The UEFA Council of Wise Men or the Parliament is the first of its kind – a council of some of the biggest names in the sport that will help regulate the many aspects of the game.
This body was approved at the UEFA Executive Committee meeting held on April 4 in Lisbon, where Aleksander Ceferin was re-elected as the president, after running unopposed.
UEFA Council of Wise Men: All you need to know about the advisory body
The first meeting of the UEFA Council of Wise Men, or the UEFA Football Board will be held at the House of European Football in Nyon on April 24. It is expected to become a yearly affair, and will provide an independent voice on all matters related to the sport.
The meeting to be held later this month will be chaired by Zvonimir Boban (former AC Milan player), with the support of Roberto Rosetti (head of referees for UEFA). Among the matters discussed will be the rules of the game, calendar, youth development, tactics and player welfare.
Members of this committee have been chosen by international respect, achievements in club and international football, and those that have earned over 100 international caps.
Here are the confirmed members so far: Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Zinedine Zidane, Paolo Maldini, Fabio Capello, Javier Zanetti, Luis Figo, Philipp Lahm, Ronald Koeman, Gareth Southgate, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Laudrup, Rafa Benitez, Roberto Martinez, Predrag Mijatovic, Jurgen Klinsmann, Rudi Voller, Petr Cech, Juan Mata, and Robbie Keane
