The Technician: UEFA's annual in-depth coaching review
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
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In our regular publication for coaches, we bring together features on leadership in elite-level football, the future of goalkeeping and the learning approaches of some of the best in the game.
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The Technician is a key reference point and vital resource for European football coaches, offering useful insights into evolving trends in coaching and tactics across the continent.
It offers a glimpse into the minds and philosophies of the leading coaches in the field, with their first-hand lessons and unique perspectives readily shared.
The Technician is published in each issue of our official magazine, UEFA Direct, and is also available in French and German.
The Technician: must reads
Leadership attributes of elite coaches
We look at what makes a coach an effective leader and some of the key traits that serial winning coaches share, as well as their own influences and how to handle the transition from playing to coaching.
Key quote: Giovanni van Bronckhorst
"We want in the shortest time the biggest output, we want the outcome. We want to do less, but we want to get more. But, if you want to be a coach, you have to put the energy in, and also the time to develop yourself."
Goalkeepers - part of the team and not in isolation
How has goalkeeping changed over the years? From general training to position-specific training in the 1970s to a more collaborative approach now that focuses on avoiding isolating goalkeepers, the position has undergone a drastic evolution and has seen a significant increase in demands for the number one.
Key quote: Hans Leitert
"Being a goalkeeper coach has evolved over the decades and the demands of modern football coaching are now very high. We want people to consider goalkeeper coaching and goalkeeping as a mainly integrated and collaborative setting. The work should have the game as the primary idea. Whatever goalkeeper coaches do, it should be for the benefit of the player that has to play a game."
Winning coaches share insights to support coaching community
Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola and France women’s U17 head coach Peggy Provost share a common trait: they look beyond their horizons to further their understanding of the game. Here, different coaches explain how they continue to develop by using the coaching community, whether that’s by sharing ideas, studying the game in different countries, or connecting with non-coaching members of the football community.
Key quote: Pep Guardiola
"It is a nice job, but it is very demanding as well: 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 12 months a year. It’s non-stop, and a lot of passion is required. They have to really enjoy it, but I encourage them to pursue it. For football lovers, being a coach is the dream job."
