The FIFA Weekly Issue #39 by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)

ISSUE 39/2015, 2 OCTOBER 2015

ENGLISH EDITION

Fédération Internationale de Football Association – Since 1904

VIETNAM BINH DUONG IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WIN-WIN PROGRAMME HELPS ESTABLISH PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE ENGLAND A PASSION FOR FOOTBALL NOSTALGIA

FIFA\TMS player transfers

THE CLEVER SYSTEM W W W.FIFA.COM/ THEWEEKLY

THIS WEEK IN THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL

North and Central America 35 members www.concacaf.com

Player transfers Shortly before each transfer window closes, hundreds of moves are yet to be completed. Annette Braun reports on frantic deadline day dealmaking and FIFA's sophisticated Transfer Matching System (TMS).

A ustria Rapid Vienna are back on the winning trail thanks to new signing Matej Jelic. Will the Croatian find the net again in the top-of-thetable clash with Red Bull Salzburg?

Wales Chris Coleman expresses his desire to lead superstar Gareth Bale's national side to their first World Cup since 1958.

Stefan Rehn Winning the cup was all well and good, but the moment that made this former Swedish professional truly emotional was the birth of his son.

The clever system The goalkeeper illustration on the cover symbolises the hectic nature of the transfer business, with clubs often signing players at the last possible moment.

South America 10 members www.conmebol.com

Forever young Nobody is fonder of reminiscing about old times than English football fans. (Pictured: Bobby Moore figurine)

Dominican Republic The country has a new professional league thanks to FIFA’s Win-Win Programme. (Pictured: Aneury Mateó/Atlético Pantoja, Mateo Zazo/Atlántico FC)

The FIFA Weekly app FIFA’s magazine The FIFA Weekly is published in four languages every Friday and is also available free of charge on smartphone and tablet. http://www.fifa.com/mobile 2

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FIFA U-17 World Cup

FIFA Club World Cup

17 October – 8 November 2015, Chile

10 – 20 December 2015, Japan

Simon Bruty / Any Chance, Got, Not Got

Illustration: Sarah Gasser

THIS WEEK IN THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL

Europe 54 members www.uefa.com

Africa 54 members www.cafonline.com

Asia 46 members www.the-afc.com

Oceania 11 members www.oceaniafootball.com

Gunter Netzer “I object to sabbaticals that are taken for personal financial gain.”

Horstmüller / imago, La Guaira

Venezuela To the surprise of many, La Guaira have stormed to the summit of the league. (Pictured: Gustavo Rojas)

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UNCOVERED

Secure transfers F

ootballers move clubs. Having just played in their old team’s colours, they suddenly find themselves training with different team-mates in a different city, sometimes in another country or even on a new continent. There is nothing particularly unusual about that, not least because the global game depends on its stars and their outstanding abilities. And anyway, is not every player a star? After all, he has made his childhood dream of becoming a professional footballer come true through hard work and dedication. In any case, regardless of whether he is a Champions League winner or a fringe player in the second division, his transfer from Club A to Club B follows a procedure set out by FIFA. World football’s governing body ratifies every transfer in professional football. In doing so, it ensures legal compliance for players and clubs regarding the status of the new recruit. Our staff writer Annette Braun visited the FIFA\TMS team in Zurich to find out more and go behind the scenes on transfer deadline day. Her report begins on page 6. Å

Mario Wagner / 2Agenten

Perikles Monioudis

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Looking through the transfer window

Deadline Day Club officials discuss possible ins and outs right until the last second.

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Once again deadline day and the closing of the transfer window caused quite a stir. But what went on behind the scenes on 31 August? Annette Braun uncovered some answers. Illustrated by Sarah Gasser.

n deadline day, the clock seems to tick faster for clubs looking to seal international transfers. With the end of the transfer window drawing near, the hours slip away as club officials work furiously to secure one last coup. It is not just the clubs for whom time speeds up on deadline day twice a year, but also for the FIFA\TMS (Transfer Matching System) control centre in Zurich. A total of 295 players moved clubs on the last day of the 2015 summer window. The rush to make deals, on deadline day in particular, and the accompanying 24-hour media coverage have now become a part of football. While the window continues to remain open right until the last second as always, the way transfer business is conducted has changed unrecognisably over the last few years. The main reason for this is the ITMS (International Transfer Matching System), an online platform which enables clubs not only to seal deals for players according to normal FIFA procedure, but also uses a mass of collected data to simultaneously help the entire transfer business become more transparent. The days of clubs sending the requisite forms by post or fax to FIFA are long gone. Back then, a strike at the post office could have disastrous consequences, while a broken fax machine or an unex8

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pectedly large pile of paperwork could prove unwelcome turning points in players’ careers. The wasted time associated with the old processes hardly bears thinking about. “We’ve had a transfer completed in less than 10 minutes,” says Vira Egli, Head of Sales and Marketing at FIFA\TMS. Nowadays, provided both clubs are in agreement, instead of post boxes and fax machines a transfer is a few clicks away. The interior of the FIFA\TMS control centre has developed according to those needs. There are no fax machines or forms here. Instead, screens dominate the office, each displaying lists of names and numbers. Set up partially in the dark to offer an unrestricted view of the data and to avoid the glare of the sun, the room resembles something from ’The Matrix”. Unlike Keanu Reeves, however, this team’s only mission is to change the way the transfer market functions. Object of desire: the International Transfer Certificate If a player is set to move from Club A to Club B over an internationally recognised border then both clubs simply need to input the correct information into the system. If this data relating to the player, the agent and the fee matches up, then the green light is given for the transfer to proceed. An International Transfer Certificate is delivered to the new Member Association so that the player can be registered

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CLUB A

CLUB B

•Club name •Association name •Player details •Type of transfer •Club agent •Payment method •Transfer fees •...

The clock’s ticking Clubs sound out possible ins and outs until the last second

to said MA and represent his new club. In such a case, all parties are happy with the outcome: the clubs, the player and ITMS. Every year, however, there are transfers that do not quite go through, often due to the time pressure of the manic finals days of the market. Is the player still available? Will the club have to look elsewhere? Will they have to increase their offer? There are discussions, more discussions and haggling over the finer details, but sometimes the clubs and play-

ITMS: What? How? Why? Now par t of FIFA regulations, the Inter national Trans f er Matc hing Sys tem (I T MS) was introduc ed in Oc tober 2010. It is an online plat f or m on which trans f er s of all male prof e s sional f ootballer s mus t be regis tered. In order to suc c e s s f ully c onclude the trans f er of a player abroad, the selling club and the buy ing club mus t input c ompulsor y inf or mation on the s ys tem. T his include s the identit y of the player in que s tion, the ter ms of employ ment, the agreed trans f er sum and t he invol ve me nt of age nt s . O nl y w he n b o t h c lub s’ inf or ma t ion matc he s w ill the pla yer r e c ei ve an Inter national Tr ans f er C er tif i -

c ate, per mit ting him to move f rom one Member A s sociation to an other. I T MS is c ompulsor y f or all 209 Member A s sociations and is now used by over 6,50 0 clubs. A s well as ensur ing the f ree prov ision of the s ys tem on an Inter net plat f or m, T MS also ac t s as a ser v ic e prov ider, analysing the c ollec ted data and trans f er behav iour. T he c ollated s tatis tic s not only prov ide an insight into the c hanging na ture of trans f er behav iour but are also intended to deliver greater transparenc y and integr it y in the f ootball c ommunit y. br a

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33% on the previous year. However, when analysing the figures, it is worth bearing in mind that extremely high salaries only stem from a small number of clubs. Alongside an overview of each country’s average salary, the published data also gives an insight into the number of transfers sealed, and provides information showing where each association’s clubs prefer to sign players. The numbers are also used to determine which country’s clubs spend more, which earn more and what, if any, general trends can be established. Over the last few years for example, Portugal has received significantly more money than it has spent, while the reverse is true for England. Equally interesting is the data relating to the international career paths players follow, such as the one that often leads Brazilian players to Japan. In the Premier League, there are myriad Scottish, Welsh and Irish players, who, due to their high number and comparatively low salaries, mean that England is not among the top ten countries with the highest average salary, despite its high-profile arrivals. Spain top that list ahead of Germany and Belgium. When deals are run through ITMS, the system and the specific data it produces should not only provide a step towards greater transparency, but also provide the means to open up the transfer market further, in turn imbuing it with more integrity. ITMS also controls deals involving minors: the compulsory registration of minors in the system is a key element of the fight against under age transfers. In the period between one transfer window shutting and another opening, ITMS is far from quiet, for the International Transfer Matching System is but the tip of the iceberg. The DTMS (Domestic Transfer Matching System) is an already-existing system used to handle domestic transfer dealings. While neither free nor compulsory like its international counterpart, associations can subscribe to the DTMS on a voluntary basis. The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) is at present taking advantage of the system, in which all in-

tra ing t go Ou

996

–2%

382

–10%

–614

363

351

495

–23%

310

–51%

–185

287

299

389

+55%

274

+7%

–115

195

251

270

+65%

440

+60%

+170

220

299

248

–7%

300

+105%

+52

275

216

Total Big 5

2,396

+2%

1,707

–2%

–591

1,340

1,416

Total worldwide

3,128

–5%

3,128

–5%

6,325

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ns tra ing om

pe ts Ne

f er

tr ing /ne nd

v s. ge an ch

ec e

ipt s

20 14 su mm

mi llio n %

ch %

c ei pts

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in U

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Big 5 Summer Transfer Window 2015 Summary table

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Big 5 Report It is hardly a surprise that FIFA\TMS employees are proud of the initial statistics about salaries to emerge from the Big 5 Report. The report, published at the end of every window, focuses on transfers involving the five biggest European leagues: England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France. The latest edition establishes that player salaries constitute 57% of the funds circulated in the international transfer market, while 80% of the total amount of salaries paid in the context of international transfers since 2013 can be attributed to UEFA clubs. These lead the trend in paying the highest average salaries, with AFC (Asian Football Confederation) clubs following closely behind. In total, in the five European countries mentioned, clubs and players signed contracts worth USD 6.02 billion in 2014 alone, an increase of

Inc

ers simply lose the race against the clock. Often, two parties are unable to come to an agreement, and that is when most of the media headlines are written. The go-ahead for the innovative ITMS project came at the 57th FIFA Congress in 2007 and the system went live three years later. Since October 2010, its use has been compulsory for over 6,500 professional clubs across the 209 FIFA Member Associations. “Every association must have at least one TMS manager who has received training from FIFA\TMS and knows how to use the system,” says Egli. The response has been entirely positive, and feedback from TMS managers has often been used to help make improvements. The overall aim of the system is to produce a complete picture of a transfer market often distorted by the focus placed on expensive moves. “Most of the transfers discussed in the media involve large transfer fees,” says Mark Goddard, FIFA\TMS General Manager. “But in reality, only 13% of all worldwide transfers involve the payment of a fee. Salaries, though, are part of every single contract.”

Source: FIFA TMS

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Centre of attention Will he stay or will he go?

“We’ve had a transfer completed in less than 10 minutes”

imago / fotoarena

Vira Egil, Head of Sales and Marketing at FIFA\TMS

ternational and national professional player transfers can be processed at once, which is undeniably an asset amid the to-ing and fro-ing of an already stressful deadline day. At the KNVB offices, paperwork is a thing of the past. Dutch FA officials say they would not even know what to do with all the old documents and in the busy business of modern-day football certainly have no desire to increase their administrative burden. Using the DTMS was an easy choice for them. “With an online system the clubs can communicate more easily,” says Ninon Kok, TMS manager for the KNVB, reiterating the clubs’ faith in the DTMS. “With the system, the Association has developed better communication regarding transfers.” Step by step towards a football community Another benefit of ITMS is the IRT (Intermediary Regulations Tool), which regulates working with intermediaries, while the implementaT H E F I FA W E E K LY

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“Fairness is essential”

Kimberly T. Morris, how would you describe the aim of your work as Head of Integrity and Compliance at FIFA\TMS? Kimberly T. Morris: There is a statement in an article written by FIFA that says FIFA is responsible for “upholding the rules of the game, promoting the sport and generally serving as an advocate and an example of fairness and solidarity all over the globe.” For the Integrity and Compliance department at FIFA\TMS we work to ensure that the FIFA transfer regulations that govern the transfer of players are upheld. Our job is to make sure that clubs and associations from all over the world follow the same rules. It is about fairness and achieving a level playing field in the international transfer market. What do you do in the course of your everyday work to achieve that aim? We monitor the transfers that are processed through the international transfer system. We look at the documentation and information submitted by clubs and associations in the international transfer matching system to make sure that it is compliant with the regulations. We also receive information from a variety of sources about wrongdoing — for example minor players who are transferred without the proper request of FIFA and players who are owned by third parties. What happens to the insights you gain from your investigations? We have the authority to sanction clubs and associations by way of a fine up to CHF 14,000. When we investigate more serious breaches, the results of our investigations are provided to the FIFA disciplinary and governance department who ultimately present the cases to the FIFA disciplinary committee. The FIFA disciplinary committee can impose greater sanctions. Your work brings you into close contact with clubs and associations. What has been your experience of this collaboration? In addition to annual training we conduct face-to-face visits with clubs and associations. Each year we accomplish eight visits. The in-person meetings help us to better understand the people who are working for the associations and the clubs. This leads to a better under-

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standing of how football works in their countries in general. In my opinion it’s important to get to know their culture in addition to learning what they want to achieve. As well as discussing their international transfers, we ask the associations and the clubs to provide their financial statements for the past two years. As the clubs become more and more professional, those who work at the clubs are often from outside the world of football. This brings a different element to the development of the club. Clubs are often run like businesses and the business side of the game is what we see in ITMS. For example clubs generate significant revenue from their international transfers and we see this revenue reflected in the information in ITMS. What kind of welcome do you receive when visiting the various member associations? We get a warm welcome. People appreciate that we are interested in what they are doing. They want a chance to explain their business and they are very grateful for the support FIFA\TMS offers them. In addition, they are willing to learn, they want to improve, to be more compliant with the transfer regulations. I recently returned from Greece and after our meetings many people sent emails thanking us for coming and listening to their concerns. What would you identify as the greatest challenge for your department? The ability to do more. We’re on the right path considering the most recent sanctions coming from the disciplinary committee. FIFA has a responsibility as the international regulator of the transfer market to take a firm position with clubs and associations that breach the regulations. It’s only in this way that FIFA will show that fairness is essential. If you set down a rule you have to be prepared to enforce it. Clubs work together in a transfer. We must ensure that they act fairly and in accordance with the rules when they transact with each other. Are you satisfied with the development brought about by the detailed inspection of the transfer market so far? Absolutely. I think that our department works well with the other FIFA departments who impact the transfer market – the players’ status and governance department and the disciplinary and governance department. Together we ensure that those clubs and associations who do not follow the rules receive appropriate sanctions. As a result we show strength as the international regulator. We are working towards a compliant transfer market. Your background is not rooted in football. How did that affect your approach when you arrived at FIFA\TMS three years ago? I am from Canada and usually we play hockey! I used to work as a commercial trial lawyer so the way that I look at the clubs and the associations and their obligations to act in accordance with the regulations may be a bit different. For me the focus should be on fairness and justice. That is what we are working towards. To go back to the initial statement quote – to be an advocate for fairness and solidarity all over the globe. Kimberly T. Morris was speaking to Annette Braun

Privat

Focused on the transfer market Kimberly T. Morris.

Kimberly T. Morris is Head of Integrity and Compliance for FIFA\ TMS. In an interview, the Canadian discusses fairness in the football business, FIFA’s respon sibility and the progress that has already been made in the transfer market.

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Back to the day job Once deadline day is over, clubs’ focus returns to league action.

imago / BPI

As well as using the ITMS, the Dutch Football Association manages all domestic transfers with the national DTMS. tion of the GPX (Global Player Exchange) is in the pipeline for next year. “The aim of GPX is to create a football network to facilitate club to club communication and provide a comprehensive player database,” says Egli. Whereas in ITMS two parties only get together when a transfer is on the verge of completion, GPX provides a direct and discreet channel for secure and intimate stakeholder communication across the entire global professional football network. In the social media age, such a targeted data source is a logical development. Yet again that desire to see the whole picture, to build a complete image of the transfer market becomes clear. FIFA\TMS’s aim over the next few years is to get as close to that goal as possible. It is certainly not finished either: the system will keep on steadily improving, from one deadline day to the next. Å

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Austria: Bundesliga

R a p i d ’s Je l ic f i n d s h i s fe e t Alan Schweingruber is a staff writer on The FIFA Weekly.

Rapid Vienna’s last-gasp 1-0 win over Josko Ried at the weekend did little to placate the side’s critics. An eighth successive victory over their lesser-fancied opponents makes for enviable reading, but the club that has won more Austrian titles than any other has been an object of compassion rather than envy in recent weeks.

Walter Luger / GEPA

Rapid had been eyeing a spot in the UEFA Champions League group stage at the end of August. After a disappointing 1-0 loss in the home leg of their play-off against Shakhtar Donetsk, Vienna raised their game in Ukraine to take a 2-1 lead on the night, an advantage that would have been

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synonymous with a return to the competition after a ten-year absence. Those dreams were halted when Shakhthar made it 2-2 minutes later, but Rapid still had time to carve out some golden chances. In the 90th minute Slovenian striker Robert Beric headed against the bar from six yards out, and five minutes later Philipp Prosenik struck the post. Rapid could not have come any closer to reaching the promised land of the Champions League and the €10 million in prize money that comes with it. A few days later Beric was gone, signed up by St. Etienne for €5.5million, and unsurprisingly a number of Rapid fans were infuriated at the club selling its top scorer. The unveiling of 24 year-old striker Matey Jelic as his replacement only a few hours later did little to appease them. As it turned out, however, the fact that Rapid Vienna now sit four points clear of Red Bull Salzburg and Austria Vienna at the top of the Bundesliga is in no small part down to Jelic. The Green and Whites’

performance against Ried, a small town with just 11,000 inhabitants, was certainly not their finest and no one could have complained if the hosts had taken the three points. As it was, Jelic came off the bench to decide the game in the 93rd minute with his first league goal for Rapid, reminding people why the club gave him a four-year contract after the Croatian scored 19 goals in 29 games for Slovakian side MSK Zilina last season. Next up for Rapid is a top-of-the-table clash at home to Red Bull Salzburg on 4 October. The hosts’ defence will have to be on their guard against 30 year-old Salzburg striker Jonathan Soriano, who is currently in the form of his life. The Spaniard scored all four goals in the 4-2 win over Mattersburg, and in total has 139 goals and 54 assists to his name in 154 appearances for the title-chasers. Å

Relief New signing Matej Jelic (l.) celebrates securing victory for Rapid Vienna with his first Bundesliga goal. T H E F I FA W E E K LY

Gustavo Rojas The La Guaira playmaker scored a stoppage-time winner to make it 3-2.

L a G u a i r a s to r m to t h e s u m m it Sven Goldmann is a leading football correspondent at Tages spiegel newspaper in Berlin.

When Aragua FC and Zamora FC met in a top-of-the-table clash on Matchday 12 in Venezuela’s Primera Division, they seemed to forget about scoring amid constant bickering. If either of them had won they would have been guaranteed top spot but as it was, their goalless draw enabled another team to take advantage. Deportivo La Guaira now sit at the summit, despite having two games in hand over their rivals due to commitments in the Copa Sudamericana earlier in the season. That speaks volumes for the quality of the side from a suburb of the capital Caracas. La Guaira left it late to secure a hard-fought 3-2 victory away to Carabobo FC in the Estadio Misael Delgado in Valencia, with 16

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Gustavo Rojas scoring the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time to spark wild celebrations. It was a sixth win of the season for La Guaira, who have drawn their other four league assignments. Indeed, they have only lost once all season, suffering a 4-0 defeat to Paraguayan side Sportivo Luqueno in the second leg of their Copa Sudamericana second round tie. However, La Guaira responded well to their shock elimination from that competition and on the domestic scene have continued to play better than ever in the club’s history – even if they have only existed for seven years. In July 2008, Real Esppor Club was founded in the port city of La Guaira. The name is an acronym of the words ‘España’ and ‘Portugal’, in reference to the Spanish and Portuguese roots of the club’s founders. To a certain extent, the fledgling team have lived in the shadow of record Venezuelan champions Caracas FC. They have a close connection to the capital, which lies approximately 30 kilometres away, as they play their home games in the University of Caracas stadium. La Guaira have not yet

managed to win the league title, but in 2014, the first year after changing their name to its present form, they lifted the Copa Venezolana. This season they have their sights set on competing for the championship trophy. For much of their match against Carabobo, La Guaira appeared to be heading for a draw. Goals from Uruguayan defender Ignacio Gonzalez and Angel Osorio twice gave them the lead, but they were pegged back each time by strikes from Edgar Jimenez and Eduard Bello. In the end it took a moment of magic to decide the game, and fittingly it came from a player with the number 10 on his shirt. After receiving a long ball, midfielder Rojas flicked it over Carabobo defender Alejandro Fuenmayor. Then, spying 37-year-old goalkeeper Leonardo Morales a long way off his line, he lobbed the ball in a high arc into the net, much to the veteran custodian’s horror. Shortly after Carabobo restarted the game the referee blew the final whistle – and La Guaira went top of the standings. Å

La Guaira

Ven e z u e l a: Pr i m er a D i v i s i o n

Vietnam: V-League

Bi n h Duong FC at t h e d o u b l e Emanuele Giulianelli is a freelance football correspondent based in Milan.

Binh Duong Football Club are champions of Vietnam for the fourth time in their history. After finishing top of the V-League earlier in September, the team from the city of Thu Dau Mot, 20 km north of the country’s largest metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City, also won the Vietnamese Cup. A 4-2 final victory over Ha Noi T&T secured a historic double for the team coached by Nguyen Thanh Son.

BFC

The top three positions in this season’s final league standings are occupied by exactly the same trio as last year, with Binh Duong first, followed by Ha Noi T&T and Thanh Hoa in third place. It sends out a clear signal of the

gulf in class between the upper echelons of the league and the remaining teams, as well as the establishment of a stable hierarchy that has become difficult to penetrate. In a league that saw the acrobatic former Brazilian international Denilson take to the field in 2009 as part of an initial attempt to take football in these parts to the next level, Binh Duong look set to dominate over the coming years. Nicknamed the Chelsea of Vietnam because of their financial wealth, the club are owned by the country’s largest construction company, Becamex IDC Corp, which has interests in many fields from finance to scientific research. As a result, the gap between Binh Duong and the other teams is likely to increase further.

Nevertheless, this was an improvement on Binh Duong’s last continental campaign in 2008, when they mustered a solitary point from six games. One major hindrance to the ambition of Vietnamese teams is the V-League rule that permits clubs to register only two foreign players (plus one naturalised player). The next edition of the AFC Champions League will reveal whether Vietnamese football is finally ready to put forward a club side capable of making waves on the continental stage. Å

At continental level, however, the team is not yet on a par with the footballing powerhouses of Japan, Thailand, China, South Korea and Australia, having collected four points with one win, one draw and four defeats in the group stage of this year’s AFC Champions League, Asia’s premier club competition.

Dominant force Binh Duong FC won a league and cup double. T H E F I FA W E E K LY

THE INTERVIEW

“We’ve earned 8th place” Wales coach Chris Coleman discusses the reasons behind his team’s success and their chances of competing at the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time since 1958. Chris, considering the side’s progress, spirits in the camp must be high? Chris Coleman: Yes, they are. Three points against Israel would have secured our place at France 2016, but we got the point and if before the camp we had been offered four points [from the matches against Cyprus and Israel], we would have taken it. It’s four closer to where we need to get to. We have two games remaining and need to get one more, so we’re well on course.

The last step is always said to be the hardest. How tough will it be to maintain focus when so close to your goal? What we’ve tried to do with the players is set standards and an identity, which we have now. We’re representing Wales and that means everything to us. It doesn’t matter who we play or what it’s for; the effort, mentality and intent always remain the same – and that means the players give everything they’ve got. The result will be what it will be, it just comes down to the performance and us preparing properly, then no questions can be asked of us regarding the outcome.

Speaking of the identity within the team, how have they grown and progressed over your 40 months in charge? They have come on in leaps and bounds. Some of the players have really taken it to another level. Our strength in depth is very good and like any team it’s often about how strong your bench is. The squad’s growing, it’s getting stronger, it’s getting better. Even the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Ashley Williams, Joe Allen – who people always talk about – have raised their games, which in many ways is even harder because their levels are so high. It’s nice to see us doing well in the Ranking, we’re top of the group, but we’ve still not achieved what we need to.

When you faced Scotland in Brazil 2014 qualifying in October 2012, you were nine months into the job without a win to your name and coming off the back of a 6-1 loss to Serbia. Did you ever think three years later you would have been able to give such a glowing assessment? 18

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Often we’re judged too quickly, particu larly in international football – in your first campaign you’re often finding your feet. If you are unlucky once or twice you can quick ly lose ground. But that’s the nature of the beast and the media are going to be all over you unfortunately. The needs and the wants for success are very unrealistic. I found myself in a funny place because we hadn’t qualified [for a World Cup] since 1958 – having not even been close for 10-15 years – and coming into it in awful circumstances following the death of [previous manager] Gary Speed. Yet all the pressure was that we should be qualifying. And we were sixth seeds!

Has the legacy of qualifying for 1958 weighed heavy for Wales teams since? I think the best Welsh team I’ve seen was under Terry Yorath, with Ian Rush, Ryan Giggs, Neville Southall, Mark Hughes, Dean Saunders, Gary Speed – that side was littered with very, very good players. Through no fault of Terry’s, we missed out [on USA 1994] in the last game. He got us to a great place and we missed out to probably the best ever Romani an team, who beat us over both games, losing the final group match in Cardiff 2-1. That was our best team, I think, since 1958, but now we have this current team who have the poten tial to surpass that – they’re well on course. They’ve been labelled a golden generation for some time, and they’ll earn that tag if we qualify.

Four years ago Wales were 117th on the FIFA Ranking, and now you’re in your highest-ever position. What do you think that says about the team? The Ranking is a reflection of football over a space of time, 12-18 months, two years, and we’ve lost one game – away to the Nether lands – during that period. It’s ten competi tive games without defeat, so it’s been a huge effort. We’ve earned the right to be in the top ten of the World Ranking and are on the verge of doing something special. It’s not just the players, it’s everyone involved. Our motto is ‘together stronger’, and we work hard for each other.

In terms of hitting your Ranking peak, it could not have come at a better time, having been in Pot One for the Russia 2018 preliminary draw after being among the bottom seeds for 2014. How do you reflect on the draw? The teams in our group would have been wanting Wales from those top seeds, but from our point of view we’re in uncharted territory. We were at the draw and were looking at ourselves amongst the top seeds and we enjoyed it, that little bit of spotlight. In terms of the group we’re in, we feel it’s one we can progress in, but of course it’s not going to be easy. Austria have had a fantastic [EURO 2016] campaign, they’ve qualified and are unbeaten. Serbia have not done well, but that’s never an easy game. It will be like a derby against the Republic of Ireland, no doubt – both sets of players will know each other inside out. But we feel if we keep on doing what we have done as a group, keep working, keep progressing, then we can do well and have another successful campaign.

He has captured many of the headlines for you, but Gareth Bale really seems to be relishing the responsibility his role presents him. He understands his value, he understands his importance, of course – he’s a world-class player. We also know what he brings to the party when he puts a Wales jersey on. What you see is his passion and his enjoyment when he plays for Wales – he’s absolutely loving every minute of it. Of course the Welsh public adore him, as they should, and he now knows he has the capacity to surpass other people and get to a major tournament. That’s where all great players should be performing. Å Chris Coleman was speaking to Daniel Masters

Name Christopher Patrick Coleman Date and place of birth 10 June 1970, Swansea, Wales Position Defender Clubs played for 1987-1991 Swansea City 1991-1995 Crystal Palace 1995-1997 Blackburn Rovers 1997-2002 Fulham

Bradley Ormesher

Clubs coached 2003-2007 Fulham 2007-2008 Real Sociedad 2008-2010 Coventry City 2011-2012 Larissa since 2012 Wales national team Wales national team 32 caps, 4 goals

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First Love Place: Da hshu r, Eg y pt Date: 20 December 2014 Time: 11.22 a.m. Photog rapher: Serge Siber t

Cosmos

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GRASSROOTS

FIFA inspiring girls and boys to play football FIFAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grassroots programme is the core foundation of our development mission, aimed at encouraging girls and boys around the world to play and enjoy football without restrictions. Grassroots focuses on the enjoyment of the game through small-sided team games, and teaching basic football technique, exercise and fair play. For more information visit FIFA.com

WOMEN’S FOO TBALL

PRESIDENTIAL NOTE

Winds of change in Grenada

We must empower more women Visiting the Home of FIFA Malaika Church

FIFA

ig changes are happening in Grenada’s football. Not out on the pitch or even in the technical area, but in the mundane milieu of the FA offices, in among the copy machines and gurgling coffee makers. Malaika Church, at just 30 years old, stepped into the role of General Secretary of the nation’s footballing establishment this summer, becoming one of only a handful of woman to hold such a lofty title across FIFA’s 209 member associations. “She has a hunger to learn. She’s hard working and dedicated,” said Grenada’s FA president Cheney Joseph, a former captain of the men’s national team, known as the Spice Boyz. A wiry and perceptive man, who still straps on the boots now and then, he was instrumental in the promotion of Ms. Church from unpaid volunteer to one of the major decision-makers at the nation’s footballing epicentre. Joseph first came to know Church four years ago, while being interviewed on Grenada’s main TV station. A young production intern at the station, she introduced herself to the most powerful man in the island’s football. When she called the FA few months later, looking for a volunteer position, the president was thrilled. Church volunteered on the women’s side of football development. “Malaika started using social media to drum up support,” Joseph said. “She had something special.” Church is in Zurich at FIFA Headquarters, one of 35 women from all over the globe taking part in a week-long meeting between 28 September and 2 October of FIFA’s Female Leadership Development Programme. Part of a nine-month course, in partnership with the THNK School of Creative Leadership, the aim is to increase the number of female leaders in football. Cheney isn’t thrilled to lose one of his best people during a busy time. The GFA Premier League – the country’s top flight – is in full swing and Grenada is ramping up to the host the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in March. “We’re busy over here,” the President admitted. “But if I know Malaika, she’ll still be doing a lot of her work from over in Zurich! The course will benefit us all in the long term, so we’re getting off cheap.” The appointment of Church to a position of prominence is merely the crest of a wave of female empowerment in Grenada’s football. Eight female match officials are currently blowing whistles and waving flags in the men’s top flight. The FA is planning to hire a woman for the role of communications officer in the coming months and reaching out to veteran women’s players as possible coaches for the future. With a dynamo like Ms. Church roaming the FA office halls, who knows how much change might come to Grenada’s football, and how far it might ripple into the rest of the Caribbean. “She has so many ideas,” concluded Joseph with a chuckle. “You can’t even believe it.” Å tfw

t has been a great year for women’s football on the pitch, but one thing is clear: football needs more women in leadership off the pitch. Despite the growth of women’s football, the global, regional and national governance of football continues to be dominated by men. It is our duty to change this. Women must feel that they have an equal chance of succeeding in football as their male counterparts. FIFA, the confederations and our member associations have to break the cycle that makes it so much easier for men to ascend to positions of responsibility. This is not just a moral duty. We have seen compelling evidence that gender-balanced organisations make better decisions and produce better results. Many of our member associations are working hard to increase female participation on the pitch, supported by FIFA development programmes such as Live Your Goals. But it is clear that this effort is not being replicated off the pitch. The highest profile example of this is the FIFA Executive Committee. We have made progress, creating three special positions for women on the ExCo. But the need to create such roles speaks volumes about the challenge we face. I applaud CONCACAF for becoming the first confederation to appoint a woman – Sonia Bien Aime – to one of their allocated seats on the ExCo this year. This is an example others must follow. When will more confederations freely select a woman to represent them at this top table? When will more associations appoint women to positions of power? When will more women be given the chance to coach a national team? As things stand, the answer to these questions is simple: we need binding quotas. FIFA’s Task Force for Women’s Football, chaired by Moya Dodd, has recommended that at least 30 percent of decision-making positions should be reserved for female candidates. I support this proposal. It is a necessary step on our journey to a more equal sport. Last week, the Task Force called on the ExCo to insist that the 2016 FIFA Reform Committee directly addresses the issue of female representation on the ExCo and throughout football. FIFA is also trying to improve the situation in other ways. Our new Female Leadership Development Programme gives 35 women from around the world the support they need to rise through the ranks in football. It was a privilege to meet the first participants at FIFA this week. I am confident that these women will reach their goals and inspire thousands more to pursue a career in football. Football needs more women in leadership. Those that govern the game must show now that we are all serious about answering that call.

Best wishes, Sepp Blatter T H E F I FA W E E K LY

NOS TALGI A

Give me the blues A listening experience for every Chelsea fan.

FOREVER YOUNG

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o one loves old football like the English. Fans wallow in recollections of retired players, demolished stadiums and trophies won. Top clubs fill their precincts with statues of departed heroes and their gift shops with replica shirts from old matches. And there are retro magazines such as Bobby FC which specialize in stories about teams and players from the 1970s and 80s. An obsessive sentimental interest in the past was once the preserve of diehard fans. But now it has gone mainstream.The title sequence of the BBC’s Match of the Day highlights show illustrates the shift. For most of its 51 years, the show opened with footage of contemporary players. Now it is heavy with heritage and the 40-second sequence pays homage to the game’s history. Meanwhile, the lore of even unfashionable clubs is celebrated in books with titles like “Cambridge United: 101 Golden Greats” or “The Best Scunthorpe United Chants Ever”. The urge to retreat to cosy memories may in part be a reaction to change in modern English game. But Derek Hammond, co-author of the popular “Got Not Got” series of nostalgia books (the title refers to swapping football cards in the 1970s) sees something more fundamental is at work. “I don’t think nostalgia is peculiarly English”, he says. “Look at the German word sehnsucht, or saudade in

Got, Not Got

Football nostalgia takes many forms and serves many needs, but mostly the desire to feel young again – as young as we were way back when old legends played for us, writes David Winner.

NOS TALGI A

Special honour The images of many legendary players have been immortalised on stamps.

One-player game A chance to score goals from the sofa.

Got, Not Got (6), Getty Images

Statement of intent Luton Town fans say no to a move to Milton Keynes.

Merchandise A Pat Jennings pencil sharpener.

Portuguese, or sankofa, which is Ghanaian. It’s part of human nature”. (Swiss doctors once believed nostalgia, which literally means an ache for home, to be a medical condition.) He acknowledges, though, that English football fans tend to be fixated on the past to an unusual degree. “Why do we do it so much? I really don’t know.” His books romp through the richly trivial world of the “lost culture, treasures and pleasures of football”, a period spanning roughly the mid-1960s to the mid-90s. The emphasis is on ephemera: photographs of old match-day tickets, players’ haircuts and newspaper cuttings. A new title, called Fully Programmed, is devoted to match-day programmes. Such apparently banal artefacts, he says, can have a powerful effect on men of a certain age. “It’s the stuff [French writer Marcel] Proust wrote about, isn’t it? If you see a picture of a Manchester City penknife you had in 1970 and haven’t seen it since then it’s going to transport you to a different time. But the remembrance of things past is not necessarily the remembrance of things as they were.” One of the most charming examples of the new enthusiasm for a lost world is a twitter feed by an Arsenal player. “We are all equals at the Arsenal and there is no room for jealousy”, @DBNJack told his hundreds

Goals guaranteed Bolton Wanderers legend David Jack. T H E F I FA W E E K LY

NOS TALGI A

All about the beautiful game Programmes, posters and magazines.

of followers last week. Confusingly, he also said the team would continue its brilliant start to the season. “We have yet to lose away from home this season and I am confident the lads can maintain that”. Hang on. Haven’t Arsenal started this season badly? Well, yes. But the voice belongs not to current squad member Jack Wilshere but to ancestral hero David Jack – and he’s talking about the 1931-32 season. Jack was an elegant superstar of his day. He scored the first-ever goal at Wembley Stadium, in 1923 for Bolton Wanderers and went on to be the most expensive player in the world (£11,000!) and to captain England. Although he died in 1958 he lives on in ghosted, time-travelling microblog form thanks to his grandson, Chris Jack. The blog is Chris’s way of connecting with his family’s heritage. He explains: “My dad was a well-known football writer, David R. Jack, who died in 1990. When I was a child my weekends were going with him to games. But we never really talked about his father and the old stuff. It’s one regret I have.” Chris draws his material from a book David Jack wrote about coaching and newspaper and family archives. Occasionally he gives himself artistic licence, imagining, for example, a meeting between the great footballer and the great writer George 26

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Got, Not Got (9)

Subbuteo Billy Bremner’s figurine.

NOS TALGI A

Eyecatching A West Ham clothes patch.

Ticket to happiness A pass for the 1964 FA Cup Final. A collector’s dream Trading cards featuring Tottenham Hotspur’s stars.

Orwell. (Orwell visited a pub owned by Jack, but it’s not clear that they met.) But generally Chris’s blog is faithful to history. Nostalgia works slightly differently. A cool historical appraisal of English football in the 1980s, for example, might note that it was the decade English football nearly died. On-field standards were low, attendances declined because of hooliganism and there were stadium tragedies at Bradford, Heysel and Hillsborough. Yet the era is now celebrated as a “golden age” and an “age of innocence”. This, says Hammond, is because nostalgists are remembering something else entirely: a time when they were young and happy. “There are three sides to every story”, he says, quoting the great film producer Robert Evans. “Your side, my side and the truth. No one is lying. Memories shared serve each differently”. Å

1979-1982 A vintage Liverpool shirt.

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WIN -WIN PROGR AMME

A dream come true With the help of FIFA’s Win-Win Programme, the inaugural season of the Dominican Republic’s first professional league was held between March and August 2015, marking a milestone for football development in the country.

many years, baseball and basketball have so far enjoyed the greatest popularity. Nevertheless, research carried out as part of the Win-Win Programme showed just how deeply rooted football is in the hearts of the island’s population. “More than 90 per cent of respondents expressed a desire for a professional football league,” explained Javier Lozano, who has been supporting the realisation of the project in his capacity as a FIFA advisor.

y defeating Atlantico FC 3-1 in a thrilling match on 9 August, Atletico Pantoja were crowned champions of the Dominican Republic’s first-ever professional league. As the final whistle blew, a roar erupted from the 11,000-strong crowd, the sun beating down on elated faces as the celebrations began. Their joy served as a tribute to both the achievement of the new title holders from Santo Domingo and a campaign full of thrilling, high-quality matches. “Organising this professional league and completing the first season is Dominican football’s greatest highlight so far,” said Yaneri Martinez of the Dominican Football Federation. 28

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The residents of this island nation have been eagerly anticipating this moment for years. After its establishment in 2002, the amateur Liga Mayor paved the way for a clear structure of referees, coaches and players and was a crucial step in introducing the country’s first professional league. Federation president Osiris Guzman’s proposals for the sustainable development of the sport took the form of a ten-year plan set out in conjunction with FIFA, while the implementation of the Win-Win Programme in autumn 2014 signified the final step towards professionalising Dominican football. While the Dominican Republic can boast a keen interest in sport stretching back over

A positive start This promising new league stands on a firm financial footing, having secured name sponsorship for the first three seasons before a ball

Simon Bruty / FIFA

Strong start Atletico Pantoja celebrate their first championship title in the Dominican Republic’s newly-established professional league.

Rush for league places The Dominican people’s wish soon became a reality. Within just a few months, the legal, competitive, marketing and communications, management and financial considerations required to start the first season were in place. The federation received 30 licence applications from clubs keen to be part of this historic moment in the nation’s footballing history. Ten teams made the cut to battle it out for the trophy between March and August this year. The inaugural campaign was full of captivating matches and close results, with Atletico Pantoja, Atlantico FC, Bauger FC, Moca FC, Cibao FC, Univ. O&M FC, Barcelona Atletico, Atletico Vega Real, At. San Cristobal and Delfines del Este competing for the title at nine different venues. The average attendance rocketed from 250 during the league’s amateur days to more than 2,000 in the new professional era, with a total of 209,636 football fans heading to the stadium for matches over the course of the campaign. Excitement reached fever pitch when Atletico Pantoja finally secured top spot on the league’s final day. Founded by Argentinian migrants, the club entered the title race as favourites, and while the higher level of investment placed additional pressure on the team, they ultimately lived up to the nation’s expectations.

WIN -WIN PROGR AMME

“Launching this professional league is Dominican football’s greatest highlight so far.” Yaneri Martinez, Dominican Football Federation

had been kicked and with four out of five games televised every week. Yaneri Martinez is particularly pleased that the match schedule played out exactly as planned, paying testament to the punctuality and professionalism of all those involved. All in all, the league’s inaugural season has been an overwhelmingly positive one. “We’re on the right track,” said Javier Lozano, adding that the experience has proven that the concept is viable, the football on offer is entertaining and that spectators have acclimatised to the new league schedule. Despite this encouragement, the FIFA advisor is still keen to strive for perfection by improving infrastructure and renovating several venues. The Federation has also set itself several goals such as improving player quality and attracting new sponsors. Demand also remains high among clubs, with many already submitting new licence applications for next season as the league’s appeal continues to grow, while there have also been calls for the establishment of a second division. The revenues generated from this initial campaign are already benefiting the clubs and their youth development work. FIFA recently began supporting the country’s escuelas de talentos or “talent school” programme, as Yaneri Martinez explained: “The aim of this programme is to nurture talented footballers, support their development as they progress through each age group and thus give them the opportunity to become professionals in the league.” There is no doubt that football has arrived in the Dominican Republic. Å Annette Braun

FIFA works with developing football nations on special projects designed to create a sustainable, independent income for football. Member associations come to FIFA with an idea to generate sustainable funds. FIFA makes sure the idea is credible before providing financial and expert support to get it up and running. All money created from the project must then be invested back into football in that country, creating a virtuous cycle for the growth of the game.

T he W in - W in P r ogr amme Ever y f our year s, f ans f rom around the wor ld c ome together to c elebrate the f e s tival of f ootball that is the FIFA Wor ld Cup™. FIFA want s to pas s that spir it on to all c ountr ie s, not jus t tho se that ar e the at tention of f ootball’s global audienc e. T he W in - W in Programme was launched by FIFA w ith the aim of helping developing f ootb all nations w ith p otential f or grow th to achieve greater f inancial independenc e through the creation of sus tainable projec t s. T he projec t s, 40 of which are planned bet ween now and 2018, are tailored f or each indiv idual member as sociation and mus t break even af ter t wo year s. E xper t s and FIFA c onsultant s guide the as so ciations through the implementation s tage and help them to get the mos t out of the projec t s. For example, the W in - W in Pr ogramme pr ov ide s f unding f or f loodlight s in souther n c ountr ie s so they c an play matche s in the evening when the temperature s are milder. T his in tur n at trac t s bigger crowds, increase s revenue f rom ticket sale s and dr ive s up demand f rom broadc as ter s and adver tiser s. A ll the money that is generated by the programme is inve s ted back into f ootball development in each c ountr y. In the long r un this will not only reduc e relianc e on FIFA and gover nment suppor t, but also improve the qualit y and s tatus of f ootball. bra

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SPOTLIGHT ON

GENER AL INFORMATION Country: Hong Kong FIFA Trigramme: HKG Confederation: AFC Continent: Asia Capital: Hong Kong

Part of one big family Sarah Steiner

Mario Wagner / 2Agenten

exico are world champions – double world champions in fact! At the Homeless World Cup in Amsterdam, El Tri defeated Ukraine 5-2 in the final while the country’s women’s team beat Chile 3-1 to lift the trophy. These twin victories not only gave their country a great reason to celebrate but also provided a good excuse for an official reception. Welcoming the champions home, President Enrique Pena Nieto said: “These players have proved that success can be achieved in the face of poverty and social exclusion.” Forty-nine nations – 16 women’s and 48 men’s teams – battled it out for the title in the Dutch capital in mid-September. Homeless people, street newspaper vendors, recovered alcoholics, former drug addicts and refugees were all eligible to take part, with the ongoing crisis lending further significance to the 13th edition of the tournament. No less than the King himself, Willem-Alexander, got the World Cup underway by testing his skills against the host nation’s goalkeeper in Museum Square. With the internationally renowned Rijksmuseum as a backdrop, he missed his first attempt before coolly slotting home the second. The street football tournament was launched by Austrian aid organisation Caritas Steiermark and the International Network of Street Papers in 2003. “We can change lives through football,” said Mel Young, president of the Homeless World Cup. The competition aims to help participants to find their way out of the

social isolation that accompanies their situation. Experiencing friendship, team spirit, confidence and responsibility all help to give the players a sense that they are part of one big family. The boundless enthusiasm among the competitors was obvious. In an interview with the Daily Mail, England captain Richard Jamieson proudly said: “When they were playing the national anthem before the first game, I just felt like I was going to explode!” The moment was a highlight in the life of the 27-year-old, who encountered many issues with drugs and alcohol after the death of his mother and eventually ended up in prison. His team enjoyed prominent support in Amsterdam, with former Southampton, Portsmouth, Tottenham Hotspur and QPR manager Harry Redknapp joining up with the squad in the Netherlands to lend his expertise. Clearly impressed by the players, he said: “They’re keen and enthusiastic. These problems can affect everybody; we should be more compassionate towards these sorts of people.” Å

GEOGR APHIC INFORMATION Surface area: 1,104 km² Highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m Neighbouring seas and oceans: South China Sea

MEN’S FOOTBALL FIFA Ranking: 153rd World Cup: No appearances

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL FIFA Ranking: 75th World Cup: No appearances

L ATES T RESULTS Men’s: Hong Kong - Qatar 2:3 8 September 2015 Women’s: Hong Kong - Palestine 2:2 15 March 2015

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Ibrahim Wafula (r.) and Dedan Ireri in training with Nigeria’s national team for amputees.

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NET ZER KNOWS!

Is it a good idea for coaches to take sabbaticals?

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“I’ll admit it: Mihajlovic and Balotelli met in a car with tinted windows, in a parking lot in Florence just before the transfer window shut. It was like a scene from spy story! A love b lossomed between the two.” Adriano Galliani (vice-president and CEO of AC Milan) on the relationship between Milan’s coach and the team’s No. 45

“The biggest ego came with beautiful vanity, with that fantastic body of his. Ronaldo would stand in the mirror and the others would throw socks and jock straps at him.” Sir Alex Ferguson on Cristiano Ronaldo

“I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life. Five goals in nine minutes. Wow!” I may never see anything like that again, either.” Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola on Robert Lewandowski’s historic five-goal haul

Zurich, 1977 Gunter Netzer in a private moment

imago

was surprised the first time that I heard of a coach taking an official sabbatical, but it is something that has become fashionable in the last few years. Personally, I do not see this as a positive development unless there are deep underlying reasons behind the decision. More often than not, it seems that sabbaticals are taken on little more than a whim. One reason for taking a long period of time off might be further study, ideally abroad. It could also be for health reasons. The pressure of the job is higher these days and it is understandable that some coaches feel burned out at the end of a turbulent season. Too much ambition can be damaging, and it is often better to assess the situation and have the contract terminated early. However, I object to sabbaticals that are taken for personal financial gain, like when coaches suddenly leave a club to put themselves in a better position for their next job. Touting yourself in this way is

not only bad for the game but in the longer term it is also damaging for that person’s reputation. A good coach proves his tactical nous on the pitch, not in the job market. Å

“I went with Phillip Cocu to the h ospital. I was nervous and it was very difficult at first, but he was very kind to me and didn’t blame me. He had seen the images and said it was part of football. That made me smile.” Eindhoven’s Hector Moreno on visiting Luke Shaw (Manchester United), whose leg he broke, in hospital

“Fifteen points after eight matches is crazy. We managed to play to our strengths, the strengths of our club, our generosity, collective discipline. We’re not crazy, we know Marseille are better than us, individually and collectively, but in football little teams can make life difficult for the big ones.” What have you always wanted to know about football? Ask Gunter Netzer: feedback-theweekly@fifa.org

Angers coach Stephane Moulin after 2-1 victory at Marseille T H E F I FA W E E K LY

FIFA PARTNER

TURNING POINT

“Kevin’s birth changed my life” Swedish midfielder Stefan Rehn played for four clubs, winning six championship titles and four cups along the way – but his greatest moment was yet to come.

Joel Marklund / BILDBYRÅN

he 2002 season ended spectacularly. First came my sixth Swedish league title with Djurgardens, then victory in our national cup the same year. Although winning the double was very emotional even for a 36-year-old veteran, it wasn’t until the next year that I experienced what it means to be overwhelmed with emotion. On 29 May 2003 my son Kevin was born. My wife Annelie was fairly relaxed about the birth. It amazed me to see how calm she was when we set off for the hospital. There was so much activity on the ward that it seemed as though nobody would have any time for my wife. Nervously, I began wondering: what if something goes wrong? Is the baby healthy? Is Annelie still okay? After a lengthy twelve-hour birth, I can still recall the indescribable pride of holding my healthy son Kevin in my arms for the first time. It was the middle of the night, the usually vibrant city of Stockholm was fast asleep, and Annelie and I were its happiest citizens. Kevin’s birth was a turning point in my life because everything around me funda-

mentally changed from that moment on. Previously I would behave strangely at home after losing a football match, often becoming insufferable. While there’s no doubt that I still don’t like losing, let’s be honest: aren’t there more important things in life than dribbling, scoring and winning? These days I find it much easier to put football to one side after a defeat. My son is now 12 years old and plays as a defensive midfielder for our village football team in Naset, not far from Stockholm. Watching him from the sidelines makes me very happy. In those moments I often think back to that night in 2003 when I first watched him as he slept peacefully beside me. Å Stefan Rehn was speaking to Alan Schweingruber

Name Jan Stefan Rehn Date and place of birth 22 September 1966, Stockholm, Sweden Position Midfielder Clubs played for 1984-1989/2000-2002 Djurgardens 1989-1990 Everton 1990-1995 IFK Goteborg 1995-2000 Lausanne-Sport Clubs coached 2007-2010 IFK Goteborg 2011-2013 Jitex BK since 2014 Kopparbergs/Goteborg FC Sweden national team 45 caps, 6 goals

In Turning Point, personalities reflect on a decisive moment in their lives. T H E F I FA W E E K LY

MEN’S WORLD R ANKING

Argentina (unchanged) Spain (6th, up 5) Romania (13th, down 6) 149 American Samoa, Cook Islands, Gabon, Samoa, Tonga (3 matches each) Norway (up 243 points) Liberia (up 65 ranks) Romania (down 134 points) Cyprus, FYR Macedonia (down 28 ranks each)

Leader Moves into top ten Moves out of top ten Matches played in total Most matches played Biggest move by points Biggest move by ranks Biggest drop by points Biggest drop by ranks Rank Team

+/- Points

Rank Team

+/- Points

Rank Team

+/- Points

Last updated: 1 October 2015 Rank Team

+/- Points

1 Argentina

0 1419

55 Guinea

582

109 Zimbabwe

-1

313

163 Myanmar

-1

147

2 Germany

1 1401

55 Japan

582

110 Georgia

308

164 American Samoa

145

3 Belgium

-1 1387

57 Jamaica

-5

576

111 Botswana

305

165 Puerto Rico

-13

134

4 Portugal

2 1235

58 Australia

567

112 St Kitts and Nevis

303

166 Cook Islands

132

5 Colombia

-1 1228

59 Trinidad and Tobago

-5

564

113 Burundi

302

167 India

-12

128

6 Spain

5 1223

60 Congo DR

563

114 Cyprus

-28

300

168 Mauritius

123

7 Brazil

-2 1204

61 Paraguay

-6

552

115 Aruba

299

169 New Caledonia

-3

120

8 Wales

1 1195

62 Mali

-2

546

116 Lithuania

-7

298

170 Timor-Leste

-7

118

9 Chile

-1 1177

63 Serbia

538

117 Cuba

-4

294

171 Malaysia

-2

111

10 England

0 1161

64 Finland

534

118 Belize

292

171 Indonesia

-6

111

11 Austria

2 1100

65 Gabon

-2

529

119 Dominican Republic

290

173 Bhutan

-9

106

12 Switzerland

5 1044

65 Panama

-6

529

120 Niger

-19

287

174 Dominica

-2

102

13 Romania

-6 1042

67 Equatorial Guinea

-5

510

121 Sierra Leone

-16

286

175 Chad

-4

100

14 Netherlands

-2 1004

15 Czech Republic

983

69 Venezuela

16 Croatia

-2

965

67 Bolivia

510

122 St Vincent and the Grenadines

-6

284

176 Maldives

-19

501

123 Syria

-2

283

177 Pakistan

-7

70 United Arab Emirates

491

123 Bahrain

-11

283

178 US Virgin Islands

-2

17 Italy

-1

962

71 Zambia

487

125 Namibia

-14

274

179 Laos

-5

18 Slovakia

-3

936

72 Montenegro

470

126 Central African Republic

271

180 Yemen

-5

19 Algeria

927

73 South Africa

-1

465

127 Madagascar

-6

262

181 Suriname

20 Uruguay

-2

919

74 Uzbekistan

464

128 Kuwait

-1

260

-15

182 Bangladesh

-9

77 69

21 Côte d’Ivoire

916

75 Uganda

-4

455

129 Korea DPR

-3

252

183 Chinese Taipei

-4

22 France

899

76 Burkina Faso

-3

427

130 Palestine

-11

246

184 Seychelles

23 Iceland

882

77 Haiti

418

131 Kenya

-15

245

184 Montserrat

-6

24 Ukraine

874

78 Bulgaria

-10

414

132 FYR Macedonia

-28

239

186 Cambodia

-6

25 Ghana

849

79 Togo

411

132 Moldova

-8

239

187 Brunei Darussalam

-5

26 Russia

845

80 Morocco

407

134 Philippines

-9

238

188 Tahiti

-6

60 59

27 Mexico

-1

842

81 China PR

405

135 Swaziland

224

189 Fiji

-8

28 Denmark

-6

835

82 Guatemala

401

136 Tanzania

218

190 Nepal

-5

29 USA

-1

807

83 Antigua and Barbuda

400

137 Guyana

210

191 Sri Lanka

-7

30 Bosnia and Herzegovina

787

84 Sudan

399

138 Bermuda

-6

209

191 Cayman Islands

-4

31 Ecuador

765

85 Iraq

-3

396

139 St Lucia

-8

208

193 Comoros

-3

-10

396

140 Lebanon

-7

201

193 Macau

-6

-7

388

140 Lesotho

-12

201

193 São Tomé e Príncipe

-3

32 Albania

-7

755

85 Faroe Islands

33 Hungary

741

87 Estonia

34 Norway

739

88 Saudi Arabia

384

142 Kazakhstan

199

196 San Marino

-3

35 Northern Ireland

724

89 Mauritania

379

142 Luxembourg

-1

199

197 Turks and Caicos Islands

-3

36 Tunisia

-3

722

89 Honduras

-8

379

144 South Sudan

198

197 Solomon Islands

-10

37 Turkey

717

91 Armenia

-8

377

145 Thailand

-8

196

199 British Virgin Islands

-4

38 Senegal

713

92 Qatar

365

146 Kyrgyzstan

195

200 Tonga

-1

39 Iran

703

93 Rwanda

-15

364

147 Guinea-Bissau

-5

193

201 Vanuatu

-4

40 Scotland

-9

702

94 El Salvador

363

148 New Zealand

-12

188

202 Eritrea

-1

41 Cape Verde Islands

701

95 Liberia

360

149 Vietnam

187

203 Mongolia

-1

42 Costa Rica

-3

691

95 Nicaragua

360

150 Afghanistan

-20

183

203 Somalia

-1

43 Poland

-9

680

97 Angola

-9

353

150 Guam

-4

183

205 Andorra

-3

44 Greece

676

98 Belarus

-1

350

152 Curaçao

-4

181

206 Djibouti

-1

45 Sweden

-9

672

99 Jordan

-8

348

153 Hong Kong

-2

180

206 Papua New Guinea

-1

46 Slovenia

-1

662

100 Benin

341

154 Barbados

-10

175

208 Anguilla

47 Israel

-1

659

101 Malawi

-5

339

155 Turkmenistan

-6

172

208 Bahamas

48 Cameroon

-6

640

102 Oman

-2

338

156 Liechtenstein

-6

170

49 Congo

-7

636

103 Latvia

-13

335

157 Singapore

164

50 Peru

-2

623

104 Canada

-2

333

157 Malta

164

51 Egypt

-2

620

105 Azerbaijan

328

159 Grenada

-1

159

52 Nigeria

600

105 Libya

-7

328

160 Tajikistan

-2

156

53 Korea Republic

590

107 Mozambique

-12

327

161 Gambia

-18

154

54 Republic of Ireland

-3

587

108 Ethiopia

-5

315

162 Samoa

152

T H E F I FA W E E K LY

http://www.fifa.com/worldranking/index.html

PUZZLE

Published weekly by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)

President Joseph S. Blatter

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Director of Communications and Public Affairs Nicolas Maingot (a. i.)

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Any views expressed in The FIFA Weekly do not necessarily reflect those of FIFA.

MEDIUM

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Reproduction of photos or articles in whole or in part is only permitted with prior editorial approval and if attributed “The FIFA Weekly, © FIFA 2015”. The editor and staff are not obliged to publish unsolicited manuscripts and photos. FIFA and the FIFA logo are registered trademarks of FIFA. Made and printed in Switzerland.

Contributors Ronald Dueker, Matt Falloon, Luigi Garlando, Sven Goldmann, Andreas Jaros, Jordi Punti, David Winner, Roland Zorn

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T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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