The FIFA Weekly Issue #47

ISSUE 47/2015, 27 NOVEMBER 2015

ENGLISH EDITION

Fédération Internationale de Football Association – Since 1904

Football development in Africa

Malawi’s chance

BRAZIL CORINTHIANS AND THE ‘HEXACAMPEÃO’

ENGLAND FORMER STARS UNITE AT SALFORD CITY FC

W W W.FIFA.COM/ THEWEEKLY

CHINA PR GUANGZHOU EVERGRANDE REACH THE TOP IN ASIA

THIS WEEK IN THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL

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North and Central America 35 members www.concacaf.com

Malawi’s wind of change With Ernest Mtawali appointed national team coach in the summer, our reporter Peter Kanjere paid the Malawian legend a visit. Regional U-15 leagues also got underway across the country at the end of October in a FIFA pilot project aiming to forge a link between grassroots football and the national team and promote talent in the long term.

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Brazil Having secured their sixth championship title last week, Corinthians delivered an outstanding performance to record a 6-1 win over local rivals Sao Paulo.

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Adama Traore In an interview, the Mali and Monaco midfielder discusses the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, being named player of the tournament and his passion for music.

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A rt of Football Alex de la Iglesia reflects on Lionel Messi’s remarkable career in the documentary “Messi”.

Malawi’s chance Our cover shows U-15 youth league players celebrating in Blantyre.

Simon Bruty

South America 10 members www.conmebol.com

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Aiming high Salford City are causing one sensation after another with the support of their famous owners. (Pictured: Ryan Giggs)

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Applying the ­emergency brake Stuttgart have dismissed their coach in a bid to halt their inexorable slide towards the foot of the Bundesliga table.

(Pictured: Christian Gentner)

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 Club World Cup

FIFA Futsal World Cup

10 – 20 December 2015, Japan

10 September – 1 October 2016, Colombia

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

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Ticket booked Luiz Felipe Scolari and Guangzhou Evergrande are on their way to the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan after winning the AFC Champions League.

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imago (4)

Out of luck Heinrich Kwiatkowski’s FIFA World Cup appearances for Germany proved to be unsuccessful.

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Everywhere You Want To Be

Where do you want to be?

With 3 world titles, 3 goals in the final of the FIFA Women’s World CupTM and a ticket to Brazil, she’s just getting started.

Visa is proud to support Carli Lloyd and her dreams.

To be at the top of the world.

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UNCOVERED

Playing culture A

fter the humiliation of conceding 14 goals in two matches, Heinrich ­Kwiatkowski had had enough. “Please don’t pick me again,” the unnerved goalkeeper told his coach.

The inglorious tale of Germany’s reserve shotstopper in the 1954 and 1958 FIFA World Cups includes real-life moments stranger than fiction. First ­Kwiatkowski could have drowned while taking a cigarette break before even winning his first international cap. This was closely followed by an 8-3 defeat to Hungary and then, four years later in his second and final FIFA World Cup appearance, a 6-3 thrashing at the hands of France. Annette Braun recalls his story on pages 28 and 29.

Starting on page six, we present the similarly entertaining story of Ernest Mtawali, who has played football on every continent except one and is now seeking to push Malawi’s national team forward. “Over the years, we lost our real style of play,” says Walter Nyamilandu, head of the country’s national football association. “We want Ernest to restore that.” Malawi's sights are firmly set on the 2017 CAF Africa Cup of Nations. Å

Mario Wagner / 2Agenten

Alan Schweingruber

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THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR MALAWI’S MTAWALI Recently-appointed Malawi coach Ernest Mtawali’s story is stranger than fiction, writes Peter Kanjere from Blantyre.

New foundations Young footballers train on artificial turf in Blantyre.

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Simon Bruty (1)

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The legendary Ernest Mtawali Wearing the shirt of French Ligue 1 club Toulouse in 1998 (right) and as the national team’s newly-appointed coach.

AFP, HO (3)

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rnest Mtawali, the new coach of the land-locked nation Malawi in southeast Africa, boasts a life story that should fascinate football fans everywhere. Mtawali played on all but one continent – Africa, Asia, Europe and South America – and shared the field with Diego Maradona. He was also coached by Kevin Keegan in a distinguished career that can only be qualified as extraordinary.

Speaking from the small two-storey mansion he built from his earnings in the game in Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial capital, Mtawali ran through a list of some other great coaches of the game he came across over the course of his career.

“I played and trained under highly-qualified coaches, namely Screamer Tshabalala from Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa, the late Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest, Kevin Keegan at Newcastle United, Osvaldo Ardiles at Tottenham Hotspur and Alain Giresse at Toulouse in France, to name a few,” said the former midfielder, whose strength was

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Simon Bruty (1)

Red versus blue U-15 players from Blantyre’s youth development project.

passing and creating goals for team-mates all over the world.

Mtawali earned 62 caps for Malawi and played at the highest level for clubs in his homeland, South Africa, Argentina, Italy, France and United Arab Emirates in a career which spanned 23 years and saw him score 218 goals in 866 club games.

A South African mother The youngest of five children, Mtawali was born in Malawi in 1966, five years after his father, the late Bishop Mtawali had returned from South Africa where he had married a local woman. As a youngster, his world was turned upside-down by his mother’s return to her homeland, due to ill-health.

Mtawali had just broken into Malawi top club side Hardware Stars and earned his debut for ­Malawi’s senior team, helping them to a maiden Africa Cup of Nations qualification in 1984, when he decided to follow his mother to South Africa. He was smuggled by a scout through neighbouring Zambia to Botswana where they found a car waiting to take them to the land of apartheid.

“I did not play in the actual Africa Cup of ­ ations in Côte d’Ivoire because I had left for South N Africa, not only to play soccer but to meet my mother whom I had not seen for 10 years. It was a great opportunity for me to get an offer to play for a club in apartheid South Africa,” he recalls.

“Due to the situation in South Africa, it took me a long time to trace the whereabouts of my mother and it was difficult for people coming from other African countries to live and work there. I was forced to acquire an ID in a different name – Ernest Chirwali – just to survive.”

Over the course of the next 18 months, Mta­wali turned out for Welkom Real Hearts, Bloemfontein Celtic and Sundowns before becoming the first foreigner to win South Africa’s Footballer of the Year award in 1985.

Unsurprisingly, scouts soon came knocking on his door and before long he was sent to Italy for trials at fourth tier side Bassano Virtus.

“I did well and was offered a contract for a year,” said Mtawali. “I did so well with Bassano that the following year, a club playing in Serie A, T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE Regional U15 competition made its debut in Malawi at the end of October.

The new league is a pilot project for a global FIFA initiative supporting the long-term development of youth football.

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t is a dream for many young Malawian football fans to emulate Essau Boxer Kanyenda by turning their hobby into their job and playing for the national team. It is a dream that the striker has personified in his life.

Kanyenda’s career began in 1998 at FC Welfare in Dwangwa, Malawi.

Following brief spells at clubs including FC Rostov and Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia, he has been playing for South African side Polokwane City since 2012. The 33 year-old has also played 53 times for his country and scored 12 goals, making him a role model for the young generation of Malawian footballers. The same can be said for his international teammate Fisher Kondowe, who plays his club football for Malawian Super League champions and current leaders Big Bullets.

Tapping potential Along with talent and a lot of hard work, players need a good support network in order to make the jump from grassroots and youth football to professional, first-team football. From 2015 to 2018, the establishment of domestic youth tournaments will be a priority for FIFA member states. The world governing body is supporting the ambitions of national associations with a project to set up regional U15 leagues in various countries, and at the end of October it was Malawi’s turn.

There was great enthusiasm among the players in the opening matches involving Zomba Urban, Chiradzulu, Lilongwe Urban and Dedza. These are the potential future stars of Malawian football, the next Kanyenda or Kondowe. The games signalled the start of an initial two-year test phase, for which Malawi was deliberately chosen. “Malawi already has successful grassroots programmes in place and has drawn up a clear development strategy for the coming years,” said Jurg Nepfer, head of FIFA’s education and technical development department. Similar initiatives are set to be launched in the future in other countries with grassroots structures in place.

No talent should be lost on the journey to adulthood. National teams benefit from good youth development, too. FIFA is spending $15 million over the next three years to implement the programme globally, which will ­p rimarily involve creating new leagues as well as training young coaches and referees.

Who knows, perhaps some of those players who played in the opening games of the Malawi U15 league at the end of October will soon be part of the senior national team, following in the footsteps of their heroes ­E ssau Boxer Kanyenda and Fisher Kondowe.

Annette Braun

Beaming smiles U15 coach Tioney Mhone with his protégés Kumbukani (l.) and Humprey Minandi.

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Just like the pros The youngsters make their entrance, look on anxiously from the bench and prepare for kick-off. The team in blue ultimately emerge victorious.

Empoli wanted to sign me, but I was stopped

by FIFA because I had left Malawi without a clearance.”

Efforts to sign for Empoli under the name ­Ernest Molemela (the surname of his former Celtic boss) came to nothing, as did attempts to join Besiktas in Turkey and Nottingham Forest in ­ ­England, due to the FIFA ban of South Africa.

“I returned to South Africa and went back to Bloemfontein Celtic. I could not play for any FIFA-­ affiliated country until the ban was lifted,” he said.

When that finally came about in 1992, the Football Association of Malawi welcomed Mtawali back to the national team for the next chapter of his career, which lasted until he retired in 2005.

Mtawali became the first ­f oreigner to win South Africa’s Footballer of the Year in 1985.

Simon Bruty (5)

After rejoining the Malawi national team, Mtawali moved to Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina where he was lucky enough to play indoor football with Maradona. Then came a transfer to Toulouse in France’s Ligue 1, followed by stint at Al Wahd in United Arab Emirates.

“I regret nothing” Despite missing out on playing at the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations and losing out on the chance to represent top clubs in Europe earlier in his career, in Mtawali’s world there is no room for regrets. He went on to become a coach for Malawi U-20 national team, where he led the Junior Flames to success, just missing out on qualification for the 2014 Africa Youth Championship.

That impressive record paved the way for his promotion to the senior team to replace Young Chimodzi, who was dismissed on June 13 2015 after Malawi lost 2-1 at home to Zimbabwe in the first match of 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.

“Look, I was influenced by the late Roy Bailey who is father to Gary Bailey, the ex-Manchester United goalkeeper,” said the 49-year-old Mtawali.

“He used to take me for coaching clinics as far back in 1989 just after I joined Sundowns from Bloemfontein Celtic. I was the captain of Sundowns from 1989 to 1994 during which time the management T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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Not just players Malawi’s children and young people practice serving as assistant referees.

used to ask me to train youngsters who were earmarked to play for them.”

Breathing new life into the national team Fluent in French and English, born to a Malawian father and South African mother, Mtawali has ­embarked on what seems a one-man football revolution in Malawi. Within two months, he has handed debuts to seven players and dropped a number of veterans, prompting criticism from, among others, South Africa-based midfielder Robert Ng’ambi, who accused the coach of showing disrespect by discarding senior players for inexperienced ones.

“I would say it has been a big challenge,” said Mtawali. “I have been the number one supporter of the Malawian national team and an ex-player of the team and I know how passionate Malawians are about their team. I would like to see Malawi moving up the FIFA Ranking (ed: Malawi are in 97th position as of November 2015). I know change is not easy but I believe we have the potential to do better.”

“I know change is not easy.”

Malawi coach Ernest Mtawali

Mtawali has overseen three international matches so far, registering a win, a draw and a loss. The Flames lost 2-0 to Tanzania in the first leg of the preliminary round of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying and bowed out of the race despite winning 1-0 in the return leg played in Malawi. Tanzania went on to lose 9-2 on aggregate to Africa’s number one ranked team, Algeria, in the second round of qualifying.

“Everybody will see the fruits of the current ­progress in the next five years, even if we can’t deny that it was a big disappointment not to reach the next round of qualifying for the World Cup,” said Mtawali.

Walter Nyamilandu the president of the Football Association of Malawi said that Mtawali, who holds a UEFA B Licence, has been tasked with reviving his country’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Malawi are currently third in group L on one point, the same number as fourth-placed Guinea and three behind Zimbabwe and Swaziland on four points.

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Rehearsing every ritual Just like anywhere else in the world, the two sides gather before kick-off, contest an exciting match and then reflect on the experience ready for the next game.

“We have trust and confidence in the pair (Mtawali and his deputy Nsanzurwimo Ramadhan),” said Nyamilandu. “What we have seen is that they have not been tried and tested. They offer something ­d ifferent. Over the years, we lost our real style of Malawi play and we want them to restore that,” said Nyamilandu, who played alongside Mtawali for ­Malawi in the late 1990s.

“We saw tremendous potential in Ernest. We have also tracked his progress from the time he was coaching Malawi’s Under-20s. We have been grooming Ernest over four years. He is ready for the challenge. Everybody has their time, and this is Ernest’s time.” Å

Simon Bruty (5)

FIFA IN MALAWI Within the scope of its Goal Programmes, FIFA has supported the Malawi Football Association with USD 1.7 million since 2001. The financial aid has been used in part to build a regi­ onal technical centre in Mzuzu. This centre helps strengthen the country’s infrastructure, which in turn benefits the long-term development of young players. Between 2011 and 2015 the FAP contribu­ tion amounted to a total of USD 2.6 million.

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TALK ING POIN T S

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Germany: Bundesliga

St u t t g a r t on the sl ide Alan Schweingruber is a staff writer on The FIFA Weekly.

It is the feeling of impotence, in the broadest sense of the term, that fans struggle with when their team goes through a bad patch. After a match they might meet up for a beer to help digest a defeat suffered by their beloved club. That is something supporters of VfB Stuttgart have been doing for a while now. The club's relegation fight last spring left nerves frayed among the Stuttgart faithful. How is it, asked the fans, given our relatively strong squad, we find ourselves fighting against relegation rather than for a European place? There was no plausible explanation, but at least they managed to avoid the drop.

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Fast-forward a few months and after 13 rounds of matches in the new season in

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Germany those fans are still searching for an answer to that question. Despite auspicious predictions at the start of the season, partly made based on the strength of the opposition, the reality now is rather sobering: Stuttgart are third from bottom in the table, having reached their lowest ebb with a 4-0 defeat at home to FC Augsburg.

Nevertheless, the club’s supporters have not lost their sense of humour. After Stuttgart conceded the fourth goal, the fans refrained from any form of involvement in the match.

No chanting and no whistling could be heard. Once the players had grown accustomed to the peculiar silence towards the end of the game, the fans suddenly sang out: “Oh, how great this is!”

Stuttgart lacked the basics against Augsburg: the ability to win tackles and cover the ground. The team’s performance sealed the fate of head coach Alexander Zorniger, who was subsequently dismissed. “We were no longer convinced we could successfully continue working together,” said sporting director Robin Dutt. The U-23 coach Jurgen Kramny has taken over first team duties on

an interim basis. When Stuttgart face Dortmund on 29 November it will be intriguing to observe how the team react and, given the criticism Zorniger faced for the system he employed, how Kramny will set the team up.

Elsewhere, reigning champions Bayern Munich are dealing with tactics in their own way. In the build-up to their second goal in a 3-1 victory over Schalke, the Bayern attackers hung back, allowing central defender Javi Martinez to sneak unnoticed into the penalty area and wait for a cross from Arjen Robben. It worked out very well: the unmarked Spaniard even calmly signalled where to put the ball before heading home. It was like watching football being played on a console.

Bayern could ensure they remain top of the table over the winter break with victory over Hertha Berlin. However, they would also need a spirited Stuttgart side to take points off Dortmund, and right now that is not a likely proposition. Å

Stuttgart at a loss The VfB players after their dispiriting 4-0 defeat against Augsburg.

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Brazil: Serie A

C o r i nt h i a n s f ly ing h igh Sven Goldmann is a leading football correspondent at Tages­ spiegel newspaper in Berlin.

Winning a league title in Rio de Janeiro is quite something for a team from Sao Paulo; after all, the rivalry between Brazil’s two biggest cities is legendary. In truth, Corinthians’ triumph had long been on the cards. By the time they sealed their sixth league title with a 1-1 draw away at Vasco da Gama, the dream they had been chasing for a full four years was a mere formality.

However, the real party for the club’s Hexa­ campeao did not get started until two days later. And as tradition demands, it was held at the Itaquerao, Corinthians’ stadium in the eastern suburbs of Sao Paulo. The day could not have been choreographed any better: the visiting team for the newly crowned champions’ first home fixture came from their own city. Not Palmeiras, Corinthians’ arch-rivals for the past 100 years or so, but the great Sao Paulo Futebol Clube, home to Brazil legends Kaka and Cafu.

The champions were flying high, despite head coach Tite having rested regulars such as Gil, Elia, Jadson, Renato Augusto, Malcolm and Vagner Love. Not that you would have noticed: Lucca’s second-half goal to make it 4-0 and the combination play that preceded it were a testament to the sheer quality of the champions’ football.

Not until Hudson had put the ball in his own net to make it 5-0 did Sao Paulo enjoy some success of their own. Carlinhos netted 16

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A masterly performance Corinthians celebrate their fifth goal in the derby against Sao Paulo.

a consolation, but by then he was in no mood for to celebrate. By the time substitute Cristian slotted home his penalty to make it 6-1, the terraces were bouncing.

The fans sang and danced to cries of “ole!” and “campeao!”. The Itaquerao had not enjoyed itself so much since June last year, when Brazil beat Croatia 3-1 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ opener. Brazil still harboured dreams of winning the competition for a sixth time at that time, of course, but in the end Corinthians succeeded where

the Seleção failed. After the wayward ­showing of the national side, Tite was seen as the natural successor to departing coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, the former having already won both the FIFA Club World Cup and the Copa Libertadores with Corinthians. Surprisingly, however, the Brazilian Football Federation plumped for Carlos Dunga. “I don’t know what criteria formed the basis for that decision. I was ready for the Seleção,” said Tite at the time, before taking a six-month sabbatical and returning to Corinthians at the start of the year. Å

Getty Images

Sao Paulo were not just there to make up the numbers. They needed every point they could get to qualify for the Copa Libertadores, but Corinthians proved far too strong for them, running out 6-1 winners. Indeed, on matchday 36 of the Campeonato Brasileiro, the game was so one-sided that some of the visiting fans were seen heading for the exits at half time. By then, goals from Bruno Henrique, Angel Romero and Edu Dracena had propelled Corinthians into a 3-0 lead.

AFC Champions League

Scola r i bu sy rebu i ld ing a r e p u t at io n

off, particularly in the case of Brazilian striker Elkeson. The 26-year-old joined the club just under three years ago and showed in the second leg just what a signing he has been by deciding the game on his own. In the 54th minute, he received the ball with his back to goal, nutmegged defender Salmeen Khamis and confidently fired in the winning goal.

Sarah Steiner is a staff writer on The FIFA Weekly.

After a gruelling campaign, Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande are the new winners of the 2015 AFC Champions League.

In front of a partisan crowd of 50,000 at the club’s Tianhe Stadium, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s charges overcame UAE outfit Al Ahli to edge a narrow 1-0 aggregate victory following a goalless first leg. The Southern China Tigers have now won Asia’s most prestigious club competition for a second time following their triumph in 2013, and will thus represent the continent at the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup. The tournament takes place in Japan between 10 and 20 December, with Guangzhou’s first game against Mexican side Club America.

imago

The investment made in Guangzhou’s playing staff over the past few years is now paying

“Winners are those that never give up.”

Luiz Felipe Scolari

“I’d like to congratulate all our fans and all Chinese people that we’re now back on top,” said a beaming Elkeson after a tie in which Guangzhou were deserving winners having played the better football over the two games.

“Despite all the setbacks, we’ve stayed focused,” added Elkeson. "The players have a really good understanding with each other and our coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is massively ambitious. It was like we were meant to win.”

Elkeson’s compatriot Scolari bagged his second piece of silverware with Guangzhou, having led the club to the Chinese league title earlier this year. Scolari's reputation had been damaged by a disastrous 2014 FIFA World Cup™ campaign in charge of Brazil, in which the host nation were embarrassed 7-1 in the semi-final against Germany. Scolari will be haunted by that defeat for years to come, but the former Chelsea and Portugal coach is tasting success once again, and a tone of defiance could be detected in his post-match comments: “Winners are those that don’t give up!”

The 67-year-old lives by the mantra that failure is not an option and that is an idea his players have evidently bought into: since he took charge at the club back in June, Guangzhou have not lost a single game.

Scolari will now hope his side's winning streak continues beyond the meeting with Club America in Osaka on 13 December. “Our next target is [to win] the Club World Cup, and why not? I have a great team, a great club and great players. I can make this dream a reality.” Å

Celebration time AFC Champions League winners Guangzhou Evergrande and their coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

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Name Adama “Noss” Traore Date and place of birth 28 June 1995, Bamako, Mali Midfielder Clubs played for 2013–2014 AS Bakaridjan 2014–2015 Lille since 2015 Monaco Mali national team 2 caps

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Getty Images / Hannah Peters

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THE INTERVIEW

“Mali have a good chance of qualifying” The winner of the adidas Golden Ball at the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015, a feat he followed up by signing a five-year contract with AS Monaco, Mali midfielder Adama Traore is now aiming to help Mali reach Russia 2018.

Adama Traore, tell us where your nickname, Noss, comes from.

Adama Traore: It’s from Mali. If your first name’s ‘Adama’, you get called ‘Noss’ or ‘Nostra’, after Nostradamus.

What stands out for you from the FIFA U-20 World Cup? I remember the “African derby” against Senegal in the match for third place. I scored a very nice goal from distance with my right foot.

Did you honestly expect to be named the player of the tournament or did you think that accolade would go to a player from Serbia or Brazil, the two finalists?

I never imagined winning the award. I did honestly think it would be a Serbia or Brazil player, and it came as a big surprise to me.

Which player impressed you the most in New Zealand and why?

There were quite a few players who ­impressed me. There was one in particular but I can’t remember his name. He was a Swiss defensive midfielder. A great player.

In winning the Golden Ball at an U-20 World Cup you’ve joined a select band of great players featuring Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and the likes of Adriano, your compa­ triot Seydou Keita, Javier Saviola, Sergio Aguero and Paul Pogba. How does it feel to be compared to players of that calibre?

It’s like a dream come true for me to have won the Golden Ball. Hearing all those great players who’ve won it before me just makes me think about everything I still need to do to win more trophies in the future, about all the work in front of me and the path I still have to take.

Did you ever picture yourself playing for France? Did the French Football Association (FFF) ever approach you, your father or your agent about it?

No, that never happened.

The great France midfielder Jean-Amadou Tigana was born 40 years before you, in the Malian capital of Bamako, on 23 June 1955.

He had a similar style to you but chose to take out French nationality and ended up winning the 1984 European Championships with a Bleus side that also contained Michel Platini and the current Mali coach Alain Giresse.

What do you think of Tigana?

The most important thing is to do as well as I can for the club. It goes without saying that I want to work, improve my game here and win trophies. I want to develop as a player here.

What have you learned from your new ­Portuguese coach Leonardo Jardim?

Yes, I’ve heard of him. I’ve never met him, but I know he was a great player and that he was also a very successful coach here with Monaco.

He’s already given me a lot. When I first came here I struggled to find my place on the pitch, but I’ve learned quite a lot since then.

He calls me, gives me advice and shows me how to do things. I feel I’ve come on quite a lot already.

Let’s turn to Mali’s World Cup qualification hopes. Would you agree that they face a tall order in trying to reach the world finals for the first time in their history?

Is it true that when you took up football back home in Bamako you used to play barefoot?

No, I think they have a chance. This is a good generation of players and I hope it happens.

What’s the nicest compliment you’ve ever been paid?

I receive a lot of compliments and it’s hard to pick out just the one. People are starting to talk about me, in fact, and now is the time that I need to be mentally strong. Some players start to get a little carried away when people talk about them, but that’s no good at all. I just tell myself: ‘Stay the way you are.

Keep slogging away. Keep working.’ Compliments are nice but you can’t get big-headed.

You’re just recovering from an operation on your right ankle. Have you had a visit, a call or a message or anything that’s made you feel especially happy?

Yes, I’ve had a lot of messages – and I’m still getting them – from people I don’t know.

In fact, I don’t even know how they got my number. They call me every day to wish me a speedy recovery and I thank them. It’s very heart-warming and it lifts my spirits.

Yes, I played barefoot at the Jean-Marc Guillou Football Academy, but that’s what they ask for there. We all started playing barefoot, from an early age, and we had objectives that we had to reach. Once you achieve them, then you start to play in boots.

Where do you live in Monaco?

In the Jardin Exotique district. It’s got some great views of the principality and the sea.

What’s an average day for you?

I get up pretty early and my days are fairly normal. When I’m not training or getting treatment, I stay at home. I go out for a run now and then, of course, but I lead a pretty calm life.

What do you do in your spare time? Is there anything you’re passionate about?

Yes, I do have a passion outside football, and that’s music. My stereo is always on. I listen to a lot of African music. Å Interview by Massimo Franchi

You’ve signed a five-year contract with AS Monaco. What are your goals with Les Rouges et Blancs and what is your personal objective?

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First Love Place: Porto Alegre, Brazil Date: 8 October 2012 Time: 2.10 p.m.

Photog rapher: Caio Vilela

fotogloria

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SALFORD CIT Y

Big Five Phil Neville, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes (from left) are the owners of Salford City FC.

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SALFORD CIT Y

England’s most famous local club In summer 2014, five former stars took over a small football club on the outskirts of Manchester. Now Salford City are causing quite a stir, writes Hanspeter Kuenzler in London.

T Rachel Joseph / BBC

he BBC cameras will again be present at Moor Lane stadium on the evening of 4 December 2015. After all, success breeds success.

When the part-time and hobby footballers from Salford City, who are also known as The Ammies, played against Notts County three weeks ago, 3.5 million people watched the game on television. That is a record so far this season: even the heavyweight clash between Manchester United and Liverpool only attracted 2.6 million viewers in Britain.

Those 3.5 million spectators witnessed more than a David-versus-Goliath clash; the cameras frequently focused on the former Manchester United stars Gary Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes. Wrapped up in windproof jackets and hoodies, they stood in the middle of the crowd and held their heads in their hands, or hugged each other, at the same time as everyone else. Alongside David Beckham, Phil Neville and Ryan Giggs, who is currently assistant coach at Man United, Gary Neville, Butt and Scholes are part of the ‘Class of 1992’, the crop of players that rose through the ranks at United and repaid the club by winning an unparalleled haul of trophies.

Last summer five of them bought Salford City FC together; only Beckham was not involved as he opted to invest his money in Miami.

“We experienced some fantastic times as footballers, “ said Gary Neville.

“But when that was over there was a void. A void we want to fill with new, fantastic experiences.”

New toilets or a new striker?

Shortly before the match against Notts County, the BBC broadcasted an excellent documentary tracing Salford City’s first year under the stewardship of the glamorous former players. It showed Gary Neville on his first visit to inspect the stadium, where the lettering ‘Salford City’ on one T H E F I FA W E E K LY

23

SALFORD CIT Y

Spirit of the FA Cup Salford City fans during their team’s 2-0 win over Notts County.

of the stands was missing the letter ‘C’. Upon seeing the horrendous state of the toilets, Neville said: “The question is, a new centre forward or new toilets?”

The film also highlights how sceptical fans were initially, especially when the quintet introduced Singaporean businessman Peter Lim as a super-rich backer. One fan aggressively exclaimed: “Premier League arrogance! They think they can buy everything!” It was not until months later that tempers began to cool off. Babs Gaskill, who has volunteered in the snack kiosk for 26 years, will now work out of a brand new booth, while the terraces have been freshly painted. For the first time ever, the players are also given a nutritious meal before each game.

3.5 million viewers watched the game against Notts County, a record figure this season.

The five former players are not the first celebrities to pour their passion and money into a football club. Pop stars have done so in the past: Elton John did exemplary work with fans thanks to his enthusiasm at Watford; Fatboy Slim has a 12 per cent stake in Brighton & Hove Albion and regularly hosts charity events, while One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson has not given up on taking over Doncaster Rovers, despite failing once already.

24

T H E F I FA W E E K LY

However, none of those stars were ever as closely involved in the day-to-day running of the club as Scholes, Butt, Giggs and the Nevilles are. They have all had a strong bond with Salford City since childhood, aim to build a 25,000 capacity all-seater stadium and earn promotion into the professional league.

Dirty Old Town Salford lies four kilometres from Manchester city centre and is an industrial town typical of many in northern England, although certainly livelier than it used to be thanks to Salford University. The Barton Swing Aqueduct, the only navigable aqueduct of its kind in the world, is a popular tourist attraction here. The pre-match atmosphere is created by a cover version of the legendary Pogues song ‘Dirty Old Town’, and the lyrics resonate not only with the older fans but also with the new owners.

“It’s an unbelievable experience being owner of a football club,” said Gary Neville. “It’s a privilege we cannot misuse.”

In the first round of the FA Cup, when those 3.5 million viewers tuned in on their television sets, Salford City played Notts County, the oldest football club in English football. County are currently floundering in mid-table in the fourth tier, a long way below where they expect to be.

Naturally, Moor Lane was sold out with 1,400 fans who had never seen their heroes play in such exalted company and they created a rousing atmosphere. Babs Gaskill has never grilled so many burgers or made so many cups of tea in her life.

The first half ended goalless but just 20 seconds into the second period the fairytale began when striker Danny Webber, who has previously played for Watford, Sheffield United and Leeds, steered a perfectly delivered cross into the net to put Salford 1-0 up. Then, in the 73rd minute, substitute Richie Allen skipped past three defenders to score his

SALFORD CIT Y

Tea lady Babs has worked at Salford City FC for 26 years.

Legendary evening Substitute Richie Allen scored the second goal in the 2-0 win over Notts County.

team’s second to make the final score 2-0. “Goal of the season!” screamed the BBC commentator. Overjoyed fans and club owners hugged each other with tears in their eyes.

Hartlepool test on 4 December A total of 736 clubs registered to take part in the FA Cup and Salford knocked out City Whitby, Curzon Ashton, Bradford Park Avenue and Southport in the qualifying rounds. Those triumphs alone were a minor sensation. Salford play in the Northern Premier League in the seventh tier of English football, and of those four sides they defeated, three play in higher divisions.

On 4 December, The Ammies face another opponent from the fourth division, Hartlepool United, in the next round of the FA Cup. On that Friday evening Salford City will undoubtedly be the most popular football club in Manchester. Å

S A L F O R D C I T Y F O O T B A L L C L UB

imgao (3)

Salford is an industrial town typical of many in northern England, located close to Manchester.

Nickname The Ammies Founded 1940 as Salford Central Home ground Moor Lane Capacity 1,400 Owners Peter Lim (50%), Phil Neville (10%), Gary Neville (10%), Nicky Butt (10%), Paul Scholes (10%) and Ryan Giggs (10%) Chairman Karen Baird Managers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley League Northern Premier League

T H E F I FA W E E K LY

25

FOOTBALL FOR HOPE

Football for Hope is our global commitment to building a better future through football. To date, we have supported over 550 socially-responsible community projects that use football as a tool for social development, improving the lives and prospects of young people and their surrounding communities

To ďŹ nd out more, visit the Sustainability section on FIFA.com.

F IFA F IF PRO WORLD X I 2015

PRESIDENTIAL NOTE

55 players announced

The future of football

F

IFPro, the worldwide players’ union, and FIFA announced the final 55-player shortlist for the FIFA FIFPro World XI 2015. The FIFA FIFPro World XI is decided by the players, for the players. It involves votes from nearly 25,000 professional footballers from about 70 different countries. They select one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards. FIFPro and its national affiliates are responsible for gathering votes from professional footballers worldwide. It is the only global award that truly represents the views of those who play the beautiful game.

The 55-player shortlist: (home country/club) Goalkeepers (5) Gianluigi Buffon (Italy/Juventus), Iker Casillas (Spain/FC Porto), ­David De Gea (Spain/Manchester United), Keylor Navas (Costa Rica/ Real Madrid) and Manuel Neuer (Germany/FC Bayern Munich).

Defenders (20) David Alaba (Austria/FC Bayern Munich), Jordi Alba (Spain/FC Barcelona), Jérôme Boateng (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Daniel ­Carvajal (Spain/Real Madrid), Giorgio Chiellini (Italy/Juventus), Dani Alves (Brazil/FC Barcelona), David Luiz (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain), Diego Godín (Uruguay/Atletico Madrid), Mats Hummels (Germany/ Borussia Dortmund), Branislav Ivanović (Serbia/Chelsea), Vincent Kompany (Belgium/Manchester City), Philipp Lahm (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Marcelo (Brazil/Real Madrid), Javier Mascherano (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Pepe (Portugal/Real Madrid), Gerard Piqué (Spain/FC Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain/Real Madrid), John Terry (England/Chelsea), Thiago Silva (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain) and Raphaël Varane (France/Real Madrid).

Midfielders (15) Thiago Alcântara (Spain/FC Bayern Munich), Xabi Alonso (Spain/FC Bayern Munich), Sergio Busquets (Spain/FC Barcelona), Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea), Andrés Iniesta (Spain/FC Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid), Luka Modrić (Croatia/Real Madrid), Andrea Pirlo (Italy/New York City FC), Paul Pogba (France/Juventus), Ivan Rakitić (Croatia/FC Barcelona), James Rodríguez (Colombia/Real Madrid), David Silva (Spain/Manchester City), Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast/Manchester City), Marco Verratti (Italy/Paris Saint-Germain) and Arturo Vidal (Chile/FC Bayern Munich).

Strikers (15) Sergio Agüero (Argentina/Manchester City), Gareth Bale (Wales/Real Madrid), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Douglas Costa (Brazil/FC Bayern Munich), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real ­ ­Madrid), Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden/Paris Saint-Germain), Robert Lewan­dowski (Poland/FC Bayern Munich), Lionel Messi (Argentina/ FC Barcelona), Thomas Müller (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), ­Neymar (Brazil/FC Barcelona), Arjen Robben (Netherlands/FC Bayern Munich), Wayne Rooney (England/Manchester United), Alexis ­ Sánchez (Chile/Arsenal), Luis Suárez (Uruguay/FC Barcelona) and Carlos ­Tevez (Argentina/Boca Juniors).

O

ne of our biggest responsibilities is to involve and support more young footballers around the world so that they have a better chance of reaching their potential.

The FIFA U-17 and U-20 World Cups offer the best young women and men the opportunity to compete at international level. At national level, however, many young players lack the challenge that well-­ organised domestic competitions can provide. Investing in sustainable youth football development is a vital part of the process: proper competitions give girls and boys the conditions they need to grow.

In countries that do not have this structure, there is often no clear “pathway” between grassroots football and the senior game, which means that it is harder for senior players to fulfil their early promise, the standard of club football lags behind that of other ­national leagues, and national teams will struggle to qualify for ­tournaments.

This lack of progress can impact on the investment potential of football, creating a cycle of slow development and low funding that can be tough to break.

This year, FIFA has launched an exciting pilot project in Malawi to develop and promote youth football in a sustainable way. Working with the Football Association of Malawi, we are establishing regional youth leagues, where talented young players from all over the country can play together in teams of similar quality, guided by trained coaches over full, demanding seasons.

With equipment, technical support and funding, these leagues can also improve sponsorship and promotional opportunities, and inspire more young Malawians of all abilities to play.

We aim to roll this model out to other member associations in the future, so that more young players, referees and coaches can work together to raise national football standards and provide the foundations for greater participation in football.

Young people are the future of football. FIFA and its member associations have a duty to help them live out their dreams.

Best wishes, Issa Hayatou The final FIFA FIFPro World XI will be announced at the FIFA Ballon d’Or award ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on 11 January 2016.

Find more information on http://www.fifa.com/ballondor/world11 T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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HISTORY

Germany’s luckless goalkeeper Germany reserve goalkeeper Heinrich Kwiatkowski was on the receiving end during his FIFA World Cup appearances in Switzerland in 1954 and in Sweden in 1958, conceding 14 goals in just two matches.

At home in goal Heinrich Kwiatkowski during his time with Borussia Dortmund.

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T H E F I FA W E E K LY

A

fter the final whistle sounded in Gothenburg to mark the end of Germany’s match for third place against France at the 1958 FIFA World Cup, reserve goalkeeper Heinrich Kwiatkowski turned to head coach Sepp Herberger and pleaded: “Please don’t pick me anymore.” Unsurprisingly, the request marked the end of Kwiatkowski’s international career. So what had happened to make the talented keeper throw the towel in?

Born on 16 July 1926, Kwiatkowski delivered a string of exceptional league performances throughout his career, featuring for Schalke 04, Rot-Weiss Essen and Borussia Dortmund in the Oberliga West, then one of Germany’s top divisions, from his debut on 14 September 1947 until hanging up his gloves on 11 May 1963. He also won two German championship titles with BVB and made a total of 300 appearances for Die Schwarzgelben.

“Kwiat” and his famous fists To many, Kwiatkowski was simply known as “Kwiat” or “Heini Fausten” (“Heini Fists”) in reference to his legendary punched clearances.

Receiving a call-up to the national team is a special moment for any footballer, and representing one’s country at a FIFA World Cup an even greater privilege. Heinrich Kwiatkowski was thus full of pride when Herberger first selected him for the 1954 FIFA World Cup in Switzerland. Although Toni Turek was Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper, the man from Gelsenkirchen joined the squad as reserve keeper, ready to shoulder responsibility and replace Turek if called upon. Kwiatkowski travelled to Lake Thun for Germany’s preparatory camp, where the most memorable part of the visit was not the gruelling training sessions but an impromptu dip in the lake.

Kwiatkowski boarded a boat with the squad’s third-choice goalkeeper Heinz Kubsch and when the pair went on deck for a cigarette, non-swimmer “Kwiat” fell overboard, but fortunately managed to reach the shore none the worse for his unexpected adventure. The news came as a relief to coach Sepp Herberger, who picked his second-choice keeper for Germany’s second group match against Hungary after their comfortable 4-1 opening victory over Turkey. With the Germans able to qualify for the knockout stages even if they lost to the Hungarians, provided they emerged victorious from a play-off match against a Turkish team they had already soundly defeated, Herberger fielded his B team in an attempt to obscure G ermany’s true strengths from the Mighty ­ Magyars.

Two days before the game, Herberger approached “Kwiat” and asked him: “Are you confident enough to play against Hungary?”

After answering in the affirmative, Kwiatkowski took to the field for the second group match full of anticipation, but his excitement

HISTORY

quickly gave way to disillusionment. Germany had planned for Hungary shooting from range, but instead they persistently weaved their way deep inside the area before materialising ­u nmarked in front of Kwiatkowski. Powerless to stop them, helpless Heini found himself on the receiving end of the Hungarians’ striking prowess.

Eight goals on World Cup debut Four goals from Sandor Kocsis, a brace from Nandor Hidegkuti and a strike apiece for ­Ferenc Puskas and Jozsef Toth meant “Kwiat” spent much of his FIFA World Cup debut picking the ball out of the back of the net. The match ended 8-3 and Kwiatkowski later recalled: “I prayed they wouldn’t reach double digits.” Almost any team in the world would have struggled to contain the Mighty Magyars that day, but the defeat gnawed at the German goalkeeper nonetheless. Realising that his second-choice shotstopper had suffered a ­ knock to his confidence, Herberger told him: “Your nerves are a little frayed now; I can leave you out for the next few games.”

the squad’s least-utilised players. Heinrich ­Kwiatkowski led out the side after replacing first-choice keeper Fritz Herkenrath.

Appearing in another FIFA World Cup match as part of a second-string eleven unaccustomed to playing alongside each other led to another heavy defeat as Germany went down 6-3 to France. Conceding eight goals on his World Cup debut and another six in his next appearance four years later proved too much for poor Kwiatkowski. The shattered custodian told Herberger he had had enough and with that, his international career was over.

The shotstopper’s experiences of pulling on a Germany shirt were not all bad though. They

certainly frayed his nerves almost to breaking point, but they also made him a world champion. World Cup record aside, he is still celebrated as a hero in Dortmund long after his death on 23 May 2008. BVB’s current generation of heroes cross Heinrich Kwiatkowski Strasse to reach the Brackel training complex – a tribute to a man who, despite conceding an unusually high number of goals at international level, helped shape an entire era for Die Schwarz­ gelben in the 1950s and 1960s. Å Annette Braun

“I prayed they wouldn’t reach double digits.”

Keystone (3)

Heinrich Kwiatkowski

So it was that “Heini Fausten” returned to his place on the bench as Germany beat Turkey 7-2 in their play-off match. Toni Turek then stood firm to deny Yugoslavia in a 2-0 win before helping Die Mannschaft to a 6-1 triumph against Austria in the semi-final. Kwiatkowski was watching from the sidelines once more as the Germans faced Hungary again in the ’Miracle of Bern’, then they miraculously around their fortunes from the group stages to win the game 3-2. Germany were world champions and so was Heinrich Kwiatkowski. The reserve goalkeeper even managed to take something positive from his solitary appearance, observing: “Perhaps those eight goals were good for the Final, as they meant Hungary underestimated us. They probably thought they could pick up where they left off in the second game.”

Kwiatkowski could not have known then that history would repeat itself four years later at the 1958 FIFA World Cup. Germany lost 3-1 to hosts Sweden in the semi-final that year, so coach Sepp Herberger decided to use the match for third place as a chance to give a run-out to

An unhappy World Cup debut Kwiatkowski could only watch as the ball flew past in Germany’s 1954 group match against Hungary.

Battling it out for the championship Kwiatkowski came away empty-handed from the 1961 final against Nuremberg as BVB lost 3-0.

T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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FREE KICK

SPOTLIGHT ON

GENER AL INFORMATION Country: Jordan FIFA Trigramme: JOR Confederation: AFC Continent: Asia Capital: Amman

Christmas capers Sarah Steiner

GEOGR APHIC INFORMATION Surface area: 89,342 km² Highest point: Jabal Ramm 1,754 m

Mario Wagner / 2Agenten

W

inter has arrived in Europe, with bitterly cold temperatures and the first snowfalls heralding the start of advent. Christmas is only four weeks away and preparations are ­a lready in full swing. Chocolate Santas are on sale in supermarkets, Yuletide tree decorations gleam in assorted colours on shelves and toy departments are bulging with teddy bears, building blocks and video games. Christmas has arrived in the world of football too.

In Dortmund, the biggest Christmas tree in the world has been erected in the middle of the festive market at Hansaplatz every year since 1966. Made up of 1,700 Norwegian spruces, it stands at a huge 45 metres, uses 48,000 lights, 20 candles that reach up to 2.5 metres, as well as other illuminations. At the very top there is a four-metre angel weighing 200 kilograms.

The whole process of setting it up takes four weeks.

One bright morning, however, the city’s ­inhabitants were stunned and could only look at their tree in disbelief. What was that flag sitting at the top? A blue and white one with one letter and two digits: S04. Right in the ­m iddle of enemy territory. There is surely no fixture in Germany as explosive as the Revierderby between Borussia Dortmund and ­Schalke. It is a long-standing rivalry that has become part of each city’s self-image. So how did the Schalke flag arrive at the top of ­Dortmund’s tree?

The scaffolding company responsible for putting up the Christmas tree has done so for many years, yet among its employees are both Dortmund and Schalke fans. It was the latter who placed their club’s flag at the top. Although the prank was short-lived – the firm’s Dortmund supporters quickly replaced it with a black and yellow flag – the perpetrators will have to dig deep in their pockets. Company manager Hans-Peter Arens was merciless in imposing a 500 Euro fine, which will be do­ nated to charity.

The Dortmund fans, however, escaped ­reprimand. “I can’t fine anyone for putting a Borussia Dortmund flag on the tree,” said Arens. Indeed, the only punishable offence in Dortmund is being a Schalke fan. Å

Neighbouring seas and oceans: Red Sea, Dead Sea and Gulf of Aqaba

MEN’S FOOTBALL FIFA Ranking: 82nd World Cup: No appearances

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL FIFA Ranking: 58th World Cup: No appearances

L ATES T RESULTS Men’s: Jordan - Kyrgyzstan 0:1 17 November 2015 Women’s: Vietnam - Jordan 2:1 20 September 2015

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MIRROR IMAGE

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Liverpool, England

1983

Bob Thomas / Getty Images

Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar shows off his best wild dive.

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T H E F I FA W E E K LY

MIRROR IMAGE

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Berlin, Germany

2015

imago

Barça fans depict Lionel Messi as a “SuperMessi” at the UEFA Champions League final.

T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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THE ART OF FOOTBALL

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“Emotionally, it was a very, very strong moment. We were all united in this ­moment of communion, which obviously lifts the spirits because you feel it in your heart. It’s beautiful, it’s moving, it’s grandiose. It’s very strong. This will be shown round the world and will show unity. Football is a global game. It is not about religion or race. We need to stand tall together in these tough times.”

France coach Didier Deschamps paid tribute to England’s supporters for the respect they showed during the friendly match at Wembley

“They said they were going to send me to retirement. I sent their whole nation into retirement.”

Zlatan Ibrahimovic after defeating Denmark in the play-offs to send Sweden to UEFA EURO 2016

Ronald Düker

Mediapro

T

here is something touching, but sometimes also unsettling about watching a young child, fresh out of kindergarten, play football. Especially when it is a prodigy, a little maestro, a player so talented it is clear at first glance that they could have a great career ahead of them. The proportions are not yet quite right: the ball seems huge next to their tiny body and frail-looking legs, which run and kick with all their might and barely appear capable of withstanding the physical obstacles they meet on the pitch.

Looking at footage today of Lionel Messi playing as a child, this discrepancy is especially noticeable; after all, Messi differed from his contemporaries not only in that he was a small child, but that he was very small. It is precisely these archive images that make the new documentary by Alex de la Iglesia so compelling. Simply titled ’Messi’, the film depicts the career of the superstar, starting at the very beginning when his grandmother took him to a football pitch for the very first time back in Argentina, and goes right through to his triumphs with FC Barcelona. De la Iglesia not only portrays the protagonist’s life with archive footage of Messi talking and playing, he manages to bring former classmates, siblings, coaches and team-mates together to talk about him.

Johan Cruyff, Cesar Luis Menotti, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano and Jorge Valdano, among others, are involved in a lively discussion.

How should Messi be described? “The best player in the world”? “The best player of all time”? Or, and this is meant respectfully, as “a monster”? Even his colleagues are unsure. Indeed, perhaps the words used to express the inexpressible do not even matter; it is much more revealing to see the way the eyes of those who know him so well light up, and how great and honest is their admiration for such an exceptional player.

Just as it is possible to talk about the beautiful game in simple terms, there is no need to complicate matters when describing Messi. A boy who played alongside him as a 13-year-old summed him up thus: “Whenever there’s a problem you just have to give him the ball. He’ll solve it.” Å

“Paddy only had a seven week contract, we weren’t expecting it, but Paddy came to see us and said that he loves the club, he loves the fact we gave him an opportunity, but he doesn’t feel like he is going to earn his money now he is injured. Quite incredibly he has decided he wants to cancel the contract. Incredibly he had guaranteed money there, but he has said he can’t take money off the football club, which is quite a unique circumstance.”

Bury manager David Flitcroft on former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Paddy Kenny voluntarily cancelling his short-term contract 13 days into his new role after he tore his calf in training because he wanted to save the club money

“I believe having Iran here, in a World Cup qualification game, is the single most important milestone in Guam football history. To have a world-class team, a world-class coach, here on our shores is going to do so much for football and our development … We want the local fans to see world-class football here, live, because we just don’t watch it enough.”

Guam head coach Gary White T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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FIFA PARTNER

TURNING POINT

An evening that changed my life A tragic end to his stag party proved the beginning of a successful coaching career for Black Forest native Alexander Fischinger.

imago

I

t was 1 July 1995 and my life hung by a thin rope. It should have been a day of celebration but it ended in near tragedy and sent my life spiralling in a different direction.

It was my stag party, and in our high spirits my friends had attached me to a pulley by a thin rope and pulled me up some scaffolding. Laughter broke out because everyone knew I didn’t like heights. I laughed too. Then, about eight metres up, the rope snapped.

When I woke up in hospital, two priests, one Catholic and one Protestant, were sitting at my bedside. Nobody knew whether I was going to survive the fall. My pelvis was broken in three places; my knee and wrist were in pieces. Nowadays, it’s less obvious than it used to be just how much metal is holding my body together.

I immediately asked the doctor if I would ever be able to play football again. “Forget it,” he said, shaking his head. That was perhaps my lowest moment because football was all I had ever known.

There followed a year and a half of hospital visits and operations. It required unwavering discipline and plenty of physiotherapy but eventually I was able to walk again. I could also ski and cycle, but playing football was impossible. Instead, two friends and I set up a youth academy while I channelled all my efforts into becoming a coach. I passed the relevant courses to obtain my licence and then took charge of several different teams.

I consider it a gift that I have now been a coach for over 15 years and enjoyed relative success. Without the accident, I would probably still be a postman and never have met

so many interesting people. One of the high points of my coaching career was undoubtedly winning the Sudbadischer Pokal [the South Baden Cup] with amateur side SV Waldkirch and so reaching the first round of the DFB-Pokal, Germany’s major domestic cup competition.

Since the summer I have been in charge of SC Sand, my second coaching job in the Women’s Bundesliga after SC Freiburg in 2008. Despite our good start to the season, we’re not dreaming of giddy heights just yet.

I know how that can end up, after all. Having said that, they’re a hungry young group who want success. Just like me. Å Alexander Fischinger was speaking to Rainer Hennies

Name Alexander Fischinger Date and place of birth 10 April 1964, Triberg, Germany Clubs played for 1970–1995 FC Schonach Clubs coached 1998–1999 FC Teningen 1999–2000 FC Schonach 2000–2001 Freiburger FC youth team 2001–2003 FC Denzlingen youth team 2003–2007 SF Elzach 2008 SC Freiburg Women 2009–2010 SV Endingen 2011–2015 SV Waldkirch Since 2015 SC Sand Women

In Turning Point, personalities reflect on a decisive moment in their lives.

T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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MEN’S WORLD R ANKING

Belgium (up 2) Austria (10th, up 1) Wales (15th, down 7) 172 Ethiopia (5 matches) Turkey (up 224 points) Chad (up 39 ranks) Wales (down 163 points) Sudan (down 44 ranks)

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

Last updated: 5 November 2015 +/- Points

Rank Team

1 Belgium

2 1440

55 Congo DR

5

587

109 Zimbabwe

2 Germany

0 1388

56 Finland

8

586

3 Argentina

-2 1383

57 Egypt

-6

4 Portugal

0 1364

57 Peru

5 Chile

4 1288

59 Nigeria

6 Spain

0 1287

60 Australia

7 Colombia

-2 1233

61 Jamaica

8 Brazil

-1 1208

61 Israel

-14

559

115 Azerbaijan

9 England

1 1179

63 Mali

-1

552

117 Belize

10 Austria

1 1130

64 Slovenia

-18

547

11 Switzerland

1 1073

65 Panama

0

12 Uruguay

8 1051

66 Bulgaria

12

+/- Points

Rank Team

+/- Points

0

305

163 Liechtenstein

-7

110 Central African Republic

16

302

164 Samoa

-2

152

583

111 Georgia

-1

301

165 American Samoa

-1

145

-7

583

112 Aruba

3

299

166 Maldives

10

141

-7

582

113 Libya

-8

297

167 Grenada

-8

137

-2

573

114 Ethiopia

-6

294

168 Gambia

-7

135

-4

559

115 Bahrain

8

293

169 Cook Islands

-3

132

-10

293

170 Puerto Rico

-5

129

1

292

171 Malaysia

0

127

118 Madagascar

9

290

172 India

-5

122

515

118 Namibia

7

290

173 Mauritius

-5

117

497

120 Korea DPR

9

288

174 Indonesia

-3

108

154

13 Italy

4 1040

67 United Arab Emirates

3

495

121 Sierra Leone

0

281

175 Dominica

-1

104

14 Romania

-1 1039

68 Uganda

7

491

121 Turkmenistan

34

281

176 Laos

3

90

15 Wales

-7 1032

69 Equatorial Guinea

-2

487

123 Lithuania

-7

279

177 Comoros

16 Netherlands

-2

70 Belarus

28

479

124 Kyrgyzstan

22

277

6 -18

976

17 Czech Republic

-2

974

71 Uzbekistan

3

477

125 Kenya

18 Turkey

19

941

71 Zambia

0

477

125 Mozambique

16

89

178 US Virgin Islands

0

88

274

179 Yemen

1

81

274

180 Bangladesh

2

80

19 Croatia

-3

924

73 Haiti

4

470

127 Armenia

-36

271

180 New Caledonia

-11

80

20 Bosnia and Herzegovina

10

923

73 Gabon

-8

470

128 Sudan

-44

267

180 Bhutan

-7

80

21 Ecuador

10

921

75 South Africa

-2

461

129 St Vincent and the Grenadines

-7

262

183 Cambodia

3

78

22 Côte d’Ivoire

-1

890

76 Cyprus

38

444

130 Swaziland

5

258

184 Suriname

-3

77 76

23 Russia

3

885

77 Bolivia

-10

442

131 Kazakhstan

11

256

185 Pakistan

-8

24 Mexico

3

881

78 Montenegro

-6

426

132 Syria

-9

254

186 Brunei Darussalam

1

74

24 France

-2

881

79 Morocco

1

422

133 Kuwait

-5

252

187 Chinese Taipei

-4

71

26 Algeria

-7

872

80 Saudi Arabia

8

417

134 South Sudan

10

246

188 Montserrat

-4

67

27 Slovakia

-9

857

80 Antigua and Barbuda

3

417

135 Tanzania

1

245

189 Seychelles

-5

60

28 Ukraine

-4

806

82 Jordan

17

411

136 Chad

39

240

190 Fiji

-1

59

29 Northern Ireland

6

797

83 Venezuela

-14

408

137 Philippines

-3

236

191 Tahiti

-3

56

30 Ghana

-5

793

84 China PR

-3

403

138 Palestine

-8

233

192 Nepal

-2

51

31 Iceland

-8

792

85 Qatar

7

397

139 FYR Macedonia

-7

230

193 Cayman Islands

-2

49

32 Cape Verde Islands

9

762

86 Liberia

9

394

140 Lebanon

0

228

194 Sri Lanka

-3

45

33 Hungary

0

759

87 Iraq

-2

392

141 Guinea-Bissau

6

216

195 Macau

-2

44

33 USA

-4

759

88 Togo

-9

386

142 Barbados

12

206

196 San Marino

0

35

35 Denmark

-7

743

89 Faroe Islands

-4

385

143 St Lucia

-4

204

197 Turks and Caicos Islands

0

33

36 Albania

-4

723

90 Estonia

-3

370

144 Thailand

1

202

198 British Virgin Islands

1

27

37 Greece

7

718

91 Guatemala

-9

367

145 Hong Kong

8

199

199 Solomon Islands

-2

26

38 Poland

5

712

92 Oman

10

365

146 Luxembourg

-4

197

200 Tonga

0

17

39 Senegal

-1

678

93 Burkina Faso

-17

363

147 Vietnam

2

193

201 Vanuatu

0

13

40 Costa Rica

2

671

94 El Salvador

0

361

147 Lesotho

41 Tunisia

-5

668

95 Honduras

-6

359

149 Dominican Republic

42 Republic of Ireland

12

659

96 Rwanda

-3

356

43 Iran

-4

651

97 Malawi

4

44 Scotland

-4

649

98 Angola

45 Sweden

0

647

99 Latvia

46 Norway

-12

637

47 Paraguay

14 5

48 Korea Republic

-7

193

202 Eritrea

0

8

-30

187

203 Mongolia

0

6

150 Curaçao

2

182

203 Somalia

0

6

351

151 Bermuda

-13

181

205 Andorra

0

5

-1

344

152 Guyana

-15

179

206 Papua New Guinea

0

4

4

342

152 Singapore

5

179

207 Anguilla

1

0

100 Nicaragua

-5

341

154 Moldova

-22

177

207 Bahamas

1

0

610

101 St Kitts and Nevis

11

340

155 Guam

-5

170

207 Djibouti

-1

0

606

102 Canada

2

335

156 Afghanistan

-6

168

49 Serbia

14

605

103 Benin

-3

333

157 São Tomé e Príncipe

36

165

50 Japan

5

603

104 Mauritania

-15

328

158 Malta

-1

164

51 Cameroon

-3

597

105 Niger

15

327

159 New Zealand

-11

163

52 Congo

-3

593

105 Botswana

6

327

160 Tajikistan

0

159

53 Guinea

2

589

107 Burundi

6

321

161 Myanmar

2

157

54 Trinidad and Tobago

5

588

108 Cuba

9

312

162 Timor-Leste

8

155

38

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)

Acting President Issa Hayatou

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4

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9

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4

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Internet www.fifa.com/theweekly

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Puzzles courtesy: opensky.ca/sudoku

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39

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