Back page Beto Bianchi’s first managerial experience – his very first one – ended with back-to-back promotions.
His second led to another promotion and 37 unbeaten games out of 38. The current Angola manager was always destined for great things.
So meet the man who led teams as a player on the pitch and as a manager in the dugout.
I started playing tennis when I was young, but in my heart what I really liked was football. Because I saw more joy and fun in the young people who played football and decided to change sports!
What were the first thoughts in your mind when Caravaca asked for you? Was it difficult leaving Brazil for Spain?
When I received the offer to play football in Spain I did not think twice, because it was my dream to play in Europe. But it was not so easy for my family, as they did not want me to be so far from my house.
How would you describe your respective stints at Caravaca, Bullese and Yeclano?
I would say that Caravaca and Bullense have been the two clubs that have marked my life to this day. The first because it was where everything started until today, because I continue in football as a coach.
And the second, because it was where I met my wife and where I formed my family. These two clubs were very important in my life, not only when it comes to the professional side of the sport!
You were one of the first foreign players to move to China – how would you describe your time in Beijing and what was your assessment of the quality of football there?
Actually I was at the time one of the first foreigners to go to play football in China. It was a fantastic experience and it was my first experience in Asia.
That experience has helped me in the future, because after I finished my career as a player I have continued as a coach, and I have been in six other countries.
I think that in order to adapt to that “nomadic” lifestyle, that first adventure in China has opened my mind a lot and I learned to adapt to different cultures!
What motivated you to join the Cuidad de Murcia project given that the club was newly formed, and how would you describe the team that achieved historic back-to-back promotions?
The Murcia project was very exciting, because it was a project to grow in Spanish football. The goals were every year to ascend division and that I think has motivated me a lot, because I like difficult goals.
It was a very beautiful stage because we get year after year going up division, something very difficult in football.
You joined the club’s coaching staff just two years later – when did you make the decision to transition into football coaching. Do you think your experiences on the pitch helped you as a coach?
When I played football, I was the voice of my coaches on the pitch, I liked to orient my teammates and I lived the game very intensely.
Before finishing my career as a player I had already started to do the courses for coaching at UEFA. Because I had already thought that when I finished my player career I would start coaching.
That process was very easy because everything was already programmed in my mind!
Your first senior team role was CA Ciudad de Lorquí in 2007, where the team you achieved 37 out of 38 unbeaten games and a promotion. Again, this was a newly created team – were you nervous at taking up the role and how would you describe your time there?
That project of Lorquí was a very ambitious project. The president of the club had as objective to ascend a division – “yes or yes”. Our team was made up of players with big names and had a very high budget.
The pressure was enormous because there was talk of nothing but winning and winning every game. And we know that in football it is very difficult even having good players.
As I said before, I like difficult goals and I assumed that project with great motivation. That season with the confidence of the president, we were promoted and went 37 games without losing – it was a wonderful year.
You’ve gone on to work in Indonesia, Romania, Jordan and Angola – what motivated you to take up such international offers and do you think being exposed to various football cultures has helped you?
To date there have been seven different countries which I have already worked on. I learned many things from them, it is of great cultural value to me, not only helping me grow as a professional trainer but also as a human being.
In every country you live you learn something different. They are very different cultures, with different lifestyles.
Also every country has its way of understanding football and that is a well full of teachings. I think that what I have learned and I continue to learn from all those experiences that I have already experienced in these 7 countries, there would be no money in the world that could pay!
How would you describe the footballing philosophy in those countries, and do you see players and coaches from those countries coming to Spain in the near future?
In all the countries where I’ve been I have found very capable people, both players and coaches. What happens is that many people who do not know the football of these countries do not know that football also exists outside of Europe for example.
There are many values out there, like in Asia or right here in Africa (where I am now)! An African player has two fundamental qualities that are innate of them, technique and physique.
These players if we work well with tactically would be great players in Europe! It is not enough to only to analyze the Africans who already are in great clubs of Europe!
What were your initial thoughts when you got offered the head coach role of the Angola football team, what targets are you aiming to achieve?
When the leaders of the Angolan Football Federation offered me to work with them it was an immense joy! In spite of the excellent season that I had last year with my club, I did not expect that I would get this invitation.
We are working hard to change the negative outlook that selection has shown in recent years.
Shortly after I started working we have been able to increase seven points in the FIFA rankings. And the most important thing is that the country is already believing more in its selection, because in some games we have already been noticing some improvement.
Now the goal is to try to qualify for the CHAN (African Nations Championship)!
What advice would you give to anyone trying the enter the football as a player or as a coach?
The advice I could give them is to be persistent in their goals, because it is not easy to reach them, the road is very long and full of obstacles, only the most persistent and daring come where they have thought or dreamed!
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future are many but the main one at that moment is qualify for the CHAN with the Angola national team and be the champion of Girabola (Angolan league) with my club Petro de Luanda.
They are difficult objectives – but not impossible!
