sign in sign up
<<
Home , 1986 European Super Cup, Berti Vogts, Bobby Robson, Esteban Cambiasso, Fabio Capello, FC Barcelona

The Technician N°46•E:Anglais 15.4.2010 16:11 Page 1

Editorial: Overnight Success

Football Philosophers

Organising the Back Room

Learning to Read

National Team Football: An Identity Parade?

NEWSLETTER FOR COACHES N O 46 MAY 2010 The Technician N°46•E:Anglais 15.4.2010 16:11 Page 2

IMPRESSUM

EDITORIAL GROUP Graham Turner PRODUCTION André Vieli Dominique Maurer Atema Communication SA Printed by Artgraphic Cavin SA ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Hélène Fors COVER With the World Cup finals kicking off in South Africa on 11 June, and his Italian side are gearing up to defend the title they won in in 2006. (Photo: Getty Images)

Under , FC swept the board last . Empics Sport

2 The Technician N°46•E:Anglais 15.4.2010 16:11 Page 3

OVERNIGHT SUCCESS

EDITORIAL in the much lauded ‘Barça dream tain. The paths of José and Pep did team’. In an illustrious playing career, cross for a period at FC Barcelona dur- BY ANDY ROXBURGH, the thoughtful won ing the latter part of the 1990s. But UEFA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR six times, the European Cup Winners’ their football backgrounds and training Cup, the UEFA Champions League and were certainly not the same. Message1: an Olympic gold medal with in Coach education is about dealing with Barcelona in 1992. During the period individuals and getting the best out of between then and 2001, when he them. It is not about mass production In 1988, Gladys Knight, the ‘Empress also gained 47 international caps, he and rote learning. Coaches develop of Soul’, sang the words “overnight suc- learned from three of Europe’s top club through a combination of work experi- cess, stars are on the rise”. She wasn’t coaches: , ence, the help of mentors, managing referring to José Mourinho or Pep and . After a season of lower-level teams, personal study and Guardiola. At the time, the former was successfully coaching Barça’s B team, a life immersed in the game, as well a young student on a coaching course the young man who, apart from a few as structured coaching programmes. in , while the latter was a years abroad, had been immersed in Message 2: The latter may be only part 17-year-old member of the FC Barce- the Catalan club’s culture for more than of the equation. But well-designed, lona youth academy – a product two decades, took over as manager reality-based courses with individual of La Masía. But maybe the singer’s of the FC Barcelona first team. He pro- tuition can help aspiring technicians words were, unknowingly, a prediction ceeded to win absolutely everything to improve their coaching competence of glories to come. during 2009 – his first calendar year in and to find their style of leadership. charge: the Spanish league, cup and From an early age, José Mourinho super cup, together with UEFA’s Cham- Pep Guardiola and José Mourinho studied football. Indeed, he once said pions League and Super Cup titles. travelled a long way to become “my training as a coach was fully The FIFA Club World Cup then provided overnight successes. José summed it comprehensive”. He was referring to a the icing on the cake and confirmation up when he said “there’s a history of important elements in his that Pep Guardiola was the ultimate made up by each of us that leads us to development. For example, he came overnight success, albeit that his edu- that final victory. It’s that history, in its from a football family – his father being cation in leading Barcelona, as captain entirety, that turns us into champions.” a professional player and coach. He and as coach, had started back in In her soulful voice, Gladys Knight was trained in physical education and 1984, when he had joined the club echoed the same sentiments when football coaching; he had fantastic work as a skinny young boy. she sang “overnight success, I know it experience at Sporting Clube, FC Porto doesn’t happen overnight”. The road to and FC Barcelona (where Bobby Rob- From the perspective of coach educa- coaching stardom takes years of dedi- son and Louis van Gaal were his men- tion, what do these two success stories cation, experience and learning. Some tors) before dipping his toes deeper tell us? Firstly, that there are different talented coaches, such as José and into the turbulent waters of coaching routes to the top of the coaching moun- Pep, simply sparkle earlier than others. at SL Benfica and UD Leiria. At 39 years old, backed by a mine of footballing know-how and expertise in coaching methodology, he took over at FC Porto. In his first two seasons in charge of ‘The Dragons’, he won the Portuguese Liga twice, the domestic cup, the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Champions League. He was an overnight success, but it was like a roof appearing on a house that had taken years to build.

Pep Guardiola, who joined FC Barcelona as a 13-year-old and first experienced nights of European football as a ball- boy at the , was spotted by

Johan Cruyff in the youth team and Images Tsarev/Epsilon/Getty quickly became the midfield fulcrum José Mourinho during a training session with Inter

3 The Technician N°46•E:Anglais 15.4.2010 16:11 Page 4

ARSÈNE WENGER WITH ANDY ROXBURGH AND GÉRARD HOULLIER AT A UEFA COACHING FORUM UEFA-Woods

FOR OVER A DECADE UEFA HAS HAD THE SUPPORT OF MANY ILLUSTRIOUS COACHES. THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE TECHNICIAN (SINCE 1997), THE TECHNICAL REPORTS AND THE ELITE CLUB COACHES FORUM (SINCE 1999) WITH COMMENTS, INTERVIEWS AND IDEAS. THIS SPECIAL FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE ‘WORDS OF WISDOM’ OFFERED TO US BY TOP-LEVEL COACHING COLLEAGUES, ALONG WITH THE TECHNICIAN’S RESPONSE TO THEM. THE ALMOST RANDOM SELECTION FEATURES SOME OF THE MEN OF CREATIVE THOUGHTS AND SUCCESSFUL ACTIONS WHO ARE AMONG OUR FOOTBALL PHILOSOPHERS First to the microphone is: is often graphically verified by TV pictures but also underlines the tech- Arsène Wenger nician’s need to watch his body (finalist in the UEFA Champions League, language and to transmit positive European Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA messages to players, directors and Cup, and winner of leagues, cups and the public via the media. super cups in France, Japan and England) “You must love the game and Sir want to share with the players (league, cup and Cup Winners’ Cup a certain way of life, a way champion with Aberdeen FC and of seeing football.“ winner of just about everything since Technician: This wonderful sentence taking over at Manchester United provokes all sorts of reflections on the in November 1986, including two degree of dedication which needs to go UEFA Champions League titles) with the love of the game, the sacrifices “Playing wing backs, while that the technician is required to make, using three central defenders, the importance of having a clear vision represents a far less aggressive of the sort of football you want your attacking philosophy than team to play, and the management and operation with wingers.“ leadership qualities which will allow the Technician: The sentence illustrates technician to implement that vision. how Sir Alex has built teams which What’s more, the ‘sharing’ aspect neatly reflect a club credo of playing attractive highlights the need to transmit your attack-minded football based not only vision, your footballing lifestyle, to the on wingers but also on overlapping players and the ‘team behind the team’. runs by adventurous full-backs. But Arsène is one of the game’s most stim- this is more than a structural approach. ulating philosophers – constantly offer- It represents a philosophy which re- ing comments which provoke profound sponds to the wishes of the supporters reflection. Talking of reflections, his and to the passion for football which

Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images observation “the coach’s face is a has traditionally underpinned the club. Sir Alex Ferguson sends his team mirror to the health of the team“ The need to transmit the right mes- on the attack. not only expresses an opinion which sages in the dressing room and on the

4 The Technician N°46•E:Anglais 15.4.2010 16:11 Page 5

RAFAEL BENITEZ WITH , ONE OF HIS STALWARTS AT

LIVERPOOL Getty Images

training pitch is nicely expressed by the feeling that you know it all is one prepared to take the initiative and to another of Sir Alex’s firmly held con- of the great danger signs. permit themselves an element of risk. victions: “the drive, the hunger, the Defensive strategies can win games, passion must be inside you, be- he always maintained, but they rarely cause players need to recognise (winner of all international competitions win titles. He also insisted on the im- that you care.“ with Juventus; league champion in portance of positive dynamics within (seven times), , Portugal and the group and the value of leadership Louis van Gaal Germany; national team coach of Italy qualities – among players as well as (UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and and, currently, the Republic of Ireland) the coach: “If you have the leader, UEFA Champions League winner with “With a club I was a sculptor – others adapt.“ AFC Ajax; league, cup and super cup with the national team I’m winner in the and Spain) a blender.” “I do not think it is fair to judge Technician: This is a typically wonderful (FIFA World Cup finalist with four coaches purely on results. You and colourful sentence by ‘Trap’ which different countries and champion with have to see how they work, judge highlights the differences between club ; set to make it five as national their philosophy and assess their and national team coaching. The sculp- team coach of South Africa) relationship with the players.“ tor bases his day-to-day work on shap- “When we talk about stars, Technician: Louis, in his usual direct ing a chunk of rock or metal into a work I don’t like those who just make fashion, hits a nail on the head – and of art – in other words, designing and smoke, I like those who make one which, if you’ll excuse a mixed building a team and developing the fire – the ones who perform.“ metaphor, is a thorn in the technician’s players which form it. The blender can Technician: Carlos grew up in an side. At one club, Louis was on his select his ingredients but, when he has environment which has, traditionally, way to the door when the players pub- them together, only has time to hit the offered immense riches in terms of solo licly asked him to stay. Their wish was switch and mix them into instant food. ball skills. But he is not impressed by granted – and rewarded with a league He has to be good at building quickly ‘tricksters’ who make smoke but no fire. title. But there is not always justice and shrewdly with a view to producing He is a firm believer that each player in terms of rewards for good work or effective performances at the highest should contribute his individual box attempts to implant a new philosophy. possible level. Then, success for the Sadly, the majority of coaches are national team coach in qualifying cam- judged purely on results and, in many paigns entails an abrupt change of cases, purely on immediate results scenario in terms of getting the group rather than on their level of perform- together for an extended period of ance or their contributions to entertain- cohabitation at the end of a gruelling ing games of football. club season. The blender then has to deal with a very different mix. Rafael Benítez (UEFA Cup champion with , UEFA Champions League winner (champion of Europe with Ajax and with Liverpool, and winner of domestic the Netherlands; winner of leagues trophies with both) and cups in Netherlands, Spain and “I am always questioning, Germany) always looking for new solutions, “Those who focused on the new ways to proceed.“ best result rather than the best Technician: This is another short football were less vulnerable sentence which highlights one of the than others.“ crucial areas in coaching. Rafa expresses Technician: This was Rinus, one of the need for the technician to have a football coaching’s genuine gurus, restless mind, to be curious, to ques- taking a typically analytical look at the tion facets of the job which are taken ingredients of winning sides. This for granted, and to search for new solu- sentence had a factual basis: teams tions to perennial challenges. In other designed to be pragmatic and func-

words, his comment succinctly de- tional are less vulnerable. But Rinus’s Empics Sport scribes coaching as a lifelong learning conviction was that the teams equipped Giovanni Trapattoni applauds his players process and a profession in which to win titles were those who were at the end of a match.

5 The Technician N°46•E:Anglais 15.4.2010 16:11 Page 6

Getty Images AND

of tricks to the collective team effort. theory that it takes a degree of genius to react to them or not, and being He respects players with talent – but to create simplicity and that, if the open to changes in playing styles and he wants talent to be translated into greatest teams are often described as lifestyles. The quick, short-passing game team performance. “Top players do ‘making it look easy’, it is because a he mentions is epitomised by the cur- things that others don’t expect,“ great deal of work has gone into the rent FC Barcelona team – but to what he comments – and he places great creation of structures and environments extent can this style be implanted value on creativity, with the proviso that in which talents can be expressed at elsewhere? playmaking roles offers no excuses their maximum levels. for laziness or for abstaining from the collective effort. Ottmar Hitzfeld (successful with club sides and na- (winner of 18 titles and the only coach tional teams in eight countries and, this Otto Rehhagel to have won the UEFA Champions season, making history with Fulham’s (league, cup and European Cup Win- League with two different clubs; current Europa League run) ners’ Cup winner with Werder Bremen, coach of the Swiss national team) “The modern coach needs a philos- league champion with Kaiserslautern, “Major changes have taken ophy, an expert eye and intuition.“ and champion of Europe with Greece) place during the last ten years. Technician: Eleven words which pro- “I am the only man in There was more space and the voke a lot of thought. The philosophy who is allowed to drive in the passing was longer – now it’s has to be created, developed and imple- bus lane.“ quick, short passing and every mented. The expert eye and the intuition Technician: This comment, made at coach is well organised.“ are linked with footballing know-how, in- a UEFA coaching event staged in the Technician: This is a significant com- nate talent and experience accumulated wake of Greece’s victory at EURO 2004, ment by Ottmar because, despite over the years. But, amid today’s trend is a lovely sample of Otto’s great sense the experience accumulated during towards sports science and performance of fun. He was 65 when he allowed the decades of coaching, he has taken the analysis, are the expert eye and intuition Greeks to don the European crown for time to step back and to analyse the being undervalued? Scientific input is the first time, yet he never fails to trans- way the game has been constantly based on what has already happened; mit a contagious youthful enthusiasm evolving. He believes that coaches intuition is an anticipation of what hap- which creates a mood of confidence also need to evolve in terms of being pens next and what needs to be done in in and around the dressing room. His aware of trends, deciding whether order to shape a team’s destiny. humorous comment illustrates two concepts: firstly, that the fun element should never be allowed to disappear from football and secondly, that, in coaching, job satisfaction should not be equated exclusively to financial re- compense. The longer-lasting rewards for a job well done are intangibles based on admiration and public affection. Luíz Felipe Scolari (FIFA World Cup winner with Brazil and silver medallist with Portugal at EURO 2004) “Everything must be kept simple – do not complicate what is a sim- ple business, a simple, beautiful game.“ Technician: ‘Big Phil’ expresses one of the concepts which has kept Brazilian football at the top of the tree. But any- body who knows him will testify that his

method of ‘keeping things simple’ is Empics Sport based on large doses of dedication and Roy Hodgson, with Zoltan Gera and keeper , celebrates hard work. His comment supports the as Fulham qualify for the Europa League semis.

6 The Technician N°46•E:Anglais 15.4.2010 16:11 Page 7

JOSÉ MOURINHO GIVES INSTRUCTIONS TO AND CAMBIASSO IN THE RETURN LEG OF THEIR ROUND OF 16 TIE AGAINST CHELSEA

IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. Images Wire/PA PA

Marcello Lippi champion with ; up team spirit, being aware of (steeped in Italian club and national currently France’s technical director) medical issues. Above all, you team culture; currently back with “Win as a team – lose alone.“ have to develop your leadership the national team; the only coach to Technician: In few words, Gérard skills.“ have won the FIFA World Cup and highlights one of the stark realities of Technician: The transition from the UEFA Champions League) the coaching profession. Despite the playing to coaching is a path that has “You have to make each camaraderie, it is essentially a solitary, been trodden by the majority of player feel equally useful, but lonely job. The ultimate responsibilities modern technicians. Fabio’s descrip- not indispensable.“ that go with the role include accepting tion highlights the importance of Technician: Marcello’s comment is not only defeats but also the conse- working towards a vision while devel- a neat way of summarising the some- quences of those defeats. The coach oping management and, above all, times complex task of blending person- has to provide explanations to the leadership qualities. alities into an effective unit and motivat- players, to the other echelons within ing players without taking their feet off the club and to the public, via the the ground. At national team level, the media. One of the coach’s major ability to take a country’s top individuals challenges is to set the team back on and build them into a workforce with track after a run of poor results. a strong team ethic is one of the major challenges for the technician. Marcello also comments: “Many coaches have (Brazil’s most successful coach with had difficult relationships with 20 state and national titles and one great attackers – at the end of the Copa América with the national team; career the player thanks the coach UEFA Champions League participant for helping him to understand the with Real ) whole game.“ In the meantime, the “To be afraid of losing removes coach has to find the optimal method the willingness to win.“ of getting the best from each individual. Technician: Vanderlei, whose teams play creative, attacking football, believes José Mourinho that the fear factor is the greatest (currently at FC Internazionale; UEFA enemy to a winning mentality – in both Cup and UEFA Champions League win- players and coaches. Arsène Wenger ner with FC Porto; winner of leagues also believes that, in major competi- and cups in Portugal, England and Italy) tions such as the UEFA Champions “I use a global method. Yes, I use League, mental strength is a key asset. direct methods when preparing Fear of failure rapidly translates into diluted ambitions. As Vanderlei also Images Wire/PA PA our organisation, but I also use with England international guided discovery where I create insists: “Victory goes to those who the practice, dictate the aim, and are faster – to develop, to improve, the players come up with differ- to play.“ In summary, without a clear phi- ent solutions.“ losophy of the game, a coach is like Technician: José has demonstrated Fabio Capello a ship without a rudder. Of course, that, in getting the best out of players, (32 caps for Italy, 328 games in , players and circumstances can have modern approaches on the training nine league titles as coach in Italy and an impact on performances, but in ground and carefully thought-out coach- Spain, UEFA Champions League winner the long run, the technician is there ing methodology have an important in 1994, and current England national to convey his beliefs and affect the role to play. One of his talents is to set team manager) footballing behaviour of his players. targets and achieve them. “You need “When you are a player, all you One of Andy Roxburgh’s favourite to have a clear philosophy to know have to do is think about your proverbs comes from Spain: “It is what you want and how to get it.“ own game, your fitness, your diet, not the same to talk of bulls as etc. – you train, you go home, and to be in the bullring.“ Our leading Gérard Houllier that’s it. But when you become a coaches have not only succeeded (winner of four domestic cups, the manager, you have to think about in the football ‘bullring’ but also have UEFA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup the physical and mental prepara- enough wisdom to articulate their with Liverpool; league and super cup tion of the whole squad, building views about that experience.

7 The Technician N°46•E:Anglais 15.4.2010 16:11 Page 8

GÉRARD HOULLIER HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF A WELL-ORGANISED

Sportsfile ‘TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM’. ORGANISING THE BACK ROOM IT IS A SIGNIFICANT SIGN OF THE TIMES THAT THERE IS A HEALTHY LEVEL OF CROSS-FERTILISATION BETWEEN AREAS OF THE GAME THAT, IN THE PAST, WERE RUN AS ‘INDEPENDENT STATES’ OR, IT HAS TO BE SAID, DIDN’T EVEN EXIST. IN THE PREVIOUS ISSUE OF THE TECHNICIAN, ONE OF THE TOPICS WAS THE IMPACT OF SPORTS SCIENCE ON THE COACHING PROFESSION – AND THIS WAS CROSS-FERTILISED BY SOME OF THE ISSUES RAISED AT THE RECENT UEFA MEDICAL SYMPOSIUM IN AND RECORDED IN OUR MEDICAL PUBLICATION, MEDICINE MATTERS. ONE OF THEM WAS “THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TEAM DOCTOR AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COACH”.

It served to highlight the need for the coaches, fitness trainers, physios, kit ence. Medical information, nutrition modern technician to organise and men, masseurs, doctors, sports scien- and the preparation of players has captain an efficient ‘team behind the tists and other specialists in areas such reached another level. Today we have team’ which, as Gérard Houllier insists, as sports psychology. As with a football a full-time doctor, five physios, a fitness “not only performs specific tasks but team, one member who doesn’t per- coach, a weights coach, an optom- also has a role to play in creating the form effectively can undermine the etrist...” Sir Alex is the first to admit that atmosphere around the team”. As Andy results and morale of the entire group. a head coach is no longer a one-man Roxburgh pointed out in , band and that a boot room would be today’s top coach is the leading edge “Things have changed in the last hard-pressed to accommodate meet- of a group which frequently consists 25 years,” Sir Alex Ferguson comments, ings of the backroom staff. The chal- of assistant coaches, goalkeeping “particularly in the area of sports sci- lenge is therefore to select staff as well as players and to build teams – in the plural – rather than just a team.

Having built a ‘team behind the team’, the head coach is required to lubricate the machinery to ensure that it runs smoothly in all conditions. As György Mezey, the former Hungarian national team manager who now shares his working life between FC Videoton and the Puskas Academy, maintains, “integration is a key word for the team behind the team.”

This was the theme taken up during the medical event in Stockholm by the former Swedish national team coach Lars Lagerbäck (now head coach of the Nigerian national team) and a member of his backroom staff, Dr Paul Balsom, the Swedish national association’s per-

Getty Images formance manager. They jointly high- FC Barcelona are well aware of the importance of good cooperation between the medical team and lighted the importance of fully integrat- technical staff in order to make the most of the talents of players such as Messi and Hernández. ing the backroom staff – including the

8 The Technician N°46•E:Anglais 15.4.2010 16:11 Page 9

DR PAUL BALSOM MAKES A PRESENTATION AT THE UEFA MEDICAL

SYMPOSIUM IN STOCKHOLM. Sportsfile

medical team – into the daily life of the ery strategies, training/team selection ical/sports-science team and the tech- squad. As they both agreed, one of the based on needs (considering require- nical staff. Other explanations included premises for total integration is a clear ment to rest players, etc). This is where the contribution by assistant coaches demarcation of responsibilities, allied the core values, beliefs and leadership in implanting a serious training ethic, with fluent and regular flows of commu- qualities of the modern-day coach the importance of adhering to protocols nication. Spheres of influence need to become critical.” He went on to add, of injury prevention and treatment, the be precisely traced, with those respon- “the performance decisions made by ‘luxury’ of having a sufficiently strong sible for medical care and performance the support team need professional squad for players nursing minor injuries assessment offering input to leisure acceptance. Key decisions, such as to be rested, the implementation of activities as well as the intensity of train- when a player can return, should NOT individualised nutrition, preparation and ing sessions. In Stockholm, one of the be tainted by the opinion of the coach.” injury-prevention programmes, and discussion points was the tendency for coaches to take members of their ‘team behind the team’ with them when they move to a different team. In the past, this was generally restricted to assistant coaches. These days, it is not unusual for the coach to arrive at his job with a member of his medical staff at his side.

At the medical symposium, the team doctor’s responsibilities were perceived to focus on safeguarding the players’ health, injury prevention, the care and rehabilitation of injured players, leading the medical team, providing medical advice and establishing links within the medical profession. The physio could be regarded as responsible for imple- menting injury prevention, care and re- habilitation, and lifestyle counselling, in- cluding the use of leisure time, hygiene Sportsfile in living habits, nutrition and safety. Discussions at the symposium in Stockholm But areas of responsibility can differ from team to team. One of the opera- This categorical statement illustrates work done on the psychological front tional questions to emerge from Stock- the need to find the right balance to ensure that the players attain an holm, for example, was whether the between the medical and footballing optimal mental balance. fitness coach is to be considered a standpoints. The transcendental impor- member of the coaching staff or part tance of certain matches can justify The modern coach therefore has to of the medical team. In other words, is an element of risk-taking. With the full be prepared to take on board per- there a need to mark a line in the sand consensus of all concerned – including, formance-indicating information when between the concepts of ‘fitness’ and obviously, the player himself – Andrés it comes to making his team selection. ‘coach’? It is then up to the head coach Iniesta played all but the closing sec- The days of ‘my eye is the best judge’ to determine how, when and to what onds of added time in the 2009 UEFA are numbered – if not definitively extent the fitness coach contributes to Champions League final in , over. “It would be impossible to work work on the training ground. aware of the risk of aggravating a thigh in the same way as I did in 1986,” muscle injury. The grandeur of the says Sir Alex Ferguson. “It’s too big a Paul Balsom, following up his presence fixture justified an exception to a rule. beast now to be hands-on with every- in Stockholm by contributing an article thing. Delegating is essential. I’ve to Medicine Matters, commented, “to FC Barcelona feature among the top learned at this level you need good be effective, sports-science and medical teams who take part in UEFA’s ongoing people around you. I trust them and practitioners must be able to influence injury study. Recently, the clubs with rely on them. There must be about key decisions with respect to injury- the most favourable injury statistics 40 people who report to me now, reducing or performance-enhancing were asked to offer opinions about why quite apart from the players.” Manag- aspects such as training loads (duration they achieved such good results. Many ing the ‘team behind the team’ has and intensity), training content (e.g. of them highlighted the importance of now become a significant part of the gym-based v on-field activities), recov- good collaboration between the med- top technician’s responsibilities.

9 The Technician N°46•E:Anglais 15.4.2010 16:11 Page 10

ANDRÉS INIESTA (6) AND XAVI HERNÁNDEZ (8), BARCELONA’S MIDFIELD DUO, TEAM UP FOR SPAIN

Getty Images AGAINST GERMANY IN THE EURO 2008 FINAL. LEARNING TO READ UEFA’S PRESIDENT, , ALWAYS MAINTAINS THAT HIS GREATEST GIFT AS A PLAYER WAS HIS ABILITY TO ‘READ THE GAME’. THE EXPRESSION IS EXTENSIVELY USED IN THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL, YET NO DICTIONARY DEFINITION CAN BE FOUND. MICHEL HIMSELF FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO FIND A RATIONAL EXPLANATION FOR HOW THIS SPECIAL TALENT WAS DEVELOPED. HENCE FOOTBALL’S FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION: CAN ‘READING THE GAME’ BE TAUGHT OR COACHED?

It is a quality which can certainly be Michel Platini was accompanied in responses to situations and capacity to associated with clarity of vision – espe- midfield by Alain Giresse and Jean anticipate and cut out the through pass. cially the sort of peripheral vision which Tigana, two creative players who, in can broaden the picture. A team-mate terms of physical and footballing In both attacking and defending modes, of Cesc Fàbregas at Arsenal FC recently stature, might easily be compared to reading the game could be defined as said “he seems to see absolutely today’s FC Barcelona and Spain duo an ability to convert images into mes- everything around him as if he also of Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta. sages and immediately translate them had eyes in the back of his head.” Critical appraisal of all four focuses into actions. on their contributions to attacking play When assessing players, reading the and often obviates their talent for re- Those who have made the transition game tends to be associated with the gaining possession. The ball is not won from playing to coaching can testify that ability to locate opponents and team- by physical presence or crunching the game needs to be read in a differ- mates and to detect spaces and exploit tackles – it is much more about reading ent way by the coach. There is less them with passes or runs. But the the game well enough to anticipate the emphasis on immediacy and instant expression is more seldom used when next movement or the next pass. For responses. The move from pitch to bench discussing defensive aspects of team the defender, ability to read the game could be likened to a journalist who play. In the French side of the 1980s, might become apparent in positional switches from live TV commentary to writing more considered reports for a newspaper. In reading the game, the coach often has to curb his or her instinc- tive attention to detail and be more discerning in filtering the flow of informa- tion. It is easy to become confused – or confusing – by the sheer volume of details. Reading the game requires an ability to highlight the most relevant sentences in many pages of text.

The coach will measure his capacity to read the game by the number of deci- sions that help to produce a favourable outcome. The UEFA Champions League – the competition where the coaches feel they are being tested to the limit – pro- duces some striking examples. Claude Puel, for instance, laid the foundations for Olympique Lyonnais’ victory over Real Madrid CF in the first knockout round with two changes during the half-time interval

Getty Images of the second leg at the Estadio Santiago Cesc Fàbregas, with an FC Porto player on each side, is an expert at reading the game. Bernabéu. Having started with a 4-1-4-1

10 The Technician N°46•E:Anglais 15.4.2010 16:11 Page 11

FITNESS TEST FOR THE REFEREES IN MALTA Sportsfile

structure, he moved his midfield pivot Among them were the ten European and methods of improving this ability. (Jérémy Toulalan) into the back four referees who, hours later, appeared on Discussion was sparked off by DVD and injected Kim Källström and Maxime the list of match officials selected for clips from EURO 2008 and the UEFA Gonalons in the midfield holding roles the FIFA World Cup. So, the best of Champions League which illustrated of a 4-2-3-1 formation. By changing wishes to Olegário Benquerença (Por- the importance of positioning – and, the shape of his team, he changed the tugal), (Switzerland), in refereeing, ‘positioning’ is all about shape of the game. (Belgium), Martin making the right runs at the right time. Hansson (Sweden), But, whereas a player’s running is all During the 2008 final between Man- (), Stéphane Lannoy (France), about making the best angles to receive chester United and Chelsea, Sir Alex (Italy), Wolfgang Stark passes, the referee’s running is about Ferguson did likewise, but in a different (Germany), Alberto Undiano Mallenco making the best angles for a clear situation. By the middle of the second (Spain) and Howard Webb (England). vision of play. half, Chelsea were enjoying territorial advantage and threatening the United In Malta, the programme featured a The referees were also confronted . Sir Alex reorganised his 4-2-1-3 practical session aimed at coaching the with a number of situations where into a 4-3-3 formation to mirror Chel- referees’ judgement and positioning in they needed to be on ‘red alert’, with sea’s three-man midfield, with Wayne player simulation situations, and assess- Andy Roxburgh explaining some of the Rooney in a wide right berth and Carlos ing their reactions in terms of how of- moves rehearsed on training grounds Tévez at the apex of the attack. “We had fences should be most appropriately and examining examples of legit- to make sure at that moment that they punished. Extensive DVD analysis was imate and not so legitimate blocking didn’t get control of the game, because aimed at unifying criteria and reactions, manoeuvres frequently employed to I knew we would get stronger the longer protecting players from reckless or over- gain space for an attacking team-mate it lasted,“ Sir Alex said afterwards. In zealous challenges, appropriate punish- at corners or free-kicks. other words, this was a coaching answer ment for holding, pulling and pushing to the nimble ball-winning , offences in the penalty area, and a “The more you know, the easier it be- with shrewd reading of the game trans- best-practice approach to detecting and comes to see things during the game,” lating into anticipation. Sir Alex was read- dealing with simulation. he commented, “and the better you ing the writing on the wall. are at reading the game, the easier it is All this dovetailed with Andy Roxburgh’s to make the right calls and the greater When questions about educating session, which addressed the impor- the chance of the game being exciting, players and coaches in reading the tance of being able to read the game fair and spectacular.” game are extended to referees, even more fundamental differences become apparent. Unlike players and coaches, match officials do not have the same opportunities to ‘live the game’ in sus- tained sequences of training and match play. Preparation can certainly help – and was among the frontrunners in terms of doing his homework on the modus operandi of the teams and their defensive mecha- nisms. On the one hand, anticipation is less critical for the referee; on the other hand, referees and players share the need to read situations and take decisions in fractions of a second.

These factors prompted a session directed by UEFA’s technical director, Andy Roxburgh, when over 100 inter- national referees (evenly split between international newcomers and experi-

enced campaigners already in the elite Getty Images and premier categories) got together in soars above the rest in the 2008 Champions League final Malta for UEFA’s annual referee courses. between Manchester United and Chelsea.

11 The Technician N°46•E:Anglais 15.4.2010 16:11 Page 12

THE NATIONAL TEAM BRINGS TOGETHER THE FOOTBALL FANS

Getty Images OF AN ENTIRE COUNTRY. NATIONAL TEAM FOOTBALL: AN IDENTITY PARADE? FIVE YEARS AGO, BEFORE HE LED ITALY TO VICTORY IN THE FIFA WORLD CUP, MARCELLO LIPPI COMMENTED: “THE NATIONAL TEAM REPRESENTS THE FOOTBALL OF THE COUNTRY. ITALIAN NATIONAL FOOTBALL IS NOT REPRESENTED BY ITS CLUBS. NOT BY JUVENTUS OR MILAN OR ROMA, IN THE SAME WAY THAT GERMAN FOOTBALL ISN’T REALLY REPRESENTED BY FC BAYERN OR DORTMUND OR BREMEN. NATIONAL PRIDE AND CHARACTERISTICS COME TO THE FORE IN THE NATIONAL TEAM. AT A CLUB, YOU CAN’T CLAIM THAT A SQUAD WHICH CONTAINS 17 OR 18 IMPORTED PLAYERS REPRESENTS NATIONAL IDENTITY. IT’S ONLY THE NATIONAL TEAM THAT CAN CLAIM THAT. SO FAR, I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO WORK WITH AN ALL-ITALIAN GROUP AND TO FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NATIONAL IDENTITY.”

Since Marcello pronounced those emotional scale of an entire nation, The challenge is to translate these words, the globalisation of club foot- from joy and happiness to frustration unanimous sentiments into a plan of ball has marched onwards, making and despair” (), “players action for establishing and protecting the question of developing and main- represent their nation for love, glory national identity. Marcello Lippi’s will- taining a football identity within a and pride in a team that unites the ingness to accept responsibility for the national association an even more supporters of the whole country” Italian identity is underpinned by the relevant topic – one which has been (Gérard Houllier), and “the national fact that a vast majority of his squad extensively discussed by UEFA’s team is the lifeblood of a country’s play their football in Serie A and are Football Committee, chaired by Franz football” (). therefore steeped in Italian football Beckenbauer, and one which has, more than once, also appeared on the agenda of the Development and Technical Assistance Committee.

In the meantime, the immense public interest in major tournaments for na- tional teams has highlighted the im- portance of national identities. And it doesn’t take too much delving into the archives to find compelling testimony from leading technicians, such as “the national team is part of the national culture and, during great events, teams and their supporters form something of national value” (György Mezey), “the national team remains the focal point of a nation’s football, capable of rousing great fervour and emotions and of unifying the whole country

behind their team” (Roy Hodgson), Empics Sport “the national team provides the full Universal pride and joy in Italy

12 The Technician N°46•E:Anglais 15.4.2010 16:11 Page 13

LARS LAGERBÄCK, SURROUNDED BY SWEDISH PLAYERS AT EURO 2008, IS LEADING

NIGERIA TO THE 2010 WORLD CUP. Getty Images

charge of the Ivory Coast’s Group G campaign against North Korea, Portu- gal and Brazil.

Barring further changes, there will be 18 European technicians on the benches in South Africa. Many of them are on short-term contracts and, as also pointed out in our last issue, 8 of the 13 coaches who’ll be heading for South Africa at the head of European national teams were appointed as recently as 2008. There are therefore legitimate questions about whether it is reasonable to ask Marcello and his coaching colleagues to be solely “responsible for the national identity”. This is evidently an Empics Sport issue to be faced on wider fronts at national association level.

Fernando Torres’s goal in the EURO 2008 final Policies and action plans are in- evitably influenced by the scenario culture week in, week out. Other na- Looking at the topic from a different within an individual association. tional team coaches are confronted with perspective, how difficult is it to de- But there are common denominators. very different scenarios. At EURO 2008, velop a national identity if the coach Sweden could be taken as an exam- only 52.4% of squad members – and is from a different country? Since taking ple of a country where the tendency less than half of the regular starters – the England job, Fabio Capello has is for top players to emigrate. Seven were playing in their home countries. been at pains to promote English of their 23-man squad (including But was it purely coincidence that the virtues, to fast-track players through the two goalkeepers) at EURO 2008 percentage of home-based players was age-limit teams, and to embrace the were home-based. The preservation 81.5% among the four semi-finalists? English football culture. This, it has to of a national identity can therefore Or that 17 of the 22 starters in the be said, it not always easy. For example, be traced back to the social and final were playing at home in Spain’s a European technician appointed as footballing contexts in which players La Liga or Germany’s ? coach of a national team on another have been brought up, the coaches continent may find that over 90% of who have moulded their skills and The reality of national team football in his potential squad members are at their way of thinking, and the valu- many other associations is that the top European clubs. This has logistical ad- able international experience gained players are widely spread around the vantages in that watching them be- from pulling on the national jersey continent. A look at the squads who comes relatively easy. But it becomes to play in the youth teams. are heading to South Africa in a few more difficult to assess the national weeks will reveal that in other confeder- identity of the country where the hopes The relevance of age-limit compe- ations the tendency is magnified, with and dreams of millions are pinned to titions in terms of developing a na- a majority of players based at long-haul performances by him and his players. tional identity was spectacularly illus- distances from their native country. trated by the Spanish national side Gravitation towards Europe has given Incidentally, there are now five Euro- which took the European title in birth to a trend towards playing interna- pean technicians who’ll be leading non- two years ago. From goal- tional fixtures on neutral European soil, European national teams into the FIFA keeper to striker Fer- leading to even less frequent contact World Cup finals. Following the most re- nando Torres, the team had amassed between players at European clubs and cent appointments, Lars Lagerbäck will tremendous riches in terms of expe- their home countries and cultures. be at the Nigerian helm against Argen- rience – and gold medals – at youth tina, South Korea and Greece, while his levels from Under-16 to Under-20. p cs Spo t And what about the increasing cross- compatriot Sven-Göran Eriksson, taking Torres, who scored the only goal in border movements of technicians? over from Vahid Halilhodzic, will be in the Vienna final, had done the same

13 The Technician N°46•E:Anglais 15.4.2010 16:11 Page 14

ENGLAND V UKRAINE

Sportsfile IN THE FINAL OF THE EUROPEAN UNDER-19 CHAMPIONSHIP

for Spain’s Under-16s against France focusing more tightly on candidates Some national team coaches still in Sunderland in 2001, when Andrés who are national residents. In other suffer frustrations when it comes to Iniesta was one of his squad-mates. words, if the development and mainte- securing the release of players for Captain Iker Casillas had built up an nance of a football identity is to feature youth tournaments by clubs who turn immense track record at Under-16 and in a national association’s educational a blind eye to the benefits of giving Under-18 tournaments, Meridian Cups programmes, it would make sense to their budding talents opportunities to and Under-17 and Under-20 world concentrate on pupils who can identify encounter other football cultures – championships – winning gold at the with and contribute to the project. something which can only be positive latter level alongside Xavi Hernández preparation for participation in interna- in 1999. and Cesc Fàbregas In a context of increasing globalisa- tional club competitions. There have won silver medals at the 2003 tion, the effectiveness of player devel- even been cases of players’ agents U-17 World Cup. opment programmes take on even instructing their young protégés to greater importance. Very often, young stay in pre-season training camps with It was generally accepted that one players need opportunities to pull on their clubs rather than gain interna- of the major contributing factors to and identify with the national jersey tional experience at UEFA’s U19 finals, Spanish success was the extension before career paths might be diverted traditionally staged in July. In this of the youth teams’ playing culture into towards distant shores. In this area, respect, the elaboration by UEFA and a senior team with a distinct identity UEFA’s committees have reflected FIFA of an international youth calendar based on technique, deeply on the value of national centres represents a major forward move. and nimble short-passing combinations and schools of football in helping to among players who were, physically forge skills, styles and philosophies. Another area where significant at least, by no means in the giant progress is being made is in the category. Marcello Lippi is convinced At the same time, the feeling is that graphic expression of national identi- that “Italy could never play like Spain”. there is a tendency for grassroots ties. When it was conceived at the and youth football to be undervalued. beginning of the 1990s, the UEFA The whole process of developing a Promotion work needs to be strong Champions League set benchmarks national identity therefore permeates enough to persuade clubs to recognise in terms of branding the competition deeply into a coach education philoso- the value of international experience in and giving it an easily discernable phy, where there may be grounds for the development of elite youth players. identity. Once the impact had been measured, national associations be- gan to take notice and to work on ways of ‘branding’ their national teams and giving them a visual identity to go with the sentimental attachments. Although the concept of branding is traditionally linked with the world of marketing, it can also represent a non-commercial way of allowing supporters to visually display their allegiances – as spectacularly illus- trated by the 4.2 million fans who brought life and colour into the fan zones in Austria and Switzerland during EURO 2008.

“Recent major tournaments have not only reconfirmed the sporting value of national team football,” comments UEFA’s technical director, Andy Roxburgh, “but have also demonstrated the public’s commit- ment to the international game

Action Images/Sibley and their desire to express a national One of the EURO 2008 fan zones in Vienna identity through their team.”

14 The Technician N°46•E:Anglais 15.4.2010 16:11 Page 15

TRAINING ROUTINE AGENDA BY GYÖRGY MEZEY Coach of FC Videoton (Hungary) and

UEFA-Woods Head of the Puskás Academy 2010

May 12 ● UEFA Europa League Final ()

May 18 – 30 ● 9th European Under-17 Cham- pionship – Final Tournament (Liechtenstein)

May 19 ● 1st UEFA Grassroots Day (Madrid)

May 20 ● UEFA Women’s Champions League Final (Madrid) Aim ● To combine technical, tactical and fitness elements into May 22 a finishing exercise. ● UEFA Champions League Final (Madrid) Rules a) A player from each line plays a one-two and shoots at goal. May 24 – June 05 ● b) The same players immediately take part in a 2 v 2 challenge, with 9th European Women’s a cross from the right. Under-19 Championship – Final Tournament c) The same players continue forward and repeat the 2 v 2 challenge, (FYR Macedonia) this time with a cross from the left. d) The players then return to the back of their original line. June 11 – July 11 e) The practice continues with the next two attackers. ● FIFA World Cup (South Africa)

Timing June 22 – 26 ● At a top professional club, this can last up to 45 minutes. ● 3rd European Women’s The target is for each player to complete ten runs. (The goals tally Under-17 Championship — of each player is recorded.) Final Tournament (Nyon)

Coaching July 18 – 30 ● Work on combinations and finishing. ● 9th European Under-19 ● Develop twin-striker movement and finishing (usually in the air) Championship – Final Tourna- from well-delivered crosses. ment (France) ● Maintain quality, despite intensity.

15 The Technician N°46•E:Anglais 15.4.2010 16:11 Page 16

UEFA Route de Genève 46 Union des associations CH-1260 Nyon européennes de football Switzerland Phone +41 848 00 27 27 Fax +41 22 707 27 34 .com