Zico: 'Flamengo has to think about being champion, not Libertadores'
\ \by\ Fábio Matos, from the ESPN.com.br editorial team
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Libertadores and Club World Cup champion wearing Flamengo's number 10 shirt in 1981, Arthur Antunes Coimbra, known as Zico, is synonymous with Flamengo. In an exclusive interview with ESPN.com.br,\ the &8220;Galinho&8221;, who participated in four of the five Brazilian titles\ won by the Rio de Janeiro club (1980/82/83/87), says that the team led\ by coach Andrade must strive to win its sixth Brasileirão this season, and not just settle for one of the places in the 2010 Copa Libertadores\ da América.
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Zico also spoke about his experience managing Olympiakos in Greece, the team he's been managing since September, and about his international career as a coach. Flamengo's greatest idol has not declared his support for any of the candidates running for president of the club – elections are scheduled for December – and ruled out any possibility of taking over as coach of his beloved team or even the top position in the club's hierarchy. At least for now.
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\ In conversation with the ESPN.com.br,\ Zico also comments on the success of veterans like Petkovic in Brazilian football, the choice of Rio as the 2016 Olympic host city, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, among other topics.\
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Read the full interview:
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ESPN.com.br – Olympiakos is second in Group H of the UEFA Champions League, with six points from four games, four points behind leaders Arsenal (last Wednesday, Zico's team was defeated by Standard Liège of Belgium, 2-0). How far can your team go in Europe's premier tournament? What is the club's goal for this season?
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Zico –\ We fell into a difficult group, and I arrived here exactly at the team's debut,\ hours before the victory over AZ Alkmaar (1 to 0, on September 16). I think our goal should be thought of step by step. First, finish among the top two in the group, and by doing our homework, we can guarantee that. Then, we'll see how far we can go in the knockout stage. Our goal is to win the national title, which is complicated, because Panathinaikos also has a very good team (the two teams share the lead in the Greek Championship, with 25 points after nine rounds), and try to go as far as possible in the Champions League.
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ESPN.com.br – Before taking charge of Olympiakos, you had spells at Fenerbahce (Turkey), Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan) and CSKA Moscow (Russia), in mid-table clubs in world football, as well as the Japanese national team. Why hasn't Zico managed teams in England, Italy, Spain or Germany?
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Zico – I don't have that answer. It seems difficult to understand, because naturally everyone looks to my history as a player and adds it to my work as a coach. The fact is that I embraced this career after working with the Japanese national team. Until then, I hadn't considered coaching. And I knew I needed to gain experience. I accepted offers I believed in and that gave me the experience to work in Europe. I'm happy today. I really like, for example, the football played in England today, and in the future, I could work in one of those big centers. But I'm happy here at Olympiakos. The club's structure is excellent.
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ESPN.com.br – How does it feel to manage Brazilian players like Dudu Cearense, Leonardo and Diogo, who are part of a generation that has a relationship with you almost like a fan and idol? Vagner Love himself, formerly of CSKA and now at Palmeiras, has said that sometimes it was a little "strange" to be managed by Galinho, his childhood idol...
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Zico – Well, yes.\ That really happens. In Japan, at a certain point, I even had to\ work specifically to break that barrier. And at Fenerbahce, I also experienced similar issues. But today, with nine titles under my belt as a coach (Asian Cup and Kirin Cup, for Japan;\ Turkish Championship, Turkish Super Cup and Antalya Cup, for Fenerbahce;\ Uzbek Championship and Uzbekistan Cup, for Bunyodkor; Russian Super Cup and\ Russian Cup, for CSKA), I know that they can already see that,\ besides being an idol, I can teach them a lot, I can help them.
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ESPN.com.br – You've been a part of four of Flamengo's five Brazilian titles. How do you see the team's run in the final stretch of the Brasileirão, with eight wins in its last 12 games? Are you betting on Flamengo winning its sixth national title, or would a spot in the Copa Libertadores be enough? And how do you evaluate the work of Andrade, your former teammate?
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Zico – I've always advocated for an opportunity for Andrade, who knows Flamengo very well. I'm excited about this moment, especially because of him. The team has talented players like Petkovic and Adriano, and the championship is very even. I think this combination has allowed us to make a breakthrough in this final stretch. But Flamengo must always think about being champions and shouldn't be content with just finishing among the four teams that qualify for the Libertadores.
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ESPN.com.br – There has been a lot of talk here in Brazil about Petkovic's great form at 37. How do you analyze the current success of veterans on the national pitch, such as Petkovic, Ronaldo, Marcelinho Paraíba, Paulo Baier and Ramon? Are they unique or is Brazilian football going through a difficult period?
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Zico – I wouldn't say it's a bad time. There are a lot of quality players leaving the country, even average players, and this is nothing new. But since clubs have become accustomed to the points system, and everyone understands the championship, the possibility of leveling up increases. These more experienced players are gaining ground in this context. There are many young players and teams are experiencing a lot of fluctuation. Experience can make all the difference at times like these.
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ESPN.com.br – Despite Flamengo's strong performance on the field, its political climate remains turbulent. Six different candidates are expected to run in the club's upcoming presidential elections on December 7th, led by Plínio Serpa Pinto, Clóvis Sahione, Delair Dumbrosck (acting president), Lysias Itapicuru, Patrícia Amorim, and Pedro Ferrer. What do you expect for the club's future? Do you support any candidate?
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Zico – I'm following the elections, I know who the candidates are, the tickets... What I hope for is what every fan hopes for: a more professional club that restores Flamengo's strength. I don't support anyone, I have a great relationship with some candidates, but I'm rooting for whoever wins the elections to think of what's best for Flamengo.
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ESPN.com.br – As the greatest idol in Flamengo's history, your name is often mentioned as a possible candidate for coach of the professional team or even president of the club. How does Zico see himself helping the team he made his name with in the future?
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Zico – Today, I don't think about that. I will always help Flamengo however I can, but today I am a professional at Olympiakos and I am very happy with the work we are doing here.
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ESPN.com.br – What did you think of Rio being chosen as the host city for the 2016 Olympics? Do you believe the mistakes of the 2007 Pan American Games won't be repeated this time?
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Zico – I am one of those who think it is wonderful for Rio to host the Olympics. The governor (Sergio Cabral Jr.)\ and the mayor (Eduardo Pais)\ are my friends. But we have to think about working so that the city is\ ready. And monitor, demand, be vigilant so that mistakes are not repeated.\ But I am very happy as a Carioca and a Brazilian.
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ESPN.com.br – Recently, Rio de Janeiro was the scene of new clashes between police and organized crime, resulting in the deaths of more than 20 people in a single weekend. How did this event affect Greece?
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Zico – There is no specific repercussion because of this (choice of the Olympic venue). It would be news whether or not Rio was the organizer of an Olympics.
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ESPN.com.br – What about the 2014 World Cup in Brazil? Are you happy about the possibility of the country hosting the event or worried about possible administrative problems?
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Zico - It's important for Brazil to host major events. Football is in our blood, and so is partying; just look at New Year's Eve and Carnival. But, just like the Olympics, we really need to keep an eye on it and hope that the necessary changes happen. Both events are great opportunities for Brazil and Rio to resolve long-standing issues. Given everything Brazil has achieved in football, including its national and club successes, it deserves to host a World Cup again.
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ESPN.com.br – Speaking of the World Cup... Which teams are favorites to win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa? Any chance of Zico leading another team in a World Cup, like what happened in 2006 with Japan?
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Zico –World Cup favorites are always the same countries: those considered more traditional, the big teams. Spain is doing very well, but we need to see how they will perform at the World Cup. And, most importantly, how the top players will perform at World Cup time, especially in terms of their physical appearance. This could be a factor. I'm not currently considering managing any team at the World Cup. I have a contract with Olympiakos and I'm very happy here.