Cooper heads UEFA jubilee project

Former FIFA communications director Keith Cooper has been appointed to take charge of UEFA's programme of activities for the European body's 50th anniversary celebrations in 2004.

Jubilee 2004 project
UEFA announced on Monday that Cooper would be leading the Jubilee 2004 project, as well as planning the series of special events that will take place to mark UEFA's 50th birthday.

FIFA and ISL service
A former print and radio journalist in England and Switzerland, Cooper, who is 55 and speaks English, French and German, worked as FIFA communications director from 1995-2002. Previously, he worked for ISL Marketing in Lucerne, Switzerland between 1982 and 1992, first as events manager and later as vice-president of their football division.

Major project
"I am very glad to be joining UEFA, and to have the chance of leading this major project to celebrate 50 years of UEFA's existence and the growth of football in Europe," Cooper said on Monday.

Returning to football
"I am looking forward to returning to work in the football environment and to the opportunity of working with the team at UEFA," he added. "Together with the 52 member associations, there is no doubt a great deal of work to be done before the events that will take place in 2004."

Knowledge and experience
"I am very happy to have someone of Keith's ability and reputation joining us to head-up this project," UEFA Chief Executive Gerhard Aigner said. "His knowledge and experience of the game of football at world level will help us to create a series of events and celebrations that will make UEFA's 50th year of existence in 2004 a memorable one."