This Wednesday and Thursday, FC Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova attended the annual Elite Club Coaches Forum organized by UEFA. It was the 14th edition of the meeting held in Nyon, Switzerland, traditionally scheduled before the group stages begin in the Champions League.

As described by UEFA, the forum is an opportunity for the coaches of a number of major European clubs to discuss the latest trends in club football and to express their views on important issues affecting their sport at the highest level.
Some of the specific topics on the two day agenda include the technical improvements seen throughout the 2011-12 season, referees and regulations, and a discussion of the challenges the managers face in their role as leaders.

Joining Vilanova at the conference were a number of prominent coaches around Europe, including: Massimiliano Allegri (AC Milan), Carlo Ancelotti (Paris Saint-Germain FC), Frank de Boer (AFC Ajax), John van den Brom (RSC Anderlecht), Unai Emery (FC Spartak Moskva), René Girard (Montpellier Hérault SC), Kasper Hjulmand (FC Nordsjælland), Leonardo Jardim (Olympiacos FC), Jorge Jesus (SL Benfica), Ivan Jovanović (APOEL FC), Jürgen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund), Mircea Lucescu (FC Shakhtar Donetsk), Roberto Di Matteo (Chelsea FC), José Mourinho (Real Madrid CF), Vítor Pereira (FC Porto), Thomas Schaaf (SV Werder Bremen), Diego Simeone (Club Atlético de Madrid), Luciano Spalletti (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Fatih Terim (Galatasaray AŞ), Tito Vilanova (FC Barcelona), and Arsène Wenger (Arsenal FC).

Sources: UEFA.com, fcbarcelona.cat; Image: UEFA