Team behind the team

NO 50 | OCTOBER 2011

Getty Images

NEWSLETTER FOR COACHES

Celebrating the 50th
I

n March 1997, AFC Ajax, Manchester United FC, Juventus and Borussia
Dortmund were successfully negotiating the quarter-finals of the UEFA
Champions League. The last two would, as we know, later contest the final, with the Germans winning the title in Munich. That same month, the UEFA
Technician newsletter for coaches was launched, with the aim of informing practising coaches about UEFA events, highlighting issues relating to the coaching profession, recognising winning performances and recording the thoughts of our top technicians. After 14 years of words and images, we have reached the 50th issue. So, as people often do when a milestone is reached, we reflect for a moment on what has been a highly successful period for European football.
During this time, we have paid tribute to Ottmar Hitzfeld, Sir Alex Ferguson, Vicente Del Bosque, Carlo Ancelotti, José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola, who have each won the UEFA Champions League not just once, but twice – a remarkable achievement. Meanwhile, we have saluted Aimé Jacquet, Marcello Lippi and Vicente Del Bosque for lifting the FIFA World Cup: three European successes in the last four editions is something to be proud of. EURO accolades have gone to the wonderfully enthusiastic Roger Lemerre (France), the irrepressible Otto Rehhagel (Greece) and the revered Luis Aragonés (Spain).
Sadly, there have also been tributes to departed colleagues, such as Dutch coaching guru Rinus Michels, Italy’s world champion Enzo Bearzot, England’s gentleman of football Sir Bobby Robson, the elegant Giacinto Facchetti of
Inter, the thoughtful René Hussy of Switzerland, and the highly respected boss of Italy’s coaching school, Guido Vantaggiato.
All aspects of UEFA’s technical programme have been recorded, from top-level events such as the Elite Club Coaches Forum and the UEFA
National Coaches Conference to the UEFA Grassroots