Moldova and Kazakhstan are the latest UEFA member associations to join the UEFA Coaching Convention at Pro licence level. The two associations signed the Coaching Convention during UEFA's Congress activities in Tel Aviv, Israel, last week.

The convention's objective is, among other things, to set a benchmark for UEFA associations to meet, in order to protect the coaching profession and to smooth the way for the free movement of qualified coaches within Europe in accordance with European law. UEFA also promotes the exchange of coach education and encourages its 53 associations to share technical knowledge with the overall benefit of European football in mind.

Minimum criteria have been laid down in the convention for three training levels (B, A and Pro). If any UEFA association meets these criteria, it can join the convention. Around 160,000 coaches across the continent have UEFA-endorsed licences. All 53 UEFA member associations are part of the convention at one of the three levels, with 42 now qualified at Pro level.