EFPA President, Ramon Alfonseda, attended yesterday the one-day seminar on fair play hosted by Italian Former Players Federation, AIEC, in Ishia, Italy.
Together with the EFPA’s head of expansion strategy, Eduardo Juan and former FC Barcelona player Eusebio Sacristán, Mr. Alfonseda was invited by the recently nominated President of the Italian Former Players Federation, Antonio Cabrini to address a number of former players on the Italian isle of Ischia about EFPA and the values of football.

Attendees included Gennaro Testa, Ivan Nonni, former Italian international Antonio Cabrini, Demetrio Albertini and Franco Campana who had recently hosted a conference on Fair Play in Barcelona.
During the seminar there was also a joint EFPA and AIEC working committee to discuss the next steps forward both in the Italian and the European front. Both Alfonseda and Sacristán have given very positive feedback on the encounter given the interesting proposals the Italian organisation has for former players in Italy. Alfonseda said to be “very pleased with the outcome of the meeting because the AIEC has given valuable new input into EFPA that can be easily exported to other European countries”.

On Friday May 26th last, Vicenza hosted the official signature of the foundation of the AIEC, the Italian Federation of Former Players.

AIEC is the fourth Former Player Federation to be constituted in Europe following Spanish FEAFV, Polish PSBP and British BAFPA. Like its counterparts, one of the main objectives of AIEC is to be a point of reference for professional football players once they end their careers and to help them redirect their professional lives into other areas of sport, such as managers, technical staff, sports journalists, etc. Furthermore, it aims at providing support from the financial, health and social points of view to those former players who find difficulty in adapting to a normal life.

At the foundational meeting held at the seat of the Italian PA in Vicenza, former world cup winner Anotonio Cabrini was appointed President and Mr. Sergio Campana, Chairman of the AIC (Italian PA) was granted the Honourary Presidency. Mr. Silvano Maioli was appointed Secertary General. Other Board Members are: Diego Bonavina (Vicepresident), Demetrio Albertini, Massimo Briaschi, Giuseppe Lelj, Luciano Miani, Ivan Nonni, Fabio Pecchia, Gennaro Testa, Antonino De Silvestri and Roberto Dalla Montà.

As the Italian branch of EFPA, AIEC will work in full consonance with EFPA’s objecitvies and help achieve EFPA’s goals in the Italian territory.

EFPA President, Ramon Alfonseda, visited Prague on Monday to present the project of the National Federation of Former Players in this Central European country.
The Czech Football Federation hosted the meeting in the Czech capital where all professional football clubs were invited as well as representatives from the Slovakian and Hungarian Football Federation.
After having planted the seed in Poland, the UK, Germany, Italy and Portugal, EFPA now aims at expanding its mission and activities to the Central European countries.
Mr. Otakar Mestek, Grassroots Manager at the Czech Football Federation, was in charge of organising the meeting and was very pleased with the outcome. During his presentation, Mr. Alfonseda explained how EFPA is currently structured and why the creation of a National Federation of Former Players in each European country is important for the development of EFPA. Alfonseda highlighted the role of former players in recovering football history, helping former colleagues and promoting the values of sport in cooperation with the country's sports authoritites to help combat today's ills.

EFPA was founded by 12 club associations and since its foundation in Barcelona in 2004, it has travelled to Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom, Germany, France and the Czech Republic to establish the National Federation of Former Players to work closely with the footballing authorities in their respective countries.

The meeting was attended by:
Mr. Repka - GS, Czech FA
Mr. Mestek - Czech FA
Mr. Valasek - Tescoma Zlin, club
Mr. Schejba - FC Viktoria Plzeň, club
Mr. Chvojka - FC Viktoria Plzeň, club
Mr. Vlcek - FC Viktoria Plzeń, club
Mr. Kovacs - Hungarian FA
Mr. Oze - Hungarian FA
Mr. Philipp - Czech internationals club
Mr. Landa - Bohemians 1905, club
Mr. Zlamal - Slavia Praha, club
Mrs. Hamalová - Slavia Praha, club

The Spanish Federation (FEAFV) was created in 2005; with its current 31 club members, it is supported by the Spanish Players Association (AFE) and is officially recognised by the Spanish Ministry for Sports and the Football Federation. The Polish PSBP, led by former-international Dariusz Dziekanowski, was created following Mr. Alfonseda's visit in August 2007 and is currently working on a legends match to be played in Warsaw at the end of this year.
The British Alliance of Former Players Associations was created in Liverpool in August 2009 and it has already led to the creation of the Scottish arm, the Scottish Federation of Former Players Associations.

Photo by David Cuella.

Coinciding with EFPA's III Annual Assembly, the organisation participated in the 50th Anniversary's festivities by putting together a team of European Football Legends led by Italian coach Arrigo Sacchi and assistant coach Josep Moratalla.

Goals were scored by Valery Karpin and Ricardo Sá Pinto for the European side and Ángel Cuéllar for FC Barcelona Former Players.

Players in the European Selection included: Michael Reiziger, Hristo Stoichkov, Lotar Matthäus, Emilio Butragueño, Christian Karembeu, Valery Karpin, Andoni Zubizarreta, Miroslav Djukic, Davor Suker, Patrick Kluivert, Gianluca Festa, Bernard Diomede, Dariusz Dziekanowski, Stve Mcmanaman, John Lauridsen, Manuel Amoros and Giovanni Galli. The team was led by Italian coach Arrigo Sacchi and assistant coach Josep Moratalla.

The Match was played at FC Barcelona's Mini Stadium on March 27th up against a team of FC Barcelona Former Players.

The Sports Group of European Former Football Players Associations (EFPA) is hosting its III Annual Assembly in Barcelona today coinciding with the 50th Anniversary Match of the Agrupació Barça Veterans.

Like every year, EFPA invites its member associations to the General Assembly and delegates from over 10 different countries join in Barcelona, seat of the organisation, to assess the previous year’s targets and results and establish the priorities for the coming year. 

This year’s edition has been shortened one day, cutting the day for conferences and round tables, to devote the efforts to putting together the European Selection that has been invited by the Agrupació Barça Veterans to play the 50th Anniversary Match of this former players association. 

The EFPA Board has expressed its satisfaction with the progress made in 2008, specifically in the promotion of National Federations of Former Players in several different countries such as: Portugal, Italy or Germany. It is expected that Head of Expansion Strategy, Eduardo Juan, assesses the progress made in this area. Furthermore, representatives from BAFPA (UK), PSBP (Poland) and FEAFV (Spain) brief the attendants on their evolution.

On the other hand, two new members will be welcomed today as FC Rabotnicki from Skopje (Macedonia) and Panatinaikos (Greece) officially join EFPA.
 
Following the Assembly this afternoon, delegates are invited to attend the 50th Anniversary Match at FC Barcelona’s Mini Stadium. EFPA has invited Italian coach Arrigo Sacchi and former FC Barcelona player Josep Moratalla to put together a legendary European Selection. The list of stars is long: Emilio Butragueño, Lothar Matthäus, Steve Mcmanaman, John Lauridsen, Patrick Kluivert, Michael Reiziger, Miroslav Djukic, Andoni Zubizarreta, Giovanni Galli, Christian Karembeu, Bernard Diomede, Ricardo Sá Pinto, Manuel Amoros, Davor Suker, Hristo Stoichkov, Dariusz Dziekanowski, Valery Karpin and Gianluca Festa.

FC Barcelona’s Mini Estadi will host on Friday March 27th a legends match to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Agrupació Barça Veterans. FC Barcelona former players will play up against a historical European EFPA Selection, in a one-and-only opportunity to see recently retired players from FC Barcelona and other major European Clubs on the pitch again. The match has been scheduled on March 27th to coincide with the European Leagues-free weekend as international games are taking place.

Carles Rexach and Josep Palau will be coaching the FC Barcelona former player team and great players such as José M. Bakero, Julio Salinas, Guillermo Amor, Miquel Àngel Nadal, Ángel Cuéllar, Robert Fernández, Esteve Fradera and Juan Carlos Rodríguez have already confirmed their participation. On the European side, EFPA (Sports Group of European Former Football Players Associations), coached by Arrigo Sacchi and Josep Moratalla, has put together a Selection of high-profile former players to represent a great number of European countries with the likes of Emilio Butragueño, Lotar Matthäus, Patrick Kluivert, Steve Mcmanan or John Lauridsen.

The official presentation of the event has been scheduled for Monday March 23rd, when the final list of confirmed players and other details about the match will be disclosed. The event is organised by the Agrupació Barça Veterans and EFPA with the support of FC Barcelona, Ajuntament de Barcelona, Generalitat de Catalunya and Torra + Portella.

Ticket prices

The tickets to the match will go on sale tomorrow Tuesday through La Caixa’s online ticket service “Servicaixa”, from 16.00h. Tickets will be 10€ for the Grandstand area and 5€ for the rest of the stadium. Furthermore, buying two 5€ tickets you get a 50% off. Children up to 7 years old will have free access. As of March 25th, tickets will also be available at FC Barcelona’s box office with a 20% off Grandstand tickets for club members.

Following on from the initiatives by EFPA (European Former Players Associations) and the new BAFPA (British Alliance Former Players Associations), the Scottish arm of the British set up came into being at a recent meeting of clubs in Aberdeen.The inaugural meeting of the proposed Scottish Former Players association took place in the appropriately named Legends Lounge at Pittodrie Stadium in Aberdeen on Monday 2nd March 2009. Although several clubs called off at short notice, there was a good attendance of delegates from clubs in all Scottish divisions. Those that turned up were welcomed by Aberdeen director and Aberdeen FP’s founder Chris Gavin.

Kevin Stirling and Aberdeen FP’s chairman Duncan Davidson also continued to explain about the Aberdeen set up before handing over to Harry Ross from the Everton Former Players Foundation. Harry is also part of the BAFPA Association which held a first meeting in Liverpool last August. Harry went on to explain the role that EFPA carries out at their impressive Barcelona base and how the British region of FP Associations developed from the wishes of EFPA president Ramon Alfonseda, a former Spanish international who has done so much to promote the values of former players. The delegates at the meeting were very positive throughout and on the back of that it was agreed that a Scottish arm of the British set up be formed. Kevin Stirling was appointed as acting chairman with Chris Gavin in a treasurer role.

Once the other clubs interested came into the new set up, a date and venue for the next meeting will be announced in due course. POSITIVE OUTCOME FROM FIRST MEETING IN ABERDEEN. At present the following clubs will be involved in the new Association; Aberdeen, Celtic, Dunfermline Athletic, Dundee, Dundee Utd, Falkirk, Hearts, Hibernian, Motherwell, Raith Rovers, Rangers, Ross County, Queens Park. The new Scottish Association are keen to welcome all clubs into the Association. Whether clubs have an established Former Players set up or are just looking to get going, then the Scottish Association would be delighted to hear from you. Contact acting chairman Kevin Stirling in the first instance at Aberdeen FC or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The inaugural meeting of the Scottish Alliance of Former Players Association (SAFPA) is being staged in Aberdeen early next month with representatives from all Scottish football clubs invited to attend.

Pittodrie Stadium is the venue for next Monday’s gathering (2nd March) and, as Duncan Davidson from the Aberdeen Former Players Association outlines, there are various issues on the agenda. “We will be looking at the various set ups in Scotland and also the ways that an organised association can be of benefit to all former players.

Help with medical and social matters, re-connecting with the various clubs they played for, getting in contact with former team mates, help with setting up an association at their clubs, forging closer links with other clubs, help with fund raising, setting up as charitable status and generally raising the profile as a collective body are just some of the aspects up for discussion.

BAFPA came into being in August last year in conjunction with EFPA (European
Former Players Associations). Aberdeen and Rangers have have been founder members of the EFPA association and along with representatives from Hibernian and Celtic FP’s they were present at the inaugural British meeting in Liverpool.

The inaugural meeting of the above will be held at Pittodrie Stadium Aberdeen on
Monday 2nd March 2009 in the Legends Lounge. 2pm-4.30pm

Some of the guests and organisers will be available for the Press between 1pm-1.45pm

Clubs confirmed for the meeting include: Aberdeen, Rangers, Celtic, Hibernian, Hearts, Dundee Utd, Dundee, Dunfermline, Falkirk, Raith Rovers, Ross County, Queens Park, Motherwell.

For further information, please contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

E. Juan y J. Evangelista en Lisboa.

Mr. Eduardo Juan also travelled to Lisbon on January 28th to meet with Mr. Joaquim Evangelista, President of the Portuguese PFA to present the mission of EFPA and promote the foundation of the Portuguese Former Players Federation. Mr. Evangelista, who is a idea of former players as living history of European football, explained that they are already working on a project under the name of  “Glorias de Portugal” , which could in the mid-term become the National Federation of Former Players and thus be the representative of EFPA in that country. Portuguese former players Jose Franco, Franque and Toze were also present at the meeting.