A very special June 1st

People that followed my column know the way that I took in the last years to come here. I traveled around the world as coach, working with pleasure in football and knowing other cultures, but I was far from Flamengo only physically. I cheered for the team after dawn on TV, in the internet and reconciling my love for the club with my professional work. I knew that one day I would come back to dedicate myself to the club once again. And it´s time.

I don´t want to criticize past directors or reduce some other club´s management. On the contrary. I really believe that many Flamengo´s fans passed by the club trying to do their best. And now it´s time to move on with my way of working. I´m ready and prepare for the challenge. I ask for your confidence and I know my responsibility. I also realize that I´ll be not able to do miracles. Mistakes could happen along the way and I´m ready to be criticized. It´s all part of this job.

For the fans and everybody that is giving me support in this challenge, I would like to say that I will work hard to leave an important legacy to the club that puts Flamengo in a prominent position. The first step is finishing our George Helal Training Centre. I saw and you that followed my site can realize the difference that a good structure can make for the players. It´s fundamental for Flamengo and it would be my priority.

We are also preparing a planning for the club evolving the youth players. It´s important to form new talented players. A title in the youth classes cannot be the priority, but having athletes in the professional team is the main plan. I appeared for football this way and all my generation in the club. Flamengo must regain its status as a club that form players. It´s an important step that we need to take.

I also want to say that I chose not to receive directly for Flamengo´s payroll. It´s a matter of opinion and my vision about the situation. I believe that I already received for my working in the club when I was football player and today I can be paid through other ways. I´m giving my image to the club´s sponsor to make my professional work possible. I believe that this is a better solution that makes me more comfortable.

Summarizing, this is a very special day in my life. June 1st generally was the date that I used to sign my contracts as a football player. I hope I have the same luck now as executive director. We will work hard for it. I´m confidant and counting, as always, with the support of the fans. People that it´s talking to me in the streets, by e-mail, in hundreds of messages on Twitter that I couldn´t read yet - but I´m trying. I thank you for the tenderness and we will be together in this challenge.

See you next week!


10/06/01.

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