Clince121188
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“I believe that within 4 years, not only can we significantly improve results here, but also establish Everton as the best team in this city, outright.“
I don’t know what Mr Kenwright was more surprised by; The fact that I was so well versed on Everton Football Club, or that I was making such large promises right out of the gate, with more than one potential spanner in the works. Yes, I'd had a glittering playing career; I'd strutted my stuff at the San Siro and Stadio Olimpico, taking all the rewards that club football can offer. I'd collected 142 international caps on my way to securing 2 World Cup wins(the second as captain). What’s not to like eh?
Well, the fact remains; at 44, I'm about to take my first steps into the world of football management. Sure, I've spent the last 8 years, touring the worlds top clubs, gaining an insight into the variety of ways in which they're being run, closely examining each managers methods for developing his vision; but being held responsible for developing my own, this promises to be one of the greatest challenges I have faced.
This will be new ground for me in more ways than one. I’ve always been used to having the odds stacked in my favor. Brazil, Milan, Roma, every time we took to the field, we were expected to leave it with 3 points. Everton are by no means pushovers, but in such a competitive league as this, and with 5 or 6 teams firmly expected to finish above us, anything really can happen.
There's also the case of our noisy, admittedly more heavily decorated neighbours. I personally tasted defeat to Liverpool in the most gutting loss of my lengthy career. I can still feel the shock rush through my system when I think about that night in Istanbul. We were celebrating at half time, I don't deny that. The game was dead, we WERE going to be European champions. As I watched it all fall down around me, I felt sick. Sick that we had collectively taken our minds from the matter at hand, sick for how it must have felt for the Milan fans as the last penalty was kicked. I learned a vital lesson that day.
So when the opportunity, in the most surprising of circumstances, was presented to me; I snapped at the chance to take charge of Everton F.C. The pain of Istanbul has since subsided and this job is not one I've taken, purely for a shot at revenge. The truth is, I do very much have a soft spot for Everton. I've always appreciated the manner in which the club is run; the opportunities which have been extended to young local players and the achievements that have been made, at times on a fraction of the budget of other teams in the league. Recently however, targets have not been met, and I'd like to believe that I can raise this club to a position where they need fear no-one; where the team takes to the field, with an expectant crowd, for whom only 3 points will suffice.
I am Cafu, and this is my story.
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