Portuguese manager Carlos Carvalhal has given a long interview to newspaper Record at the weekend. Of course, his time working in the UK had a special part in the story.
The outlet mentions that everyone knows how he did in English football, but few were told about how he got to Sheffield Wednesday in the first place. So the 54-year-old brought that entire story, including an offer he’s had from Rangers.
“I explain! When I went to Greece, I had to do the contract in English and I remembered to call Amadeu Paixão, who’s an agent in England,” Carlos Carvalhal told Record.
“After making the contract, he came to me with a cheque in hand, for 10% of my contract, paid by the Greeks. ‘I’m not your agent, mister. I just came here to help’. And I answered, ‘If they gave you the money, stay with it. That’s what it is’. And the time passed. This in life… there is always a law of return.
“After Besiktas and Istanbul BB, my contract with Al Ahli had ended, and I was in negotiations with Glasgow Rangers. I even went to London to talk to them. During that time, Amadeu contacted me, told me that Sheffield Wednesday were interviewing several coaches and asked me if I’d be interested.”
“I did the interview, I was chosen and, months later, I came to know that who had the last word on my hiring was… the son of the chairman, who would’d be 10 or 11 years old (laughs). He had seen some things on the internet, some press releases in Turkey and some games. The purest reality. The decision of a 10-year-old kid opened the door for my life’s challenge! And at that moment, I felt that I was starting my career seriously. The past was important to get there, but…”
“All my life I dreamed of going to England, especially in a fascinating league like the Championship. I usually say that it is not for boys: it’s for leaders, for commanders. Twenty four teams: 20 want to go up. Excellent coaches. Stadiums full. Completely diverse styles. The proximity of the games is a constant challenge for a coach.
“The goal was to be underdogs. We run outside in the fight to be promoted to the Premier League. The work was so well done that we went to the playoffs and practised some of the best football at that time. The following year, and contrary to all expectations, we went back to the playoffs, something that, historically, isn’t normal. There are always two or three very strong teams, who have gone down and make a very high bet on their return. The hangover from the previous season, added to expectations, makes the seasons after an unsuccessful playoffs difficult. We improved.”
Then he was asked if Sheffield Wednesday were the club who brought his ‘romantic’ vision of football.
“We had averages attendances of 27/28 thousand spectators. We marked the history of the club. Having a mass of fans that made a song for you… I’m a coach, I’m not a forward, I don’t score goals. I always got goosebumps! England is where you see football in its purest state: the players play; the president pays wages; coaches train and referees referee.”
Carvalhal was quizzed about the move to Swansea City, but he says there was another club who wanted him before that: “I’ll tell you something: due to the good work we did in the first season, I had an offer from a Premier League club. I was at the end of my contract and had one of the lowest wages in the Championship. I didn’t go to England for the money.”
However, when asked who the club were, he backed off: “It wouldn’t look good for me to say it, but it wasn’t one with a Portuguese coach.”
Finally, Carvalhal claims that wasn’t the end of his time in English football: “I feel that my journey in England isn’t over yet, whether in the Premier League or the Championship. Above all, and it’s something I often say to my players at Rio Ave: the best is yet to come. I have no doubts.”
