The UEFA injury study provides clubs with reliable data to categorise and improve their own work in the context of comparable teams. The head of the Football Research Group (FRG) and chairman of the meeting (ECIS) Prof Dr Markus Walden visited the BayArena in recent days for an initial tour of the selected Leverkusen site and to meet contacts. In an interview with bayer04.de, the orthopaedic surgeon, who has looked after various Swedish national teams in his role over the years, spoke about the importance of the high-level meeting, the current topics of the study and Bayer 04 as the future organiser of the big international event.
Markus Walden, what is the UEFA Elite Club Injury Study?
Markus Walden: “The long-term study was initiated by UEFA in 2001 and has been funded by the association ever since. It aims to increase the safety of players in their competitions and contribute to a broader understanding of injuries. As the football research group responsible, we are based in Sweden. So far, the study has been conducted under the leadership of the highly respected injury expert and deputy chairman of the UEFA Medical Committee, Prof Jan Ekstrand. I have now been given the honour of succeeding him in this position.”
Who exactly is allowed to take part in your study and the congress in Leverkusen?
Walden: “All doctors and athletics coaches of the top teams participating in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, as well as selected other teams - including Bayer 04 - can take part. Since last season, we have also included the national teams from the men's and women's European Championships and the men's Nations League.”
What exactly will the congress in Leverkusen be about next year?
Walden: “The research programme offers an assessment and analysis of injury risks and circumstances from which the clubs ultimately benefit. This is achieved by expanding the existing database every year with the data submitted by the top clubs. This allows any trends to be recognised. The study also creates the opportunity for mutual exchange and comparability of injury patterns, methods and rehabilitation. Clubs can learn from each other. It's a mutual exchange.”
What will be new at next year's congress in Leverkusen?
Walden: “In 2024, the meeting of the Men’s and Women’s Elite Club Injury Study will take place together for the first time. Until now, the studies have run separately. Women's football has developed enormously in recent years. Nowadays, major clubs such as Bayer 04 or Bayern Munich are responsible for both a professional men's and women's team. The teams therefore also have the same medical conditions. Therefore, it only makes sense to combine both studies.”
Why are Bayer 04 the next organiser of the congress?
Walden: “The venue rotates every year. In previous years, the meeting has been held at prestigious locations such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Galatasaray, Chelsea and Bayern Munich. Now, for the first time, Leverkusen is also taking centre stage. Bayer 04 is a very professional top club with outstanding conditions. I am convinced that they will be a worthy host and that the meeting will be of a very high quality.”
The UEFA Elite Club Injury Study meeting will take place at the BayArena on 4 and 5 June 2024.
