Editorial:

Simply
the best!

Interview:
Arsène Wenger

Elite coaches’
forum

Spanish double
in the U19s

The way
ahead

N EWS LET TE R
FOR
COAC H ES
NO. 26
NOVEM BER 2004
 FOLLOWI NG ON FROM HIS

WORLD CU P VICTORY WITH

BRAZIL, LUIZ FELI PE SCOLARI

REACH ED THE FINAL OF

BONGARTS

EMPICS
EU RO 2004 WITH PORTUGAL.

MARKUS MERK

AND HIS REFEREE

COLLEAGU ES

WERE EQUAL TO

THE TASK.

COVER
● Otto Rehhagel knew how to get
the best out of his team and
led them to an unexpected title.
(PHOTO: AFP/POLAN)

IMPRESSUM
PRODUCTION
André Vieli
Atema Communication SA
Printed by Cavin SA

EDITORIAL GROUP WAYNE ROONEY

Andy Roxburgh
Graham Turner
MADE AN AMAZI NG DEBUT
Frits Ahlstrøm
ON THE EU RO

STAGE BEFORE SUSTAINING

AN I NJ U RY AGAI NST

PORTUGAL.
AFP/MARIT

2
 Simply The Best
EDITORIAL 4. No Doping. There were no positive 10. Identity and Variety. In an era
doping cases and the testing when the top clubs have become
BY ANDY ROXBURGH, arrangements, which included out- multi-national teams, the national
UEFA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR of-competition testing, were praised sides have become even more
by the participants and by external important in representing a
experts. country’s culture and style of foot-
5. Fair Play. Markus Merk, the referee ball. The different philosophies
of the EURO 2004 final, compli- and mentalities seen during
mented the players and the EURO 2004 reflected the national
In the aftermath of EURO 2004 coaches in the tournament on their schools of football, and provided
in Portugal, UEFA’s CEO, Lars-Christer behaviour. Yes, there were a couple a fascinating variety of styles
Olsson, declared: “This was the of disciplinary cases, but not for and approaches to the game.
best European Championship ever.” violence. In addition, only nine
This was an informed opinion which injuries were the result of foul play EURO 2004 raised the status and
was supported by many in the game, – the worst injury being suffered by value of national team football. Many
including Europe’s leading coaches. the player who committed the foul. contributed to the success – support-
But what made the event such a 6. Good Refereeing. In general, the ers, players, referees, coaches, media,
success? Fundamentally, ten key standard of refereeing was good. organisers and officials. However, there
elements contributed to the excellent UEFA’s policy of appointing referee- was some concern that a few top
outcome: ing teams and only choosing the players did not perform to their poten-
best was a big success. tial due to ‘burnout’ – physically or
1. A Wonderful Environment. 7. Some Surprises. Greece winning mentally, or both. This is an area which
The quality of the stadiums, the the title and the big five nations must be addressed because the best
weather, the behaviour of the going out before the semi-finals events should have the best players,
supporters at the games, and the was unexpected. The Greek suc- in the best form and in the best
wonderful attitude of the cess will no doubt be an inspiration condition. It is a question of R&R
Portuguese people, provided ideal to other nations which see them- (recovery and regeneration), and that
conditions for the teams. The selves as the underdog. It was needs time. Yes, in many aspects,
participating coaches were fulsome also good to see a few young EURO 2004 was great, but the
in their praise for the host country. talents blossom on the EURO stage big question is: can we make the next
2. Public Interest. Most matches – Wayne Rooney of England, one even better?
were sold out (96% of all tickets Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and
were sold) and the atmosphere Arjen Robben of the Netherlands,
at most games was fantastic. to name but three.
In addition, the TV audience figures 8. Quality Coaching. Otto Rehhagel
were remarkable. The global figures ‘squeezed the lemon dry’ to
went into billions – 121 million get the best out of his squad, and
watched the final, and 120 million Luiz Felipe Scolari, the World
saw France v England. Champion with Brazil, cleverly
3. Intense Competition. Pre-tourna- guided the host team to the silver
ment, 50% of the teams were medal. Incidentally, following
viewed as contenders for the title – Portugal 2004, 50% of the national
Greece, the eventual champions, coaches were no longer in their
were not included in this group. job – this despite the high standard
As the competition came to a of coaching.
close, Gérard Houllier, the former 9. Spectacle and Drama. The mar-
Liverpool manager and a member riage of speed and skill at EURO
of the UEFA Technical Team at produced many high-tempo games
EURO 2004, offered his view that (particularly those played in the
“the European Championship is evening) and some enthralling,
EMPICS

harder to win than the World Cup top-class matches – for example,
because at EURO there are no England v France, Czech Republic
easy games and the general level v Netherlands and England Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the young
is very high.” v Portugal. talents of EURO 2004.

3
INTERVIEW
BY ANDY ROXBURGH,
UEFA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

EMPICS
AFTER A PLAYING CAREER WHICH INCLUDED A FRENCH CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE WITH
RC STRASBOURG, ARSÈNE WENGER ENTERED THE COACHING PROFESSION AND WENT ON TO BECOME
ONE OF THE GAME’S TOP TECHNICIANS. HE WAS VOTED MANAGER OF THE YEAR IN FRANCE,
JAPAN AND ENGLAND, AND WAS AWARDED UEFA’S FAIR PLAY AWARD IN 1999. WITH AS MONACO
HE WON THE CUP AND THE CHAMPIONSHIP; WITH GRAMPUS EIGHT NAGOYA HE LIFTED
THE EMPEROR’S CUP AND JAPANESE SUPER CUP; AND WITH ARSENAL FC HE HAS EARNED THREE
ENGLISH CUP WINNERS’ MEDALS AND THREE ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP TITLES.
ARSÈNE IS A TOP COACH, A GREAT THINKER ABOUT THE GAME, AND A WONDERFUL REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE FRENCH COACHING SYSTEM. LIKE HIS STAR PLAYER THIERRY HENRY,
HE HAS STYLE AND A GIFT FOR SIMPLIFYING THE GAME. AS THE HEAD COACH OF ARSENAL FC,
HIS NAME IS SYNONYMOUS WITH QUALITY AND SUCCESS. HE IS...

ARSÈNE WENGER
1 • Arsène, you have recently beaten 2 • As a coach at the top of your 3 • You have a great ‘eye’ for a
the record for the number of unbeaten profession, what motivates you player – what do you like to see in
games in the English championship – to face the demanding challenges a young player?
what has that meant to you? of managing and coaching a club Motivation and intelligence are the
Well, I’m very proud of it – the most like Arsenal FC? two main elements, because I believe
difficult thing at the top level is to be I think it is to do with my love of you need minimal intelligence (do you
consistent. I believe this has shown the game, a love of winning and a know why you make a mistake?), and
our spirit and attitude towards the hate of losing as well. When you a desire to become better. The talent
game – happiness about playing foot- enter a new season, you must love aspect is not enough, because what
ball. You cannot achieve this by just the game and want to share with makes a career depends on how
wanting to win and having a war every the players a certain way of life, a much you want to be somebody, and
week; you can only achieve it if the way of seeing football. It is a strong are you intelligent enough to under-
players enjoy playing. Therefore, experience to play football when stand what you can do with the talent
I’m very happy that our players have you are a child, and when you you have? If you look around you, you
that kind of feeling. You make a small have such an emotional experience will see that most top players are intel-
step, then another, but when you look you want to repeat it again and ligent – they have to be because it
backwards you are amazed by what again. Sometimes you lose that joy is not easy to manage a career. Ideally
you have done. Two years ago, I said in the professional game and you you want to have a player who has
I wanted to go a season unbeaten – must try to get it into the hearts everything. Our game at Arsenal is
people said I was crazy. But we’ll of the players. Sharing a passion based on technique and movement –
never know to what extent that sowed for the game with the players that means I look at the pace of the
a seed in the brains of the team. is what motivates me. player and his technical level. These
The psychological element is very elements don’t always go with power
important. or physical commitment, but we want

4
 ARSÈNE WENGER

LISTENS TO WHAT THIERRY

EMPICS
H ENRY HAS TO SAY.

our game to be very mobile and very

fast, therefore we need a good tech-
nique and to be able to move quickly.
Of course, you want power and
physical presence, but the priorities
for me are pace and technique.

4 • How has the training process

changed since you started as a profes-
sional coach?
It has changed tremendously.
I remember a time when we were
alone on the pitch. Today we have a
staff around us, and this group is
becoming bigger and bigger every day.
The scientific approach to the team
game has changed considerably, and
that has had a tremendous effect.
I don’t think there is a successful
manager in the game today who
does not have a good support team
around him. That means not only
competent, but united. It is vital to
have a unified team around you that
can cope with all sorts of problems.

5 • Do you supervise the training or

take the coaching session yourself?
Every day I am on the pitch coaching.
I don’t do the warm-ups, for example,
but I coach the heart of the session.
I grew up with my team alone and
that is what I enjoy most, being on
the pitch with my team. The satisfac-
tion of my day is knowing that we
did a good training session and the
players enjoyed it – it is what I enjoy
most in my daily life as a coach.

6 • What difficulties have you faced

in blending together so many stars,
particularly when they come from such
diverse backgrounds (i.e. countries,
cultures, languages, etc)?
The biggest difficulty is the communi-
cation within the group. When you
have people who speak ten different
languages in the dressing room it is
very difficult to get them to speak
EMPICS

together, apart from being very polite.

5
 ANDY ROXBU RGH

PRESENTS A SET

OF UEFA COM PETITION

M EDALS TO

ARSÈNE WENGER.

UEFA
A group that doesn’t communicate state before a game, and prepare myself they are usually happy people – being
together has a very low dynamic. to cope with the particular situation. an optimist is an important part of a
We make a lot of effort to get them manager’s success. It is a self-fulfilling
to speak English, to talk together, and 8 • You often emphasise the mental prophecy – you believe in people and
to have a real conversation – it is strength of your team – is this a matter they try to prove their worth to you.
a modern problem. Before, you had a of selection or training?
common culture because the players Mental strength is something that 10 • Do you have certain coaching prin-
came from the same country. Now certain players have, and you need four ciples that you refuse to compromise?
we have to create a culture within the or five like that in your team to be Many. I am always ready to defend
club – to identify who we want to be. successful. The one who never gives up players who have good commitment
We tell them how we want to be and who can pull the others along with and attitude, but I cannot forgive those
perceived, how we must behave. You him. The younger they are, the less they who don’t love the game; there are
have to develop a mini culture and are mentally strong, and so the balance a few of them in football today. There
to get the players to identify with it. in the team depends on some strong, are two kinds of jobs now in top-level
experienced pros. We lost some experi- professional football: there are those
7 • Why is it important for you to be enced players recently, and although we who want to be winners and achieve
calm on the bench? still have great quality in the team, we everything; and there are those who live
I believe we have a job to do and not need to see how these younger players off football, who don’t love the game
to jump around like a clown. When will react when things go wrong. enough, and give no credit to football.
I was younger and I saw myself on TV, With people who don’t respect the
I thought I had no credit when I acted 9 • How would you describe your game, I don’t compromise. For me, it
with such emotion. The job is so emo- style of management in the dressing is not forgivable if you don’t practise
tional and intense that sometimes we room and on the training pitch? properly (concentration is a must), or
lose all sense of rationality, and then it I make my decisions without consulting don’t respect things like time-keeping.
affects our ability to analyse. We have to too much. My management style is I am lucky as I have players like Dennis
make a big effort to calm down. I must based on respect for people, and belief Bergkamp, 35 years old, who for
say I have managed that better since in players – I have an optimistic view nine years has never given anything
I have become more experienced. And of human beings. I tell the players that less than full concentration. He provides
I must say, it also depends on how I believe in their ability to do the job a wonderful example to younger
much pressure you are under. I keep for me. If you are negative, you become players. The principle of respect in the
reminding myself about the need more aggressive. If you look at people game is important – when you have
to keep calm. I even check my mental who are successful in management, to give the pass, you give the pass.
Don’t allow your ego as a player to
get in the way of the game – that’s
something very important to me.

11 • You have worked in Japan,

France and England – what are the
major differences?
Dennis Bergkamp, Culturally, they are very different.
a model You get things easier in Japan than in
of concentration. France. But there are many common
denominators. A child who grows up in
Japan loves the ball as much as a child
in France. To find that pleasure when
you travel all over the world is some-
thing that, for me, is magical. That is
why football is so successful all over the
EMPICS

world. I try to give back that youthful

joy to the players in training. If you give

6
 ARSÈNE WENGER

CELEBRATES

ARSENAL’S CU P/

LEAGU E DOU BLE

IN 2002.

Barcelona could be interesting to

watch because of the quality of the
players at their disposal.

14 • If you could change something

in today’s football, what would it be?
I am disturbed by the number of
managers who lose their jobs despite
putting their heart and soul into the
game. I would ask those in authority
to show a little more patience. Maybe
there could be a transfer window
for coaches, and not just for players.

15 • Who were the biggest influences

on you as a developing coach?
I had one quality when I was younger –
I always listened to people who had
experience. I have been taught a lot
EMPICS

by people who were knowledgeable

about the game – people with intelli-
gence and a willingness to help. It is
not possible to be a player one day
the players the possibility to express face the clubs and the national teams. and become a coach the next – there
themselves, like when they were kids, With too many games the quality will needs to be a transition period. When
they become happy, and they play. deteriorate. For example, with the you play, the game is all about you,
In Japan, they love the movement – national teams there are too many when you coach it is about everyone
they have a culture of looking for the games in the groups, and the quality is else but you. It takes time to change
perfect action. The Japanese will practise affected. What is interesting is that mentality and to learn the coaching job.
and practise, endlessly looking for the the national teams still attract a huge
‘clean’ movement. In England and TV audience, particularly when the 16 • How do you see the game evolving
France, it is more about commitment matches are important. I don’t want in the next ten years or so?
and challenge, and more about fighting, us to change that, but we need to find Of course, the game has become faster,
although in France there is a greater a compromise that produces more more technical and will continue to do
focus on technique than in England. attractive games for the national teams so. But if you look back 10 or 20 years,
and more rest for the players. I believe those in charge of our game
12 • How can the relationship have done a great job. Games are more
between the clubs and the national 13 • Apart from Arsenal, which teams offensive, there is greater protection
teams be improved? (clubs or national) have impressed you for those who want to play, and things
It is a problem that grows every year. in recent years? Why? are fairer. I hope that the football bodies
The football bodies have to sit together Manchester United impressed me dur- can maintain that kind of positive evolu-
to discuss this before it becomes a ing my early years in English football – tion, so that the game becomes even
major crisis. At the end of the day, we I loved the type of game that they played, more attractive. The interest in football
are all happy if football in the world with their offensive attitude. Looking throughout the world today is the result
is respected and loved. There is a unity further back, I loved Mönchengladbach of the decisions made by football
in football today, but if there was a split in the 70s, and AC Milan in the 80s leaders. It is the responsibility of those
in the camps, it would harm the game, when they had their big team - although in power, and those with influence
and FIFA and UEFA need to intervene I think Milan have also played attractive and experience, to take the game for-
before that happens. We need to sit football in recent years. If I had to look ward, to make it even more skilful and
together to sort out the problems that ahead to the rest of this season, I think enjoyable in the next 10 to 20 years.

7
 MARCELLO LI PPI

IS CONCERNED TO SEE

SO MANY TOP PLAYERS

RETI RING FROM

EMPICS/BUZZI
NATIONAL TEAM FOOTBALL.

STRAIGHT TALKING
BY TOP COACHES
IN THEORY, THE SUMMER MONTHS GIVE TECHNICIANS A CHANCE TO STOP AND THINK –

OR, ALTERNATIVELY, TO SWITCH BRIEFLY TO NON-FOOTBALLING WAVELENGTHS.

BUT THE SUMMER OF 2004 NOT ONLY PROVED THAT THE ‘CLOSE SEASON’ BARELY EXISTS IN THE

MODERN GAME BUT ALSO PROVIDED AN ABUNDANCE OF FOOD FOR THOUGHT,

WITH ‘UNDERDOGS’ OCCUPYING THE PODIUM AT BOTH CLUB AND NATIONAL TEAM LEVELS.

One could also argue

that the two groups were
running on different
tracks, with the club coaches
focusing on a review of the
2003/04 UEFA club competitions and
the national team technicians drawing
conclusions from EURO 2004.
However, the two events confirmed
that the two groups tread a great deal
of common ground and are keen to
address a number of shared preoccu-
pations, such as:
UEFA

Time, gentlemen, please

The elite club coaches in Nyon. Standing, left to right: Arsène Wenger (Arsenal FC), Javier Irureta
(Deportivo La Coruña), Felix Magath (Bayern Munich), Vahid Halilhodzic (Paris St-Germain),
Paul Le Guen (Olympique Lyonnais), José Mourinho (Chelsea FC), Andy Roxburgh (UEFA Technical The UEFA Champions League coaches
Director). Front: Gérard Houllier (UEFA Technical Study Group), Fabio Capello (Juventus),
Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United), Lars-Christer Olsson (UEFA Chief Executive), Carlo Ancelotti
would welcome any move towards
(AC Milan) and Claudio Ranieri (Valencia CF). allowing them more preparation time
for big matches. In a similar vein, the
As mentioned elsewhere in ‘uefadirect’, Elite Coaches Forum during a week national team coaches asked for more
one of the proposals to emerge from when a significant percentage of their preparation time before the major inter-
the 6th UEFA Conference for National players were away on national team national tournaments.
Coaches was to unite club and national duty. And the national team coaches
team coaches under a single UEFA and technical directors met in Stock- In Stockholm, Marcello Lippi, who has
umbrella. The idea is certainly seduc- holm during a week when a vast just made the switch from club to
tive. But practicality is another matter. majority of European countries were national team, expressed his regret that
During September, the technicians engaged in full programmes of an increasing number of players are
from the top clubs met in Nyon for the midweek league and cup fixtures. ‘resigning’ from national teams at

8
 BONGARTS
The last-ever Silver Goal was scored
in the EURO 2004 semi-final between
Greece and the Czech Republic.

around 30. “I can understand that

they might want to spend time with
their families,” he commented, “but
it’s a shame that the fans are
deprived from seeing footballers like
Zinedine Zidane, who are a joy to
watch and an example for the
younger generations. I think the time
has come to examine workloads and
maybe re-define their roles so that
national team football doesn’t
become a ‘burden’ for them.”

Should extra-time goals

count double?

Question: Last season, with the

Silver Goal ruling in force, regulations
ZINEDINE ZIDANE – stipulated that away goals scored
AN ARTIST WHO WI LL during extra time would not count
double. Following the International
BE SORELY
Board’s decision to abolish the Silver
M ISSED BY FRENCH Goal and return to a full 30 minutes
of extra time, regulations have
SU PPORTERS.
also reverted to the previous situa-
tion where extra time away goals do
count double. Is this correct?
BONGARTS

Answer: A large majority of club

coaches feel that, if two teams have

9
 TACKLES

CONSIDERED AS VIOLENT

WI LL STI LL RESU LT

IN A RED CARD FOR THE

FLASH PRESS
LAST DEFENDER.

been equal for 180 minutes, they be maintained for similar offences EURO 2004 provided evidence that
should also be on equal terms during outside the penalty area and for delib- players and teams are beginning to
extra time. The national team coaches erate handball in the area. exploit the ‘loophole’ which has been
(faced with the same situation in opened up by the interpretation of the
play-off ties) also voted for away goals Passive offside law. The most striking examples were
not to be given double value during based on maintaining a player in a
extra time. This was, once again, a major concern central offside position while play was
for the coaches in Nyon and Stock- being directed to the flanks. The
Red card and penalty holm, who felt that even though problem for the technician is finding
explanatory video tapes of how refer- the antidote to this ploy. The fear
Question: Is a red card and a penalty ees were being instructed to interpret expressed by some coaches is that
too harsh a punishment for situations the rule had been helpful prior to there could be a trend towards the
where the ‘last defender’ thwarts a EURO 2004, the concept of passive ‘safety-first’ solution of defending closer
clear scoring opportunity with a foul in offside continued to generate doubts to the goal. Reluctance to push the
the penalty area? and uncertainty. More worryingly, defensive line forward would mean
Answer: Yes! There was unanimous the coaches felt there could be nega- that the block would remain further
feeling that the penalty restored the tive effects on the game. back. In other words, there is a risk that
goalscoring opportunity to the attacking exploitation of the passive offside rule
side and that the dismissal and sub- The ruling was introduced with the will lead to more defensive football.
sequent suspension of the offender laudable objective of preventing – to
represent an excessively severe express it in its most simplistic form – Top level, top marks
punishment for the crime. A penalty a right-wing attacking move being
and yellow card would therefore be ruined by a left-wing offside. But the But, while both groups of coaches
sufficient. However, the red card would 2003/04 club competitions and were keen to offer suggestions for the
fine-tuning of the game, they were
equally keen to express satisfaction
with what they had seen during the
2003/04 campaign. The increased
knock-out component had, as pre-
dicted, sown the seeds for surprises
in the UEFA club competitions – and
the ‘romance’ of the competition
had provoked a massive response
among the public.

EURO 2004, the coaches in Stockholm

felt, had been a tremendous advertise-
ment for national team football and
there was a vote of thanks to the
Portuguese public for their immense
contribution to the success of the event.
At the same time, massive TV viewing
figures underlined the popularity of
BONGARTS

national team football. As Marcello Lippi

commented, “the expression of a coun-
The Portuguese people contributed enormously to the success of EURO 2004. try’s football is its national team, as the

10
 GIFTS FOR LUIZ FELI PE

SCOLARI AND OTTO REH HAGEL

AT THE CONFERENCE

IN STOCKHOLM TO MARK

BOZZANI
THEIR ACH IEVEM ENTS.

SABATTINI
The goal scored by Angelos Charisteas for Greece in the EURO 2004 final.

top clubs no longer represent national same summer, feeling that participa- ment for national team coaches and,
identities in the way they used to.” tion in EURO 2004 or the Copa as Otto Rehhagel remarked, “respect
América followed by a long spell at the and fair play within our own profes-
Arsène Wenger, quite pessimistic Olympic Games could represent sion are more important than ever.
about the future of national team foot- an overload. During my career, if I have had to say
ball at one stage, was reassured by anything about other coaches, I have
what he saw in Portugal and the way At the same time, the national team tried to say something positive. We
that the status of national team football coaches admitted that the passion are lonesome cowboys and we know
was raised. “The supporters really which surrounds national team football that if we win, we are surrounded by
underlined the value of their national has been translated into even greater friends, but if we lose, we don’t have
teams, so what we have to do now is pressure. Even though the Stockholm any. That’s why we should always
to make sure that clubs and countries conference took place barely eleven be prepared to help each other.”
can co-habit in the best way possible. weeks after the Lisbon final, half of the
Now is the moment to find the best 16 finalists had, for one reason or The intensity and ferocity of the
possible solutions.” another, parted company with their pressures mean that the position of
coach. The ability to withstand intense national team coach is becoming
In the search for optimal solutions, pressure and negative comments – an increasingly short-term occupation.
some national team coaches expressed expressed by the public, ex-players But, as Sven-Göran Eriksson said,
their malaise about players taking part and even other coaches via the media “I wouldn’t stay in the job if I didn’t
in two major tournaments during the – has now become a basic require- enjoy it so much.”

11
 ARMANDO UFARTE,

COACH OF SPAI N’S MEN’S

U N DER-19 TEAM.

PASO DOBLE UEFA

IN THE YEAR WHEN UEFA CELEBRATES ITS 50TH BIRTHDAY, ONE MIGHT BE EXCUSED
FOR ASSUMING THAT EVERY CONCEIVABLE ‘DOUBLE’ HAD ALREADY BEEN ACHIEVED. BUT, IN AUGUST,
SPAIN WENT INTO THE RECORDS BY DANCING A UNIQUE ‘PASO DOBLE’ IN THE
UNDER-19 CHAMPIONSHIPS, TAKING THE MEN’S TITLE IN SWITZERLAND AND, 16 DAYS LATER,
LIFTING THE WOMEN’S TROPHY IN FINLAND. IRONICALLY, THE SPANISH BOYS HAD PREVENTED
THE GERMANS FROM COMPLETING THE DOUBLE BY BEATING THEM IN THE 2002 FINAL.

In the male game, Spain is an So the real eyebrow-raiser was at Under-19 level and something like
established power at youth level and, the 2-1 victory for Ignacio ‘Nacho’ 11,000 in all. Fortunately, our presi-
although the third European crown Quereda’s Spanish girls against a dent, Angel Villar, has been a staunch
was the first for Armando Ufarte, German team that had, en route to supporter of the women’s game and,
he explains “this was really a triumph the Under-19 women’s final, scored for example, I was given the green
for continuity because I’ve been 23 goals in four games and had light to get the girls into training camp
working with Juan Santisteban and conceded none. “I think it was a in Galicia a month before the tourna-
the other coaches at the federation watershed result,” Nacho reflects. ment started. It was crucial tactically
for seven years and maintaining our “A turning point. It will help to pro- and it also helped to forge a group.”
policy of searching for talent on a mote and develop women’s football
regional basis and then starting to in Spain where, at the moment, we From the technician’s standpoint,
nurture it from the Under-15 level.” have only 1,900 registered players one of the salient features is that both
teams faced, in the final, opponents
they had met days earlier in the group
phase of the competition. “In the
first match,” Armando Ufarte recalls,
“our boys had looked very comfort-
Turkey’s
Orhan Sam (left) able against Turkey – and we probably
battles with deserved more than a 3-2 win.
Spain’s Victor
in the final. But when you meet again, it’s on
different terms. As losers, they were
more motivated and, whereas we
hardly knew each other when the
tournament started, they’d had time
to study us. I modified the system
slightly by bringing in a second striker,
but we struggled to break through –
in fact it was a late goal by a sub that
won it for us.”

Nacho Quereda tells a similar but

different story – if that doesn’t sound
UEFA

12
 ‘NACHO’ QU EREDA,

COACH OF SPAI N’S WOM EN’S

U NDER-19 TEAM.

UEFA
UEFA
Spain’s U-19 women’s team celebrate victory.

like a contradiction in terms. After “We were extremely motivated,” says We talked about being more attentive
his girls had beaten Switzerland and Nacho Quereda, “and we thought and about the importance of scoring
Finland in the opening two group they might be lulled into complacency another goal. When the girls went out,
games “I called them together and by the earlier result. I fielded the first- I was convinced they had the mental
discussed the physical and mental choice team and changed from a strength and the confidence to win
demands of a match schedule that 4-4-2 to a 4-3-2-1, which gave us more the game. And those qualities were
could give us five games in 13 days. attacking options and helped us to important because, after we’d gone
We agreed to share the workload close down the Germans’ supply routes 2-1 up from a free kick, the Germans
and I made seven changes for the along the flanks. We cut out the diago- put us under a lot of pressure.
final group match against Germany.” nal balls into the centre and we oper- German teams don’t exactly give up,
The Spaniards were beaten 7-0. ated as a compact block with tight mark- do they? But they struggled to find
ing, especially on their No. 10, who was the right response and they were
German football had been com- a key figure.” But after taking the lead, uncomfortable about being so tightly
memorating the 50th anniversary of the Spaniards were dealt a psycho- marked and having their approach
the 1954 World Cup win against logical blow by conceding an equaliser routes blocked.”
a Hungarian side that had defeated with the last kick of the first half.
them 8-3 in the group phase. Silvia The Spanish girls, beaten by the
Neid and her girls were able to testify “It was a rebound from a corner,” Germans in the 2000 final, produced
how far the psychological pendulum Nacho remembers, “so my message a stout defence of their lead to take
could swing. “Compared with the was that the goal had been an accident the women’s Under-19 crown for
Spaniards,” Silvia admitted afterwards, and that the Germans hadn’t been the first time and to complete Spain’s
“we lacked fire and heart.” able to play their way through us. paso doble with a historic flourish.

13
 THE FRENCH

HAVE A WELL-DEVELOPED

YOUTH PROGRAMM E.

UEFA

THE WAY
AHEAD NAMES CAN BE MISLEADING. UEFA’S ‘GOLDEN JUBILEE

YOUTH FOOTBALL CELEBRATION’ MIGHT SOUND LIKE A PARTY,

BUT IT WAS IN FACT AN OCCASION TO PUT ON THINKING

CAPS RATHER THAN PAPER HATS. THE IDEA WAS TO DISCUSS WAYS

OF DEVELOPING YOUTH FOOTBALL IN THE FUTURE – AND THAT

ENTAILED QUESTIONING CURRENT STRUCTURES AND LOOKING

FOR WAYS OF UPGRADING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES.

First of all, UEFA asked the representa- tion expressed concern about the topics, such as physical preparation
tives from all 52 member associations number of agents on the international and medical care. Obviously this will
whether the current competition struc- youth scene, the role they play, and the require a greater number of specialised
tures met their needs and whether way they handle situations crucial to coaches in youth development
there might be a case for reverting to the development of their young programmes.
an Under-18 tournament. However, ‘clients’. The levels of sporting and
the response was that the current financial expectations have been raised, What’s more, the shift towards charac-
format offered optimal chances within with the result that many young players ter development as well as skill-educa-
a progressive structure for youngsters would benefit from ‘life-style manage- tion cannot be left to national associa-
to develop an understanding of interna- ment’ or greater attention to spiritual, tions who see the players for a limited
tional football. There was a call for rather than material, aspects of the number of days per year. Solid, all-
dates to be rationalised with a view to game. This inevitably involves parents round youth programmes will require
facilitating the release of players, includ- (whose expectations have also risen) closer cooperation between officials
ing a proposal to peg Under-19 fixtures and ‘parental guidance’ has, in the and coaches and between national
to Under-21 and ‘A’ international dates. view of many participants, become associations and clubs, so that joint
a desirable part of the youth develop- objectives can be set and, hopefully,
Youth football has, like the senior ment curriculum. attained. More academies – especially
game, experienced a sudden burst of in the smaller countries – could be
activity over the last decade or so, and Going further along the same road, a step in the right direction.
concerns for the future are focused coaching requirements in the future
on environmental elements in addition need to embrace specialised guidance However, the Jubilee guests pinpointed
to the basic ABC of the game itself. in mental and psychological areas some trends that could have a negative
All of the guests at the Jubilee celebra- as well as on the more traditional effect on future generations of foot-

14
 THE YOUTH SEM INAR WAS HELD

I N CON J U NCTION WITH THE EU ROPEAN

U N DER-19 CHAMPIONSH IP FINAL.

ment time-line, which is not bene- AG E N DA

ficial to the longer-term interests of 2004
the players. November 3
UEFA Futsal Committee • Nyon
However, the Jubilee ‘think-tank’
November 8
didn’t focus exclusively on philosophy. Medical Committee • Nyon
Some of the more pragmatic points
to be raised included the use of November 23/24
artificial turf for youth matches and UEFA Champions League
tournaments, the size of squads for Matchday 5
age-limit tournaments, the standard
November 30
of refereeing at youth levels, and the Youth & Amateur Committee • Nyon
desirability of a specialised youth Draw U-17 and U-19 • Nyon
coaching licence. Before they left
Nyon, the Jubilee guests had the good December 1
grace to thank UEFA for their financial Youth Football Workshop • Nyon
support via schemes such as the
December 7/8
HatTrick programme and for their UEFA Champions League
assistance in coach education. Matchday 6
A lot may have changed in the past
UEFA

50 years, but UEFA goes into its December 9

second half-century equally deter- Disability Football Panel • Nyon
ballers. There was concern about the mined to safeguard the future of the
February 4 – 11 2005
clubs who recruit too many young game by stressing the importance 5th UEFA Meridian Cup • Turkey
players and therefore cannot offer of youth development.
them the ideal framework for progress-
ing and maturing. And youngsters are
being lured to foreign countries
increasingly early – at ages when there
is a serious risk of disrupting their edu-
cation and their family life as well as
their prospects of a successful career.
It was a subject of serious debate as
to whether the correct antidote should
be guidance or legislation, or both.

In this environment, the quality of

youth coaching is a crucial factor in the
equation – and, with so many financial
carrots being dangled in front of their
noses, young players now demand
quality coaching. At the same time,
coaches can be equally keen to get
UEFA

to the top. This can lead to a lack

of continuity along the youth develop- A trip down memory lane for the Nyon seminar participants.

15
UEFA
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