown jewels.” Recognising a class act is head coach of Inter Milan, described ties, but is it possible to train this intan- one thing – replicating it is another. Giacinto Facchetti. gible thing called class?

On the pitch, class is seen in the Of course, in their formative years, fluid way a player moves, in his timing, footballers can be nurtured into team- in his actions under pressure, in his orientated players, be made aware of ability to read the game and in the the role of others, and be encouraged eye-catching way he controls and uses to show respect for the game. Sir Alex the ball. Tommy Gemmell, who scored Ferguson, the renowned manager of a Facchetti-type goal for Celtic Manchester United, is adamant that the against Inter Milan in the 1967 Euro- coaching staff have a responsibility to pean Cup final in Lisbon, spoke about influence the attitude of young players. Giacinto Facchetti’s pioneering role and As he says: “At this club we work his qualities as a player, when he said: hard to keep the players’ feet on the “He (Facchetti) was the first of the ground.” However, we must accept that modern overlapping fullbacks and my it is not just about coaching influences. manager, , asked me to A lot of a player’s class comes from copy him – I tried my best, but I don’t his God-given talent, his self-education, think I was as good as him.” his good upbringing, and a certain atti- tude which allows him to view life and Without entering into that particular the game in a positive light. Much of debate, most who saw Tommy, the the same can be said about coaches,

pupil, and Giacinto, the master, would although enlightened coach education IMAGES GETTY agree that they both had style. programmes do urge young techni- Giacinto Facchetti received a plaque from UEFA But fame as a player or coach, with cians to be themselves, to be genuine, for players who made their mark on the the cups, medals, glory and fortune and not to become poor copies of Champion Clubs’ Cup/UEFA Champions League.

3 INTERVIEW BY ANDY ROXBURGH, UEFA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR UEFA-BOZZANI

MARCELLO LIPPI IS THE ONLY COACH WHO HAS WON BOTH THE FIFA WORLD CUP (2006) AND THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1996). IN A REMARKABLE COACHING CAREER, SPANNING MORE THAN THREE DECADES, HE ALSO WON THE TITLE FIVE TIMES, THE ITALIAN CUP IN 1995, FOUR ITALIAN SUPER CUPS, THE UEFA SUPER CUP AND THE 1996 EUROPE/SOUTH AMERICAN CUP – ALL WITH JUVENTUS. IN ADDITION, HE JOINTLY HOLDS THE RECORD WITH REAL ’S MIGUEL MUÑOZ FOR FOUR EUROPEAN FINAL APPEARANCES AS A TECHNICIAN. THE FORMER UC SAMPDORIA PLAYER, WHO PLAYED 239 TIMES IN ITALY’S TOP DIVISION, STARTED OUT AS A YOUTH COACH WITH THE CLUB, AND EIGHT CLUBS LATER, HE ARRIVED AT THE ‘OLD LADY OF ’ IN 1994. MARCELLO, A GRADUATE OF THE ITALIAN FA COACHING SCHOOL IN FLORENCE, TOOK ALL THE NECESSARY STEPS ON HIS WAY TO THE TOP, AND APART FROM ONE SEASON AT FC INTERNAZIONALE MILANO, HE WAS THE ‘MISTER’ OF JUVENTUS BETWEEN 1994 AND 2004. MARCELLO CAN ALSO BE CONSIDERED AS THE COACHES’ COACH BECAUSE HE IS GREATLY ADMIRED BY HIS ELITE COACHING COLLEAGUES. THE MAN WITH THE FILM STAR LOOKS IS UNDOUBTEDLY A FOOTBALL WINNER. HE IS A STAR, AND THE NAME IS: MARCELLO LIPPI 1 • How do you feel about being 1996, I felt I had completed a cycle. 4 • What is the difference between the first coach to win the World Cup Not that I felt that I was a top-notch coaching at club level and working and the UEFA Champions League? coach, but I was very satisfied and with a national team? I didn’t realise that until after we won it gave me greater strength to talk The difference is huge. As a club the final in . It’s an absolute to my players because I had won coach, you start in the summer and privilege for me because we are talking something. then you work on a daily basis, trying about the two most important football to convey your feelings and your competitions in the world. And if you 3 • How did you train to become ideas to your players – things which also consider the Intercontinental Cup, a coach? come from your heart and things then I am even more satisfied. But My career as a player was hon- which come from your brain. You for me it is not a point of arrival, only ourable but not brilliant. When I was build your team, technically and tacti- a point of departure. 25 years old I took a coaching cally, every day. You can check your course because I wanted to under- players’ progress in matches week 2 • What was the moment stand more about what was hap- after week. With the national team, when you knew you were destined pening in the game. I was inter- we only meet once in a while, and to become a top-level coach? ested in tactics and what coaches although you are a coach, your main Well, a coach only becomes a top-level did, and I was already interested in task is the selection of the players – coach when he achieves some signifi- becoming a coach before I retired you have to recruit the best, but you cant results. When we won the UEFA from playing. I thought I would have very little time to communicate Champions League and the Europe/ start out at youth level, which I did. your thoughts to your players, so the South American Cup with Juventus in But I didn’t stay there too long. work becomes extremely difficult.

4 MARCELLO LIPPI

WITH THE WORLD CUP. STF/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

THE COACH AND HIS MIDFIELD LEADER – . HERTZOG/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

You have to vary the tactics depending man; as long as he has a strong per- he was my first point of reference. on the players that are available to you sonality and the competence for the I didn’t expect to become like him, – you have to do that because you job, he will have their respect. but he was definitely the first example have to take advantage of the character- that I followed. istics of the players you have chosen. 6 • Who were the biggest influences So a shortage of time and trying to on your coaching career? 7 • During the World Cup you make the best use of the players avail- This is a question which I am happy were quite adaptable in terms able is the challenge. to answer because there was one per- of tactics and selection. What were son in particular who had a great influ- the reasons for this? 5 • What are the priorities for ence on me. He was my first A-league My first reflection about the World a coach in professional football? coach and he was very well-known in Cup and the tactics goes back to what The main priorities for a top-level coach, Italy – but sadly he is no longer with I said about taking advantage of the especially for someone at a club, are us. His name was . He talents and best qualities that you the following: firstly, the players need to was a great player and subsequently have in your team. You must not have the feeling that their coach is a a great coach. He also became Italy’s choose players who are a photocopy guide, someone who is competent and national coach in the 70s, and I was of each other – you must pick the with the necessary experience and per- very impressed with his intelligence, best in the country. If you have variety sonality that it takes to be at the helm his wisdom, and his educational back- in the selection, you may have to vary of a group of men. This means dealing ground. He had a degree in business the system of play. Secondly, as you with top players who have their own and economics, and he had one major know, matches start in one way, they views, and at club level, who come quality in my view: his personality. All then evolve in a different way, and from different countries and cultures. too often, however, coaches who have often they finish in a totally different So the players must feel that they have a strong personality end up by neglect- way. So the important thing therefore a sure and strong guide. It doesn’t ing the personality of their players, or is to try to capture the moments matter if they view the coach as a nice are overbearing. He didn’t do that, and when you see the possibility of scor-

5 MARCELLO LIPPI WITH THE PRESIDENTS AND

CEOS OF FIFA AND UEFA AT THE COACHES’ SYMPOSIUM

UEFA-pjwoods.ch IN BERLIN.

ing, of winning the game. You try to (he can play other roles), and add a of people who respect each other and deploy a player (or players) that can fresh player like De Rossi to the mid- who place themselves at each other’s exploit a weakness in your opponent, field. I therefore was able to preserve service. If nobody acts like a prima something you have identified. You the technical quality of Pirlo, and with donna, then the group is destined to may have to change the approach or our other attacking players, to maintain achieve great results. By contrast, if all the system rather quickly. But in Italy an offensive approach. the players cater to their own self inter- we have a very good tactical culture est, it is going to be rather difficult; you and our players are well trained in 9 • From a coach’s perspective, will have some spectacular moments various systems and they are prepared what does it take to win either of football, but in the end the teams to adapt. the UEFA Champions League which have a ‘we’ mentality will prevail. or the World Cup? 8 • Specifically, what was your The most important thing is to have 10 • How did you deal with reason for the change you made in the ability to involve top-level players. the motivation of the players at the the second half of the World Cup There is very little a coach can do if he World Cup, particularly with the final when you moved Andrea Pirlo can’t count on top players – you need difficulties in Italy at the time? forward and brought Daniele De quality players to produce results. So Well, first of all I have to say something. Rossi into the midfield? it is about recruitment, selection and I always use this metaphor to define We were suffering in the second half the ability to gel those players into an what happened in Italian football: if you against . We had been very suc- effective team. The more stars you have a nice piece of cheese in the cessful in the first half, but in the sec- have in the team, the more you need cellar and a small piece goes bad, you ond period we started to pay the price to work hard to bring the group to- don’t throw out the whole cheese – for our 120 minutes against Germany gether, to make the team compact and you get rid of the bad bit and keep the in the semi-final – there was a huge in total harmony. You have to make rest. So although there were problems energy expenditure in that game both each player feel equally useful, but in Italian football, it didn’t mean that physically and psychologically. So, I not indispensable. Every time I start everything was bad. This group of thought I would try to maintain our working with a team, the first thing players was very much affected by what creative quality by moving Pirlo forward, I emphasise is that a team is made up happened, and they felt they had a mission to show to the whole world that Italian football was not what people read in the papers. The technical and moral values of Italian football had to be upheld and that was the attitude when we set about our task. Our squad began with a great deal of tension and therefore difficulty, but we knew that in time all this would turn to our advan- tage, and that is what happened. We turned a negative situation into positive energy.

11 • What is your view of the UEFA Champions League? The UEFA Champions League is some- thing which is part of me. I had the good fortune of winning the UEFA Champions League, but a lot of people

EMPICS forget that I was lucky to reach the final Lippi also won the Champion Clubs’ Cup with Juventus in 1996. four times. Only Miguel Muñoz of Real

6 THE WORLD CHAMPION WITH EUROPEAN COLLEAGUES AT THE UEFA ELITE CLUB COACHES’ FORUM

IN GENEVA. UEFA-pjwoods.ch

behave in an obstinate way and want to impose their style of football on the players.

13 • What happens to Marcello Lippi now? I have no intention whatsoever of retir- ing. Let me just say that even before the World Cup I had informed my fed- eration that whatever the outcome of the World Cup I would leave. I want to stress this because people might think that I suddenly left triumphantly, just because we had won. My mission was to be concluded, irrespective of the outcome. Now my plan is to rest for a few months and then I will definitely go back to my job, which is to be a coach. I was asked to be the supervisor of our national teams but that is not what I want to do. I would like to have a direct relationship with a new team. I would like to try to convey to them, as I said before, what comes from the heart and what comes from the brain.

14 • Finally, is football, from a technical and coaching view point, in good health?

BRANDT/AFP/GETTY IMAGES Technically speaking yes. I think football is in good condition because there are Madrid also did that. Getting to four ties of his players. I don’t think the some excellent players around. There finals was fantastic but winning only coach should adapt the player to his are many players who have evolved one was very difficult for me to accept. system, but instead he should adapt greatly from a tactical point of view, The magic, the music, the organisation and work over the months to use the and consequently the coaches have the of the UEFA Champions League, it is qualities of the players. When I see opportunity to work in any way they the most wonderful thing that can a coach who is stubborn and insists want. Unfortunately, however, the activ- happen to a coach in his career, and on playing in a certain way, and every- ity today is so intense, the calendar so it is equally special for the teams that one realises that these players are crowded, that when top-notch players participate. So please don’t change not meant to play that way, then that get to the final stages of competitions, anything – leave it the way it is. annoys me. A coach has to be flexible, especially with their national teams, be very receptive. We have to under- they are tired and lack the necessary 12 • Is there something in the stand that we are constantly experienc- energy. If there is too much competi- modern game that annoys you? ing tactical evolution. This even hap- tion, star players can’t be expected Not the referees because they are like pens in youth football and young play- to perform to their capacity because people in all walks of life – you get the ers are emerging technically and tacti- they are exhausted. But technically good and the bad. But, as I said earlier, cally prepared for the modern game. and tactically, the game is certainly in a coach should try to tap into the quali- I therefore can’t stand it when coaches good condition.

7 , ’S COACH. GOLDEN

UEFA-pjwoods.ch OLDIES AND GOLDEN YOUNGIES THE 14TH UEFA CONFERENCE FOR NATIONAL COACHES WAS THE FIRST TO BE JOINTLY STAGED WITH FIFA AND, BEARING IN MIND THAT THE AIM WAS TO ANALYSE THE FIFA WORLD CUP UNDER THE SLOGAN ‘2006 AND BEYOND’, WHAT BETTER PLACE TO STAGE THE EVENT THAN BERLIN, SCENARIO FOR THE ALL-EUROPEAN FINAL BETWEEN ITALY AND FRANCE?

The list of participants – a real Who’s requirement to submit squad lists a Who of national team coaches from all full 25 days before the event. corners of the world, included four of the top five technicians, and the ‘absent When discussion turned towards the friend’, Jürgen Klinsmann, was beamed future, there was such a wealth of pro- in from Los Angeles for a satellite inter- posals (priorities tended to vary widely view with Andy Roxburgh. from continent to continent) that neu- tral observers had to reach for extra In-depth discussions on the Laws of notebooks. But the common denomi- the Game confirmed that there is global nator was a firm conviction that the concern about some of the issues regu- future of the game hinges on player larly raised at European get-togethers: development and that more status, abuse of the ‘passive offside’ ruling, the education and remuneration need to suspicion that players are sometimes be given to youth coaches – a view over-punished in ‘penalty, red card and which dovetails with UEFA’s blueprint suspension’ situations, the abuse of fair for an A youth licence. play gestures (players going down in order to persuade opponents to kick The need to have a ‘youth philosophy’ the ball out of play rather than counter- as well as a ‘youth programme’ was attack), the of substitutions another thesis which received wide- (three + goalkeeper?), a certain malaise spread support. There was a call for about the behaviour of some fourth emphasis to be placed on technical – officials, deep concern about simulation, rather than physical or tactical –

a desire to experiment even further with improvement and for youngsters to IMAGES GETTY reliable goal-line technology, and more be equipped to combine technique Jürgen Klinsmann, interviewed live from World Cup-specific topics, such as the with speed and to be able to cope Los Angeles by satellite.

8 THE NATIONAL COACHES AND TECHNICAL DIRECTORS

IN BERLIN. UEFA-pjwoods.ch

with tight situations in a game where of 21 teams at an average of two clubs is not necessarily positive for space is increasingly difficult to find. apiece. That meant 11 squads con- the development of the individual. Understandably, this was immediately tained no players aged 21 or under. linked to training facilities and decent This question sits neatly on the playing surfaces – or rather, the lack However, registering youngsters as debating table next to a comment of them. Technicians from many coun- ‘present’ at the finals only tells half the by , whose tries commented that bad pitches rep- story. The other half is about how they Brazilian squad performed before resent an insurmountable barrier when were used. Germany’s Lukas Podolski sell-out crowds of 4,000 or during it comes to developing skills and to received the Best Young Player award every session of the pre-World focus on the creative aspects of playing on the basis of seven appearances Cup training camp in Switzerland. to win rather than playing not to lose. and three goals in 634 minutes on the “The level at the World Cup was OK,” pitch. In terms of sheer participation, The event in Berlin inspired so many he was followed by Portugal’s Cristiano reflections that there’s a risk of trying Ronaldo (6 games/484 minutes), to pack everything into an ‘overview’ Tranquillo Barnetta (4/390), Luís Valen- rather than focusing on a specific topic cia (4/314), Wayne Rooney (4/253), – like the one raised by Raymond Cesc Fabregas (4/214) and Artem Domenech during the interview session Milevskyi (4/87). (122 alongside Luiz Felipe Scolari, Carlos minutes) was one of the eight young- Alberto Parreira and Angola’s Luís de sters who made three appearances, Oliveira Gonçalves on the final morning. while 14 of the 41 young bloods (35%) remained unused on the bench. “In Germany, we were given proof that the old-timers can still play,” Raymond Raymond’s viewpoint was supported commented. “The veterans’ contribution by Luiz Felipe Scolari who, a few min- to the World Cup was very positive. utes earlier, had remarked “it was a But can we say the same about the satisfactory World Cup because Portugal young players? Are there enough talents proved that they can compete with the emerging?” top nations, even though 51% of the players in the Portuguese league are UEFA-pjwoods.ch His question provides food for thought. foreigners. It has reached a stage where in praise of the veterans. His French silver-medallists certainly coaches need to be urgently encour- offered evidence to support his thesis, aged to launch home-grown youngsters he said. “There was not that much with the likes of Zinédine Zidane (34), into league football so that they have difference between big teams and (30), Claude Makelele a chance of making it into the national small teams, because it was not a (33) and (34) providing team.” World Cup that was dominated by much of the impetus that pulled Les two, three, four or five outstanding Bleus out of the group-phase doldrums In Berlin, it was underlined that this individuals. OK, there were stars, but and into the final. The squad’s average theme is by no means exclusive to they worked for the team. And the age was 29 years and 2 months. Europe. National-team coaches from strength of Italy was the team itself.” Marcello Lippi’s gold-medallists aver- other continents commented that aged 28 years and 9 months. migratory patterns mean that most So the debating points to emerge nations now have promising youngsters from Berlin were: Are we developing A statistical response to Raymond’s – or even top players – in other coun- enough top-quality youngsters? questions can be found in FIFA’s techni- tries. This is not necessarily a disadvan- Are we giving them enough playing cal report, edited by , tage. But it can certainly become a opportunities? And are we focusing where 41 players born in 1985 or later disadvantage if those players are not on the team ethic to the detriment were listed. They represented 5.5% getting regular football. There was wide- of the individual? The answers of the ‘workforce’ on duty in Germany spread concern that an incessant drift will be provided on the pitch in a and were included in the squad lists of top youngsters towards the richest not-too-distant future…

9 DISCUSSIONS AT A RECENT UEFA COACH EDUCATION

UEFA-BOZZANI COURSE IN FLORENCE.

to upgrade their courses and their programmes and they started to come UEFA CONVENTION on board.” Apart from documents, programmes and evaluations, was there a philosophy? “Very much so. The Executive Commit- tee’s aims were to raise standards and to THE CIRCLE make sure that coaches could move freely between countries, in line with EU law. In fact, everything we have done has been in line with EU law. The Executive Commit- tee felt that the coaches were the key IS CLOSED people in terms of raising standards and improving football, not only at pro level but LAST OCTOBER, UEFA’S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, BY ADMITTING right through to amateur and grassroots TURKEY TO THE UEFA CONVENTION AT ‘B’ LEVEL, CLOSED A CIRCLE. levels. Again, the theory was that outstand- ing coaches could create outstanding play- AT THAT POINT, ALL OF UEFA’S MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS WERE ers and outstanding teams. OK, you can ON BOARD. IT WAS A MAJOR MILESTONE IN A PROCESS THAT HAD leave this to chance. But our philosophy was to try to achieve this by design rather STARTED 15 YEARS EARLIER, SO GRAHAM TURNER KNOCKED than by chance. So UEFA’s approach was to aim for high quality in coach education. ON ANDY ROXBURGH’S DOOR AND ASKED UEFA’S TECHNICAL You can argue that there have been great DIRECTOR TO TELL THE STORY AND TO OUTLINE WHAT FURTHER coaches who didn’t have licences. And that is true because you always get exceptions LANDMARKS WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE IN THE FUTURE. to a rule. People in the old days could be good teachers without being trained How did the story start, Andy? getting them to live together during long “It began in 1990, with UEFA’s Executive periods at one central venue seemed Committee. They thought we should like a mission impossible. Another way look into the idea of having a pan-Euro- was to pinpoint the federations that were pean coaching licence. Their attitude leading the field, gather them together, was that, with more and more areas draw up criteria based on best practice, being regulated on an international basis and then encourage everybody else and criteria being built up in all sorts to match up to those standards. That’s of fields, UEFA should take the initiative what we did.” rather than run the risk of having some- thing imposed by non-football agencies. Who was ‘we’? So they decided to create a working “After the initial working groups, UEFA group which met for the first time in decided that the only way to effectively Zurich in 1991 with Dr Vaclav Jira in the drive the project was to appoint a tech- chair – which is why the group of experts nical director – something UEFA had who have been instrumental in imple- never had before. I left the Scottish FA menting the idea is called the Jira Panel.” to take the appointment at the beginning of 1994. In 1995, we created the Jira How did you become involved? Panel and held our first meeting in Paris, “At that time I was still the coach of the with Gérard Houllier as ‘host’ because national team in , but they asked he was technical director in France at me to join the group, along with people that time. Our small group set about like and René Hüssy, who designing the criteria and visiting federa- took the chair after Dr Jira passed away. tions with a view to starting the evalua- For a couple of years, this little working tions and endorsements that got the group looked at the possibilities. One project going. In Ghent, on 17 January idea was that UEFA could run coach 1998, , France, Germany, Italy, education courses centrally. The more the and were the first

I thought about that, the more disturbed six associations to put their signatures UEFA I became! The idea of bringing people to the convention. The foundations were The German FA (DFB) was one of the first asso- together from 52 countries, with all the in place. After that we proceeded very ciations to join the convention. DFB president at the language and cultural elements, and quickly to encourage other associations time, Egidius Braun, signs the document in Ghent.

10

11

have to prove that you can do it.” it.” do can you that prove to have ciations.” technicians with UEFA credentials, com- credentials, UEFA with technicians

said “once you’re through the door, you door, the through you’re “once said between UEFA and its member asso- member its and UEFA between “No. Even though we have over 170,000 over have we though Even “No.

on board the end of the project? the of end the board on getting a job. But, as Rijkaard Frank as But, job. a getting is such a good example of the marriage the of example good a such is

Is having all national associations associations national all having Is open doors for you when it comes to to comes it when you for doors open them work. That’s why the convention the why That’s work. them

behind you and it’s also a key that will that key a also it’s and you behind menting the programmes and making and programmes the menting

because you’ve got all that experience that all got you’ve because they invested resources into imple- into resources invested they menting the coaching convention. coaching the menting

Being a top player is an advantage an is player top a Being embraced the UEFA concept. And then And concept. UEFA the embraced valuable administrative support in imple- in support administrative valuable

amount that they didn’t know as players. as know didn’t they that amount ciations themselves. First of all, they all, of First themselves. ciations have, along with our staff, provided provided staff, our with along have,

ing mentality. They learned an enormous an learned They mentality. ing deserve credit are the national asso- national the are credit deserve as Maik Kiss and then Frank Ludolph, Frank then and Kiss Maik as

thinking as players and develop a coach- a develop and players as thinking associations. The other people who people other The associations. programme, and my colleagues, such such colleagues, my and programme,

ing because they were obliged to stop to obliged were they because ing Europe to help and encourage national encourage and help to Europe administration attached to such a vast a such to attached administration

attended completely changed their think- their changed completely attended They are experts who go all over all go who experts are They nical exercise. There has been a lot of lot a been has There exercise. nical

that the formal education courses they courses education formal the that members of the Jira Panel are vital. are Panel Jira the of members But this has been more than a tech- a than more been has this But

or Sir , they’ll all tell you you tell all they’ll Ferguson, Alex Sir or be the mentality. In this respect, the respect, this In mentality. the be

such as Marcello Lippi, Capello Fabio Lippi, Marcello as such improvement on a daily basis has to to has basis daily a on improvement extranet and so on.” so and extranet

learn a lot. And if you talk to leading lights leading to talk you if And lot. a learn serve its credibility. Therefore, constant Therefore, credibility. its serve service about technical matters via the via matters technical about service

from individual qualities but you can also can you but qualities individual from protect what has been built and pre- and built been has what protect And we also set out to offer an advisory an offer to out set also we And

them for matches. A lot of that will stem will that of lot A matches. for them “We also have to make sure that we that sure make to have also “We The exchange of ideas is important. important. is ideas of exchange The

to motivate them and how to prepare to how and them motivate to resources of all the national associations. national the all of resources

from injury, how to structure teams, how teams, structure to how injury, from functional by the end of 2007.” 2007.” of end the by functional We also felt it was important to pool the pool to important was it felt also We

how to train players, how to protect them protect to how players, train to how specialisation course, which will be fully be will which course, specialisation have qualified people to do the job. job. the do to people qualified have

ments are the ability to impart knowledge, impart to ability the are ments tures, such as the new ‘A’ level youth level ‘A’ new the as such tures, tems in different countries so that you that so countries different in tems

Whatever he or she chooses, the key ele- key the chooses, she or he Whatever Plus a Step 5, which is to add new fea- new add to is which 5, Step a Plus compulsory through the licensing sys- licensing the through compulsory

to decide which styles they prefer to use. to prefer they styles which decide to policy, which we do every three years. three every do we which policy, to be recognised and they have to be to have they and recognised be to

practice and then leave it to the coaches the to it leave then and practice there’s a Step 4 based on the renewal the on based 4 Step a there’s it. Proper education programmes have programmes education Proper it.

how to teach football. We try to show best show to try We football. teach to how right up to the professional level. And level. professional the to up right dards, rules and regulations to govern govern to regulations and rules dards,

much based on what to teach but rather but teach to what on based much many associations as possible to climb to possible as associations many become acknowledged until it has stan- has it until acknowledged become

the same style. So our criteria are not so not are criteria our So style. same the into Step 3, which is to encourage as encourage to is which 3, Step into profession. A profession doesn’t really doesn’t profession A profession.

same philosophy, the same mentality and mentality same the philosophy, same ciations actively involved. Now we go we Now involved. actively ciations coaches and to protect the coaching the protect to and coaches

you want is to have everybody with the with everybody have to is want you to close the circle by getting all 52 asso- 52 all getting by circle the close to to improve the status of European of status the improve to

qualities of the game. The last thing thing last The game. the of qualities implement the convention and then then and convention the implement to hire and fire technicians, we wanted we technicians, fire and hire to

ment value of football and the intrinsic the and football of value ment like, we’ve made Steps 1 and 2 – to – 2 and 1 Steps made we’ve like, I hope it is. In a context where it is easy is it where context a In is. it hope I

national identity is vital to the entertain- the to vital is identity national to avoid. The task has not ended. If you If ended. not has task The avoid. to “In the most positive sense of the term, term, the of sense positive most the “In

Is a UEFA diploma a ‘status symbol’? ‘status a diploma UEFA a Is has been that variety is good and that and good is variety that been has placency is the first thing we have have we thing first the is placency

Europe. Our philosophy, right from Day1, from right philosophy, Our Europe.

stereotyped style of coaching throughout coaching of style stereotyped Fabio Capello and his players during a Real Madrid training session. training Madrid Real a during players his and Capello Fabio form with the idea of creating a uniform, a creating of idea the with form

MARCOU/AFP/GETTY IMAGES MARCOU/AFP/GETTY

that we don’t agree in any way, shape or shape way, any in agree don’t we that

“One thing we have always stressed is stressed always have we thing “One

uniform coaches? coaches? uniform

don’t you run the risk of creating creating of risk the run you don’t

By implanting uniform standards, standards, uniform implanting By

reliance.”

We aim to encourage that sort of self- of sort that encourage to aim We

devise training routines and programmes. and routines training devise

so it’s important to write log books, to books, log write to important it’s so

ultimately, a coach has to be self-reliant, be to has coach a ultimately,

under guidance. The third element is that, is element third The guidance. under

a national squad. And they work there work they And squad. national a

they have to go and work at a club or with or club a at work and go to have they

rience because, as part of their training, their of part as because, rience

coaching courses, there’s also work expe- work also there’s courses, coaching

“Apart from the formal input from from input formal the from “Apart

How?

educational process.” educational

from being trained and being part of an of part being and trained being from

even those with innate talent – benefit – talent innate with those even

to teach. But the vast majority of people – people of majority vast the But teach. to

EDUCATION DIRECTORS IN IN IN BRUSSELS IN DIRECTORS EDUCATION

0 PHOTO NEWS 2003.

AND HUGO BROOS AT A CONFERENCE FOR COACH COACH FOR CONFERENCE A AT BROOS HUGO AND ANDY ROXBURGH WITH FRANKIE VERCAUTEREN VERCAUTEREN FRANKIE WITH ROXBURGH ANDY TONY HIGGINS FROM THE SCOTTISH PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS’ ASSOCIATION. LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS THE 16TH UEFA COURSE FOR COACH EDUCATORS WAS THE FIFTH TO BE STAGED AT COVERCIANO. SO IT WAS FITTING THAT THE EVENT GOT OFF TO AN EMOTIONAL START WITH A TRIBUTE TO THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE ITALIAN FEDERATION’S NATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE, GUIDO VANTAGGIATO, AND ONE OF THE LEGENDS OF ITALIAN FOOTBALL, GIACINTO FACCHETTI. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A VIBRANT, DYNAMIC COURSE THAT BOTH MEN WOULD SURELY HAVE BEEN PROUD OF.

Marcello Lippi set the scene by tracing That final in Poland had been classed The strong emphasis on youth develop- his own development from youth coach as a ‘meeting of two footballing cultures’. ment was no accident. UEFA used the at UC Sampdoria to champion of Europe In the auditorium, Ginés and Tommy course in Coverciano as a sounding board with Juventus and world champion acknowledged that there are fundamen- for reactions to plans for the imminent with the senior national team. Youth tal differences between Spanish and introduction of an elite youth diploma development was to be the core feature Scottish youth players but, in their own to be placed in parallel to the A licence of the four-day event, with ACF Fioren- ways, stressed that man management within the structures of the UEFA coaching tina ‘lending’ their Primavera squad and motivation are key elements at convention. The schedule is for the details for two practical sessions – one con- that level. “You don’t stop being young to be fine-tuned at the meeting of the ducted by their own coach, Adriano when you sign a pro contract,” said Jira Panel in Glasgow on 15 May and Cadregari and the other by FC Inter- Ginés. “So we work on bringing the for the project to be formally launched nazionale’s Vincenzo Esposito. Spain’s players to maturity. We encourage them when the coach education directors get Ginés Meléndez and Scotland’s Tommy to draw up their own code of conduct. together in September. Wilson (gold and silver medallists at We work on the will to win and on the European Under-19 Championship) psychological balance. After a training Some national associations – the French had no such luxury. Their pupils on session, we encourage them to lie for example – have already travelled a long the pitch at Coverciano were their fellow down and reflect on the positive aspects way down this particular road. Some of participants on the course… of the work they have done.” the smaller ones have neither the need nor the resources to do so. Others already have specific educational offers for youth coaches – many as modules within existing coach education structures. So UEFA will have the task of identifying clear pathways.

There are, of course, initial hurdles to surmount. Holders of an A youth diploma will obviously need job opportunities and, in some countries, clubs will need to be persuaded that youth development is a priority. In some cases, there may even be doubts about who can best identify the most appropriate educators for the A youth course.

This is why some of the sessions in Cover- ciano were of special value to the associa- tions which have yet to set foot on this par- ticular path. Nico Romeyn explained how The participants at the course in Coverciano. the Dutch place emphasis on attitude and

12 MARCELLO LIPPI CONTRIBUTED TO THE COURSE IN COVERCIANO.

But mental preparation is also paramount. “Talent is not enough – you need desire and intelligence,” says Arsène Wenger. “The key is to know what to do in every kind of situation,” says Rafael Benítez. “The focus of youth development in the future,” says , “will be tacti- cal training and personality development.” “As well as being technically good, you also have to be able to think – and to think ahead,” says Morten Olsen while, at the same time, Gérard Houllier main- tains “young players who have technical flaws at 16 will find it hard to catch up.” In other words, there is compelling evidence to support theories that youth coaching is an art in itself. The elite youth coach is expected to inspire his or her pupils with: ● Love of the game ● Competitive spirit

PHOTOS: UEFA-BOZZANI PHOTOS: ● Football knowledge ● Vincenzo Esposito runs a practical session. Technical mastery ● Athletic proficiency personality as well as technique and to include educational elements that ● Team mentality skill. Erich Rutemöller did likewise from will produce a person equipped to move ● Work ethic his standpoint as head of coach educa- into an alternative lifestyle even if there ● Healthy lifestyle tion at the German FA. And Jean-Pierre is not enough quality to underpin a ● Mental strength Morlans passed on the knowledge and professional career or even if there is a ● Capacity for total concentration experience gained since the French com- career-threatening injury.” ● Inner confidence mitted themselves to this particular field. ● Leadership qualities Tony stressed that, these days, there is And, in accordance with the unwritten The next question raised in Coverciano: social funding available to help players laws of the game, the youth coach will What happens to the youngsters who are who go through elite youth schemes be judged on results. But, in this case, engaged in youth development schemes but who, for one reason or another, fail what are the results? Rather than score- but fail to make the grade? This crucial to make the grade. His message was lines in matches, the criteria might be: issue was addressed by Tony Higgins, a clear: youth development is not exclu- ● Number of players deemed good former pro player in Scotland who is now sively about football; it is intrinsically enough for the first team involved with the Professional Footballers’ interwoven with the development of the ● Number of players sold to other Association and various government human being. professional teams bodies. “Those of us who are involved in ● Number of players deemed good youth development or in soccer acade- The same applies in physical terms. enough for national teams mies,” he warns, “must bear in mind that, Vincenzo Esposito and Paul Balsom, ● Market value of players developed of the 16-year-olds who sign a profes- physiologist at the Swedish FA, stressed by the club sional contract, 85% are out of the pro- that motor skills are learned at very ● Positive value of the youth scheme fessional game by the age of 21. Of those early ages and that, at youth level in terms of media reporting who make it into the professional game, “you cannot teach if you do not have ● Success rate in developing ‘players’ 70% have unrealistic expectations of their a profound knowledge of the person,” with successful business careers post-playing career. They say they want in the words of Vincenzo. “You have to ● Positive contributions to local to stay in the game, but it is obvious that examine the muscular and skeletal or grassroots football/refereeing the game cannot absorb that number of structures of each individual and draw people. In an international survey among up a personal work schedule. At the As Andy Roxburgh said in Coverciano, professional footballers, 40% admit that same time, you have to draft a personal “youth development is all about implant- they have given no thought to what they psychological profile and you have to ing a philosophy, the pursuit of good might do when they stop playing. To detect the reasons for under-perform- habits, the spirit of the game and personal complete the picture, many players are ance. You also need to show the players development. It’s a privilege to work with actively encouraged to focus 100% the results of their personal tests and youth players because you get caught on the game and not to pursue any explain exactly what the player needs up with their adventure and their ambi- alternative. This makes it quite clear that to do in order to avoid injuries derived tion. For me, being a national youth coach any youth development scheme has from anatomical peculiarities.” was the best time of my life.”

13 UEFA-pjwoods.ch JEAN-PIERRE MORLANS THE YOUTH COACH – A DIFFERENT SPECIES? “WE BEGAN TO WORK WITH YOUNG PLAYERS, FIRST AT VICHY AND THEN AT CLAIREFONTAINE. WE WERE THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD TO INTRODUCE A SPECIAL DIPLOMA FOR COACHING YOUNG PLAYERS AND THAT HAS BEEN THE KEY TO OUR SUCCESS.”

The words belong to Raymond Domenech, coach of the French national team ● Self-confidence that has reached two of the last three FIFA World Cup finals. His opponent in ● Psychological and motivational skills last summer’s Berlin final, Marcello Lippi, also acknowledged in Coverciano that ● Ability to listen, observe and read youth coaching is a fundamentally different job. “It is not a stop-gap profes- the game sion,” he told his colleagues. “It is a mission for people who deeply believe in what they are doing; for people who can remove from their heads everything ● Passion and creativity to do with coaching a senior team. You have to dedicate yourself totally to ● Role-model characteristics improving young talent. The reason I left youth coaching after three years was because I realised that I preferred the risks, the tension, the need to get results. In more football-specific terms, the That’s why I started my great adventure.” profile of the ideal youth coach is based on: In Coverciano, Jean-Pierre Morlans explained how and why the French became ● Knowledge (of football and phases active in the field of specialised qualifications for youth coaches – something of player development) which has been on the French federation’s agenda since 1992. ● Methodology (teaching skills) The move stemmed from the realisation that coaching a team and developing ● Player assessment youth players are fundamentally two different jobs. Using a big brush, the ● Open-mindedness (self-reliant but pictures could be painted in the following way: always ready to re-educate) ● Specialised skills in the training ‘A’ licence coach ‘A’ licence youth coach of youth players Usually a ‘temporary’ short-term Long-term project based on club job philosophy Coaches and players alike felt that Uses players rather than develops Total focus on player development having played the game at pro level them can be an advantage in terms of feeling at home on the pitch, gaining Emphasis on collective qualities Emphasis on individual qualities the respect of ‘pupils’ and fulfilling the Judged on short-term competition Judged on players brought into ‘role model’ requirement. But human results first team and educational aspects outweighed the playing component in a profile On the final day of the course in responses from young players who which, as Andy Roxburgh remarked in Coverciano, the participants were invited had been asked to name the qualities Coverciano, “some qualities are inher- to draw a profile of the youth coach. they look for in a youth coach. ent, some qualities can be trained, The picture which emerged indicated Their vision is of someone with the and some qualities develop with time.” unequivocally that, in youth coaching, right human qualities to become The profile strongly suggests that the human and pedagogical qualities carry something between a father figure technicians most likely to gravitate much more weight than the technical/ and a friend. towards the ‘A’ youth licence may be tactical abilities which mark the career a slightly different species from those ● Honesty of an ‘A’ licence team coach. And this who use the normal ‘A’ licence to was borne out when Andy Roxburgh ● Humility access the professional game as a combined the coaches’ views with the ● Patience and understanding team coach. Time will tell…

14 THE OLYMPIC STADIUM IN ATHENS WILL HOST THE 2007 UEFA

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL. IMAGES VOGEL/BONGARTS/GETTY

TRAINING AGENDA 2007

January 25–26 Counter- XXXI UEFA Congress (Düsseldorf) February 26 – March 1

UEFA UEFA/CAF Meridian Cup/ Attack Conference () BY TOMMY WILSON April 2–6 Scotland Under-19 Coach and Glasgow Rangers Youth Coach 7th UEFA Grassroots Conference (Helsinki)

April 21 UEFA Women’s Cup final: first leg (Umeå)

April 26–28 UEFA Futsal Cup finals

April 27 or 29 UEFA Women’s Cup final: second leg

May 2–13 6th European Under-17 Champion- ship final round () Aim ● When players are on the sidelines, ● To break quickly, when possible. they have a maximum of two May 15 touches and play for the team in ● To exploit a disorganised defence. UEFA Jira Panel meeting (Glasgow) possession. Numbers May 16 Coaching Points UEFA Technical Development ● 3 teams of 5 players each. ● When two of the teams change Committee meeting (Glasgow) ● 2 neutral goalkeepers. roles following a goal, the team in possession must try to break May 16 Area quickly in order to take advantage UEFA Cup final (Glasgow) ● 70 metres x 45 metres. before the ‘new’ defence gets organised. May 23 Rules ● The defending team tries to UEFA Champions League final ● 5 v 5 on the field and 5 players on intercept the ball and to launch (Athens) the sides. a counter-attack whenever May 24 ● For example, if the red team scores possible. UEFA Champions League Technical in goal A, they retain possession ● The counters must be quick Study Group meeting (Athens) and then attack goal B. and direct, with combination play or fast . ● When a team concedes a goal, June 10–23 they immediately leave the field ● Various combinations should European Under-21 Championship and are replaced by the side be employed to support the final round (Netherlands) players (i.e. the third team). striker(s).

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