Olsen's expert coaching eye

Thoughts on the game
Denmark coach Olsen, a star player in the 1980s, talks to The Technician about his thoughts on the game, the challenges facing international coaches today, his preferred style of play, the club/national team relationship and the future of the game. Capped 102 times, Olsen tells us about the requirements needed to be a successful coach at the top level. Experience, the ability to be innovative and a modicum of good luck always help, he says. Good communication with players is a must, while communication with the media and marketing sectors has also become a more demanding facet of the job.

Lucky charms
Luck and superstition in football is a key feature of the editorial column by UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh, who recalls that the great Brazilian coach Marío Zagallo believed wholly in the power of the number 13, and would do everything to bring this number into play as he felt it was a good omen. Some players like to be last out of the dressing room, while Roxburgh has known players who would not shave while on a lucky scoring streak.

Who wins EURO?
Five coaches who took part in UEFA EURO 2004™ in Portugal will still be at the helm for this summer's tournament in Austria and Switzerland – Otto Rehhagel, who led Greece to the title four years ago, Luiz Felipe Scolari (Portugal), Jakob Kuhn (Switzerland), Lars Lagerbäck (Sweden) and Karel Brückner (Czech Republic). The prowess of the coaches, allied to the qualities of their teams – and again, a certain amount of good fortune – will all play a part in deciding who wins the title in Vienna on 29 June.

Informative and interesting
Two recent UEFA events come under the spotlight in the publication – the Symposium for 7th Coach Education Directors in London, with the host association's drive to establish an efficient long-term plan whereby the development of coaches goes hand in hand with the development of players, in an effort to nurture a growing number of talented youngsters who will make the professional grade in the future. The challenges facing elite youth football are highlighted in an article on the 9th UEFA Youth Conference in Cannes. For those involved, or merely interested in coaches and the coaching profession, the Technician provides an informative and interesting read.

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