UEFA launches UEFA EURO 2020 ambassadors' squad
Thursday, March 21, 2019
Article summary
Henri Delaunay Trophy balloon takes flight across Europe as qualifying for UEFA EURO 2020 begins.
Article top media content
Article body
UEFA has announced the initial line-up of UEFA EURO 2020 ambassadors tasked with promoting the final tournament, which will take place in 12 European cities from 12 June to 12 July 2020 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the competition.
Thirty-four legends who have marked the history of the UEFA European Football Championship were represented by UEFA EURO ’92 winner Peter Schmeichel, UEFA EURO 2000 winner David Trezeguet and UEFA EURO 2004 finalist Luís Figo at a kick-off event at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland, after which the Henri Delaunay Trophy balloon took flight for a 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.”
“I am delighted to be part of such of an exclusive set of ambassadors,” said former France international striker David Trezeguet, whose ‘golden goal’ in extra-time in the final against Italy gave his country the UEFA EURO 2000 title, “especially as this will be the biggest EURO ever. Eight capital cities, and 11 of the 12 venues with capacities in excess of 50,000, tells you that the EURO has never before been hosted on this scale, and 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.”
“Winning EURO ’92 really put Danish football on the map,” admitted former Denmark international goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who played a crucial role in his country’s remarkable success after Denmark had received a late call-up to take part in the finals. “Everything came together for us in 1992 in Sweden, and now it is the turn of the current generation of Danish players. These footballers, like players in eleven 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 road to UEFA EURO 2020 begins with the European Qualifiers, which kick-off on Thursday 21 March 2019. For the first time, all 55 UEFA member associations will participate in the qualifying competition, as no team is guaranteed their place in the 24-team finals, which take place from Friday 12 June to Sunday 12 July 2020. The 12 UEFA EURO 2020 host cities are: Amsterdam, Baku, Bilbao, Bucharest, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Glasgow, London, Munich, Rome and Saint Petersburg.
UEFA EURO 2020 ambassadors squad (21 March 2019)
CZE: Karel Poborský EURO ’96 finalist
CZE: Vladimír Šmicer EURO ’96 finalist
DEN: Brian Laudrup EURO ’92 winner
DEN: Peter Schmeichel EURO ’92 winner
ENG: Steve McManaman EURO ’96 semi-finalist
ENG: Michael Owen UEFA EURO 2004 quarter-finalist
ENG: Alan Shearer EURO ’96 semi-finalist
ESP: Xabi Alonso UEFA EURO 2008 & 2012 winner
ESP: Gaizka Mendieta UEFA EURO 2000 quarter-finalist
ESP: Carles Puyol UEFA EURO 2008 winner
ESP: Xavi Hernández UEFA EURO 2008 & 2012 winner
FRA: Marcel Desailly UEFA EURO 2000 winner
FRA: Youri Djorkaeff UEFA EURO 2000 winner
FRA: Thierry Henry UEFA EURO 2000 winner
FRA: Christian Karembeu UEFA EURO 2000 winner
FRA: Robert Pirès UEFA EURO 2000 winner
FRA: David Trezeguet UEFA EURO 2000 winner
GER: Jürgen Klinsmann EURO ’96 winner
GER: Lothar Matthäus EURO ’80 winner
GRE: Angelos Charisteas UEFA EURO 2004 winner
GRE: Antonios Nikopolidis UEFA EURO 2004 winner
ITA: Alessandro Del Piero UEFA EURO 2000 finalist
ITA: Gianluca Zambrotta UEFA EURO 2000 finalist*
NED: Ruud Gullit EURO ‘88 winner
NED: Patrick Kluivert UEFA EURO 2000 & UEFA EURO 2004 semi-finalist
NED: Clarence Seedorf UEFA EURO 2000 & UEFA EURO 2004 semi-finalist
POR: Vitor Baía UEFA EURO 2000 semi-finalist
POR: Ricardo Carvalho UEFA EURO 2016 winner
POR: Deco UEFA EURO 2004 finalist
POR: Luís Figo UEFA EURO 2004 finalist
POR: Nuno Gomes UEFA EURO 2004 finalist
POR: Maniche UEFA EURO 2004 finalist
RUS: Andrey Arshavin UEFA EURO 2008 semi-finalist
SWE: Henrik Larsson UEFA EURO 2004 quarter-finalist
*Suspended for final