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Costinha and Maniche follow in Jose’s footsteps to Largs
THERE are few more famous managerial stars to have passed through the hands of the SFA’s summer scheme at Largs than Jose Mourinho. So when two of his Champions League-winning Porto heroes requested guidance on taking the essential step to securing their coaching badges, the Chelsea boss pointed them in the direction of the west of Scotland.
Former Portuguese internationals Costinha and Maniche provided the foreign stardust in Inverclyde last week when joining, among others, Scotland captain Scott Brown and new Rangers signing Kenny Miller on the B Licence Introduction course.
It is the first stage on the learning ladder to enable the double act to relaunch a managerial career that suffered an aborted beginning in their homeland last season.
Costinha, assisted by his Euro 2004 runner-up colleague Maniche, lasted four months in charge of Champions League qualifiers Pacos de Ferreira. Their fast-tracked route to an appealing Portuguese top-flight job did not sit well with many in the game and, with the team at the foot of the division, the pair departed.
And so to start all over in Scotland, thanks to a recommendation from John Collins — a midfield team-mate of Costinha from their Monaco days — and a rubber-stamping of the Scottish Football Association’s course credentials from Mourinho.
‘There was a lot of noise last year because I didn’t have the badge — a lot of pressure from ex-coaches, criticism from other people,’ explained Costinha. ‘That made it difficult to work and it affected the players. A lot of people thought I’d passed by some other guys who had studied to achieve that kind of job.
‘I didn’t offer myself to the club, the president called me and I accepted it.
‘It was a big risk to do that kind of job. I can coach in Portugal as long as I have someone in my staff who has an A licence. But I thought for me to continue at the club it wouldn’t be good for my players, for their game, so we left.
‘My national federation said they were going to open new courses but I waited for months and nothing happened. So I called John Collins, who is one of my best friends in football, and asked him if it was possible to come to Scotland.
‘One of the coaches I asked was Jose Mourinho. After I stopped playing, it was no problem for me to visit coaches I liked, to see a bit more of how they worked. So I went to Chelsea because Mourinho was one that put pressure on me to become a coach. It is for him that I became a coach.
‘I was then lucky enough to be accepted by the SFA and feel very happy to be here. Before we came, we looked for information. We didn’t want to come in here blind. We knew that Jim Fleeting (SFA director of football development) was enthusiastic — he likes to work, he likes to joke also.
‘To understand the language is difficult, the Scottish accent is tough! But everyone is making us feel very comfortable and that is very important.’
Mourinho’s advice was well-earned by Costinha. He was the midfield anchorman of Porto’s brilliant side that defeated Martin O’Neill and Celtic in the 2003 UEFA Cup Final, then won the Champions League 12 months later.
It was Costinha’s unlikely strike against Manchester United in the last 16 that sent Mourinho haring down that Old Trafford touchline and a managerial legend was well and truly born. A goal that changed football history.
Costinha and Maniche were midfield partners for Portugal in reaching the Euro 2004 Final against shock winners Greece and at the 2006 World Cup.
Their club careers also followed a similar path as they paired up for Dynamo Moscow and Atletico Madrid before calling time as players. Costinha is convinced the understanding they enjoyed on the pitch can be replicated to good effect in the dugout.
‘He (Maniche) was always in my plans to become part of my team,’ said Costinha. ‘But he is not in my team simply because he is my friend.
‘It is because he has certain characteristics which are important to my team. If you form a structure at a club, it’s important to have confidence in everyone. I cannot do something at a club without him and my other three assistants.
‘I won’t be the kind of manager who brings in someone who is dying that I make a mistake so he can take my spot.
‘I’ve had a couple of approaches but decided not to take them while I was here studying. It depends on the person who invites me.
‘I don’t want a project which starts in July and finishes in August.
‘The fact that we were big players allows us to understand the game differently, or better, than some but does not automatically mean we are going to be successful managers.’