Yesterday our manager Rafa Benitez attended the UEFA Elite Club Coaches’ Forum at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
Of course, it is by invitation only and 12 coaches attended the forum and included Arsene Wenger who recently left Arsenal after 22 years at the north London club.
Benitez is automatically invited each year because he has managed in more than 100 Champions League games as a manager during his extremely successful career.
None so far as manager of Newcastle United.
Here is a tweet put out by UEFA after yesterday’s meeting.
What has the Elite Coaches Forum ever achieved? ????
Good question! Outcomes from previous years include:
Removal of golden goal ?
Increase of anti-doping testing ?
Introduction of @UEFAYouthLeague ?
Addition of #UCL place for #UEL winner ?
Lots more! ? pic.twitter.com/fnIl4ljQZm— UEFA (@UEFA) September 4, 2018
This is what UEFA’s deputy General Secretary Giorgio Marchetti said after the conference – as reported in the Chronicle today:
“Discussions were intensive,”
“We undertook a long technical review of the season – a topic which is the coaches’ bread and butter.”
“We also took them through certain changes to the regulations which are important for them, such as the possibility to make a fourth substitution in extra time.”
“We discussed the summer transfer windows; the coaches were of the view that there should be a unified window and that the window should not overlap with the start of competitions.”
These are the managers (coaches) who attended the 20th UEFA Elite Club Coaches’ Forum:
Massimiliano Allegri (Juventus)
Carlo Ancelotti (Napoli)
Rafa Benitez (Newcastle United)
Sergio Conceicao (Porto)
Paulo Fonseca (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Rudi Garcia (Marseille)
Senol Gunes (Besiktas)
Julen Lopetegui (Real Madrid)
Jose Mourinho (Manchester United)
Diego Simeone (Atletico de Madrid)
Thomas Tuchel (Paris Saint-Germain)
Arsene Wenger
We are hoping that Rafa can add to his European experience with Newcastle United in the not too distant future.
Rafa will be preparing the side for our next game a week on Saturday against Arsenal at home.
He will probably give the players not on International duty a few days off at the end of this week and over the weekend.
We assume Rafa will be able to see his family for a few days at that time.
A win against Arsenal – however we can get it – is what we need now – to get the team going forward with some momentum and it will give the players some confidence.
We’d love it if Rafa can bring another successful season to Tyneside – maybe finishing in the top eight?
Hope so.
Howay The Lads!!
8 comments so far
RobLeenio
Sep 5, 2018 at 1:32 PM
Comment #1Who put Mourinho front and centre of the above photo? Does he think he’s special?
Honestly, it makes me proud to have a manager like Rafa in charge of our team. Catchy take note – Schteve wasn’t invited.
Ibizatoon
Sep 5, 2018 at 1:43 PM
Comment #2Hi Ed, you’re “next” button is missing on the previous thread.
JohnJ
Sep 5, 2018 at 1:46 PM
Comment #3Schteve wasn’t invited. because he did not qualify!
Ron Knee
Sep 5, 2018 at 1:48 PM
Comment #4All those British managers in the photo!
jezza442
Sep 5, 2018 at 1:52 PM
Comment #5I can’t belive they had the utter cheek to go ahead with this meeting without the internationally acclaimed geordie footballing oracle and around legend that is john carver, you just can’t take it serious if the real elite are not present lol
hibbit
Sep 5, 2018 at 2:06 PM
Comment #6if your a retail or service company these days you ignore social media at your peril
Veltman
Sep 5, 2018 at 2:12 PM
Comment #7Robleenio – is it all about Rafa at the end?
RobLeenio
Sep 5, 2018 at 2:21 PM
Comment #8Veltman, yes. Yes it is.