News in 2006

09th November 2006

UEFA Coaching Conference in Florence

The Chairman of FIFPro’s Player Education Committee Tony Higgins addressed the UEFA Coaching Conference in Florence Italy. Invited by UEFA Technical Director Andy Roxburgh Tony spoke about the importance of players preparing themselves for their second careers.

He also stressed the importance of clubs and coaches giving the players encouragement and adequate time off club duties to ensure they have appropriate time to study.

"Our research in Scotland shows that if the coach encourages the player in his education, the achievements are generally greater. This was an ideal opportunity to make the point as all the top youth coaches in Europe were in attendance at the Conference” said Tony Higgins.

Following his talk a number of coaches approached Tony and are interested in developing this type of model in their own countries. Tony was happy to agree with this but he made it quite clear that any education plan should be developed in conjunction with the players’ unions in that country.

Source: FIFPro