Accustomed to pressure, Zico wants to be evaluated as a leader
Galinho believes his history as an idol will not change and recalls his time as a fan
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
Expectations are high for Zico's work at the helm of the club. This Tuesday (June 01.06), the eternal number 10 from Gávea was introduced as the new executive director and demonstrated his awareness that the role will be subject to considerable pressure. Accustomed to pressure and experienced in club management, Zico says he's ready to accept criticism and praise, and asks fans to evaluate his work as a director, leaving his past as a player aside.
Using the work he did at Kashima as an example, Zico believes he can help Flamengo and asks for everyone's collaboration to make the project a success.
"The idol is behind us. It's over. Now let's get to work. What was done can't be erased; it's part of the club's history, but as a manager, I'm starting from scratch. And I want to be valued as a manager. I had a wonderful time in Japan, at Kashima, and I'm very proud to see that the club is now a great reference in Japanese football. The only thing I want from people is for them to believe and always think about what's going to be put together, because it's for the best of Flamengo. If I deserve criticism, I should be criticized as a manager. If I mess up, I should criticize it. If I weren't prepared for this, I wouldn't be sitting here. I'm open-hearted, facing criticism and praise head-on," he stated.
Happy to be back in the place where he made his name on the field, Galinho emotionally recalled the times when he was still just another fanatical fan among the nation.
"Getting to where I am, being young, coming from the suburbs and being a die-hard Flamengo fan, wasn't easy. I had the opportunity to be close to my idols, and that side of Zico is still there. I go back to when I was 14, full of dreams and aspirations. It's up to you. Playing is always easier. Getting to a position like this, where the concerns are different, there's no comparison. The important thing is to roll up your sleeves and get to work," explained Gávea's eternal number 10, knowing the pressure will be immense.
"Anyone in football knows it depends on results. Demands are normal. And political factions will always exist. But everyone wants the best for Flamengo. This is normal, and whoever is in charge has to be strong enough to respond to those demands. If things are too easy, you become complacent. I've been used to pressure my whole life, and we all hope everyone contributes to the club. I'm here thanks to the trust I have in Patrícia, but if she feels, professionally, that things aren't going well, she has every right to make changes. I won't be upset. I want to see Flamengo winning, whether I'm here or not. And nothing will change my mind," he concluded.
Check out other topics covered by Galinho at the press conference.
Inter Milan as an example "Inter Milan knew they were going to face Barcelona, but the coach determined the way to play, and everyone believed in what he said. They qualified, and that was a great example of dedication, which later led to a title. This is a great recipe for Flamengo. When a guy steps onto the field, as Junior says, he has to have a second skin. It sometimes overcomes adverse situations, and I hope we can increasingly implement this in our work."
Rights and duties - Every player has rights and responsibilities. You need to read what's written in the contract, both for the club and the player, and both parties must comply. It's simple. The player must understand that they have a duty to work as stipulated, but also to maintain the club's image.
way of working "When a player faces someone who's been there and won, they'll think twice before making a statement. But I don't want anyone to see me as someone I was in the past, but rather as a manager who's there to help them in that moment. You can talk to me face to face. My way of working is always focused on the positive. We'll create a work organization chart, assign people to each role, and, from the professional team to the youth team, we'll talk to create a clean slate within the club, so everyone knows what they have to do, what the philosophy is...
Base categories "Flamengo must have a certain number of players each year who can be used in the professional ranks. Player development is important, and that needs to happen again. The youth academy isn't for winning titles, but for developing players. If we win, great, but the philosophy is one of development. I believe that whoever leads the team needs to know their objectives, and we'll make that clear to everyone. I'll choose the team based on what I've already assembled and present it to the president, the committees, and the departments.
Payment "I received what I was entitled to as a player. It's a matter of opinion. I established my image with Flamengo, and I said exactly that. I don't want to burden the club. I want to give up my image and work for the club, contributing more and more."
Date to take office "I'm traveling on Thursday. I have an event and will go to South Africa to participate in a FIFA conference. I'm one of the laureates among the 100 FIFA athletes. There are only three of us in Brazil, and it's a huge honor for me. I owe it to Flamengo. We're always invited, and I'm going to this conference. I'll return to Brazil the next day to start work here at Flamengo. On July 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th, I have a clinic at Disney World in Orlando. I'll watch the World Cup final there and then return. I plan to stay at the training center in Recreio; my base will be there."
Hiring profile - It depends a lot on the team. The profile we want is a winning one, with knowledge of the club and the ability to play with the fans they have, who have always been behind the club, at every turn. You have to know how to leverage that. One of the great strengths of Flamengo's championship teams was precisely knowing how to bring the fans behind the team. The challenge is to maintain the championship. Flamengo is the current Brazilian champion, and we need to have a team capable of competing for that title once again.
Ninho do Urubu - Starting next year, we already hope to have a good structure. We want to have our own place starting in January of next year.
Using the work he did at Kashima as an example, Zico believes he can help Flamengo and asks for everyone's collaboration to make the project a success.
"The idol is behind us. It's over. Now let's get to work. What was done can't be erased; it's part of the club's history, but as a manager, I'm starting from scratch. And I want to be valued as a manager. I had a wonderful time in Japan, at Kashima, and I'm very proud to see that the club is now a great reference in Japanese football. The only thing I want from people is for them to believe and always think about what's going to be put together, because it's for the best of Flamengo. If I deserve criticism, I should be criticized as a manager. If I mess up, I should criticize it. If I weren't prepared for this, I wouldn't be sitting here. I'm open-hearted, facing criticism and praise head-on," he stated.
Happy to be back in the place where he made his name on the field, Galinho emotionally recalled the times when he was still just another fanatical fan among the nation.
"Getting to where I am, being young, coming from the suburbs and being a die-hard Flamengo fan, wasn't easy. I had the opportunity to be close to my idols, and that side of Zico is still there. I go back to when I was 14, full of dreams and aspirations. It's up to you. Playing is always easier. Getting to a position like this, where the concerns are different, there's no comparison. The important thing is to roll up your sleeves and get to work," explained Gávea's eternal number 10, knowing the pressure will be immense.
"Anyone in football knows it depends on results. Demands are normal. And political factions will always exist. But everyone wants the best for Flamengo. This is normal, and whoever is in charge has to be strong enough to respond to those demands. If things are too easy, you become complacent. I've been used to pressure my whole life, and we all hope everyone contributes to the club. I'm here thanks to the trust I have in Patrícia, but if she feels, professionally, that things aren't going well, she has every right to make changes. I won't be upset. I want to see Flamengo winning, whether I'm here or not. And nothing will change my mind," he concluded.
Check out other topics covered by Galinho at the press conference.
Inter Milan as an example "Inter Milan knew they were going to face Barcelona, but the coach determined the way to play, and everyone believed in what he said. They qualified, and that was a great example of dedication, which later led to a title. This is a great recipe for Flamengo. When a guy steps onto the field, as Junior says, he has to have a second skin. It sometimes overcomes adverse situations, and I hope we can increasingly implement this in our work."
Rights and duties - Every player has rights and responsibilities. You need to read what's written in the contract, both for the club and the player, and both parties must comply. It's simple. The player must understand that they have a duty to work as stipulated, but also to maintain the club's image.
way of working "When a player faces someone who's been there and won, they'll think twice before making a statement. But I don't want anyone to see me as someone I was in the past, but rather as a manager who's there to help them in that moment. You can talk to me face to face. My way of working is always focused on the positive. We'll create a work organization chart, assign people to each role, and, from the professional team to the youth team, we'll talk to create a clean slate within the club, so everyone knows what they have to do, what the philosophy is...
Base categories "Flamengo must have a certain number of players each year who can be used in the professional ranks. Player development is important, and that needs to happen again. The youth academy isn't for winning titles, but for developing players. If we win, great, but the philosophy is one of development. I believe that whoever leads the team needs to know their objectives, and we'll make that clear to everyone. I'll choose the team based on what I've already assembled and present it to the president, the committees, and the departments.
Payment "I received what I was entitled to as a player. It's a matter of opinion. I established my image with Flamengo, and I said exactly that. I don't want to burden the club. I want to give up my image and work for the club, contributing more and more."
Date to take office "I'm traveling on Thursday. I have an event and will go to South Africa to participate in a FIFA conference. I'm one of the laureates among the 100 FIFA athletes. There are only three of us in Brazil, and it's a huge honor for me. I owe it to Flamengo. We're always invited, and I'm going to this conference. I'll return to Brazil the next day to start work here at Flamengo. On July 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th, I have a clinic at Disney World in Orlando. I'll watch the World Cup final there and then return. I plan to stay at the training center in Recreio; my base will be there."
Hiring profile - It depends a lot on the team. The profile we want is a winning one, with knowledge of the club and the ability to play with the fans they have, who have always been behind the club, at every turn. You have to know how to leverage that. One of the great strengths of Flamengo's championship teams was precisely knowing how to bring the fans behind the team. The challenge is to maintain the championship. Flamengo is the current Brazilian champion, and we need to have a team capable of competing for that title once again.
Ninho do Urubu - Starting next year, we already hope to have a good structure. We want to have our own place starting in January of next year.