Fluminense coach defends the full professionalization of football as the solution for nearly bankrupt clubs

"I thought we were going to talk about football." Carlos Alberto Parreira, Fluminense's coach, doesn't lose the energy he's accumulated over a 40-year career when pressed to answer questions that require him to take a deep breath. Independent, as he considers himself, the coach was candid in revealing his perspective on controversial topics, such as the recent strain in Fluminense's relationship with its sponsor and the partnership with Traffic. A defender of the separation of football from its membership, the coach says the solution is to transform the club into a corporate entity, with hired directors, managers, and presidents. Only under this model would the four-time champion accept a leadership role. He's accustomed to seeing coaches replaced in Brazil without being able to complete their work, but he assures me he's not worried. Regarding the Brazilian national team, the coach is proud to have won the championship as a physical trainer (1970) and coach (1994). Speaking about the failure in 2006, which was recently remembered by the players of the current team as something to be avoided, Parreira summarized: "We arrived as favorites and we lost because things didn't work out as they should have."

Based on your experience, why is Fluminense such a big brand and yet practically bankrupt?

PARREIRA: In general, all of Brazilian football. You can't accept that these clubs owe R$250 million (Flamengo), Corinthians, R$180 million. These brands need to be profitable. I think there's a lack of professional management and the clubs are becoming corporate clubs. As soon as Real Madrid signed Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo, they asked if it wasn't expensive. I replied that it was very cheap. In a year, you'll see a return. It's a strong media outlet: Real TV, advertising, TV rights, jerseys, tickets, a full stadium. Always 80, 90 paying spectators per game. It's on the business side that we're just starting out. We have to transform ourselves into a corporate club. This is the solution: hire professional people. Directors, presidents, everyone. Separate football from the social club.

Is that what's starting to happen when you take the team out of Laranjeiras? \ PARREIRA: Exactly. When I was at Corinthians, Hicks Muse wanted to invest R$3 million per month. They had one condition: that all the money go to football. Then, they rejected it. The board didn't accept it. There was a dispute until it was voted on, and it ended up losing. The clubs don't want to give up the social aspect. To achieve this, they have to become a football company. All revenue would go to football. Then, yes, a professional like me, like others, fits the bill because you don't have to deal with the social and political aspects. You'll only be held accountable for football results. It already happens in England, Spain... " \