When I was a kid, I dreamed a lot of different things. At the age of 10, I wanted to be a football player. At the age of 14, I wanted to be a Formula One driver. Actually I always wanted to stay connected with sports. I also wanted to be a sport journalist. It wasn’t until I met Sir Bobby Robson - who used to live in the same building - that I started to think more about the world of training. I was very impressed with him, his enthusiasm for coaching. That’s how I moved into this profession.
Why Portugal are good at producing quality players:
We have a large group of talented players. We have good academies and football schools which prepare the youngsters well. We have seen Rui Costa, Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo play for top clubs in the world. Portuguese players are very popular. Clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid and AC Milan have benefited by signing up Portuguese players who show quality and hard work. I think the same applies to Portuguese coaches like Jose Mourinho.
Relationship with Jose Mourinho:
We haven’t spoken in a long time but we always respect each other professionally. He played a vital role in my development as manager. He has helped me a lot. I always thank him for his help. We are in two different places right now but the mutual respect is there despite the distance between us. He is one of the best coaches in the world. He has won so many titles wherever he has worked. He has coached some of the oldest clubs in the world. I don’t know whether he will stay at Real but the decision is up to him. Whatever he decides will be good for him.
About Portugal’s future as a football nation:
We have had a golden generation of players since 2000. We have seen Portugal get good results. They have qualified for major tournaments. We are considered as the team that can win titles. But obviously we compete against some of the top teams like Germany, Brazil, Argentina and England. We have improved significantly since Euro 2004 (lost the final to Greece) and the 2006 FIFA World Cup (reached semi-finals). It is difficult to dominate but not impossible to win titles.
THE PENINSULA
