AVB article from The Times: 'What i've learnt'

[Blackcanary]

Ben Machell, The Times
‘Approaching Bobby Robson when I was a teenager was one of those moments that changed my destiny’

Tottenham Hotspur manager André Villas-Boas, 35, is the youngest manager to win the Europa League (with FC Porto). Mentored by José Mourinho and the late Sir Bobby Robson, he also managed Chelsea, but was sacked after nine months. He comes from an aristocratic background and is married with two daughters.

Not everybody loves football. But a lot of people do. For every person who might have negative preconceptions about the sport and the people who play it, there are many, many more who love it and who are moved by it every day.

Age shouldn’t matter. I’m very young in terms of my profession, because I started early. It’s not necessarily an advantage; you just have to see how players and staff react to you, and you have to be able to motivate them. At Tottenham, my squad is extremely young, but I have no problem working with players who are older. Perhaps my age means that I am especially enthusiastic? But then, that’s true of most managers, regardless of how old they are.

It’s easy to assume the work you do is incredibly important. When I first set out in professional football, working for José Mourinho, I’d always think that whatever I was doing for him was vital for the success of the team. But it’s only when you’re the leader of the whole process that you can look down and think, actually, every single input is important. The collective effort is what makes the difference. That was a big discovery for me.

We Portuguese know how to export ourselves. We’ve been exploring the world since the 12th century, trying to conquer the seas and visit new places. It’s in our genes. We know how to adapt.

Approaching Bobby Robson when I was a teenager changed my life. He was manager of FC Porto and an idol to me. He lived nearby, and I had a doubt in my head about his tactics that I wanted to talk to him about, just out of curiosity. I don’t normally disturb people like that, but he listened to me and helped me start out on the path I went down. It’s one of those moments you look back on and you can see that it’s changed the course of your destiny.

I can cook. Well, a little bit, anyway.

Being a manager is all about emotions. It’s about conveying passion, but also being able to identify how other people feel, and to be able to deal with that. I remember hearing how there was a maestro from the Boston Philharmonic whose biggest breakthrough as a leader was realising that he didn’t actually make any sound himself; only his players did. He had to lead them, but he could only do it by harnessing their emotions. The same applies to football managers.

You will never feel more pride than at the birth of a child. Nothing else comes close.

I think about football constantly. The one thing I do as soon as I get home to my family is to completely switch off from it. But it’s difficult. I can be in bed and a thought will start to haunt me – something I need to do, a conversation I want to have.

There are lots of things in life I’m bad at. Normally, if you are bad at something, you try to avoid doing it that often. Like me and sewing.

It helps to have a hobby. Whenever I have the chance, I go back to my motorbikes and my cars. It’s not an escape from the stresses of the job, but it is a passion.

Everyone likes a good comedy. What was it I saw recently, with Brad Pitt? Inglourious Basterds. It’s so funny!

Tottenham Hotspur are sponsored in cup games by specialist bank and asset manager Investec (investec.co.uk)

I particularly liked the Boston Philharmonic metaphor!

 

[hugrr]

It's quite fitting that AVB can't sew, and we have struggled to thread a pass this season

 

[Flightrisker]

It's quite fitting that AVB can't sew, and we have struggled to thread a pass this season

83% passing accuracy (Arsenal highest with 86%). Seems all right to me.

 

[The Spurs Lad]

83% passing accuracy (Arsenal highest with 86%). Seems all right to me.

Means little. If you actually look at it Arsenals will be far more in the opposition half and ours between our centre backs and midfield.

Fantastic interview, he genuinely seems like a nice guy and as much as i personally doubt his full potential at the moment i'd love him to prove me wrong and become a world class manager for us and lead us to glory.

 

[Flightrisker]

Means little. If you actually look at it Arsenals will be far more in the opposition half and ours between our centre backs and midfield.

Fantastic interview, he genuinely seems like a nice guy and as much as i personally doubt his full potential at the moment i'd love him to prove me wrong and become a world class manager for us and lead us to glory.

They play more in the opponent's half yes, but I still think our stats and our play hardly amount to struggling to thread a pass - Not a big point anyway. Yeah Villas Boas does come across as a really cool guy. Hope he's the real deal.

 

[hugrr]

We can pass it about alright, it's just that we've struggled to find the pass that unlocks the defence this season.

Great article though

 

[The Spurs Lad]

They play more in the opponent's half yes, but I still think our stats and our play hardly amount to struggling to thread a pass - Not a big point anyway. Yeah Villas Boas does come across as a really cool guy. Hope he's the real deal.

I'm assuming by thread a pass he means a through ball from midfield to strikers, where we lack quite a bit.

 

[sloth]

I particularly liked the Boston Philharmonic metaphor!

Nah, if you want insight you can't beat "I can cook. Well, a little bit, anyway.",

 

[chinaman]

So help the team cook Chelsea on Wednesday.

 

[lillywhites61]

In whatever business you run you can only use the tools you have in front of you! AVB at present is doing the best with the tools he has, lets hope we buy better ones for next season so that we can really see what his team will be about.

 

[RuskyM]

I think the most interesting thing here is that Andre thinks Inglorious Basterds is a comedy.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I'd hoped it was going to be "that Dempsey, Defoe & Hudd should not start"

 

[riggi]

I think the most interesting thing here is that Andre thinks Inglorious Basterds is a comedy.

It is...

 

[greaves]

83% passing accuracy (Arsenal highest with 86%). Seems all right to me.

Seams all right to me.

 

[Flightrisker]

Seams all right to me.

Sew what?

 

[greaves]

Sew what?

Button it. Zip it.

 

[Flightrisker]

Button it. Zip it.

Needles to say, I'll have the last laugh.

 

[guiltyparty]

I think the most interesting thing here is that Andre thinks Inglorious Basterds is a comedy.

It is

But anyway, those statements are clearly written by the journalist. He no doubt said he found IB funny, and it was reported as he likes comedies

 

[greaves]

Needles to say, I'll have the last laugh.

Ahem, ahem. I beg to differ.

 

[Flightrisker]

Ahem, ahem. I beg to differ.

You ok? You seamstress'd.