FIFPro news
Training camp starts for players without a contract
Tuesday 03 July
On July 21st and 22nd, teams from six professional footballers’ associations will participate in the eighth FIFPro Tournament. In France, Portugal, Slovenia, Denmark and The Netherlands the unions started their training camps.
For the eighth consecutive year, FIFPro organizes its FIFPro Tournament for players looking for a new contract. It is a special opportunity for professional footballers to show their talents in front of scouts, coaches or other club representatives. This year, the players’ unions from Denmark, France, The Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain will play in the Dutch city of Rijnsburg, nearby Amsterdam.
The Slovenian union SPINS was the first to open the doors of its training camp. On 18 June the four-week camp began under the supervision of coach Suad Besirovic. During this period, Team SPINS will play six matches. The Slovenians have already played three matches: against FC Luka Koper (1st Division, 3-0 loss), FC Sencur (2nd Division, 0-0) and FC Triglav Kranj (1st, 5-0 win). At the start of the training camp, SPINS welcomed 28 players. Since then, some of them have already found a new club. SPINS has created online profiles of the participating players: click here to view these profiles.
For the tenth time since 2002, the Portuguese footballers’ association SJPF organizes its training camp (Estágio do Jogador), this year from July 2nd until August 31st. The Portuguese players actually have two camps: one in the northern part of Portugal (Vila Nova de Gaia) and one in the southern part (Lisbon). The northern camp is managed by Nandinho and Paulo Vida, while Franque and Joaquim Rebelo are the coaches in the Lisbon camp. The Portuguese union has arranged six matches for its teams. On the first training camp day 35 players showed up for practice. For more information about the Portuguese training camp: click here.
In France, the UNFP has a long history of training camps. In 1990, the French union started this initiative. On Wednesday July 4th, the UNFP will kick-off for the 23rd time. In a month time, Team UNFP will play nine matches against French opposition: among them 3 clubs from Ligue 1 and 5 from Ligue 2. For more information about the French training camp: click here.
Like the Portuguese association, the Danish players' association Spillerforeningen organises two training camps. On Monday July 2nd, the camp in Kolding began. And on Wednesday July 4th, the second camp in Copenhagen will start.
The Netherlands, winners of last year’s FIFPro Tournament, commence their training camp this Tuesday afternoon, 3 July. Coach Dirk Heesen will welcome all players to the training ground of the Dutch football association KNVB in Zeist. The Dutch have planned their first match on 11 July against FC Volendam from the second division. In total, Team VVCS will play four matches before the FIFPro Tournament begins. Two of those matches will be played against the team of the Belgian footballers’ association SPORTA.
Press conference Portugese players union with all coaches and president Joaquim Evangelista
Headlines
- 23-05-2013 Malouda conducts draw Tournament Central Europe »
- 22-05-2013 Viktor Fischer conducts draw for FIFPro Tournament »
- 21-05-2013 Ibrahimovic wins UNFP football Trophy »
- 21-05-2013 Career fund report shows improvement is possible »
- 21-05-2013 Report: Holland most attractive country for footballers »
- 17-05-2013 Video: the opening of the new FIFPro House »
- 15-05-2013 Barcelona players honour FIFPro with surprise visit »
- 13-05-2013 Didier Drogba opens new FIFPro House »