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.