Wolves captain Toti Gomes became a central topic in a new interview given by his former mentor Vasco Botelho da Costa.
The Portuguese coach referred to Toti as “my little boy” while revisiting the defender’s rise from Cascais to the Premier League.
Speaking to Maisfutebol, the current Moreirense manager offered rare insight into the player Wolves fans know today and the unusual route that took him to England.
Botelho da Costa explained that he first encountered Toti when the youngster was still playing rugby at 15. “He appeared at the trials wearing a Fontainhas shirt. I looked at him… Left-footed, lanky and quick,” he said.
The coach moved him to full-back and soon realised there was much more there than a late starter. Toti made an immediate impact after joining Estoril. He “came, saw and conquered”, in the words of his former mentor.
The pair later worked together again at under-23 level while the defender recovered from a difficult injury.
Botelho da Costa believes Toti’s story is a reminder that talent does not need to come through Portugal’s biggest academies to reach the elite level. “We are talking about a Portuguese international who is a captain in the Premier League. Above that, there is very little,” he said.
The coach added that he still speaks with the Wolves defender and hopes he can return to the national-team picture ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
However, he admitted that competition is fierce and the dynamics between club and national team are not always aligned. Even so, Botelho da Costa was clear: “I’ll always root for Toti.”
