Stars support UEFA’s grassroots vision

Current and former football stars – including England striker Michael Owen and former German spearhead Jürgen Klinsmann – are giving their full backing to UEFA’s grassroots football philosophy.

Spreading the word
At this week’s third UEFA Grassroots Course in Cyprus, Owen and Klinsmann are joining four other stars of the recent past – Sergei Aleinikov (Belarus), Gabriel Calderon (Argentina), Darius Dzeikanowski (Poland) and Hansi Müller (Germany) – in helping European football’s governing body spread the world about how healthy foundations are crucial for football’s future.

Football enjoyment
In a specially recorded interview for the course, Owen told UEFA Technical Director Andy Roxburgh: "Football has to be enjoyable to persuade children to take up the game". 

Adults can encourage
Owen told participants that it was essential for adults to encourage children to play football. Speaking about his own rise to the top, from the moment he first kicked a ball to his current status at the summit of the world game, the Liverpool striker recalled the Sunday football games with his father and two brothers that helped kindle his love for the sport.

Love for the game
"All I wanted to do in those games with my brothers and father was score goals," says Owen. "And nothing has changed – it’s still all about having a love for the game."

Phone link-up
Klinsmann, a FIFA World Cup winner with Germany in 1990 and a feared striker with VfB Stuttgart, Internazionale FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC and FC Bayern München, will take part in a special telephone link-up with the UEFA course in Cyprus.

UEFA ambassadors
Aleinikov, Calderon, Dzeikanowski and Müller are all acting as "football ambassadors" for UEFA. The four former players are actively involved in grassroots activities as part of their desire to give something back to the game which has brought them fame and fortune.

Practical demonstration
To complete the star-studded line-up, another one-time "great" of the British game, Charlie Cooke – a star of the 1960s and 1970s with Chelsea FC and Scotland – will be giving a practical demonstration at the UEFA course in Cyprus, which continues until Thursday.