Benitez, Pellegrini and Villas-Boas get together with Europe's top coaches at UEFA forum as Fergie passes on his wisdom

Discuss: Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini with former referee Pierluigi Collina.

Top dogs: Neil Lennon, Rafael Benitez and Antonio Conte, coach of Juventus, at the 15th edition of the forum

 UEFA and Europe's leading club coaches exchanged ideas on Wednesday and Thursday at the annual UEFA Elite Club Coaches Forum in Nyon, with a certain Sir Alex Ferguson returning to the management frame to chair the meeting.

The conference has become a yearly fixture on the UEFA calendar at the start of each season, making a contribution to the continental body's decision-making processes.

The forum also gives the club coaches the opportunity to talk together and swap ideas away from their everyday activities.

The participants will discuss the latest trends as well as express their views on major European football topics. UEFA takes on board the coaches' viewpoint and has implemented certain proposals that have been made.

Former Manchester United boss Ferguson, who retired at the end of last term after a distinguished career, chaired the meeting via video conference as he is unable to travel to Nyon following recent surgery.

Portugal connection: Andre Villas-Boas, Paulo Fonseca of Porto and Jorge Jesus of Benfica also attended in Nyon

Wisdom: Murat Yakin, coach of FC Basel, and Jens Keller of FC Schalke 04 took advice from Sir Alex Ferguson.

The UEFA Elite Club Coaches Forum was first held in 1999. The idea is that those who are involved in UEFA's club competitions are offered the chance to give feedback on these competitions, and to debate the game's overall development – on and off the field.

The top technicians have welcomed the forum as a crucial platform for dialogue.

It is an opportunity for coaches to speak about the various aspects of their work in a relaxed setting away from the pressures of high-profile jobs, and to converse in an informal context.

The event also presents younger coaches with an occasion to listen and learn from experienced colleagues – and to become acquainted professionally and personally before they often go on to meet each other at European matches.

Continental: Lazio's Vladimir Petkovic (left) and Valencia's Miroslav Djukic (right) listen in

Eastern influence: Kurban Berdyev, coach of Rubin Kazan (left), and Mircea Lucescu of Shakhtar Donetsk (right)

IN CHARGE: MANAGERS PRESENT AT ELITE COACHES FORUM

Arsène Wenger (Arsenal)
Neil Lennon (Celtic)
Antonio Conte (Juventus)
Manuel Pellegrini (Manchester City)
Paulo Fonseca (FC Porto)
Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)
Laurent Blanc (Paris Saint-Germain)
Jens Keller (Schalke 04)

Mircea Lucescu (Shakhtar Donetsk
Miroslav Djukić (Valencia CF)
Murat Yakin (Basel 1893)
Jorge Jesus (Benfica)
Rafael Benítez (Napoli)
Vladimir Petković (Lazio)
Kurban Berdyev (Rubin Kazan)
André Villas-Boas (Tottenham Hotspur)