Opinion – Tostão: In Brazil there are good and bad coaches, as well as in the whole world

Congratulations to the fans of Cruzeiro, for the beautiful party at Mineirão, in the farewell of Rafael Sóbis and Ariel Cabral, despite another draw and with the team in Série B for the third year.

Most players, star players or not, when they finish their careers, dream of having an activity related to football, such as coaching, commentators, managers or entrepreneurs. Having been an athlete helps a lot, but it’s not enough to be a great professional. It is also necessary to make a scientific, personal preparation, and dedicate yourself fully to the new activity.

Since the 1960s, there has been an exaggerated criticism that Brazilian football is only very good for its athletes and that it does not depend on coaches. There are good and bad technicians, in Brazil and all over the world. This negative impression is one of the reasons why few Brazilian coaches work in teams in Europe and even in other countries in South America.

In the 1970 World Cup, Zagallo, unlike the usual intuitive coaches of the time, provided daily detailed tactical training for defense and attack, in addition to using button teams to show the players’ movements on the field. The 1970 selection shone in the individual and collective. The 1982 one, directed by Telê Santana, did not win, but enchanted the world.

Many great players, in all countries, became excellent coaches. Cruyff, in addition to being one of the ten greatest players in history, was a revolutionary coach, master of Guardiola, also a former athlete, who has made great strides in football over the past 15 years.

Guardiola is the most original and fascinating current trainer. Manchester City again dominated the game against PSG, but this time they won 2-1. The English team stands out for the pressure to retrieve the ball, the constant exchange of passes, until someone infiltrated the area, and for different positioning of several players, compared to what is usual.

The team advances with two defenders, three midfielders (one defensive midfielder and two full-backs). With this, the two midfielders play close to both the center forward and the open wings and the opponent’s goal. There are five attackers, something similar to what happened at the beginning of football (2-3-5), almost 150 years ago. It’s the modern with a hint of the past.

Many former players currently stand out in Brazil in charge of the main teams. Each has its own psychological characteristics and profiles. Renato Gaúcho, regardless of the result this Saturday (27) by Libertadores, evolved in the scientific part. He is a self-sufficient, sometimes arrogant, coach.

Cuca, an excellent coach, is always complaining, even when the team plays well and wins. “Oh life, oh heavens, oh bad luck! This won’t work!” Rogério Ceni can become a great coach, for being studious, obsessive, but he is often criticized for his arrogant posture.

To be an exceptional coach, it’s not enough to have a lot of knowledge, know how to lead a group and have a great cast. It is also necessary to be an observer of objective and subjective details, in addition to having lucidity and collective intelligence in decisions. There is a knowledge that precedes thought.

I’ve been repeating for more than 20 years that coaches are very important, however, they are overvalued in terms of victories and defeats. There is an illusion, a scientific arrogance, that everything that happens in a match can be programmed, even in football, a sport with so many unexpected events.