From player to coach you can bring the discussion round to “The process was as follows: I started to Brazilian soccer. If you want to catch a player Silas Pereira, have contact with the management of clubs and mark, I have the experience in when I was still a player. I had involvement Argentina. This contributes greatly to the with Osan and in the spring, at Indaiatuba (a training and programme as such information city in the interior of São Paulo). After I is never wasted. The team has to have an Avaí Football Club stopped playing, I had experience as a identity, and it is also important to balance businessman for a while. Then I received an things. Here in Brazil the players are much invitation to work as an assistant, which more mobile, are more skillful and head coach: finally opened some doors for me.” intelligent. But they are also less used to tactics. Therefore, you should prioritize the Silas Pereira has only two years of experience as a professional The work as a technical tactical side to develop them into more soccer coach. However, his achievements and behaviour in that assistant rounded players." short time give him the outlook of a veteran. Based on his vast “The course that I chose and most experience as a player, he emerges as one of the great names appreciated was that of an assistant. Attention to the environment of the new generation of Brazilian coaches. His first work as a Obviously you need to have expertise in "A coach needs to take care about the coach was to build a team, Fortress that won the State Level the role and those who were not players time he has to work with the team. There Championship. In March 2008, he got the job at Avaí and began need to go through courses, but who have was a time in which players who played in a few games without a loss, but could not reach the final of the had experience as a player can work well midfield supported the front attackers. championship. The result did not generate too much pressure and gain valuable experience as an Who was behind defending? Today, that because the fans recognized that his work was going well. Wit- assistant coach. I worked as assistant to has changed, and everyone must now hin months, the patience with Silas took effect. Three rounds Zetti, and it was also important to realize participate in the game helping each other before the end of the Serie B Brazilian Championship, the coach that I had the instinct towards the role of a for the full 90 minutes. The other clubs led Avaí to the Serie A of Brazilian Championship for the first coach.“ He participated with the study the tactics of your team and you time in 30 years. Besides the short history as a coach, Silas recruitment of players, the training of need to be prepared for that." talks about the transition to new fields and how the experience players, initiatives to enhance the quality as an athlete helped build the success in his current position. of the newest players, and worked on "Another important point is to know the “When I was a player, I was a midfielder of great skill. I reached tactics and training programmes. All this is kind of the team you are. Sao Paulo was the finals of two World Cups in 1986 and 1990. Now, the chal- key to any professional. tricampeão the Brazilian first division mark lenge of coaching is to use my vision of the game and my ability in the field of attack, but not everybody can to lead teams to the top”. "Another important point for the do it. Sao Paulo mark in front because it development of a coach is reading. has a tradition of playing that way and By: Guilherme Costa, Universidade do Futebol Whoever exercises a function of leadership because it uses fast players at the back. needs to be constantly upgrading it, The coach needs to understand this seeking information on a number of process of cultural training to see thee different topics. You must have knowledge results of the work." to move things forward for the team and therefore you can’t stop studying. Not only Adaptability are things related to the field, but subjects "I played in Japan, which is very tactical such as languages." soccer, and Brazil, which prioritizes technique. I played in the two extremes of Experience helps world football, and lived it so I don’t find it "I have travelled to many places as a difficult to adapt to any club. What happens player and I have learned different things. is that some teams seek professionals with I played in Brazil, Asia, Europe and a certain profile, and then you need to think Argentina, and this is important to what is best for his career. What is the idea? increase knowledge and to gain If you think of working in England, it is experience. I have also worked with very essential to speak English and know the has to have good coaches, like Marcelo Lippi. I had a peculiarities of that culture." "The team technical Belgian coach in Japan and a Serb in Italy, as well as great professionals "I am still at an early stage of my career, in Telê Santana, Antônio Lopes and Ênio in my second year as coach. Obviously, I Andrade. Each of them can teach you a took a big leap to lead a first division club little, and you end up getting the best of all who do not get to that stage for 30 years, their combined work." but this will not reduce my need to build an on what I have or my responsibility. My identity" "When you think of defense, for example, plan is to work abroad at sometime, you can use Italian football as a model to perhaps in Spain, Italy or the Middle East. be followed. They use two lines of four The UK also has a great league, but it is players and have had huge success with a stage for those who have already this model. When the question is offensive, achieved things in their careers. 10 No. 31 February/March 2009 No. 31 February/March 2009 11 Luiz Felipe Scolari is an example, and only realistic game situations is crucial so that balance between the teams, it is essential after he was the coach of the world they are fully prepared. When working on that full attention is paid to every detail. champions, and had also successful finishing, if I play the ball to a striker and The victory 3-0 victory of Manchester experience at clubs. Not everyone has the I tell him to turn and face the goalkeeper, United over Chelsea, in the Premier desire to work outside the country, but I do." he has five minutes to decide what to do. League, is a good example. United’s third If I put a defender behind him, the time of goal was when Cristiano Ronaldo collected The importance of pre-season reaction must be much faster and that is the ball on the left, near the corner. The "Last year, I was working as a coach of the closer to what happens in games. It is ball fell near Ballack and he did not cut out Fortress during pre-season. I attended the important to do that. This is similar to what the danger. It was a lack of attention, and training and the recruitment of players happens in practice. If a player faces a a coach can’t allow something like that throughout the preparation of the team that companion there is excessive respect, but from a player who is captain of the German was state champions. With Avaí, in the the game is the ball or the man. In training national team. A mistake like that has an second round of the State Championship, I the defenders try not to hurt anybody. So I enormous effect on what you are trying to only had time for a midseason break before do not like to do these type of activities. I achieve." the start of the Brazilian second division. It prefer-training games, and also games is clear that this phase of preparation is against the youth teams." "Today, the difference in games is not in important but it has a the player. There is no Pele much greater value to the or Maradona, in Brazil. The physical trainer than for Name: Paulo Silas do Prado Pereira great players leave the the coach. Although the Date and place of birth: 27/08/1965, in Campinas (SP) country early, so it is Brazil a small space in the essential that you have schedule for this is that teams with commitment and stage that the physical attention to detail. If you look preparer guarantees to at the goals that happen in group the basis for the Brazil, 80% could be avoided entire season. He has a if simple mistakes were not responsibility to work with made time and time again. the group and deliver. You Just see where the problem will only know whether the began, that a player has not work was done well or not stopped the bid with the lack at the end of the year, intermediary, that he took when a report of how the dribble. It may be a many injuries or problems Position as a player: midfielder technical failure, fatigue or were caused by lack of something similar." proper conditioning." Clubs as player: São Paulo (1985-1988), Sporting Lisbon (1988-1990), Centro Español How to avoid mistakes Structure of drills de Montevideo (Uruguay, 1990), Cesena (Italy, 1990-1991), Sampdoria "We work a lot on the mental "I love to put the ball into (Italy, 1991-1992), International - RS (1992-1993), Vasco (1994-1995), side of the game at Avaí.