Preparation is
everything
LC AMSTERDAM TOURNAMENT 2007
To all of you, I extend a very warm welcome to the ninth consecutive Amsterdam Tournament - again
supported by LC Electronics - here at the Amsterdam Aren A, the home of AFC Ajax. For all world-class
clubs, preparation is everything and the start to a new season has always been a critical factor in a
team's success as the season progresses.
@LG
■J^-S-T E R B-gwv,
Tournament
2007
Looking back to last year, participating in the LG Amsterdam
Tournament has proved to be very fruitful for all competitors.
If there was anyone who felt that this tournament was not
the world's most prestigious, they simply have to look at last
season's final League tables of four of the world's most respec
ted football nations; but for one single goal, we would have
had four National League Champions from our participating
teams.
Accepting the all-important invitation to come to Amsterdam
and attend this tournament offers its competitors the right
preparation to become a Champion. Just ask Manchester Uni
ted, Internazionale, FC Porto and, as close as it could possibly
get to a League title, Ajax. Still, the Amsterdam squad was very
successful, winning the Domestic Cup and securing Champi
ons League preliminaries. Good competition against quality
opposition in a great stadium, with an atmosphere generated
from a fantastic group of supporters, gets results.
Looking ahead to this year's edition we are proud to have,
in Arsenal FC, Atlético de Madrid and S.S. Lazio, three teams
joining Ajax to prepare for a new season in what is going to
be another exhilarating LG Amsterdam Tournament, with
the action and spectacle of four high-quality matches to be
enjoyed by all attending. Will it again turn out to be the perfect
preparation for winning League titles and being successful in
Europe?
We are delighted to welcome both Atlético Madrid and Lazio
back to Amsterdam after participating in the first edition of
our tournaments here in 1999. Atlético, in exchange for Torres,
signed the Reds' instrumental Champions League-winner Luis
Garcia. In addition, the ambitious club from Madrid streng
thened their squad with record signing Diego Forlan, Christian
Abbiati, Raul Garcia, Cléber Santana and Diego Costa.
In 1999 Lazio became the inaugural Tournament champions
and returned the year after. Last season, the 'Biancocelesti'
performed very well, finishing third in the prestigious Serie A
and securing Champions League preliminaries. Lazio will use
this year's LG Amsterdam Tournament to prepare for Italian
and European success.
Arsenal, obviously feeling comfortable in Amsterdam, rejoin us
for the fourth time and I am sure they will be looking to regain
their Tournament title which they won in 2005 on their last
visit. Manager Arsène Wenger, who also recognises the impor
tance of good preparation, stated in 2005: „One of the reasons
that we did not go to the Far East is that, in my opinion, this is
the best tournament we get in Europe for our preparation just
before the Cham pionship starts."Traditionally, Arsenal bring a
world-class team, this year including stars such as Van Persie,
Fabregas and Toure, who are sure to compete at the highest
level.
Looking ahead to 2008, which will be the tenth consecutive
tournament, I am already prepared for a celebration of this
milestone with all of you.
But for now, enjoy the tournament, it's yours!
David Broomhall, Chief Executive
The International Event Partnership
do 2 augustus za 4 augustus
LG AMSTERDAM TOURNAMENT
