Former winners among UEFA EURO 2020 ambassadors
Thursday, March 21, 2019
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A host of former winners are among the UEFA EURO 2020 ambassadors unveiled on Thursday.
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Former winners including Xavi Hernández, Thierry Henry and Peter Schmeichel are among the initial 34 UEFA EURO 2020 ambassadors unveiled on Thursday.
The ambassadors are tasked with supporting a very special 60th anniversary EURO that is taking place across 12 cities from 12 June to 12 July next year. The event was marked in Gruyeres on Thursday morning when a Henri Delaunay Trophy balloon took flight ahead of next year's unique voyage across Europe.
"I am proud that EURO legends such as Peter Schmeichel, David Trezeguet and Luís Figo are actively involved in promoting 60 years of the UEFA European Football Championship," said UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.
"As EURO finalists they have all contributed to creating many of the most iconic memories in the history of this great competition, and we look forward to their involvement in supporting UEFA EURO 2020 – an event that will be much closer to football fans than ever before."
The event coincides with the start of the European Qualifiers. All 55 UEFA member associations are taking place in qualifying, with none of the host nations guaranteed a place at the 24-team finals.
"I am delighted to be part of such of an exclusive set of ambassadors, especially as this will be the biggest EURO ever," said David Trezeguet, who scored France's golden goal in the UEFA EURO 2000 final against Italy.
"I expect that each of the host cities will bring their own local character to what is a global event. For me, there is much more to UEFA EURO 2020 than football. It will be a true celebration across 12 great venues, and a fitting way to celebrate the 60 years of this great competition."
Schmeichel, a prominent figure in Denmark's extraordinary triumph in 1992, added: "Winning EURO '92 really put Danish football on the map. Now it's the turn of the current generation of Danish players. These footballers, like players in 11 other countries across Europe, potentially have the chance to play in the EURO finals in front of their home fans next year.
"Although they still need to qualify, this opportunity is a great incentive and a great honour for them – but more than that, the format of the competition will allow many fans to have the EURO at their doorstep in 2020. This is a chance not to be missed."
The 12 UEFA EURO 2020 host cities are: Amsterdam, Baku, Bilbao, Bucharest, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Glasgow, London, Munich, Rome and Saint Petersburg.