Dubai: A host of big names from the world of football have been announced to attend the 12th International Sports Conference taking place at Madinat Jumeirah Resort on December 27-28.
Among those speaking at this year’s event are Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone, Barcelona legend Carles Puyol, former England and Russia coach Fabio Capello, former referee and member of the Uefa Referees Committee Pierluigi Collina, and recently retired Roma and Italy star Francesco Totti.
These names were unveiled on Sunday and will take to the stage along with Fifa President Gianni Infantino for this year’s conference, which will focus on future investment in football, showcase successful experiences and initiatives in the world of professional football.
The program is set-up on a daily workshop basis with focus-specific workshops targeting specific working groups within the sport.
The Dubai Globe Soccer Awards nominees were also announced, with Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo vying for Player of the Year award with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon, Real’s Sergio Ramos and Paris St-Germain pair Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
Manchester United, Monaco and Real Madrid are up for Best club of the year.
Coach of the year contenders are United’s Jose Mourinho, Real’s Zinedine Zidane, Chelsea’s Antonio Conte and Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri.
“As we have seen in previous years, this conference bears witness to many new things,” said Dubai Sports Council General Secretary Saeed Hareb said.
“Last year we saw Infantino launch his successful bid to become Fifa President and announce the expansion of the World Cup finals to 48 teams from 2026.
“This year we will have many great names speaking on their own experiences and discuss the future investment in the sport.”
Also speaking on Sunday was former France and Barcelona player Eric Abidal, who won the Player Career Award at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards in 2013.
He revealed he is planning to open a player academy in his new home in Dubai now that he has completed his studies.
“Dubai is one of the best cities in the world and I have chosen to live here now I have finished my Masters Diploma in Management,” he said.
“I will set up an academy focused on talent development and target training this talent and possibly transfer these players to Europe in the future.
“My studies are finished but this is a long road ahead.
“Football is growing here and the coaches and authorities are using this type of conference to help that growth.
“I will focus on players between the ages of 12 and 18 to build this business. It is not only on the pitch you need to do work.
“I was always told start in Dubai. This is my home. step by step I will find a way with the help of the people here.”
Abidal’s knows better than most how short a career on the field can be. He was affected by a tumour in his liver in 2011 had an organ transplant
“You can play but you need to plan for the future. One injury and you can be finished. You need to plan ahead.”
