Agent Andre Villas-Boas Carlos Goncalves told Denis Romantsova about the main problems – your client and our championship.
The company’s office Proeleven, headed by Carlos Gonçalves, located on the third floor a small business center in the city of Almada – from Lisbon is fifteen minutes by ferry on the river Tagus. When I was on the road, communications director Jean-Pierre Proeleven Laresh wrote that Carlos Gonçalves urgent need to fly to Genoa, execute the transition Diego Capel. I was lucky – flight transported, we met on time, and Capel has signed a contract with the “Genoa” the next day.
– How did you come to the agency business?
– I have economic education, but football has always been my passion. I had it professionally played, but always loved to watch. Agent I began sixteen years ago. When I started the agent, I still knew little about football market – my start was very, very difficult. I started working with several young players. Someone reached “Benfica” and the Portuguese national team, for example, João Pereira, and some even have disappeared from the radar.
– One of your customers – Marcos Rojo. How did he come to your agency?
– The “Sporting” He had a period when he was left without an agent. We have established contact, we have established a good relationship and we have to cooperate. We are pleased that with us Rojo has made such progress – became vice-champion of the world and moved to “Manchester United».
– The truth is that a year ago, before the “MU”, he could go to the ” Zenit »?
– No, definitely not. In the years that we cooperate, it did not have offers from Russia.
– Do any of your players moved to Russia?
– Forward Hugo Vieira. Last year I met with sporting director “Torpedo” Andrei Chernyshov, we quickly agreed to move, and Vieira scored for the “Torpedo” a few balls. Unfortunately, the club faced a very serious financial problems, fell to the second division, and Hugo had to leave in the “Red Star».
– Do you have clients among the players, “Zenith»?
– No.
– But you would like them to appear?
– Of course! Yes, I do not impose “Zenith” of his players because there working Andre and it can be misunderstood, but in principle, in theory and “Zenith”, and all the Moscow clubs, and “Rubin” Kazan – a very interesting option for my customers. I am interested in the Russian market, and I’m open to it.
– Coaches representing your agency, working in Russia, Greece, Morocco and Spain. But it is either Spanish or Portuguese – and from among your customers Dutchman van der Gaag?
– Mitchell many years he played for the “Marítimo” – by the way, including the Russian coach [Byshovtsa ], and then he became a coach. Our cooperation as Andre Villas-Boas as with Marcus Silva, grew out of the ordinary human friendship. Three years ago, van der Gaag became coach, “Belenenses” and immediately won him the second league, the club returned to the elite. He missed some time because of health problems, and now works in “Eindhoven».
– Most Promising your client Josue gave a great season for the “Port”, and then went to “Bursaspor” . Why so?
– It’s simple. Josué opened and grown to the Portuguese national team from Paulo Fonseca, who played before in “Pacos Ferreira,” but Fonseca has not completed the season in the “Port” to the end, was dismissed, and the summer came lopetegui with it – new players, and Josue in such a situation not be able to play often. He could stay in the “Port”, he was not expelled, but he decided that his development would be useful to play regularly in Turkey – “Bursaspor” it provided such an opportunity.
In the end, Josué well liked Turkey, he does not want to go home. This summer, his rent was extended for another year. I think this season will be the Turkish league is much stronger and more interesting – they are completely open to foreign players and there came a lot of stars. In this environment, progresses any young footballer – including Josué.
– Do you know someone from the Russian agents?
– With dvumya- three people, not more. For example, Alexander Tolstikov, who works with “Leiria”. I think to bring in “Leiria” young Russian talent – a very interesting idea. If they are not given a chance in Russia, they may get a new interesting experience here, breathe different air, to become more versatile players and people and to return to Russia by stronger players. It is a good economic model for the “Leiria».
Фото FC “Zenit”
– How did you meet with Andre Villas-Boas?
– Eleven years ago, at the courses Football Management at the Johan Cruyff. Andre then worked as an assistant in the youth team, “Porto.” We became friends, and then he left Portugal after Jose Mourinho, but we kept in contact. When he decided to work independently, in 2009, we began to work officially represent him.
– for the second time Villas-Boas left the “Port” in the “Chelsea” after the first, while and superuspeshnogo, season-10/11. Is it too soon, he pulled to England?
– No, I think we chose the right time. Andre independent career began before the “Port” in the “academics” Coimbra, he took her in a terrible state and kept in the Super League. On the “Port” he immediately won the Super Bowl, the team returned to the league title and won the Europa League. Of course, Andre thought to remain in the “Port” and the following season, although he has had offers from “Roma” and “Juventus”, but when it came out, “Chelsea”, we decided that moving to England will be a good step for Andre . For the year as “Port”, he won all the tournaments in which he participated, and “Chelsea” was the club with which he could move on.
– Why it did not work?
– He wanted to change some things in the locker room, “Chelsea” upgrade team because she was too old, but when you come into an established team with reforms, someone on the team may not like it. The owner of “Chelsea” did not share the philosophy of Andre does not want any renewal of and when the championship began difficulties, he immediately sacked Andre.
– It is interesting that the desire Andre rejuvenate “Chelsea” a half Mourinho, the developed – and gave him a year to rebuild. Is it true that Villas-Boas was a conflict with John Terry and Frank Lampard?
– No, nothing like that. Some experienced players could suffer because of that get less playing time than used to it naturally, but if you’re asking about Terry and Lampard then Frank sent Andre sms with words of support when held resignation, and John thanked Andre through press. It is unlikely that they would have done so if they had problems communicating with Andre.
– His period of “Tottenham” also ended prematurely. Why?
– The “Tottenham” Andre was a very good first season. Due to the sale of Modrica in the “Real” Andre was at first difficult, but then he beat “Manchester United” to “Old Trafford” and set a club record for the number dialed for the season points, he became the first coach in the history of the club, who won the championship more than 50% of matches. In the second season, “Tottenham” highly updated composition – perhaps at the moment should accept the offer “PSG”, Villas-Boas was their number one on the list to replace Ancelotti, but Andre decided otherwise – in the “academic”, “Port” and “Chelsea”, he worked no more than a season, so in the “Tottenham” has decided to try to work with the team for the second year. But the team again lost the best player, and updated during the championship, while Andre got no players who asked for.
– who were interested in Villas-Boas after the “Spurs” and to the “Zenith”?
– «Sao Paulo” and “Marcel”. But Andre had no desire to work in Brazil, and between the “Marseille” and “Zenith”, he chose “Zenit».
– Why?
– He thought it was an interesting project – with a solid present and the space for a new challenge in the future. On the one hand, the “Zenith” consistently participated in the Champions League, the other – the club had to return the title in Russia, and it is really a serious problem, because four Moscow clubs are very strong.
– Moving to St. Petersburg last spring – is downshifting for Villas-Boas?
– No, no, we have not belonged to it. In the championship of Russia – a very competitive environment. In the first season of Andre missed the opportunity to become a champion in the last rounds, because CSKA went undefeated and “Dinamo” came to St. Petersburg with a great motivation, and only on the second season finally managed to reach the goal. Championship of Russia – not a place where you can get things done half-heartedly.
– For the second half of the summer Villas-Boas criticized the limit on foreign players.
– Of course, I heard about him, a limit – a big problem for everyone. It is made for the promotion of young Russian players, but the championship will be stronger, faster and better your young players will develop. Strong foreign players – one of the main ways to make the championship more, but because of this limit many strong foreigners can not come to you, and some of those that have played in Russia, leave.
– Why Andre complains about the limit of most other coaches?
– Andre had the opportunity to lead in the “Zenith” some very talented players, but two weeks before the start of the championship rules have changed dramatically, and all plans Andre for broken.
– What other problems in the Russian championship but limit?
– There are more objective problem – the weather. In winter, you have three months to stop the championship, and some time before and after the break to not have to play the best fields. At the same time, I believe that the average level of your championship higher than in Portugal. Many times I have been to football in Russia (only in St. Petersburg – ten times), and I know whereof I speak.
– What problems are there in person at the Villas-Boas?
– The main problem is that his family is in Portugal, but otherwise he likes to live in Russia because St. Petersburg – a wonderful city, one of the most beautiful in the world.
