Patrick Vieira interview
Not every iconic player can become an iconic manager, but Arsenal hero Patrick Vieira has the mental strength to succeed. First port of call: New York City. And if he can make it there...
The new New York City FC manager explains why he never planned to become a coach, and how Manchester City did more for him than Arsenal
He may be prowling touchlines instead of rampaging through opposition midfields, but Patrick Vieira has lost none of the drive that transformed the Frenchman into an all-time Premier League legend.
The former Arsenal skipper never saw himself in the dugout, but once Manchester City afforded him the kind of coaching opportunity that Arsene Wenger failed to deliver, the only way was up… and west. The Big Apple.
A hugely successful two-year stint working with the Manchester club’s development squad gave him the experience needed to land his first job, at the recently-formed New York City Football Club in Major League Soccer.
With the new MLS season starting this month, the former World Cup winner is busily plotting away in the city that never sleeps, aiming to help the squad to recover from a disappointing first campaign for the all-encompassing City Football Group’s new American adventure, which saw boss Jason Kreis axed after failing to make the play-offs.
There’s plenty of work ahead for the 39-year-old, but Vieira has taken time out from his pre-season preparations to sit down for a chat at the club’s training base in Sarasota, Florida. He tells FFT all about his expectations and perceptions, the Wenger-fuelled disappointments, and why Andrea Pirlo is eagerly waiting to take the mickey out of him... FFT: You’ve said in the past that you never saw yourself as management material. What has changed? PV: I was never able to take a step back and fully ask myself what I really wanted to do. As I got older and picked up more injures, all the focus was on trying to keep myself fit – being a coach wasn’t in my plans. I had no idea what I wanted to do once my career was finished. I knew that I wanted to stay in football because that’s what I did best, but what department? I didn’t have a clue. That’s why I can never say enough thanks to Manchester City and [their football administration officer] Brian Marwood, because he opened my mind and made me believe I could play a key role. It was in the two years City gave me to spend time in various departments of the club that I realised I was comfortable with being a coach in the academy.
When I started coaching, I was still unsure, but he saw something in me that I couldn’t. That was enough to make me start doing my coaching badges with the Welsh FA, and the more I did it, the more I liked it. I was with Sol Campbell, Tim Sherwood, Les Ferdinand, Garry Monk and Craig Bellamy.
I liked the way they coached the coaches. It wasn’t like they were opening a book and saying: “This is how it is.” They’re open-minded; there was no right or wrong. The way you see the game gives you the tools to express
yourself. The way the young players respond to you, the way they take in all of the information and how excited they are – I loved all that.
Did the kids at Manchester City have any idea what you did as a player all those years ago? Not a clue, to start with! The parents knew for sure, and once the kids went home and looked me up, they knew as well. Typing my name into Youtube probably brings up videos of myself and Roy Keane in the tunnel at Highbury, but what was important was how I earned their respect and got the credibility I needed. The way I talked to them had to make sense, otherwise it wouldn’t work.
Were there any footballers with whom you played that were nailedon future bosses? Didier Deschamps, definitely. I signed for Arsenal at the same time as Remi Garde, but he wouldn’t be first on the list for me. It’s the same with Zinedine Zidane. We had the same vision for our futures and have taken the same kind of direction, but we have taken slightly different routes. He spent time as an assistant at Real Madrid, which I’ve not done.
What is definite, however, is that we both wanted to have experience before taking the big step. Talking to friends who went from playing to coaching straight away, it works for only a short period of time, and then it becomes difficult. Look at Gary Neville in Valencia. It’s a difficult situation for him. I want him to do well as a fellow young manager, but it’s not easy, and when you don’t speak the language it’s even harder.
You were such a warrior as a player. Will your management style be similar – lots of angry shouting, mixed in with some tough love in the dressing room? You have to hold back as a manager sometimes. The managers I worked for were always in control, so that means I have to control myself, because if I start losing it that will have a negative impact on the players. It’s difficult to be like that, especially when you are young, but experience tells you the right time to stay controlled. I will still express myself, of course, but I will also stay calm. With experience, I will deal with it much better.
There were a few times, especially at Arsenal, when you didn’t look that calm... You learn from that. I made some mistakes, but I learned from it. I am passionate and that will never change.
Coaching the youth players gave me real insight into what I’d want from my teams, football-wise, the concept and the way I want to play. The youth level was fantastic, and it helped me learn how to prepare training and replicate ideas. This New York challenge came at just the right time, because winning or losing matters and in youth football it’s all about the development. The pressure in this job is to win.
You have played against Frank Lampard, David Villa and Andrea Pirlo in the past. How weird is it, managing them now? I don’t find it strange being their boss. I don’t know from their perspective, but I don’t find it difficult. Yeah, I’ve played against them, and I’ve battled against them, too. I have massive respect for these guys, because we are talking about three top players right at the highest levels. I see players occupying three different levels, and they are among the very best because of what they have achieved in their careers. What I like, so far, is that there isn’t any complaining in training – they are working just like everyone else and are fully committed.
I had some great battles with Frank over the years, challenging for many titles, but I have always respected him because he’s a winner. We fought hard on the pitch, but behind the scenes that respect is always there. We understand each other. If you’re still playing at this level at their age, that means you have something that many other players don’t. I played against Andrea when I was at Inter and he was at Milan. Oh, and also in the 2006 World Cup Final. He hasn’t mentioned that one to me yet. I guess he’s probably keeping it up his sleeve for when the time is right!
They know they have a massive part to play in all of this because of their names and their standing in the game, and they will have to guide the rest of the team, especially the younger ones. The way they look at Frank, Andrea and David is fantastic, so they have responsibility to help the others improve.
Were you keeping tabs on MLS during your time in England? How much has the league improved over the past few years? I spoke to [former Arsenal team-mate and New York Red Bulls forward] Thierry Henry about MLS and came to watch some games when I was on holiday. Last year I saw the New York derby. I still have a lot to learn, but I have people around me to help me get up to speed. It’s totally different, travelling six hours for a match, coming back to New York and then travelling again. With all the travel, it changes the way you prepare during the week,
which can affect the physical side and the way we want to play the game. Now we have to work hard to prepare for the new season. At the MLS Superdraft last month, I spoke with a lot of different coaches about all the difficulties which can pop up over a season. That really helped me.
There’s no doubt the standard has improved. Looking back to five or 10 years ago, it’s totally different. Now there’s talent, a really good level of understanding, and it will get better.
Is it nice to walk around Manhattan without anyone bothering you? Yeah, I like it. But sometimes it’s nice to be recognised, as well!
So you’ll soon start wearing a shirt with ‘VIEIRA’ on the back…? [Laughs] No, but you can enjoy walking around the streets, going to dinner, having some family time, so there is a good side to living in Manhattan. I like basketball, and I watched the Super Bowl. I want to adapt to the culture here.
Pep Guardiola’s arrival in Manchester this summer is obviously a monumental move for the club, as well as the City Football Group as a whole. What can someone like Pep bring to the Premier League? It was big news, because we are talking about one of the best football coaches in the world coming to a fantastic club. It’s great for Manchester City. The way they are thinking – how they are trying to build a successful football club – puts them on a different level. It’s like a big family. When you look back at your playing career, what stands out the most? Even when I was a kid, I could not have dreamed of having a career like the one I had. It was far better than I expected. I had a chance to do something I love; to win the World Cup, the European Championship, many trophies. I have visited many countries and learned new languages. Growing up in Senegal was difficult, but that is Africa. Football is a way you can get out of a tough situation. The majority of young Africans want to play because they want to help their family, and football is a way to do that.
Your spell under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal was special. Have you been disappointed, though, not to be invited back as part of his coaching setup? They were nine fantastic years with Arsene. He brought me to Arsenal when no one knew who I was, and by the
time I left, I was a big name. Of course, he played a huge role in the success I had at Arsenal and I will always have a very good relationship with him, but it has been disappointing to see so many former Arsenal players who have left the club and wanted to come back, but just haven’t been given the opportunity. Why? I don’t know, but now it looks like the door is open a little more. I’ve heard that Freddie Ljungberg, as well as Thierry, have started doing a little bit of coaching there. I think that is good, because those players gave a lot to Arsenal and it’s good to open the door for those willing to learn how to become a coach.
The call never came for me. But someone else opened the door. Whenever people ask me about it, they think I’m angry, but I was more disappointed than anything. I will always love Arsene for what he did for me, and I will always love Arsenal as that is where I played my best football. It’s a special place for me – but that doesn’t stop me being disappointed.
I am more than happy now. That’s how football works – I left Arsenal because Cesc Fabregas was coming. That’s the way it is. It’s a business, but sometimes it’s good to remember what people did.
You seem like a very relaxed person, but when you crossed that white line, did something spark inside you? Everyone always says that, and it’s true. There were two Patricks – one on the field and one off it. I was on TV with Roy Keane last year and it was great. We are similar people; we have the same kind of strength and leadership. We lead by example and we are natural leaders. That clip of what happened in the tunnel with Roy is legendary. I think that people miss it.
Will Patrick Vieira return to the Premier League one day? You never know. I’m not worried about glory. I just want to go somewhere where I can work properly, and at the moment, the Premier League has become difficult for managers to work properly. To implement a philosophy and build a successful club, you need time, but in the Premier League, no matter what you do, you won’t get the right amount of time. It’s all about winning.
Young managers need to choose the right club, because they need to work with the right people who will stick by you when it’s not working. There’s so much pressure.
Can you handle that kind of pressure? Of course! You can handle any type of pressure if you’ve got the support. That’s why you need people who trust you and give you strength during the most difficult times. So the path I am going on right now is perfect for me. My plan is to stay here, and then after that, who knows? I love it so far, but I need to win.
You don’t fancy lacing up the boots again, then? One last hurrah and all that? [Laughs] No chance. No, no, no.