Profile: Senes Erzik

Senes Erzik

Nationality: Turkish
Date of birth: 18 September 1942
Profession and function in football: 
Businessman
Honorary President, Turkish Football Association
Member of the FIFA Executive Committee
Member of the UEFA Executive Committee since 1990
UEFA vice-president since 1994
Former player with Kasimpasa

Election statement: “UEFA’s 'club licensing' project has special importance as an integral part of UEFA’s aim of achieving full consistency and establishing further the solidarity concept among member associations, clubs, leagues, players and officials. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to work on this project from the very beginning as Chairman of the task force, and am looking forward to seeing this process for establishing licensing procedures bring consistency, unity, integration, solidarity, health and stability to UEFA competitions as well as to domestic championships. Of course, I am aware that this is not an easy task to handle all at once. However, I feel very strongly that substantial improvements have been achieved so far by focusing on the experiences and views of the experts as well as the eight pilot associations.

“The next major issue facing UEFA in the coming decade is to achieve a common understanding of unity and solidarity between players, clubs and member associations in setting up the 'international transfer rules'. Although it is FIFA that has the final voice in establishing these regulations, the experience gained during the past two years has once again proved the importance of UEFA’s direct role as governing body of European football, in connection with the contacts being pursued with the European Union."

Football souvenir: “I was at a seminar addressing the referees and assistant referees who were going to officiate at the matches in the FIFA Under-17 World Youth Championship in Trinidad and Tobago at the moment when doomsday happened in the USA on 11 September.

“The next day, the Organising Committee was preparing to make a crucial decision to postpone the tournament to an unknown date when the USA reconfirmed their participation in the tournament. This was further proof of the power of our game, proof that it can bring together all players, spectators and officials from different cultures even at the saddest moments and will continue to be a strong force for integration and co-operation.”