EFPA Congress

Under the slogan Still Playing the EFPA Congress is an annual event which gathers a great number of football legends, coaches, managers and other football personalities under one roof to pool together social football initiatives and define the social role former players can have when they end their footballing careers. Begining in 2007, the first three editions were held at FC Barcelona, where EFPA has its seat, with world class football legends and speakers such as Emilio Butragueño, Joan Laporta, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Ángel Mª Villar, Gerardo Movilla, Arrigo Sacchi, Paulo Sousa, John Toshack or Lothar Matthäus, among many others.

Speakers, former players, congress attendants and guests enjoy a unique football atmosphere while exchanging ideas to increase the involvement of football in the challenges our society faces.

The 2010 edition will be held in Liverpool for the first time, coinciding with the X Anniversary of the Everton Former Players Foundation.

EFPA Match

The Eindhoven Match ‘06 was the historic kick-off to the all-star former player match that the EFPA squad plays periodically up against a national team of former players. This first match was played at the FC Eindhoven Stadium on May 9 following the UEFA Grassroots tournament played on the same pitch as a run-up to the UEFA Cup Final.

The success of that first EFPA Match with a stunning EFPA team representing Europe through its players has been a cornerstone to spreading our values and giving former players the opportunity to reunite again.

That first EFPA Match was followed by a world class former player game held in Barcelona in March 2009 on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Agrupació Barça Veterans, which was played at FC Barcelona's Mini Stadium.

EFPA Keep Playing

The EFPA Keep Playing is an on-going travelling project centred around children who come from a difficult background and who are in risk of social exclusion. For the first Keep Playing experience, EFPA worked closely with the Catalan FA to invite 1.500 children to the Camp Nou to play football while learning the values of fair play, integration, solidarity and sportsmanship through a wide range of pedagogical activities. Keep Playing will travel to differnt EFPA countries establishing local cooperation networks to promote football amongst youngsters and using it as a means of social integration.

In 2009, the Keep Playing event took place within the EFPA Congress in the form of a Junior Tournament before the 50th Anniversary Legends’ Match. The participant teams were made up of the 50 runners-up of the “I want to be a footballer!” essay competition, organised in 2008.

EFPA "Vull ser futbolista!"

"Vull ser Futbolista!" is an essay competition addressed at children aged 10-12 who play football at a local club in Catalonia. In cooperation with the Catalan Football Association, this initiative aims at promoting the values of football, namely: fair play, sportsmanship, solidarity or team spirit among the young and will reach over 10.000 children all over Catalonia. A recent study into children's favourite jobs in Spain revealed the majorit of boys still want to be a footballer as their first choice. Within the Keep Playing Programme, EFPA has used this research study to promote not only football but also its values from the grassroots.

EFPA cooperation with the Homeless World Cup

After inviting Homeless World Cup President and Founder, Mel Young, to its II EFPA Congres in Barcelona, EFPA endorses the Homeless World Cup project and will participate in the Homeless World Cup 2009 in Milan by inviting some of its former international players to coaching and training sessions to HMW participant countries during this 2009 edition.