Farioli up close: philosophy, old captains, family and FC Porto DNA | OneFootball

In the preview of the first leg of the Europa League tie, Francesco Farioli became a little better known through a UEFA initiative featuring Maniche. In the video, the former footballer calls FC Porto’s facilities and leaves a message of encouragement, which is then heard and commented on by the Dragons’ coach. “Hello, everyone. It’s me, Nuno Maniche. I called to see how things are going and to wish you all the best. It’s been 21 years since I flew among dragons. That’s true. But it’s great that the Dragão Stadium remains a fortress. In my time, we had grit. We were unbeatable. We won everything together. But it was in the UEFA Cup, the Europa League, that it all began for me with FC Porto. Since I left, I’ve watched them win it, come close, and keep trying again. Competing consistently in Europe. And developing talents like Rodrigo Mora. He makes me smile when I watch him play. I believe you can write another wonderful chapter in the rich history of this famous club. Just remember, you are the dragons. Good luck. We’ll talk soon,” said the former Porto midfielder.

The message served as the starting point for a conversation with Francesco Farioli. “A great message from a great player. And especially from a true club legend,” he praised, 23 years after the UEFA Cup triumph. Francesco Farioli, who has brought new momentum to an FC Porto side that had lost its identity, is, at 36, UEFA’s youngest coach. His vision is deeply rooted in his academic background. “If there is one common thread in all the decisions I’ve made so far, comfort is certainly not part of my career. When I finished school, I decided to study Philosophy. I did that in Florianópolis. I decided to begin my journey with the main desire of developing my way of thinking. Not just about what, but especially about how, what I wanted to do. Curiosity is one of the main things that drives me. It’s something I ask a lot of my players. For example, Thiago Silva, who has just turned 41, is a player with an incredible career. Last season, my captain was Jordan Henderson. And the season before, my captain was Dante. Two of them older than me. You expect there is nothing you can give them or teach them. In reality, I think I gave them something, but I also learned a lot from them. And that is absolutely the true value of what we do every day.”

But Farioli’s path was far from conventional. Without having had a professional playing career, he became Roberto De Zerbi’s assistant as a goalkeeping coach at Benevento and then at Sassuolo. Later, he took on the role of head coach while still only 31. He did excellent work at Nice and Ajax, which sparked FC Porto’s interest. Now, he is living a new chapter with his family by his side. “When I go home, I try to devote myself to my two children, Lea and Tommaso. When I get home, the television is tuned to YouTube with FC Porto songs, and that creates a very special dynamic. I still have the computer at home, but I try not to open it too much, only when necessary. And when I do, I usually have my two young assistants with me to give me advice for training sessions or tactics for the next day.”

Reunion with Nottingham Forest

At the top of the Portuguese league, FC Porto are preparing to face Nottingham Forest again in the Europa League, the only opponent to have beaten the Dragons in UEFA competition this season, 2-0 in England. The English side are now managed by Vítor Pereira, a former Porto coach. “It’s a match that, of course, will require our very best version. That is clear, against a very competitive team, even more so since Vítor Pereira took charge. We are going to face difficult opponents. I feel privileged and very lucky to do the job I do at a club with this kind of history. Hard work is in my blood. That is the first step, a mandatory step, to be successful,” he said.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.