Academic: “I hope that whoever comes knows how to fulfill their obligations”

What went wrong with your management?

From a certain point onwards, we had differing opinions on how to act with regard to the electoral process. My colleagues advocated bringing forward the elections and I did not agree, because I believe that the statutes must be complied with.

The idea is that the differences already existed before…

There had already been problems two years ago when David Caiado and Tiago Moutinho were chosen. My fellow board members didn't want him, but I made the chairman's decision count. Besides, David had already been chosen the previous season, when Zé Nando took over the team and I was the sporting director and spoke to him several times as team captain. Later, Tiago Moutinho agreed with me about the sporting director and the choice fell on him.

In coaches, you take possession practically to lose…

Yes, it is public knowledge that I – who took charge of football from the start – had agreed everything with Tozé Marreco, but 15 minutes before I took office, he called me to say he was going to Tondela. The truth is that the choice was so good that he is now doing a great job in the 1st Division. In fact, I would like to take this opportunity to send him a big hug and wish him and Farense the best of luck. I spoke to four or five coaches at the time, but I made Académica's budgetary limits clear to all of them – it has been a point of honour of mine, from the start, to not contribute in any way to increasing Académica's debt. One of those contacted was Vasco Botelho da Costa, who was even interested, but when faced with the amounts offered, he immediately declined. Then Miguel Valença came along and with him, Zé Nando, myself and a friend, we formed a squad, which perhaps wasn't that bad, since at the end of the season, the starting team only included two or three players from the players signed in January. It's true that, unfortunately, the work didn't go so well for Miguel Valença, but that's football. We decided to keep Zé Nando and, there too, the work was positive – I thought we wouldn't be relegated and I defended his continuity, but the majority of the board was against it and he ended up leaving.

You can read the full story in the printed and digital edition of 15/05/2025 of DIÁRIO AS BEIRAS