UEFA"Direct #173 (01.12.2017)
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No. 173 No.173 • December 2017 No.173 WHERE IT ALL BEGINS Grassroots football takes centre stage throughout Europe #EQUALGAME INTERVIEW THE TECHNICIAN The story of Jane, a young UEFA vice-president Mircea Lucescu’s coaching wheelchair footballer Fernando Gomes convictions Dear readers, Your opinion matters – which is why we would like to hear your thoughts on UEFA Direct. Eighteen months ago, we decided to take on a new design and produce even more content covering the endlessly diverse world of European football. We would like to hear what you think about UEFA’s official magazine, in order to improve it even more. Please scan the QR code below or copy the link to complete our short questionnaire. All answers will remain anonymous. Thank you in advance. goo.gl/t7Kqtu 02 – UEFA DIRECT • December 2017 EDITORIAL ‘WITHOUT GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL, THERE IS NO ELITE’ he strength of football lies in its grassroots. of the bigger picture of European football, they These are the opening words of this are just as important. Every Cristiano Ronaldo or T month’s cover story, and for me, they Lieke Martens has to start somewhere, and it is perfectly sum up our position on the importance the people at the beginning of that journey who of the grassroots game. Judging by our member inspire us to take part, nurture our love of the associations’ fantastic participation in the annual game and encourage us to try our best. This year’s UEFA Grassroots Week, I am delighted to say that winners were, as always, shining examples of the a great many people seem to agree. From 23 to kind of people and ideas that make you proud to 30 September, we invited the European football work in football. community to get creative and inspire others to I would like to close by congratulating and get involved by demonstrating the full range and thanking everyone who helped make the 2017 breadth of our beautiful game. UEFA Grassroots Week such a triumph and all The response was phenomenal – a celebration those people who have such love for the amateur of the sport for all, regardless of age, gender, game. Let us keep nurturing, strengthening and ability or beliefs. From projects for grandmothers investing in this key side of football, as that is in Lithuania and prisoners in Spain to street what will ensure the continued success of the football in Ukraine and a programme for children game across our continent. with health problems in Greece, it truly was a display of football at its most vibrant, diverse and inspiring. All these activities were among the highlights of the year, and served to remind us of just how important it is to continue championing the grassroots game. Speaking of championing, we recently handed out our annual UEFA Grassroots Awards. These awards may not get the same publicity as, for Theodore Theodoridis example, the UEFA Player of the Year, but in terms UEFA General Secretary UEFA DIRECT • December 2017 – 03 CONTENTS 28 Getty Images Official publication of the Union of European Football Associations 06 LFF Chief editor: Emmanuel Deconche Deputy chief editor: Dominique Maurer IN THIS ISSUE Chief writer: Mark Chaplin External contributors: 6 Grassroots Week 25 Financial fair play Laure James (page 6) Grassroots football in all its different UEFA’s 55 member associations come Michael Tsapidis (page 6 - Greek part) guises takes centre stage across Europe. together for a workshop in Montenegro. Fare network (page 14) Borgonovo Foundation (page 24) Johannes L. Tol (page 26) 14 Social responsibility 26 Research Grant Programme UEFA promotes the Fare Football People A UEFA-supported project tests a new Translations: action weeks in support of inclusion approach to analysing hamstring injuries. UEFA Language Services and diversity. Production: 27 A healthy heart your goal Touchline 16 #EqualGame Raising awareness of cardiovascular Printing: For nine-year-old Jane, who uses a disease at Women’s EURO 2017. Artgraphic Cavin, wheelchair, football is much more CH-1422 Grandson than a game. 28 Fernando Gomes Editorial deadline: UEFA’s Portuguese vice-president shares 10 November 2017 24 Luís Figo his vision of European football. The Portuguese legend joins UEFA Cover photo: as a football ambassador. Hervé Galand/FFF 04 – UEFA DIRECT • December 2017 CONTENTS 16 UEFA 38 Getty Images 14 network Ryu Voelkel/Fare 35 Coach education The latest UEFA Coach Education 27 Conference points the way forward. 36 For the record All the goals from Women’s EURO 2017. 38 The Technician Mircea Lucescu talks to UEFA Direct. 44 News from member associations UEFA UEFA DIRECT • December 2017 – 05 GRASSROOTS WEEK Lithuania’s You’re Never Too Old initiative proves a big hit. LFF GRASSROOTS EVENTS APLENTY The strength of football lies in its grassroots. This year’s UEFA Grassroots Week, held from 23 to 30 September, helped give thousands of people of all ages, genders and social backgrounds opportunities to get involved in the world’s number one sport, with many discovering football for the very first time or returning after a lengthy spell away from the pitch. n conjunction with the European as an opportunity to inspire children under by allowing them to run, jump, climb, Commission’s European Week of six to develop their football skills. With push, pull, turn, stop, accelerate, dribble, Sport, UEFA asked its member the support of clubs and local schools, throw … while introducing them to ball associations to facilitate, encourage Festifoot events were organised control and striking,” he said. “Festifoot and inspire participation in all forms throughout the country. They proved was also an opportunity to introduce Iof football to celebrate the grassroots to be both fun and entertaining for the children to the values of respect and fair game in Europe. children involved, and a great way to play, from their first steps in football to publicise opportunities for children to the implementation of a fair play protocol Belgium play football in their local areas. before and after the activities.” Football is a lifelong passion for so many The Belgian FA’s grassroots manager, Festifoot gave hundreds of young people throughout Europe, and this love Jonas Heuts, was delighted with how children a first taste of football. “We now affair often begins at an early age. With well the Festifoot initiative was received. hope that these young girls and boys will that in mind, the Royal Belgian Football “Festifoot challenges are designed to help join the wider football family through Federation used UEFA Grassroots Week develop the motor skills of young children our clubs,” Heuts added. 06 – UEFA DIRECT • December 2017 Gibraltar training centre to take part in games, UEFA Grassroots Week was also celebrated Gibraltar’s showpiece event during UEFA quizzes and other football-related activities. in Florina, a border area of Greece, Grassroots Week was a fun day welcoming National team head coach Kostas Tsanas, where 80 children from local schools and over 230 children from around the capital together with performance coach Grigoris football academies were welcomed to the to the Victoria Stadium for an event Bizas and goalkeeper of the Under-21 municipal sports centre for speeches from packed with football-themed activities. national team Lefteris Astras, was on coaches and veteran players. An event on In the spirit of making football fully hand to offer the children tips and the Greek island of Zakynthos, which accessible to all, it was not just an encouragement. Afterwards, one young was recently affected by fires, brought opportunity for 11-a-side matches – small- participant, Maria, declared her newfound together 150 young players and a girls’ sided games, mini-tournaments, futsal for love for the game. “I have no words to football event in Thessaloniki proved Under-12s and Under-14s, table football describe the excitement I felt,” she said. equally popular. and girls’ and women’s football matches “I was running everywhere all the time. were also on the programme, while the Playing with a ball was fun for me.” Lithuania Gibraltar Special Olympics team played Elsewhere in Greece, the Hellenic Imagine if players were responsible for an exhibition match against Gibraltar’s Football Federation teamed up with refereeing their own match. That is just Under-16 national team. a refugee accommodation centre in what the Lithuanian Football Federation It was the culmination of a nationwide Andravida, using football to support (LFF) decided to do during UEFA programme of events, including walking its continued efforts to integrate refugee Grassroots Week, when mixed teams of and veterans football. The Gibraltar FA’s children aged between 6 and 12 in boys and girls were invited to make their grassroots manager, Leslie Asquez, the area. own calls in a friendly tournament. believes the hard work paid off and is already thinking about ways to make next year’s week another to remember. “I am The Hellenic Football Federation extremely delighted at the way the UEFA teamed up with a centre for child Grassroots Week turned out,” he said. refugees in Andravida. “Seeing the children come down to our Sunday Funday and watching as they had fun learning about the beautiful game, as well as learning basic football skills, makes it all worthwhile. At all of the events we put on, the enjoyment factor was great to see, from the youngsters to the older generations who were taking part in walking football. “They haven’t lost their love of the game, and it’s amazing to see them with a platform to enjoy playing football regularly with the development of walking football. Now the work starts to plan next year’s events, which we hope will be bigger and better.” The association’s Play Without Pressure motto was a common theme, encouraging young children to play, whether for the first time or as regulars on the pitch, for the enjoyment and without the weight of expectation.