Coaches consider football's future
Friday, September 3, 2004
Article summary
The cream of Europe's club coaches gather today to examine the current state of the club game.
Article body
Coaching legends
UEFA's sixth Elite Club Coaches' Forum brings together some of the game's coaching legends for in-depth discussions with European football's governing body. This annual gathering is considered an essential part of the UEFA calendar, and a number of recommendations made at earlier editions have been put into practice.
Star-studded list
A star-studded list of coaches have accepted UEFA's invitation. Present will be Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United FC), Arsène Wenger (Arsenal FC), José Mourinho (Chelsea FC), Fabio Capello (Juventus FC), Carlo Ancelotti (AC Milan), Vahid Halilhodzic (Paris Saint-Germain FC), Felix Magath (FC Bayern München), Javier Irureta (RC Deportivo La Coruña), Claudio Ranieri (Valencia CF) and Paul Le Guen (Olympique Lyonnais). Gérard Houllier, the former France and Liverpool FC coach, will also attend.
Champions League debate
The forum will address several key questions relating in particular to the UEFA Champions League. The coaches will be asked to comment on last season's competition, and debate items such as red and yellow cards and suspensions, squad and substitutes' bench sizes, whether away goals should count double in extra time and other technical matters.
Coach support
The coaches will be asked to make proposals or suggestions for improving the Champions League from a promotional or organisational point of view, and to comment on how UEFA can support top-level coaches.
Offside issue
The issue of offside and interfering with play – presently a major discussion point – is also on the agenda, as is the topic of the so-called professional foul and the club-versus-country debate - how a balance can be found for players and coaches between club requirements and national-team duty.
Something to offer
"A group like this has something to offer which is very valuable," said UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh after last year's event. "Many of them were top players and are now top coaches who are dealing with the fine details of football on a daily basis.
Crucial forum
"It's very important to listen to them, and then try to do something about what they have told us," he added. "It's a vital exercise, and the coaches also find this a crucial forum in which they can express their opinions about various elements of the game."
