Gus Poyet On Spurs, Chelsea, Copa America Success With Uruguay And Managerial Experience | OneFootball

Let’s start with your most recent role in Korea with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.  You managed to secure a League and Cup double in 2025. How do you reflect on your time in Korea?

“Well, the success was a confirmation that I made a good decision to go over there. When you go to a place that you do not really know, where everything is going to be new, you need to have a feeling that you can do something good for the club and for your career. Even if it was difficult, in the end it was the right decision, probably one of the best years as a coach.

“When you win the league and the cup, it is always difficult to do better. It was an incredible experience. My best run of games without losing, creating a great relationship with the club, the players, and the fans for life. So only very good things in Korea.”

You decided to leave Korea after the league and cup double season. In terms of your situation at the moment, what are you up to?

“I decided for a few different reasons to cancel the second year of the contract because I signed a two-year deal in Korea. The club was fantastic in understanding the reasons. Then I came back and had a little bit of a rest because we were over there for the whole year practically, except for a couple of times during international breaks when we tried to travel somewhere to relax.

“Now I am talking to people, watching football, having meetings. I had one offer for the summer. I am focused on football in England most of the time, doing podcasts, learning, and watching training sessions. Staying in football as much as possible to be ready for the next challenge.”

If we rewind back to your playing career, you had immense success. You won the Cup Winners Cup with Zaragoza, multiple trophies with Chelsea, and the Copa America with Uruguay. How do you look back on your career as a whole?

“I think it is normal in football that people remember the good times, the trophies, and when you win. My career was about doing the academy properly, meaning going through every single year without skipping steps.

“Getting into the first team was the first objective in Uruguay. When you are young in a club, that is your main aim. My only year there, I did quite all right. Not spectacular, but good enough to get attention from a Grenoble who were a good team in France at the time.

“Then came the most difficult part. I went to France, and it did not work for me. I did not play well. Maybe I was not ready. But you grow as a person.

“The key point was getting the opportunity in Spain, which was easier because of the language and lifestyle, similar to Uruguay. I developed as a midfielder at Zaragoza, and that gave me the chance to move to England and play for Chelsea and Tottenham.”

At Zaragoza, what was it like winning the Cup Winners Cup, especially beating Arsenal with that famous Nayim goal?

“People do not always remember that in 1991, my first season, we nearly went down. But we built the foundations of the team that succeeded later.

“In 1993, we reached the Copa del Rey final and lost to Real Madrid. The following year, we won it, and then the next year we won the Cup Winners Cup.

“That team was a top cup team, very strong in one-off matches. For a club like Zaragoza, winning a European competition was the maximum achievement. It placed that group of players in a special position in the club’s history.

“Even today, more than 30 years later, the reception we get is incredible. Everyone remembers where they were when Nayim scored that goal. It is always the first thing they mention. That group of players, especially Nayim, will always be in a special place in the hearts of Zaragoza fans.”

When you moved to Chelsea in the late 1990s, what were the main differences between La Liga and the Premier League?

“It was a big decision. I had everything in Spain. My kids were born there, I had my house, I knew the league, and I had been at Zaragoza for seven years.

“But I felt England suited my style. When Chelsea came, and I saw the players there, Gullit, Petrescu, Di Matteo, Wise, Zola, Hughes, Le Saux, I thought it was a great opportunity.

“At the beginning, I struggled because the game was too quick. I had to adapt to the pace. Ironically, getting injured in my first season helped me. It allowed me to observe and learn.

“When I returned, I was in a much better position to perform and contribute to the team.”

You became a fan favourite at Chelsea. What are your main memories from your time at Stamford Bridge?

“I think the fans recognised the connection, scoring important goals at key moments and winning trophies.

“When you win trophies, you get closer to your teammates, the fans, and the club. Winning the Cup Winners Cup again with a different club was special.

“Winning the European Super Cup against Real Madrid was massive for us. People sometimes underestimate it, but for a smaller club, beating Real Madrid was huge.

“Then winning the FA Cup, the last one at the old Wembley, created great memories and a strong connection. It made me feel part of Chelsea forever.”

You also had a connection with Tottenham, both as a player and later as a coach. What do Spurs mean to you?

“As a player, it was almost the opposite of Zaragoza. My first season was very good, the second was average with a small injury, and the third I did not enjoy at all.

“When I returned as a coach, it was easier because many people were still there. Helping Juande Ramos and being part of winning the League Cup was special, especially since the club had gone more than ten years without a trophy.

“I have good memories and respect for Tottenham. Not as strong as Chelsea because of the trophies, but I appreciate what they did for me. I also enjoy going back to watch games at the new stadium.”

Winning the Copa America with Uruguay, in 1995 against the World Cup winners Brazil, must have been incredible. What was that like?

“It is the best feeling. Winning with a club is special because of the connection with your teammates, family, and fans.

“But winning with your country is on another level. It includes your friends, your school, your neighbourhood, and the whole country. The impact is massive.

“You make so many people proud. My friends always joke that if we had not won, they would have had a terrible Monday at work. Instead, they went in proud.

“The consequences, good or bad, are much bigger when it is for your country. The pride is unique.”

Looking back at your managerial career, your time at Brighton was very important. How do you reflect on that period?

“It was very important as my first job as a number one. I had a great connection with the owner, Tony Bloom. We created something completely different at the time.

“We achieved promotion, winning the league in front of around seven or eight thousand fans. Then we moved to the Amex Stadium, and attendance jumped to 21,000 almost instantly.

“The following years continued to grow as we performed well in the Championship. Having four years allowed us to build an identity and improve every transfer window.

“In terms of playing style, it was probably the best football my teams have produced. The understanding between the players was excellent.

“People still remember that period. When I hear former players like Andrea Orlandi or Leo Ulloa speak about it, you can see how much they enjoyed being part of that process.”

You then went on to manage Sunderland, where you had some nice highlights during your time there. Multiple wins over Newcastle United, taking the club to a League Cup final, and beating Manchester United. Jose Mourinho’s first-ever home defeat in the Premier League was by you and your Sunderland team, which was a record at the time that seemed as if it was never going to end. What was your time on Wearside like?

“I loved my time at the club, and it’s a shame that we didn’t maintain the consistency in the second year that we achieved in the first year, especially at the end. But like you say, I think it’s important the way they put the question because you never know what the reaction of the fans is going to be.

“And I know in England normally they respect you a lot, but I had the chance last month to go up to Sunderland to a fans forum, and I was so happy and so impressed with the reaction of the fans. How they 100 percent remember the games against Newcastle, that’s not negotiable. I mean, that is unique.

“Even people remember that final. I remember it because we lost, but they remember it because they came to Wembley. Being bottom of the table and getting to a League Cup final, it was so incredible.

“You say the special victories, but I think between the miracle of getting saved somehow, but especially and most importantly for Sunderland fans, playing three games against Newcastle and beating them three times, they only remember that.

“They will remember me forever, I think, because of that. It doesn’t matter the outcome after, when it didn’t work. But for sure, those three games are marked in Sunderland history with my name next to them.”

What are those derby games against Newcastle like to manage in, because the atmosphere is incredibly intense?

“Yes, I would say they are completely different, the three of them.

“The first one, for people to know, I got the job after seven games, after Pablo Di Canio, and the team had one point from seven games. Then I lost my first game in Swansea, so we had one point from 24. So this first derby is my second game.

“So it was bottom of the table, really bottom, playing a derby at home. We played very well in the first half, and we went 1-0 up, and we were controlling. But when Newcastle scored the 1-1, there were five or ten minutes that were very difficult, very, very difficult.

“I always say to people, when the team gets through those ten minutes, anything can happen, but you cannot concede the second goal in those moments. And when Borini went in and scored, and the players were sprawling, the stadium noise was tremendous.

“Winning the game, not only is it the first win of the season after nine games, but it’s against your biggest rival. So that set up a little bit my time there as a coach. Not winning that game, maybe I was not there for the rest of the time.

“So that’s the first one, very important in terms of setting up the basics.

“The second one was spectacular. I cannot describe it to you. Winning 3-0 away from home, at St James’ Park, playing unbelievable football. 2-0 at half time, everything nearly perfect. Keeping a clean sheet as well, because Newcastle attacked a lot, with Vito Mannone making a few saves.

“But 3-0 in a derby away from home, it doesn’t happen all the time.

“And I had my best personal moment, not as an achievement, because the biggest achievement was saving the club from relegation. But my best individual moment was after the game.

“I did the TV interviews, the press conference, and the radio wanted to talk to me on the pitch next to the benches. When I came out, the stadium was empty except for the Sunderland fans at the top.

“So I had my moment, on my own, with the Sunderland fans after beating the biggest rival 3-0 in their own stadium. It was like 20 seconds of glory.

“The last one is special because it’s a winning goal in the last minute.

“I asked the fans when I went to the forum last month, what is better, the 3-0 or the 1-0 last minute? And it was divided. As a coach, I like the 3-0 because of the way we played. It was a complete performance. Away from home, a derby, scoring three, keeping a clean sheet, playing very well.

“But everybody knows that winning in the last minute is special. So it was divided, and that shows how important that 1-0 last-minute win was as well.”

Post-Sunderland, in terms of your managerial career, you’ve managed in Spain, China, France, Chile, and with the national team of Greece. How would you describe all those experiences outside the Premier League, because they’ve been vast and you’ve had different levels of success as well?

“Yes, I think my first decision after Sunderland was to go abroad and see something different, because I wasn’t in England for so long.

“I thought it was not a bad idea to go somewhere else. My time in Greece was tremendous, very good in terms of results. Then I was ready to come back, and they called me from Spain.

“That was probably my worst time in management. I didn’t enjoy it at all, and it was very short. I was responsible because I always take responsibility. I made a few mistakes, but I learned a lot from it.

“Then I couldn’t get back immediately, so I went to China, then Bordeaux in France, which was great for me because the results were outstanding.

“Chile was more of a personal challenge. I wanted to try South America because people were saying it was not possible, and they were right, it was not possible.

“Then I came back. The national team experience was different. I really enjoyed the craziness of ten very intense days and then a month completely off, which is very different from club management.

“The best part of being a national team coach is picking the players. You decide who comes. In a club, most of the players are already there.

“That was great as well. And like you say, the last one was probably my best with Brighton, because of the titles. Going to a new place and winning the league, the cup, manager of the year, everything. It was a unique situation.

“I grew as a coach, but most importantly as a person, because you see different cultures, different reactions, and you learn how to manage different people. That makes you a better person, not just a better coach.”

Finally, Gus, given your experiences managing in England, abroad, and at national level, and coming off a league and cup double, is your hope to return to management in the UK?

“Yes, that’s my first aim. If you ask me what I want to do, number one is to come back to the UK.

“Unfortunately, it’s more difficult than I expected. I’m very realistic as a person and as a coach. If you ask me, can you go and manage Real Madrid right now, I would say no. It can happen because in football, anything can happen, but realistically, no.

“At the same time, if you ask me, can you manage in the Championship, I would say it should be easy with my CV. But it’s not.

“Because of that situation, I have the other side, which is good for me but not my first choice. I am a worldwide coach now, so I get calls from everywhere.

“I will have a job for sure. I have already said no to a couple of places because they were the wrong ones. I need to make sure I pick the right one now.

“After the success of my last job, I should have the chance to get a decent opportunity, not just anything.

“When things don’t work for you, it’s difficult to get back. But when things go really well, it should be easier. At the moment, it is not possible to get back to the UK.

“So we will see. I get many calls, many offers. Only one for the summer, and it’s not in the UK.

“I’m waiting. The problem is when an offer comes and says you have 24 hours to decide, yes or no. That would be a problem, because then you have to make a decision quickly.

“In the meantime, I am analysing football, checking things, learning, and making sure I am ready. That’s the most important thing.”