For future superstars to fulfil their dizzying potential, it\u2019s vital formative years are spent working under exceptional coaches.
\nFor the latest mega talent to emerge from Sporting Lisbon, Pedro Goncalves, that man was Joao Pedro Sousa.
\nThe long-term acolyte to Marco Silva branched out for the first time on his own at Primeira Liga upstarts Famalicao in 2019\/20. An enlivening season witnessed the aforementioned Portugal Under-21 attacker show flashes of sublime talent – with six assists and five goals in 33 run-outs \u2013 under him as a promoted side stormed to their surprise sixth-placed finish, despite boasting the\u00a0youngest average age of 24.9-years old.
\nGoncalves \u2013 nicknamed\u00a0Pote\u00a0– would depart for the capital in a \u20ac6.5 million deal last summer.
\nFast forward to the present and 15 goals plus four assists in 26 appearances has made him one of the next transfer window\u2019s hottest prospects.\u00a0Portuguese sports daily\u00a0A Bola\u00a0has already reported interest from Manchester United\u00a0for a rich prospect held to a \u20ac60 million release clause.
\nSpeaking to\u00a0Sport360, Sousa \u2013 who is fielding overtures from the Middle East \u2013 reflects warmly on his time honing a dark horse for Portugal\u2019s European Championships defence and anointed\u00a0\u2018next Bruno Fernandes\u2019.
\n\u201cFirst of all, this [Goncalves] is an amazing kid,\u201d says the 49-year-old, who exited Estadio Municipal 22 de Junho in January. \u201cA good professional, I think he will even do much, much better than he is doing now.
\n\u201cHe is a player who can move to the big, big clubs. A very technical player, very good tactically.
\n\u201cHe plays in midfield, like a no8 or no10. Scores a lot of goals, this is why he\u2019ll jump to a big, big club.
\n\u201cAn amazing kid. He likes to work hard, but also likes to joke with his team-mates and coach sometimes.
\n\u201cEven then, he\u2019s very serious in his job. He tries to do his best every day.\u201d
\nComparisons to United superstar Fernandes are obvious. But are they fair?
\n\u201cThey are different players,\u201d Sousa replies. \u201cBruno is one of the biggest players in the world.
\n\u201cPedro can be there one day. They are different \u2013 Pedro is playing a little bit further up on the field.\u201d
\nJoao Pedro Sousa at Famalicao (EPA).
\nGoncalves is only 22-years old, yet a circuitous route has taken him to the top of scouting notebooks.
\nThe Chaves-native bounced between the Braga, Valencia and Wolverhampton Wanderers\u2019 youth systems, before landing at relative-minnows Famalicao in July 2019 for \u20ac1.3m.
\nIt would be there under Sousa\u2019s care he\u2019d experience a debut season of regular first-team football. The\u00a0right winger would blossom.
\nGoncalves\u2019 technical gifts are obvious even to the untrained eye. But for Sousa, a winning mentality and clear focus beyond his age sets him even further apart.
\nHe recalls: \u201cAgainst Braga last season\u00a0[a 2-2 draw in November 2019],\u00a0we had one player [Roderick Miranda] who received a red card. We had to play the entire second half with 10 players.
\n\u201cAt half-time it was 0-0 and Pedro said to me: \u2018We will score, for sure. If I do not score, I will give an assist to my team-mate to score.\u2019
\n\u201cAfter less than 10 minutes, we scored. It was Pedro with the pass to Toni Martinez.
\n\u201cThis is the mentality of Pedro. Very ambitious.\u201d
\nThe breeding ground at Famalicao also honed the talents of another fine attacker.
\nFormer Portugal youth international Fabio Martins\u2019 figures of 12 goals and six assists in 36 run-outs were, comfortably, the best of an itinerant career.
\nSuch performances convinced\u00a0Saudi Professional League outfit Al Shabab to agree a lucrative one-year loan with parent club Braga for the frizzy haired winger.\u00a0A starring role alongside Argentina metronome Ever Banega and ex-Manchester United loanee Odion Ighalo has propelled his temporary employers into an intense battle with Al Hilal for the title.
\nSousa has remained in contact with the 27-year-old and is not surprised by his continued success.
\nJoao Pedro Sousa at Everton.
\nHe says: \u201cI spoke with Fabio Martins many, many times. Fabio is a very intelligent player.
\n\u201cWhen I worked with him, I saw a very big quality within him. With Fabio, it was just a matter of time to jump to a fantastic league.
\n\u201cSaudi is perfect for Fabio. Saudi is an important league, with tactical and technical players.
\n\u201cI follow him and believe he can help Shabab win many things.\u201d
\nAngola-born Sousa would go from team-mate with Marco Silva in Portugal\u2019s lower leagues at Trofense, to assistant manager alongside him across the continent from 2012-19.
\nThis partnership brought silverware at Sporting and Greece\u2019s Olympiakos, plus stints in the Premier League at Hull City, Watford and Everton.
\nWith full backing from his friend, an opportunity to strike out arrived\u00a0at a Famalicao in May 2019\u00a0who were celebrating their Primeira Liga-return after 25 years away.
\n\u201cHe [Silva] told me to go and be happy,\u201d Sousa remembers. \u201cMarco is my good friend for many years.
\n\u201cHe supports me all the time.”
\nSousa won manager of the month\u00a0in August and September 2019\u00a0after an unbeaten start. Ultimately, they would be\u00a0denied European qualification on the final day.
\nA subsequent squad churn made 2020\/21 an exacting affair. Sousa departed in January with Famalicao one place above the drop zone.
\nThey\u2019ve since dropped to bottom\u00a0under successors Silas and Ivo Vieira.
\nSousa says: \u201cIt was a magnificent season [at Famalicao]. We had a group of very young players with good potential and talent.
\n\u201cSome from last season transferred to big clubs. Pedro Goncalves who is now at Sporting Lisbon, Uros Racic who is back at Valencia
\n\u201cIt is important to remember how it was formed. There were 24 new players, only two players from 2019\/20.
\n\u201cThe average age was the lowest in Portugal and one of the lowest in Europe. It was an amazing season.
\n\u201cIt is a big step, but I was prepared. When I started at Famalicao, I was surrounded by competent assistants and used the latest technology to utilise my ideas.
\n\u201cI built these ideas for 10 years. As a coach, I learned with Marco and my team-mates.
\n\u201cI like balanced teams and teams looking always for the win. All aspects are important for me.
\n\u201cI am experienced in different, important leagues. This gave me knowledge.
\n\u201cWorking in the Middle East intrigues me. We have options there, Europe and the United States \u2013 we shall see.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For future superstars to fulfil their dizzying potential, it\u2019s vital formative years are spent working under exceptional coaches.
\nFor the latest mega talent to emerge from Sporting Lisbon, Pedro Goncalves, that man was Joao Pedro Sousa.
\nThe long-term acolyte to Marco Silva branched out for the first time on his own at Primeira Liga upstarts Famalicao in 2019\/20. An enlivening season witnessed the aforementioned Portugal Under-21 attacker show flashes of sublime talent \u2013 with six assists and five goals in 33 run-outs \u2013 under him as a promoted side stormed to their surprise sixth-placed finish, despite boasting the\u00a0youngest average age of 24.9-years old.
\nGoncalves \u2013 nicknamed\u00a0Pote\u00a0\u2013 would depart for the capital in a \u20ac6.5 million deal last summer.
\nFast forward to the present and 15 goals plus four assists in 26 appearances has made him one of the next transfer window\u2019s hottest prospects.\u00a0Portuguese sports daily\u00a0A Bola\u00a0has already reported interest from Manchester United\u00a0for a rich prospect held to a \u20ac60 million release clause.
\nSpeaking to\u00a0Sport360, Sousa \u2013 who is fielding overtures from the Middle East \u2013 reflects warmly on his time honing a dark horse for Portugal\u2019s European Championships defence and anointed\u00a0\u2018next Bruno Fernandes\u2019.
\n\u201cFirst of all, this [Goncalves] is an amazing kid,\u201d says the 49-year-old, who exited Estadio Municipal 22 de Junho in January. \u201cA good professional, I think he will even do much, much better than he is doing now.
\n\u201cHe is a player who can move to the big, big clubs. A very technical player, very good tactically.
\n\u201cHe plays in midfield, like a no8 or no10. Scores a lot of goals, this is why he\u2019ll jump to a big, big club.
\n\u201cAn amazing kid. He likes to work hard, but also likes to joke with his team-mates and coach sometimes.
\n\u201cEven then, he\u2019s very serious in his job. He tries to do his best every day.\u201d
\nComparisons to United superstar Fernandes are obvious. But are they fair?
\n\u201cThey are different players,\u201d Sousa replies. \u201cBruno is one of the biggest players in the world.
\n\u201cPedro can be there one day. They are different \u2013 Pedro is playing a little bit further up on the field.\u201d
\nJoao Pedro Sousa at Famalicao (EPA).
\nGoncalves is only 22-years old, yet a circuitous route has taken him to the top of scouting notebooks.
\nThe Chaves-native bounced between the Braga, Valencia and Wolverhampton Wanderers\u2019 youth systems, before landing at relative-minnows Famalicao in July 2019 for \u20ac1.3m.
\nIt would be there under Sousa\u2019s care he\u2019d experience a debut season of regular first-team football. The\u00a0right winger would blossom.
\nGoncalves\u2019 technical gifts are obvious even to the untrained eye. But for Sousa, a winning mentality and clear focus beyond his age sets him even further apart.
\nHe recalls: \u201cAgainst Braga last season\u00a0[a 2-2 draw in November 2019],\u00a0we had one player [Roderick Miranda] who received a red card. We had to play the entire second half with 10 players.
\n\u201cAt half-time it was 0-0 and Pedro said to me: \u2018We will score, for sure. If I do not score, I will give an assist to my team-mate to score.\u2019
\n\u201cAfter less than 10 minutes, we scored. It was Pedro with the pass to Toni Martinez.
\n\u201cThis is the mentality of Pedro. Very ambitious.\u201d
\nThe breeding ground at Famalicao also honed the talents of another fine attacker.
\nFormer Portugal youth international Fabio Martins\u2019 figures of 12 goals and six assists in 36 run-outs were, comfortably, the best of an itinerant career.
\nSuch performances convinced\u00a0Saudi Professional League outfit Al Shabab to agree a lucrative one-year loan with parent club Braga for the frizzy haired winger.\u00a0A starring role alongside Argentina metronome Ever Banega and ex-Manchester United loanee Odion Ighalo has propelled his temporary employers into an intense battle with Al Hilal for the title.
\nSousa has remained in contact with the 27-year-old and is not surprised by his continued success.
\nJoao Pedro Sousa at Everton.
\nHe says: \u201cI spoke with Fabio Martins many, many times. Fabio is a very intelligent player.
\n\u201cWhen I worked with him, I saw a very big quality within him. With Fabio, it was just a matter of time to jump to a fantastic league.
\n\u201cSaudi is perfect for Fabio. Saudi is an important league, with tactical and technical players.
\n\u201cI follow him and believe he can help Shabab win many things.\u201d
\nAngola-born Sousa would go from team-mate with Marco Silva in Portugal\u2019s lower leagues at Trofense, to assistant manager alongside him across the continent from 2012-19.
\nThis partnership brought silverware at Sporting and Greece\u2019s Olympiakos, plus stints in the Premier League at Hull City, Watford and Everton.
\nWith full backing from his friend, an opportunity to strike out arrived\u00a0at a Famalicao in May 2019\u00a0who were celebrating their Primeira Liga-return after 25 years away.
\n\u201cHe [Silva] told me to go and be happy,\u201d Sousa remembers. \u201cMarco is my good friend for many years.
\n\u201cHe supports me all the time.\u201d
\nSousa won manager of the month\u00a0in August and September 2019\u00a0after an unbeaten start. Ultimately, they would be\u00a0denied European qualification on the final day.
\nA subsequent squad churn made 2020\/21 an exacting affair. Sousa departed in January with Famalicao one place above the drop zone.
\nThey\u2019ve since dropped to bottom\u00a0under successors Silas and Ivo Vieira.
\nSousa says: \u201cIt was a magnificent season [at Famalicao]. We had a group of very young players with good potential and talent.
\n\u201cSome from last season transferred to big clubs. Pedro Goncalves who is now at Sporting Lisbon, Uros Racic who is back at Valencia
\n\u201cIt is important to remember how it was formed. There were 24 new players, only two players from 2019\/20.
\n\u201cThe average age was the lowest in Portugal and one of the lowest in Europe. It was an amazing season.
\n\u201cIt is a big step, but I was prepared. When I started at Famalicao, I was surrounded by competent assistants and used the latest technology to utilise my ideas.
\n\u201cI built these ideas for 10 years. As a coach, I learned with Marco and my team-mates.
\n\u201cI like balanced teams and teams looking always for the win. All aspects are important for me.
\n\u201cI am experienced in different, important leagues. This gave me knowledge.
\n\u201cWorking in the Middle East intrigues me. We have options there, Europe and the United States \u2013 we shall see.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45584"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=45584"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45584\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45585,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45584\/revisions\/45585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=45584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=45584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=45584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}