Introducing the Lanfranchi Cup
For over 5 years, the FMA football team has been going to Zurich to play an annual friendly match against FIFA, at the FIFA House.
That has become a true sporting tradition and every year is long awaited for all alumni who are fans of the beautiful game.
Thinking about making such sport event even more entertaining – for those who play and watch – we have agreed with FIFA to introduce a trophy to be awarded to the winner of this week’s match. The trophy will remain with the winner for one year - until the next annual match between the 2 teams - when it will be put in contest again.
FIFA awarded us the right to name such prestigious trophy and we decided to pay tribute to one of the most iconic figures of the FIFA Master: Professor Pierre Lanfranchi.
As EVERYONE knows, Pierre was instrumental for the creation of the course and has, since then, been deeply involved with the FIFA Master and many of its alumni. On FIFA’s side, Pierre is one of the authors of the official FIFA Centennial book, launched in 2004.
So, this Friday, in Zurich, we will find out who will be the first team to lift the Lanfranchi Cup!
The men’s game will start at 18h, while a 7-a-side women’s game will start at 16h30.
After the match, we’ll eat at FIFA and then we’ll hit the centre of Zurich to party all night long.
Best supporters will receive special awards offered by FIFA!!!
We hope to see you there.
The Pierre Lanfranchi Cup |
About Prof. Pierre Lanfranchi
Pierre Lanfranchi, 54, is one of the most important historians specialized in sports in the world. French, born in Algeria, he studied History and Art History at the University of Montpellier, France, and has a PhD in History of German Cultural Policy from European University Institute, in Florence, Italy.
Pierre is one of the creators of the MA in Sports History and Culture at De Monfort University and the FIFA International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport.
In 2008, Pierre was appointed Chair of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on the Role of Sports in Society.
Pierre has been married for 35 years with Angelika and has one daughter, two sons and 2 grandchildren. He claims to live in Florence, although anyone who knows him knows that he lives most of his life inside airports and planes, never stopping anywhere for more than 4 or 5 days.
A few things that you may not know about Pierre:
Favourite sport: Rugby Union.
Favourite club: Sete FC (1st French club to have won the national League and Cup - that was in 1934, according to Pierre) and Napoli, in Italy.
Most memorable sporting moment: semi-final of 1999 Rugby World Cup, France-New Zealand.
Favourite food: Fish
Favourite song/musicians: Nino Rota's classic theme from Federico Fellini's 8 ½ ; Tom Jobim, John Coltrane and Stan Getz
Favourite book/author: Kafka’s Metamorphosis, Andrea Camilleri
Favourite film: Down by Law, by Jim Jarmush
Most remarkable place he ever visited: Rio de Janeiro on a Sunday morning.