Post by deco69 on Apr 30, 2005 14:15:14 GMT -5
:)Deco: "I still love Brazil"
9 March 2005
From Brazil to Portugal and Porto to Barcelona, Deco has come a long way in a short time. Already a Nou Camp favourite, the 27-year-old playmaker sat down with FIFAworldcup.com to talk about his background, why he chose t]e national team colours of Portugal and which players’ skill he most envies.
Tell us about your past.
Where did your interest in football stem from?
I grew up in Sao Paolo with my two brothers and three sisters. Everybody plays football in Brazil so it’s pretty difficult to avoid as a child. Some of my cousins played at a high level, but you never know then that you will ever make it and become famous. I was good of course but so were a lot of other boys of my age.
Do you have any role models?
No, not really. I adored Maradona and Zico for their skills and then when you grow up, you admire other footballers but no one in particular.
When did you first realise football might earn you a living?
I guess when I signed my first contract at 15. My parents always insisted that I studied so I always had that to fall back on, but when I signed I had to concentrate all my energies on football. It meant living away from home with other players from the club and took up virtually all of my time. Just like all the other boys I had dreams of being a footballer, but I also had the desire and commitment and that’s probably what helped me most.
How tough was it to leave your homeland?
I was 18 when I left for Portugal. I didn’t want to go but my agent said that I had to do it. I was very young and I just wanted to play football. I didn’t want to think about anything else.
Was it a difficult decision to choose Portugal over Brazil as the nation you would play for?
Extremely. I had been living in Portugal long enough to qualify for citizenship and fans kept coming up to me in the street urging me to do it. I felt as though I should give something back to the country because Portugal had helped form me as a footballer. So yes it was very complicated because your heart belongs to the country were you were born and sooner or later I knew I would have got the chance with Brazil.
It’s not that I‘ve changed - I mean I still have Brazilian blood - but circumstances alter and when I left Brazil my life changed dramatically and you have to adapt. I haven’t forgotten anything about my past and I still love Brazil.
Tell us about the European championships? You didn’t begin the first match but came on at half-time against Greece for Rui Costa.
Right! I had a great time. We went very far. Getting to the final was wonderful and very important to Portugal because, obviously, they were playing at home. The country really got behind us, though losing the final left a slightly bitter taste in our mouths.
There was talk in the press of some difficulties you had with the Portugal-born players – Figo made some comments.
Those problems only really existed in the papers. We got on well as a group.
Outside of football, what do you get up to?
I still have little time and what I do have, I like to spend with my three children. I like to walk, go out and have dinner. Barcelona’s nice because there are lots of different options with a variety of people from all over the world. I love beach football too and play when I can but it’s obviously difficult being at Barca.
Is a footballer’s life as glamorous as many people imagine?
No, not at all. The life of a footballer is hard work. We are always travelling, always on the move or hanging around, waiting to be on the move. We cannot do a lot of things your average person can, skiing for example (smiles).
What do you need to make it as a top footballer?
I’m not sure how much of it is in the mind, but you definitely have to make the right decision at the right time. There is so much sacrifice needed in being a footballer: a lot of players with bags of talent just don’t put in the hard work and they disappear. Others who do not have so much natural skill but dedicate a lot of effort, make it. Nothing beats hard work. You don’t have to be a model but you have to be a model professional. And then on top of that, you need a little bit of luck. But then again, in order to have the luck, you have to be there ready waiting for it. If you are not prepared, it will not happen.
For me your most outstanding ability is your first touch. You know where you and the ball are going before it reaches your foot.
There are certain things that are yours and that you cannot teach. You for example can study to become a journalist, but things like this (first touch) are natural that nobody on any training ground will ever be able to show.
As a footballer, are there things that you could do better?
You can always do things better: train more, improve your physical condition, practise shooting or perfect free kicks. However things like first touch, instant passing, knowing where your team-mates are and where they want the ball played are pure instinct.
If you could choose something from another player, what would it be and from whom?
(Thinking…) the strength of Ronaldo, the speed of Henry.
9 March 2005
From Brazil to Portugal and Porto to Barcelona, Deco has come a long way in a short time. Already a Nou Camp favourite, the 27-year-old playmaker sat down with FIFAworldcup.com to talk about his background, why he chose t]e national team colours of Portugal and which players’ skill he most envies.
Tell us about your past.
Where did your interest in football stem from?
I grew up in Sao Paolo with my two brothers and three sisters. Everybody plays football in Brazil so it’s pretty difficult to avoid as a child. Some of my cousins played at a high level, but you never know then that you will ever make it and become famous. I was good of course but so were a lot of other boys of my age.
Do you have any role models?
No, not really. I adored Maradona and Zico for their skills and then when you grow up, you admire other footballers but no one in particular.
When did you first realise football might earn you a living?
I guess when I signed my first contract at 15. My parents always insisted that I studied so I always had that to fall back on, but when I signed I had to concentrate all my energies on football. It meant living away from home with other players from the club and took up virtually all of my time. Just like all the other boys I had dreams of being a footballer, but I also had the desire and commitment and that’s probably what helped me most.
How tough was it to leave your homeland?
I was 18 when I left for Portugal. I didn’t want to go but my agent said that I had to do it. I was very young and I just wanted to play football. I didn’t want to think about anything else.
Was it a difficult decision to choose Portugal over Brazil as the nation you would play for?
Extremely. I had been living in Portugal long enough to qualify for citizenship and fans kept coming up to me in the street urging me to do it. I felt as though I should give something back to the country because Portugal had helped form me as a footballer. So yes it was very complicated because your heart belongs to the country were you were born and sooner or later I knew I would have got the chance with Brazil.
It’s not that I‘ve changed - I mean I still have Brazilian blood - but circumstances alter and when I left Brazil my life changed dramatically and you have to adapt. I haven’t forgotten anything about my past and I still love Brazil.
Tell us about the European championships? You didn’t begin the first match but came on at half-time against Greece for Rui Costa.
Right! I had a great time. We went very far. Getting to the final was wonderful and very important to Portugal because, obviously, they were playing at home. The country really got behind us, though losing the final left a slightly bitter taste in our mouths.
There was talk in the press of some difficulties you had with the Portugal-born players – Figo made some comments.
Those problems only really existed in the papers. We got on well as a group.
Outside of football, what do you get up to?
I still have little time and what I do have, I like to spend with my three children. I like to walk, go out and have dinner. Barcelona’s nice because there are lots of different options with a variety of people from all over the world. I love beach football too and play when I can but it’s obviously difficult being at Barca.
Is a footballer’s life as glamorous as many people imagine?
No, not at all. The life of a footballer is hard work. We are always travelling, always on the move or hanging around, waiting to be on the move. We cannot do a lot of things your average person can, skiing for example (smiles).
What do you need to make it as a top footballer?
I’m not sure how much of it is in the mind, but you definitely have to make the right decision at the right time. There is so much sacrifice needed in being a footballer: a lot of players with bags of talent just don’t put in the hard work and they disappear. Others who do not have so much natural skill but dedicate a lot of effort, make it. Nothing beats hard work. You don’t have to be a model but you have to be a model professional. And then on top of that, you need a little bit of luck. But then again, in order to have the luck, you have to be there ready waiting for it. If you are not prepared, it will not happen.
For me your most outstanding ability is your first touch. You know where you and the ball are going before it reaches your foot.
There are certain things that are yours and that you cannot teach. You for example can study to become a journalist, but things like this (first touch) are natural that nobody on any training ground will ever be able to show.
As a footballer, are there things that you could do better?
You can always do things better: train more, improve your physical condition, practise shooting or perfect free kicks. However things like first touch, instant passing, knowing where your team-mates are and where they want the ball played are pure instinct.
If you could choose something from another player, what would it be and from whom?
(Thinking…) the strength of Ronaldo, the speed of Henry.
