UEFAdirect-99•E 8.0_Anglais 16.06.10 10:47 Page1 7.10 FCFC InternazionaleInternazionale liftlift ChampionChampion Clubs’Clubs’ trophytrophy afterafter 45-year45-year waitwait 0707 FranceFrance toto hosthost UEFAUEFA EUROEURO 20162016 1616 No 58 99 – Février July 2007 2010 UEFAdirect-99•E 8.0_Anglais 16.06.10 10:47 Page2 Message Photos: uefa-pjwoods.ch of the president Moments in history that help forge our future As last month’s events in Hamburg and Madrid once more amply demonstrated, the finals of UEFA’s club competitions never fail to stir extraordinary passions and underline the exceptional commitment of the fans to their teams. As fleeting as these wonderful finals are, year after year they produce moments of unforgettable brilliance and glittering performances from the stars that contribute another golden thread to football’s rich and enduring tapestry. UEFA’s role is to do everything to ensure that, collectively, these annual events form part of a continuous whole; in other words, that they help to promote the long-term stability and well-being of European club football. The months leading up to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa have been exceptionally busy for European football. We have enjoyed the finals of the major European club competitions – including the first ever UEFA Women’s Champions IN THIS ISSUE League – as well as various youth tournaments and, of course, we have seen the French Football Federation chosen to host EURO 2016. However, amid all this activity, European football festival in Madrid 03 there is one event that gives me particular satisfaction: the Executive Committee’s 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam adoption of new club licensing regulations, which enshrine the principles of financial win first UEFA Women’s Champions League 06 fair play. In my view, this is a significant step towards helping clubs to live within The end of a long wait their means and, at the same time, safeguarding the future of our competitions. for FC Internazionale 07 What I find especially gratifying is that these regulations were not imposed on the Atlético Madrid win clubs from above; rather the clubs have been fully involved in developing them first UEFA Europa League 08 and have wholeheartedly embraced the principles of financial fair play. England crowned European U17 champions 09 It cannot be reiterated enough that it is only by working together for France victorious in European the good of football as a whole that we can ensure the enduring success of the Women’s U19 Championship 11 game. The adoption of these regulations may only be a start, but it is definitely French Football Federation appointed to a fundamental step towards achieving that goal. host UEFA EURO 2016 16 News from member associations 18 Michel Platini COVER UEFA President Javier Zanetti emulates Armando Picchi, Internazionale captain 45 years ago, as he lifts the Champion Clubs’ trophy. Photo: Getty Images 02 uefadirect 7.10 UEFAdirect-99•E 8.0_Anglais 16.06.10 10:47 Page3 European football festival Madrid,Madrid, Milan,Milan, Munich,Munich, aa n n d d mm u u c c h h mm o o r r e e . The perfect setting for the Champions Festival at the heart of Madrid Sportsfile NOBODY NEEDS REMINDING THAT FC INTERNAZIONALE AND FC BAYERN achieved. It takes something special TRAVELLED FROM MILAN AND MUNICH TO MADRID FOR THE UEFA CHAMPIONS to make a visual impact on a major capital like Madrid. But the Spaniards’ LEAGUE FINAL. BUT MOVING THE BIG CLUB FINAL FROM WEDNESDAY TO innate passion for the game was SATURDAY PAVED THE WAY FOR A LOT OF SPIN-OFF BENEFITS, TAKING THE SHAPE supplemented by 1,520 flags, almost a OF A VAST FAN OF EVENTS THAT OPENED UP IN THE MADRID SUNSHINE thousand giant posters, 260 billboards, 40 huge promotional columns, five AS PRELUDES TO THE MATCH WHICH ADJUDICATED THE EUROPEAN CROWN. fully branded buses and all sorts of visual welcoming messages at all the There was so much to organ- ever organised by UEFA in conjunction terminals of Barajas airport. As a ise that, when calendars were being with a club competition final – and result, the city seemed to be living and flipped from Thursday 6 to Friday 7 heartfelt thanks are due to the Spanish breathing a real UEFA Champions May, work started at half past midnight FA, the cities of Madrid and Getafe, League atmosphere. on the construction of the vast Cham- and all the other authorities which Especially at the Champions pions Festival in Madrid’s famous helped to usher the concept from the Festival. It covered an area fractionally Parque del Retiro. It laid the founda- drawing board into reality. The main short of 10,000 square metres and, tions for an enormous football fiesta objective was in line with the decision at peak times during the week-long which threw its doors open a week to move the final to the weekend – run-up to the final, the area was before the UEFA Champions League that of opening the event to an even packed to its capacity of just under final and carried on until the Inter fans greater public, especially children and 6,000 visitors. The Champions League were dancing through the streets family groups. sponsors matched UEFA’s enthusiasm of the Spanish capital in celebration of in reaching out to as wide a public a long-awaited victory. Objective achieved as possible and the result was a pro- The week-long festivities In retrospect, there can be gramme which had something for added up to the most intensive event no doubt that UEFA’s objective was everyone – from the kids to the grand- 03 UEFAdirect-99•E 8.0_Anglais 16.06.10 10:47 Page4 Eusebio, The winning a living legend, teams’ kits at the Museum at the Museum of Champions of Champions UEFA-Woods UEFA-Woods UEFA-Woods dads. The Theatre of Champions, the “We loved being part of the of the country’s 1,000 mini-pitches. There Museum of Champions and the trophy Champions Festival, coaching the kids will be a round-up of the events staged itself were crowd-pullers for fans who and joining in the games with them,” across Europe in the next Grassroots really wanted to get inside the compe- Laudrup and McManaman agreed Newsletter, along with news about the best tition and its history. And the sponsors afterwards. “It was great to see so many leader, best project and best club grass- set up a great variety of features where happy faces everywhere and this event roots awards which went to Oleksandr visitors could test their special skills – allowed UEFA to live up to what foot- Kadenko (Ukraine), Open Fun Football from ball-juggling to the speed of their ball really is: the people’s game.” Schools (Moldova) and FC Amatar shots at goal. (Belarus) respectively. But, at the same All-star match time, there was a lot happening in Madrid. Champions Festival The climax on the main pitch In the Spanish capital, Grass- The pitches at the Champions was an Ultimate Champions Match roots Day kicked off with a press confer- Festival were put to optimal use. Special in which the all-star team sheet read: ence where UEFA’s general secretary, Olympic games were staged, along Vítor Baía, Couto, Karembeu, Scifo, Gianni Infantino, and technical director, Andy Roxburgh, teamed up with Raúl González, Fernando Hierro and Luís Figo to underline the social values of grass- roots football and the importance of linking it to the peak of the footballing pyramid by attaching activities to major events such as the UEFA Champions League final. “Not everybody is able to make it to the top and very few get to play for their dream club,” Real Madrid star Raúl commented. “So those of us who do need to be aware that our performances, our gestures and our statements can influence many, many people. Kids are obsessed with football Grassroots football activities were at the heart of the festival. and they will imitate everything – even Sportsfile a hairstyle! So the important thing is with matches and competitions Laudrup, McManaman, Altobelli, to transmit messages that can help to arranged under the Red Deporte Elber and Bebeto. At the last count, shape them as persons.” (Sport Network) banner, aiming to use the side coached by Paul Breitner the pulling power of football to help seemed to have been beaten 19-15 developing nations and to promote by the Spanish all-stars. But nobody social integration. Throughout the seemed to be particularly bothered week, the UEFA Young Champions about the scoreline… Tournament offered footballing oppor- On the other hand, there was tunities to boys and girls in the 10-16 greater concern about the outcome of age bracket, with the final games the first-ever UEFA Champions League and the award ceremony bringing the Under-18 Challenge, which provided five-a-side competition to a close at a fitting footballing finale to the lunchtime on the day of the big final. first-ever UEFA Grassroots Day staged A series of skills clinics allowed the on Wednesday 19 May. young – and not so young – to learn from the likes of Michael Laudrup, Pan-European Grassroots Day Fernando Hierro, Bebeto, Steve It was a genuinely pan-Euro- McManaman, Christian Karembeu, pean event which triggered all sorts Brian Laudrup and Lars Høgh. And of grassroots activities throughout whenever there was a lull in the UEFA’s member associations. In Ger- activities, the pitches were made avail- many, for example, around 140,000 able to anyone who fancied playing a players of all ages, shapes and sizes bit of spontaneous football.