When passion is greater than obstacles, anything is possible, and it's never too late to try a new sport or be our own teachers. João Luís Azevedo is a charismatic and persistent person, who made the transition from football player to physiologist. He worked at Grêmio, but later returned to the team he considers to be his family, FC Vizela .
Currently, in addition to working with football players, he also works with Olympic athletes, such as Salomé Rocha, and hopes to one day work in cycling. As you know that science is constantly changing, you believe that it is essential to always read and take notes so that, one day, you can pass on your teachings to someone who needs them.
João believes in the success of his team and supports all the players, especially those who remain on the bench. Listen to this podcast to find out why.
Inspired by Legends with João Luís Azevedo: From passion for football to excellence in training
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Miguel: If you believe in hugs, if you are proud of where you come from and if you think that a team is much more than colors, then this podcast is for you. I'm Miguel Soares, founder of BYMS , and I created this podcast “Inspired by Legends” to find and celebrate today's legends.
Today I have the great pleasure of welcoming someone who is undoubtedly an inspiration and a great friend to me, João Luís. João is passionate about sport, he graduated in Sports Sciences at the University of Porto, he completed a specialization at Grêmio , the club that operates in Brazil. He was one of those selected to represent the Universidade de Futebol de Onze, Futebol de Sete and Futebol de Praia, already a physiologist on the under-19 team of Futebol Clube Vizela, where I played and had the pleasure of working with him. Afterwards, he currently works on the senior team at Futebol Clube Vizela and works with Olympic athletes, such as Salomé Rocha, who is preparing for her third participation in the Olympic Games .
That's why and much more than João Luís, it's an honor to have you here with me today.
João L: First of all, thank you for the invitation, thank you for your words, but more than that, you gave the best word that defines our relationship, friendship. I was here a little while ago, even before we started, talking a little about many others who crossed paths with us and who still enjoy being friends today. Like Edu and David, for example, Hugo, not wanting to lack respect for others. And so, from the moment you called me, it's obvious that I wanted to participate, above all because I'm very grateful for what I've done to date, but also for everything I've managed, in some way, to build. Based on training, but above all based on people. People who are important to my journey and who will continue to be so, because the past is gone, but we achieved a lot through the past, representing ourselves in the future and understanding a little about what we want to be and what we we want to do.
Miguel: You talk a lot about your training and these people who have been on your path so far. Who is... what do you consider to be a legendary person for you? A person you look up to as an example and inspiration? Could it not be a famous person, someone who was, in a certain way, important in your life, who made you who you are today?
João L: I... I'm a little bit like... most players nowadays sometimes say, oh, prof, prof, prof, and I believe that a lot of the influence we have comes from our education and I am immensely lucky for what was given to me by my parents. But my academic training, I think most teachers, often, don't even understand the real importance it has for us at the end of these 10, 15 years that I've been teaching.
I'm going to give the name to three, because it's unthinkable for me not to give it, who is the methodology professor, at that time of physical condition, who is professor José Augusto, who I already had the honor of inviting him to speak there in Vizela. Professor André, who is currently working with the Portuguese Football Federation and another person who is a reference in individual terms, because he is... nowadays I have the pleasure of being his opponent, ok? I learned from him and he is the physiologist of theFutebol Clube do Porto technical team , Eduardo .
And I often think that when I see them there is no thank you, it's that question of still looking at them as if they were unreachable. Like people, a reference for you, and the funniest thing is that a lot of times people say oh, but they already compete against you, and I say, okay, ok, but they wanted to make me be this person, so I'm very happy, and it's these three people. There are many other incredible teachers, one of them is Carlos Rezende, there he is, and this is not because of my area of intervention, but because of the issue of people management. I loved listening to him talk, because he talked about his players and the people that followed him as success, you know, the key and I ended up realizing that there are many ways to win and there are many ways to be successful, and so I I think these four teachers, forever, I don't think I've ever told them in a direct way, but they are clearly my references, and they are the ones I think of when I'm doing something, who I should thank, let's say , because they inspired me.
Miguel: And what do you think about these teachers, what was the characteristic in them that you think captivated you the most, and that made you the person you are today and that inspires you the most?
João L: Ok, that's really good, because they all have very different personalities, ok. Like Professor André, he's a super empathetic person, you know, he's that person who would arrive here today and talk to you as if he had known you for 20 years.
Miguel: That's spectacular.
João L: He has very good communication skills and knows how to position himself, you know…
Miguel: Exactly
João L: … on site, and that’s one of the best characteristics that I say people can have, so that’s it. Professor Carlos Rezende, there he is, himself a coach, he came from the area of sports management, and I think it's this ability for him to understand things as a whole, you know, the importance of me, you, him, and trying to find Here is a symbiosis that makes everything work.
Then, man, a skull, Professor Eduardo Oliveira is incredible, when he accepted, to give you an idea, to work with the Porto football club, he was in the biggest national project, he was with the IPO, let's say, doing or prescribe training for cancer patients, say,
Miguel: Okay.
João L: So, imagine the responsibility that is given to him in a country, let's say, an incredible project, which he still, in some way, intervenes in today, and then ends up participating in.
Professor José Augusto, you think he must have today. Oh, I don't like to say his age, but he must be between his 70s and 80s, and he still does rowing marathons, he's in incredible physical condition. To give you an idea, he was part of the coaching team that played Portugal in the 2002 World Cup in Korea, and he came back on a bicycle.
Miguel: Fire!
João L: And he's a super active person, he also comes from another generation, ok, he comes from the military base, let's say, he studied and went to the academy, and then that's what he did, he shows you something which is resilience, you know, like, it's that person who gives you, obviously we can't say that everything will go well. But you have to fight for things to happen, you know, and he shows you exactly this, because even today, half a dozen months ago, he won a world class again, above a certain age, let's say, and it was him who won it.
Miguel: And you talk, and you talk about these people too, but if you can abstract yourself a little from your world, and go outside a little, and see your journey from the outside, it's really incredible, and also the resilience that you you had to, like you said, that to... it seemed unattainable to get to the position where these people were when you were learning from them, and now you're competing with them, that's incredible.
What do you think? You also said that one of them is working in football, Clube do Porto, and you remain friends, do you think these friendships can continue regardless of the clubs? Because I see more and more that clubbing seems to blind people and brings disadvantages, but this is not always true. And what do you think about that?
João L: No, I usually say that on game day I'm a competitive animal, ok? I don't like losing anything. I think a lot of what characterizes me leaves a little there, ok? Because I love competing by flipping a card, flipping a coin, whatever it is. I think you realized that while I was your coach.
Miguel: Without a doubt.
João L: I have a special character, ok? I am... I usually say that I am a very good person, but in sports I am a very good person until the day of the competition, ok? On the day of the competition I think it's war, I think you have to do everything to win, everything, within the limits and rules, ok? Because being disrespectful at the time will, sometimes it will happen, more in our sport than I am today, and I will now give you another example after this, in football, because insulting is increasingly easier in football. And I speak against myself, I do it myself.
A few days ago I was sent off and at the end of the game I went to apologize. I went to apologize to the person who did it, and I went to apologize to the referee, I knocked on the door, without any shame. And I said, look, I was just telling you, you kicked me out well, but my offense wasn't meant for you. He said, no, no, I know exactly what you said. And he mentioned the words, described everything and said, that's it. Then, Fábio, who was the referee, said: “look sorry and continue”. And I got out of there. So I think it goes a bit there, I think people nowadays have to think that sport often serves to bring people together.
And the example I wanted to give you, I went to MotoGP this past weekend, and I'm passionate about Formula 1, but I went with company, because I think we have to be grateful for having a Portuguese competing at that level , and so I follow his races, his times, but I can't tell you exactly if his bike is good, if it's not, I know who the champions are, but I don't understand the sport as much as Formula1 .
And so I went, I went for the experience, I was there, and I ended up realizing something incredible, which is when a rider, Italian and Spanish, fell, the remaining fans who loved Ducati , Aprilia , KTM , clapped their hands when he returned to the test. This is something that in football, I myself say, doesn't happen, which is...
Miguel: It's very difficult.
João L: It's very difficult. You stay, it's not about you being happy, because when he falls, it's obvious that he goes to the back of the field, but it's the fact that he falls and he wants to get back into the race even though he knows he's not going to win anymore, you know?
Miguel: Yeah.
João L: I was stunned when Bahia, who is the champion, fell, and the Spaniards were next to me clapping because he came back, because he wanted to compete and because...
Miguel: That's the best thing about sport.
João L: Exactly. And I say this more and more, I am a self-confessed admirer of most sports. I was here recently talking about the Final Four, about the issue of Vitória's participation here. And I follow all these events and I notice that in other modalities there is no issue of people not being as respectful. Ok, the opponent, the result, because the result will always be inherent to the game, and people will be upset or not, but above all I think, and in Portugal we are increasingly better at so many things, I think that we have to improve this passage of information and communication, even for the little ones.
Miguel: Exactly.
John L: Okay.
Miguel: And before you worked on the staff of a football team, you also played when you were younger. You were in the youth team at Vitória Sport Club, and you certainly had the dream of pursuing a professional career.
When do you think that dream of pursuing a professional career as a player deviated a little towards this new aspect of studying this part of physiology?
João L: Ah, this question turns out to be easy, I saw a lot of evil from a very early age, ok. This week they scheduled an important operation for me, about two months away and I'm still going to postpone it, look, it was something that I haven't even talked about with my wife, for example, or with my mother, because it's really something, I'm five years old. years, I saw it in extremely bad shape. I lost color perception, color blindness, but I was always fortunate to be a good student, you know. Based on my parents' education, I think that no one is a good student because they want to, because everyone likes to go to school, but no one likes to go to school to study,
Miguel: Exactly.
João L: He likes to go because he likes his friends, but my parents, and especially my mother, she was always very much into, oh, there's no harm in football, I want you to be a good student, ok. And so from very early on, you know it's that idea of you listen once, you listen twice, you listen three, ok, so maybe the best thing is, things didn't go so well, so I went. Fortunately, I went to study something that I like to do and I managed, thank God, after almost fifteen years, to be at a level where, I think a lot of people in my environment, around me for many years, studied with me, still aren't, others are there, and I am there, I share the happiness of being there, but I also share the happiness of seeing someone who studied with me be at the same level as me. Being better than me, because I think it's good, you like other people's good things, and they have...
Miguel: Yes.
João L: … it’s not about being more successful or less successful, because I, a lot of the time, and nowadays in my field, people ask, ah, “what’s your biggest goal?”, ah, mine The biggest objective is not for the ball to go in, ok. It's about me getting the player ready, so that he can achieve it or have a greater chance of that happening, because, I'm starting from there a little, my job is not to tell him exactly what he has to do, but rather to prepare him for it. .
Miguel: Exactly, and you also said that you would like the people you studied with to be well too, because that's the same opinion I share. Our success is not linked to the failure of others, if we are good, and if we work hard on what we want, I believe we will get results. Sooner or later, these results will end up happening. So, I think that's it, we always have to root for each other, because we also never know when we're going to need them.
João L: Yes, exactly.
Miguel: And we're going to need a helping hand to help them.
João L: And in sport, today you're here, tomorrow you're here, and suddenly, man, it's normal. Because I usually say that sport is wonderful to work in, but it is an incredible pressure, which most people often end up not realizing. That the result has a lot of influence on our personal life, and I always say , you can do everything well, but your opponent also does it on the same day, and he beats you, and you weren't bad. You are simply every week, constantly, I always say, fighting to defeat someone.
Miguel: Exactly.
João L: And that, the words are harsh, because it's the same truth, like, I say, I just left the club, a little while ago, and I have a game on Sunday. Easter Sunday, imagine, this week I worked all week, we have a game on Easter Sunday, and, I'm sure,Casa Pia is working really hard, and we're working really hard, and we're going to play. And man, and you'll get to the day, and something happens, the ball just hits the post and goes out, or hits the post and goes in, and one of us wins, and you know, and then that's why I think the process is super important, and more and more I say process, process. Because I think the process comes from people, you know, it's about increasing probabilities, my importance, yours, the physio's, man, everyone, to guarantee the conditions, for our team to have the best possible performance. Man, and then on the day of the game I usually say, I blow the referee's whistle, and then my responsibility is already low, you know. Because I did my best, so they are available and ready.
Miguel: And in this process, for the players to be well, you are one of the most important people on a staff, on a technical staff. How important do you give to this part of physiology, and what can you explain to me, for those who also don't yet know so well what a physiologist does. What do you do during the week, what is your process to get to the game?
João L: Basically, it ends up, a lot of the time people end up, it's not because of confusion, let's say, because it could be the same person performing the different roles, but what happens is, we have a physical trainer on the field, ok , someone who executes, and who thinks about the training, together with the technical team, and depending on the day there are different objectives, numerical, for example, and that's where my part comes in, which is the GPS part, the analysis, and describe what athletes should do in a global value, ok? This is one of the first, and the most important, is to find profiles, whether team or individual profiles, and then understand, oh, the athlete needs, he doesn't need to run more than 500 meters, or less than 500 meters, but that's his characteristic, ok? You want athletes to always be close to their maximum performance, so this is something you know, it's like a screwdriver that you tighten and loosen, you take it out and put it in.
Then, another of the phases, very important, and this is the one that I value most, above all, is the issue of return to play , I liaise with the medical department, as soon as the player is injured, and is in a phase embryonic stage to make his return, I do all the preparation for him to return, and these are my biggest victories, I always say.
It turns out that, as happened about a month ago, one of our athletes was injured. He had a super serious injury, let's say, and they said that his season was over, that he would have surgery. As a result of that, and what happened was that we looked at each other, man, and then, this is where I tell you, which is, you really have to like the people you work with. And I love that player, in this case, and I told him, hey, as far as I'm concerned, you're not, and I can't promise you that you'll play this year, but I promise you that you'll be ready to to play. And what happens is that after seven weeks, he will have a consultation next Monday, because the guy is completely fit for the role, and he still lacks some strength, but possibly in two, three weeks he will be, you know? And that's what, those medals that most people, I have a little sacred place at home, like this one, and I have several messages that players send me, thank God, and even some coaches, and I I took a printout , you know, and saved it there.
Because, at the end of it all, what I want is that in 10, 15 years, when I finish this, I can look back and think, oh, amazing, I helped this one, I helped that one.
Miguel: And people like you afterwards.
João L: Exactly, and for the most part, sometimes I have this dilemma that people say, oh, in football, like, somehow you can't, people aren't there to be friends. I say, oh, that's a lie, forget it.
Miguel: And the proof against that is, we are here talking.
João L: It's us, we're here talking...
Miguel: Exactly.
João L: Exactly, and a little while ago I was talking about two people I really like, Edu and David, and that's right, you think that in some way you influence, because many times you think you are, in football you are the only one, or in this case in sport, you are only influencing the life of the person there, but no, it is his life that will allow him to do that, to be a better husband, a better boyfriend, because he goes home and is happy, and the person is very happy doing what they like, everything else flows around, you know? And so, I think it starts a little bit there, so if I could divide my functions, it would be counseling through connection with another person, return to play , and then I'm a little nerd who deals with every metric you can imagine and he communicates with the technical team, with the players, and I'm the annoying guy who says. Ah, today you had it below, today you had it above, but the more times you had it…
Miguel: What did you have below.
João L: I lower myself and clap my hands, and as it still happened today in training. They trained well today, and I got to the end of the training, and I shared and said, good effort to everyone. Because I think that above all, you don't just have to draw attention when people do bad things, but you also have to praise them when they do good things, ok?
Because I think, again, my position, I think it's not a parent's position, but I try to do it as such. Because it's incredible, because I have athletes who are older than me, and I always have, only in an embryonic phase, when I trained in your categories, but even then I was very close to your age, and I tried to position myself in a way to be able to know how to be with you, to play, because it is important to play, to create relationships, but then you also understand what needs to be done. And thank God, things are resolved, and they end up happening, and that's what I tell you, my work is guided by our friendship. And after 10 years, for example, a player gets injured and calls me if he can recover with me, you know?
Miguel: That's good, this is recognition of your work.
João L: Exactly, I say this, I have an athlete or two athletes who come, the distance is greater than Santa Maria da Feira, one comes from Santa Maria da Feira and the other from the center, and they work once a week with me, do you understand? To these, I even say, I lower the price, do you know why?
Miguel: Because they had that…
João L: Because my victory is that they still want to stay with me, you know? And that's what I usually say, it's obvious that money is important, money is important for everything, but it's these types of victories that you end up having, that, my God, comfort you, you know, it's good.
Miguel: We have our friendship, I think it's a pretty good friendship, and we've made friends throughout our career, mine shorter, yours longer. We made great friends. What values do you look for in these friendships? What values do you find when you are working and what do you like to find most when you are working with an athlete?
João L: I usually say it’s sincerity. It's a matter of you saying, oh, we had a bad time, and when I say we had a bad time, it's because I made a mistake myself. If I say, Miguel has to play, or I think, I share the opinion, together with a staff , Miguel has to play, and Miguel plays poorly. I started to make the decision, I share ours, and many times what happens is that the players are the first to know when they play badly, ok? And then I think it's sincerity, and then I always say it's the timing of sincerity.
I have a player you know, Samu, and I'll tell him later to come here and talk about it. Because above all, he doesn't look like a ballplayer, you know? And he's the one... When I say he doesn't look like a ball player, it's just that everyone has an image of a ball player, you know, that idol, and he's a super down-to-earth guy, he's incredible. And he tells me himself, and he discovered me, I usually say that he took my bald head. He discovered my bald head, because he says, oh, I already understand when you give me a hard time, and when you don't give me a hard time. You, when we played badly and lost, during the first few days, you were affectionate with us. Of course, do you know why I walk? Because I need them for the week, they are the ones who play, not me. Do you understand? And then, when they win, what do I do? They forget, I go after them all the time, because the tendency is to relax. So what do I say? It is this question of sincerity in work, always understanding when it is time to do things. The sincerity in, oh, now is the time to work, it is the time to work, and the sincerity in the moment of saying that we are doing well or we are doing badly, and then from there, it is also there, the sensitivity.
I always say, in football and in sport, and I think in life, you know? Knowing how to position yourself, knowing when... I always say, here for me it's difficult to speak without slang, because I use slang in everything, it's an incredible thing. Here I have to be very careful in choosing my words, even though this space is formal and informal at the same time, and so, I always say, you have to have the sensitivity to understand the moment, how can I talk to Miguel , how can I talk to David, how can I talk to Edu.
Miguel: You know why people are different.
João L: People are different.
Miguel: And they react differently to...
João L: Ah, exactly that. ...
Miguel: … to the information you are going to give them. And you have this sensitivity to speak differently to people than to me, and you often caught my attention when I was feeling bad.
João L: Do you know what your name is on my cell phone yet?
Miguel: It's Fat. Because when I was at Vizela, I could have been, I should have been lower in terms of those fat percentages, but then the increases corresponded on the field and it wasn't that serious anymore. Just so you understand, this year we received a player, Bruno Costa, who came from Porto, and I'm not going to say that he has too much weight. Okay, let's imagine that there is.
And imagine that I call myself chubby. I say, oh Gordo, do this, do that. And sometimes people, around, say, oh, and attribute that to him. And he says, oh, no, you can't. And he can.
Miguel: Exactly.
João L: Do you understand? Because he created space in my relationship for me to be able to have this openness with him, imagine. That no matter how true it is or not, you understand, that's what I say. Like, relationships are different, people can be the same, I say both, but another person comes in, then there doesn't have to be the sensitivity of me understanding what I can say in front of them, the way the I can treat it, you understand? That's why I say, I think sensitivity is the most important thing in our daily lives. And then, of course, knowing how to apply it, whether on the professional side, on the personal side, and the like.
Miguel: I think too, it's one of the reasons why so many people, at least those you've worked with, like you. Because we often don't relate so much to the people we work with. Our friends are always out of work, but it's incredible how you can work with people and then continue to have a friendly relationship with them, how you continue with me, how you continue with other players. And you too, a bit of distance is also a bit of a problem, but did you continue to have any friendships when you were in Brazil, at Grêmio?
João L: Oh, yes. You're welcome. I now have the happiness of seeing these kids, who at the time were kids, like you, reaching the first team and I still talk to them today. I now have one, imagine, a player who now came to Braga, at the beginning of this year, in this case, it was last year, but at the beginning, he saw it a few days ago, send a message, when can I go to Braga, when is that I can't.
Even the technical staff still have the pleasure of talking to them. There are days, when... We, this year, are in a wave of more negative results, and they themselves, imagine, are careful to have the little star marked on Vizela, when we win they congratulate themselves, you know, and say go to fight. And so, because I think that from now on, that's what I tell you, in 10 years, and then you realize that, that football people. You really like people, even though you don't see them anymore, you know? It's that feeling, I usually say that... women can't hear this, but it's that love forever.
Miguel: Yeah, yeah.
João L: You know, it's like, you like that person, and after 5 years...
Miguel: And you may not be with her for 5 years, the relationship...
João L: You'll know her forever, that's it.
Miguel: That the relationship remains the same, and that's what's so good, and it seems that bonds are created in sport...
João L: Yes!
Miguel: …and in football, in our case, which are forever.
João L: It's because a year there really becomes a year. I usually say that we are, often, 3, 4 hours a day, we see each other naked, all the time, we play with everything, we take trips lasting 2, 3, 4 hours, we share moments of happiness and frustration, which then also marks us, obviously. You look back and you remember a game, a training session, whatever was there. And so, that's the thing, I'm happy, there it is, some of them worked with me in the Grêmio youth categories up to the U-20, and they're also in the A team, and they keep sending me messages, talking with me, because that's what I tell you, above all I try to treat everyone well, as a result of the education my father told me. Because my father says, all people are important, and it's true, in some way. You can absorb a little bit of each person. And then, you easily achieve it, so, giving good, you receive good. There is not…
Miguel: Yes, yes, I completely believe that. As we first have to give, to receive, because no one receives alone. And that's it. I also completely share the same opinion. At Grêmio you created friendships that still last, your experience there, we've talked about it many times, was incredible. Would you change your choice of returning to Portugal again, to work at Vizela, or would you stay there and earn your name, your name, the name you made here, and stay there and build your career there?
João L: You know that this question is that you have a road, and you have good and evil, or yes and no, there, okay ? There is always yes and no, and there is always good and bad, of you making whatever decision you make. I think it took me a while to accept the situation at the time. I came back because of a personal situation in my family, so I thought it would be good to be there, and I wanted to come back. You know that bittersweet feeling when you think, what if I had continued? Because what happened also has a lot to do with what you did. The size of the Grémio brand is something, let's say, worldwide, ok? I love being in Vizela, I don't hide it from anyone. I've had several opportunities to leave, and I continue, so it's been almost 10 years. But Grémio is that bittersweet feeling, you know? Because I wanted to go back, but it took me a while to accept that I had to go back, and I did, because my father deserved me to come back at the time. And then when I get there, an incredible welcome, all the people treating me very well, making me feel like part of the house, you know?
That thing, Brazilians have a very good thing, and even more so, they have a barbecue culture and you think that's just nonsense, but no. I finished all the... I got sick of meat, imagine. I, every training session, the training sessions ended and they said, oh, that's it, let's roast some meat. Again, again, but you end up doing it. And then, when I came back, I had to make the decision to come back.
So, I think this is... I value Grêmio a lot, a lot, I still follow them today, I watch the games, and that's also one of the things that makes me feel, you know, I'm still there, is watching Grêmio and Inter , the rivalry that exists. I participated in it, so it's another thing that makes me happy.
But when I came back, I had to bring my life here again, obviously, it was only there for a while, but it's different because you live there exactly because of the distances, you know? A close trip for them is 6 hours the first trip I took with them they told me, oh, we did we're going to play a game and it's close I got on the bus there, as if they say. Oops, and after 3 hours I'm already dead inside the bus, I get out. And they said, oh, it's almost, it's half done. And I, like half of it.
Miguel: Is this close?
João L: Close. So I'm going to cross the whole of Portugal.
Miguel: Exactly.
João L: And yeah, basically I crossed the whole of Portugal and I always did. And so that makes the relationships super close, I met most of their families, they were super receptive, but then there it is. I don't feel bad, thank God I look back and say, oh, I appreciated it. I left valued for my presence there, I think that one day I will return to work, either there or at another club in Brazil, honestly, because I really like the competition and how it is distributed there, but then I returned because I was also attracted by a project that 10 years ago years ago did not go through a project. Which 10 years ago was nothing more than a project, I think we all have projects in our lives, you have this one, luckily it's going well. I will have a next one too, I hope it also goes well but above all I believed in the words of someone who wanted to hire me which is Tiago, you also met him. And when he spoke to me he showed me something that in a space of 3, 4 years our goal will be to be in the first league we had two defeats we lost in playoff games completely incredible pain I still have that pain today. I remember exactly what happened in those games.
Miguel: In Vila Franquense.
João L: The agony that is there, due to the result. You win 34 games you win 30,
Miguel: You lose one.
João L: You lose one and you don't move up the division, but then things ended up happening. What is proof is that it was a shot, let's say, in full, it continues to this day, things are going well for me, I'm happy there, which is important. I'm happy with the people I work with and I value that a lot.
Miguel: That also feels good, that's also the most important thing, I was also there when Vizela lost to Vila Franquense at the time and then, no longer belonging to Vizela, I was there to celebrate their victories and Davi's as well when you saw the second league and the first league. I had it there too, but from outside the bus, seeing you up there spilling champagne on each other and those are also things that fill my heart.
João L: But you see, that's what I tell you, I remember so much. I remember more about the people around me and that's what I'm happy about too. I had friends from Porto, from my training area, who came to watch the games against Vila Franquense. I have the image of them the day I lost.
Miguel: That's really boring.
João L: People often say “people only remember when someone wins”. I even feel flattered by this, that I have the hug of a great friend of mine who has already invited me to come and work on a future team with him, for example, imagine. I already told you, one day we will work together, that's for sure.
Also because, imagine, that moment marked me and it's a moment, you say it's bad, but it's not bad, it's part of the process. It's part of the process, you know? No one just walks forward, many times you do, or you stay in place, or you take a step back and then realize that...
Miguel: And sometimes we can't even taste victory well if we haven't had any defeats in our lives.
João L: Of course, that's it, that's it. That's why when we went up, I think that above all it was also a relief for everyone, you know. Because we came with that cloud behind us, of two non-promotions in the playoffs and I think people deserved that a lot. And the groups were incredible, people got along really well. It was the context of Covid that meant we were even more together, because we couldn't live extra, so to speak. And then it tasted like that there, internally. Of course, our families are the first to savor all that, but I'm very grateful, it's there, in the same way, because that was a moment of learning and that made me value even more the victory and the promotions and the maintenance now, let's say.
Miguel: And not only do you represent Vizela now, as you represented Grémio there, but you also represented the University of Porto, 11-a-side football, 7-a-side football and beach football. Which modality did you like the most?
João L: Look…
Miguel: I always remember stories about you, about beach football and beach volleyball and you were amazing.
João L: It's incredible because I think that all of us here from Guimarães spend infinite time in Póvoa de Varzim. And then, you spend there 3, 4, 5, 6, 6 summers in a row, 7. At least I spent almost until I was 17 years old. As long as I can remember, my childhood was all about going with my nanny, who is my aunt because my parents worked and then I went with her for a month, then I went with the other, with my parents, and then I spent almost two months there. And you somehow end up enjoying, all of us, playing on the beach. What happened was that when I went to study in Porto, I had the good fortune to meet a Brazilian, imagine. That's Rodrigo, who nowadays trains as an individual coach in Singapore. When we met, even today, thank God, he is one of my best friends, and he had a very peculiar characteristic, because he was very similar to me in terms of personality, like, he looks like a child in a big body, you know? You know, that person who is joking about everything, who never seems to know how, when I say, I don't know how to be. It's like, he plays with everything, the timings are playful with everything. And what is true, even in that respect he corresponded well, he was left-wing, I was right-wing.
What happens? To play a game, when they proposed it to us, we went to train, we got along really well. Okay, what happened? That basically made us have good results, we unfortunately lost two finals, but there it is, it's part of it.
But we still managed it, for the Rio Games, imagine, we, today, there will also be this year, I saw yesterday, a colleague of ours, who also at that time represented the college, but in the beach handball modality, she will participate in showmatches , because there are sports that are not Olympic, but are self-proposed and it is handball, and Kiki in this case, yesterday I saw that she was one of those selected, and we at the time in 2016, we were one of those who were invited to participate in a tournament of 30 and they selected 2. Unfortunately we didn't make it, it was in Póvoa do Varzim, why? Because they played all their lives, they practiced that, and we had 3 years, and unfortunately we managed to beat them, but winning was, that's why Bruno Alves is successful, everyone knows what he did , because my whole life I did that. So it also made him an expert , and you know that experience ends up being important in this and so that was basically a gathering of people who were already involved in football, but who for some reason could no longer play because they were already coaches, I was also already I was there in Vizela.
So the timing of being able to study and participate in something where you can have relationships and you know that I often say that you learn a lot in a classroom, but you also learn a lot from the experience of others, you know?
Miguel: Without a doubt.
João L: And we were 12, 14 players and two of them were usually engineers, who are also my friends today and the rest were all in the sports area. What happens? You hear, oh, I did this in training, I had a player who did this to me. And it's that question of, oh, if I go through this situation, this happened to him. And you, somehow, listen and remain. There were almost four years of participation. I already participated, imagine, it was possible not to be a student and the following year, you would still participate. And I still went to participate.
Miguel: Fire.
João L: I went to Covilhã. And I went with Sousa. And from now on, Sousa too, I know you've already invited him, I hope to see him here. Imagine, Sousa and I were in Vizela and we went to represent the college in Covilhã with other people who are now also at Boavista. They also didn't play anymore but there it is, as the relationship was so good we took those, that day and a half let's say, we made the effort to train in one day, leave, go to Covilhã and come back, play again. Because WhatsApp groups still exist today, we see each other a lot, you know? And is...
Miguel: That's incredible, not only the sport itself and the achievements you've had, but there it is, making more friends and having these friendships that last a lifetime and are so special.
João L: Porto played a few days ago, Porto Legends against Real Madrid. I sometimes look at that and say, it must be good for them, after 15 years, to sit in the same place again... You'll miss it, you'll understand that, you're still playing now. But you will still understand that the day you stop playing, the thing I enjoy most is game day, really. And my position today on game day is totally different, which is to prepare 11 little monkeys to go inside and kill everything. Than me being one of the guys who goes in there, you know, and stabs them in the mouth and then I come. Because that's my personality, and so what do I try to show? That is the most important day of our lives, you know? What I always say, a lot of the time... I'm going to play on Sunday, my family will be there, Easter day, you know, like...
Miguel: Is it pressure?
João L: Raining, raining. A lot of the time, I lose, and you know my mom is incredibly terrified. She enters the stadium and after 10 minutes leaves. Because her pain is even greater than mine because I imagine whatever it is, you know? My sister is the same, my brother is the same, my father, my wife. And somehow, I realize that it moves people. That's why I tell the players, value this moment because you are representing much more. There are people who are proud of them every day. I always say, in football you have to be rational and passionate at the same time. You have to know what you are going to do, but you often have to know what you are representing. It's a club, it's a city, you know?
Miguel: It really is a city.
João L: That's it, like, and Vizela, for example, which is a small city. I always say, man, as long as Vizela continues at this level, it will be good, because the city will continue to be talked about. And I try to tell them, oh, you're not from here, I'm not from here either, but I became from Vizela. I already have a group of friends who are from there, you know? And I see their happiness, in their eyes, when I win, I say, I Vizela, I'm happy for them, you know? Like, a few days ago they went to see my brother, in Barcelos, and we won, and I said, oh, there's nothing I can do to thank you, thank you for being here, and be happy for me. Like raise your arms, you know. What I said was, look, I'm going to get you a shirt for each player and I have shirts to give to Tomás and Samu. Because it's like, once again, they're giving me, in some way it's support, you know. Along your path you are never alone, you always have people behind you, by your side.
Miguel: Exactly.
João L: And you are also happy because of that I know, thank God and him, so I always try to share my victories, but they are not mine, they are many other people.
Miguel: From the group that supports you
João L: Exactly.
Miguel: And that group will always support you there, not just in the good times but in the bad times, as you said.
João L: Yes!
Miguel: Like Vilafranquense . Do you think those two non-qualifications were your lowest point in football, something that made you sadder, or was there another story, or another event that left you more shaken?
João L: No, I have one which is, I'm in Vizela, but I already left, I came back, because I had a disagreement with someone. Today, I have the notion that I would do things in a completely different way. And I feel hurt, but then, there it is. The way, when I came back, I saw people receiving it. That was worth the six months, let's say, that I had away from the club.
It was a huge happiness, I saw players, and when I say players, they are not players, right there, when I enter one day, after I sign again, I enter the stadium again, I enter the club, I enter the locker room , I see men, men coming running and hugging me. And you know what hugs are like in football, it's hugging, it's punching. Their happiness was already a win for me. Do you understand? So, I always say, that bad moment, or less good, because I myself know that I was to blame, because there it is, my mouth is very close, it's here, the fire is all here. And so, today I did it in a totally different way, but it was worth it, you know? and the non-climbing divisions, a huge pain is a pain that the swear word had to come right after. It's a really horrible pain! The first year, you know, it's like they start with one leg, man, but then you, oh, ok, now I can stretch my leg. The second year, when we didn't climb, I'll be honest with you, I had 10 days in house where I didn't want to leave the house, I didn't want to talk to anyone. Because you didn't know what you, I no longer knew what I wanted to do, like, and maybe next year I don't want to continue working on this, because you doubt everything, it's part of the doubt, but then football too and this is what sport is, they are cycles that regenerate.
Every year there are players who come and go, there are technical committees that come and go, there are presidencies that come and go, the results are not always the same and so that's what you have to understand that these are cycles that regenerate themselves and you have of having the ability to adapt to them. And today, yes, I am a totally adaptable being. And this also comes from maturity, obviously. Because, apparently not, I'm still young, I'm 35. And people often say, oh, your work is a hobby. Because people consider, I usually say, oh, I'm going to tell you how many times he has to jump, it's obvious, I don't jump, I'm not operational but you have to understand, so I know he has to jump 10 .
Miguel: There’s a lot of study…
João L: There is a lot of study behind it. Exactly. It's not about me ah, you're going to order it. Ok, but knowing how to do it, what to do…
Miguel: …it’s just that he jumps 8 and doesn’t jump 6.
João L: Exactly. And so, that's a lot, man. And thank God then, things went well. Today they are worth it, and I'm happy above all, I think that's it
Miguel: This is the most important thing. Even because football brings us happiness, it brings us sorrows. In my case, I think that football, by participating in the sport since I was young, since I was 5, 6 years old and being involved in the competition during that phase, brought me a lot of ambition, not only in sport but also in life because obviously we compete every weekends at tournaments, etc. and we always want to win. We always want to, because winning is what brings us the happiness and joy of celebrating with friends.
Do you feel that football brought you not only the memories and friendships it brought, but for you, extra-football brought some tool that you consider more important?
João L: I think we are a multitask , you know? I think we are a Swiss army knife that we also know beyond what it means to compete in sport, after all those are relationships that are formed and that have to be resolved, ok? And I think we're an easy fix, okay?
Therefore, your ability to deal with a group, speak in a group, and know how to react to a more adverse situation. Because there are problems in sport that do not have a direct transfer, say, to our personal lives. But the problem is that personal life has less good days.
Miguel: Of course.
João L: And you somehow say, oh, when I lost the game I was very sad and then I had to get up and get back on my feet. In our personal lives the same thing ends up happening. You have a bad day, bad things happen, unfortunately, in life. And you have to have that ability. I know that talking is easy here, because we all sometimes take a day, two days, three days to recover from whatever it may be. But I think that what competition gives you is a lot of tools, let's say, to solve, not everything, but most situations, you know? Because you are prepared for a lot.
And so I always say, sport, and I have a godson now, I always say, oh man, I don't want him to be a player. And even if I have a son, I already told Xana, I don't want him to be a player. To begin with, I don't want him to play football, I want him to play futsal, which is my biggest passion, but whatever, and I say, if he comes to my side and tells me, hey, I want to go to basketball . Oh, he's going to basketball, you don't have to want him to play that just because you like that. Do you understand? You don't have... It's obvious that in some way you always want to guide the people around you. I wanted to guide my brother, I wanted to guide my sister, because that is educating. It's up to you, like, look, you should do this, but if she doesn't want to, and if she doesn't want to, oh, that's their decision.
Miguel: And that mentality I think is also a bit lacking, because now you see the parents, and we sometimes see 8, 9 year old kids playing games, and we see the parents in the stands, furious with what's going on inside. field. Insulting everyone, because it seems that they are the ones in there, they are the ones who are living it, instead of letting the kids live and sometimes even a kid may not want to be there in the sport or may not want to practice to football and it seems that more and more parents, seeing the success and money involved in the sport,
João L: Yes!
Miguel: They want people to be there, and sometimes, obviously, against the doctors' wishes.
João L: I follow the games closely, in this case, and Gonçalo's evolution, and the first thing I say, and fortunately, and he has good examples, the mother doesn't get involved in anything, neither does the father, the Xana doesn't either, but they feel pain, they get upset when he plays less time, when he fails something, but it's part of it.
When I receive him after a game the first thing I ask him, to begin with is to devalue the game, and when I say devalue the game it is the result, if he scored a goal, if he didn't because I always say, I wasn't a player of goals I was a passing player. I would rather play well than score a goal, ok but I said, I tell you, Gonçalo, did you like the game? Did you like the game, like, did you see that boy, haven't you seen that boy in a long time?
Exactly, because I think it's a lot like that, so now you've touched on something that sometimes I prefer not to talk about much, it's like, sometimes I feel uncomfortable because of other people's shame, you know?
Miguel: That's it.
João L: That is, I go to watch Gonçalo play, and I go to many tournaments and sometimes it is normal, you are playing one field here another field there, I see the right expression is figures, of people. And when it's like that, I would, like, try to get away from the edge, move closer, I see the game very calmly. They are children, let them do whatever they want.
Miguel: Let us have fun.
João L: Let us be happy for God’s sake.
Miguel: But then you also have the other, the other side, the other spectrum. In this case, where this no longer happens so much, for example in athletics. I don't see that happening anymore, I think it's a sport where people also control themselves more and express their support for people in a different way, with more passion, and you work with people in athletics who are now participating or they are trying to enter the Olympic Games again, for the third time it is Salomé Rocha. What is it like to work in this field and get away from football a little bit, to work in this field, and on top of that with an Olympic athlete?
João L: The first thing I have to say is, and this goes to my players and they have to hear this, is that football trains very little, they think they train a lot, which is very hard. Forget that, football is an increasingly demanding sport, okay? And I can see this from the GPS data due to the intensity that the game today requires, but I always say. Salomé in a competition or pre-competition phase runs 200 and a few kilometers per week.
Miguel: Imagine, 200 kilometers a week.
João L: In the midst of all this, there is the muscle strengthening that we have to do, there is a series of treatments that she has to undergo, she lives to compete, ok? I say this, she wakes up in the morning, she goes for a run, she goes for lunch, she lies down in a tent, she sleeps inside a tent, inside the house, to simulate altitude, ok? To recover faster and to be more prepared if it is a little more humid or stuffy that day.
Miguel: That's an incredible mindset.
João L: It's something I sometimes say to a player, hey, put your legs up a little bit because of the venous return, it'll help you, work on your flexibility a little more. Oh, you understand? It's like, Salomé's life, ok, this is what it's for, like, my biggest, let's say, victory is being able to work at the level of these types of athletes. Because she, and they often, run in front of our stadium, and they look and say, man, she's going fast, it's her recovery training.
Miguel: And they, wow.
João L: And they, wow, it's recovery, that. And then, you said something very funny, which was what I also really wanted to tell you. Salomé has training groups where there are people who only go to train with her, they don't compete. Which is almost like the so-called hare, which goes to set times, to help set the pace .
She can't run listening to anything, she has to run suffering, she has to understand if she's going to run today at 4 at 3.50, at 3.40, at 3.20 she knows her body at that point, ok? And she has people who share her dream without being part of her dream because in football, when you launch the eleven you have seven or nine boys who are sick and not playing and it's painful, but they can still come in, but There are others who are left out, which is even worse, but that's the selection, unfortunately. But she, she trains with people who have her dynamics and will train with her just to keep pace with her. It's something you say, oh but they are sacrificing themselves for it. Exactly.
Miguel: So she can get there.
João L: So she can already have the participations and now she will have the other two attempts to go. And it's obvious, when she hears me say this, even if she doesn't succeed, she has to be happy, because she gives everything.
Miguel: This is the most important thing.
João L: Do you understand? She will reach the end, of course it will hurt. After 3 to 4 months she will take the pressure off her shoulders and say, oh, I gave everything, I did everything.
Miguel: And I'll try again in 4 years.
João L: Exactly. And a lot of the time, that's the funny thing, which is, football players want to be stronger and faster in a month, you know. And the Bolt has that mythical phrase that I worked four years to lower a second.
Miguel: Exactly.
João L: One second.
Miguel: It's crazy. Exactly. And there is always competition, every week in football, as they prepare for competitions that take place?
João L: For specific tests, to reach their plateau, let's say, which is two months, three months. For example, we are now working on a five-week block, because it goes at the end of April, you know? So what happens? You plan everything in detail over five weeks, not week by week. It's obviously painful, because in football you play, but you lose and you have a chance right away. Not there, you look at it in a more macro, bigger way and from there you decide, oh, this is going to be my moment to test myself, to see how I'm doing and then you'll understand what you have to do.
Miguel: And do you feel more fulfilled working in this aspect of athletics or do you always prefer football?
João L: I just still have it... When I say it's still a dream, I would love for Salomé to be there while I was. Because I started working with her after an Olympic cycle. I would love for her to go so I could go. Because that is one of my biggest goals because there is no greater goal than representing your country.
Miguel: No.
João L: Oh no. Champions League, Intercontinental, across the sea. There can be anything, but knowing that you are representing your country is your greatest achievement. So, I always say, mine, after reaching the Primeira Liga, is clearly to participate in something for Portugal, in the Olympic Games it would be incredible and then I'm not lying.
I said this a few days ago at the club, I was working hard in cycling. Because I wanted to see, everyone says, oh they all dope and everything else, get on the bike and do what they do, then you'll see.
Miguel: Riding a bike for 200 km and 1000 km during a week.
João L: Exactly. And then, at the end of the race, you still have to ride the bike to remove the lactate that is in your body, so you can get back on the bike the next day.
Miguel: Climbing Everest.
João L: Exactly, exactly. Wow, then, but unfortunately I think it will be very difficult because I have no experience in the area, but I already said, the day I have temporary capacity. For some reason, I didn't work for a while. I will propose myself to a team and I will want to know their reality.
Miguel: To learn a little too.
João L: Yes, and then it’s a lot like this. You like football and team sports, then you see that individual sports are incredible, Carlos da Salomé, even though she has team competitions. But then, I think that those who are in physical condition like me, or in physical preparation like me, have a lot of idols who are somehow not represented in our daily society, but who are guys... the guy is incredible, like a country like Portugal is small and already has, in the UCI, the maximum division, perhaps 20 cyclists. They may only be top 2, 3, but the rest are there, people have no idea how difficult it is to be in a world category. It's very difficult if you're in a national category, you're representing someone in a world championship. Is very difficult. You are in a national category, you represent someone in a national championship, it is very difficult. Much more to represent in a world cup, whatever the sport.
Miguel: And on top of that, in a country where...
João L: The money is channeled.
Miguel: Little money is channeled into sport.
João L: For our sport.
Miguel: And what is for sport is almost all for football.
João L: Exactly. But then, when the Olympians arrive, they want to turn on the television and demand that the guy wins
Miguel: Win the sport. This is very difficult and how is it there and they need a lot of motivation. And how do you manage to convey that motivation, not only to Salomé but also to the players, not only on a physical level, being well and committed to your plan, but also with the training and nutrition program.
João L: Ok, look, this morning I was saying this to a player, who was, I told him, look, I'm not going to count the repetitions you're going to do, because there comes a stage where I worry carefree, and this is what? If I tell him it's 10, and he has to do 10, if I tell him it's 20, and do you know why? He's not stealing from me.
Miguel: He's stealing himself.
João L: Exactly. I always say, basically, you're always being tested weekly, okay? Then, of course, there are speed tests, like we did today, there are assessments of body composition, jumping, a series of things where you see, oh, the guy is predisposed or not, has improved or not. Wow, but then there are also many conditions, the athlete is in peak form, if he isn't, he plays, if he doesn't play, that's it. But above all, I always try to show them that they are fighting for their lives, for their dream, and you know that my dream is not the same as, for example, Alex, who is American. Okay, he's Mexican. He says he's Mexican, but he's American to me. And I always say, man, you have to find ways to make your dreams come true. And you have to dream upwards, always. Big ones. Man, it hurts a lot when a guy thinks, I want that, but the light is on.
Miguel: The light is on and I'm going to have to work hard to get there.
João L: A lot. Wow, but that's okay. Because if you work here, even if you don't get there, you will get here.
Miguel: You'll get there.
João L: Exactly. And then, somehow, you end up achieving something even more. And so, I think, more than anything, it's not just treating us like athletes. OK?
And when I say this, it's... It's super important. When I say this, we, who are part of a football club, know if he sleeps well. But it's not just whether he sleeps well, it's whether he has a child and whether his child lets him sleep. If the woman is here and the only woman is here and if they are happy if they need help with something at home. Because it's super difficult to be a thousand, two thousand, three thousand kilometers from home, sometimes you don't master the barrier, the language.
Miguel: Exactly.
João L: Hey, so what happens? More than anything, the first thing you have to do is, you have to show yourself available to him. And then from there you say, OK, okay, you see, you sacrifice so much, you're away from your family, sometimes just once a year, twice. Try, find your strength, and I'll be the guy who gives you a little push, me, the physicists, the directors. Man, because that's our job, we need them, like, I always say, I'm not the one who's going to put the ball in the goal, and they themselves, they don't need to put the ball in the goal, but they need to achieve small things , and this is their sweat, what is it?
Once again, they realize that every day they have to find a way. There are less good days and less bad days, and that's when I also say that I'm important, which is, I have to understand when he's upset with his wife.
something is fucked up, and here I am, what do I do? A lot of the time, they have pre-workout and post-workout, post-workout, the guy comes to my side and tells me, he's fucked up with something.
Miguel: Of course.
João L: So, what do I do? Dude, a lot of the time they have training and post-training. After training, the guy comes to my side and tells me “I need to go home, I need something”, friend, it's for me, it's much more important for him to go home.
Miguel: And feel happy.
João L: Because after the next day, do you know what it is? I gave you my hand, the day I reach their brink. I, man, today I really need you to tell them life, he will give life,
Miguel: Exactly.
João L: Because he realized that in some way, you are there for him, you know? That's why my position is, it's not about being ungrateful, I work from Monday to Sunday, people don't know this, people think that, oh, the game is on Sunday, and people have Monday and Tuesday off , but forget that, we don't take time off, it's Monday to Sunday, all day there, why? Because I have to think about the guy who plays, but I have to think about the guy who doesn't play, and the guy who doesn't play, the next day he's screwed, because he didn't play. And he says, oh my, there will be someone at the stadium, there will be, and we have to go there, open the door, give the guy training, look, you know why? Because, once again, today he's not here, but tomorrow he could be the one playing, and there's no point in me just wanting to know about the starting eleven, and it's not despising myself, it's like, not giving so much feedback to others, and it was one of the first things I noticed.
You will remember the athlete in question. I don't think he knows this, and those are the things I keep forever. Do you remember our Zé Luís, our left back?
Miguel: Zé Leão.
João L: Zé Leão, exactly, who was a completely hard-working guy, you told him, oh Zé, you have to run into the wall two hundred times. Friend, and he would go against the wall two hundred times, and he wouldn't even question it, he would come out of there all messed up, with his face on, but he would go,
Miguel: I was already running
João L: Already done.
Miguel: Is there anything else that needs to be done?
João L: And there was a period when he wasn't playing, and that was my biggest concern, man. It gives him comfort, and when I say comfort, it's like, well Zé, do it, you did well, you did well. And he had something he said, oh mister, now I understand something, now that I'm a substitute. You talk a lot more with the substitutes than with the starters. I said sure, dammit.
Miguel: You are the ones who need the most affection.
João L: The others, so happy, are playing. Like, I don't know if you'll be playing tomorrow, but what happens, I can't let you fall, and what do I have to do? Oh, to give you encouragement, and when I say encouragement, I mean, if you had a bad time, I will say that you had a bad time, but you do things well. But for some reason the coach chose the other to play, because he thought it was good, I have, and Zé has these words for me, oh mister, now I realize that you, reveal yourself much more, who you don't play with. And I told him, of course Zé, you have to do it, because part of it, once again, is sensitivity. Like, I don't need to say, the guy who's scoring 20 goals, do you think I need me to give him something?
Miguel: To say something.
João L: Look good. The guy is happy, things are going well for him, of course, I occasionally say, look, you did this well, you did this well, man, but, pulling, talking, being close, it has to be like that, it has to be like that.
Miguel: And now also, to finish, do you have any advice, for those who are studying, or who want to pursue this area, that you, as a friend, not just as a professional, would give them?
João L: Ok, especially in our area, ok? I told you that I can play 3, 4 roles in a club. And they all have different names, and I think that's exactly what it is, the sports sciences, which I studied in Porto, at FADEUP, they are very comprehensive. It is very difficult, often, at an early stage, for you to understand exactly what you want to be. So, don't think you're going to leave college being an expert and mastering everything, because you won't, okay?
I myself, I still study today, this morning I was talking to Suor and Pedro, a Spaniard, and they were asking me something, and they said, ah, you know a lot of things, and I still see you reading a lot of things. I said, of course, for starters, science is always, always changing. It's like everything, like, nothing is, stopped in time, so I have to always, always look for it. And I think part of that is personal investment, and when I say personal investment, it's not about buying the best training, trying to see books, because above all I learned a lot from books. That's it, I had the good fortune of Professor José Augusto, who told me, oh, look, if you want to understand speed, the Europeans listen to the Italians. And what did I do?
Ah, the Italians, whoever writes literature in Italy, and has it in Portuguese, damn, I bought it. Come on, it's been the Russians forever. Oops, so it's Berko Chansky, or Oscar. You see, and I taught myself. My brother is now starting, and the thing I tell him most is, oh João, it's obvious that you're going to have an ease that I never had, because my family wasn't like that, ok? And I tell him, I always say, look, look, or see this guy, see this one, see this one.
Miguel: You already help him.
João L: I already help him, and I didn't have that, but there I am, I was also fortunate to have these teachers, who as they were talking, I realized, oh, no, I fell, the guy says this, I'm going to read this, I'm going to read this, I'm going to read this. And that's it, man, it was a group of gathering all the materials there, and understanding, and I still write today. My friends joke, oh, you wrote a 10-page e-book. Okay, write something 10 pages long.
Miguel: Exactly.
João L: Understanding what it takes to write 10 pages, come up with 10 themes, and in those 10 themes, try to come up with simple forms that everyone understands, is difficult, very difficult. And today, in mine, I have two backpacks, which I always carry, there is one of the backpacks that I have there, maybe, 100 pages written by hand, ok? What is it for? Possibly, over time, I will pass on things that I want, leaving them, for others to see, experiences, you know? Because I think it's important, there's no point in me knowing everything, that it's not knowing everything, that no one knows everything, but there's no point in me knowing a lot...
Miguel: Knowing who to pass it to.
João L: Exactly, you understand? The thing, I say, I always say, the thing I like most, is when, somehow, someone comes, man, oh, look, they told me, for some reason, that you were good in this area, you can- help me? Can you, what should I look for? What should I read? Man, and without any problem, look, I read this, this, this, this, this. It's investing, friend. As you do. All of us.
Miguel: It's exact. Complete this sentence for me, I don't know if you'll make it. Football or athletics?
João L: Ah, I'll tell you football.
Miguel: Okay.
João L: But hard, hard.
Miguel: Football or futsal?
João L: Ah, hard. OK. No, no, no. Futsal.
Miguel: Futsal?
João L: Do you know why? I will explain to you. I often can't watch a football game, because, unfortunately, sometimes the game is boring, ending 0-0, and futsal, for example, is now, the final eight, being played , and teams are playing that no one knows in Portugal, let's say, that most people, nowadays, will end up knowing, which is Dinamo Sanjoanense , Zêzere , man, local teams, provinces, let's say, that represent provinces, which manage, like, not to fight Sporting or Benfica , but manage, like,
Miguel: Go there.
João L: Go close by, you understand? And then I can see everything. Last night I was watching Belenenses-Sporting, you know? And I wanted to see it, and now I will continue to follow it, because the game is more beautiful.
Miguel: And what phrases would you say now, if you were here, or you were on a call, or if your best friend was in front of you, what would you say to him? Anything.
João L: Ah, my best friend is my brother, ok? First of all, I never wanted my brother to do the same thing as me, you know? Because somehow you have that slight feeling. My parents tell me, oh, João wants to be like you. And I don't want him to be like me. I want him to do things well, whatever that may be. But the word I say most often, that I have, is that I love. Because it's... Xana is always telling me, oh, one day you have a child, you'll see. Or do I really want to have a child, do you know who? Which is to eliminate this love that I have for my brother and my sister. Because, unfortunately, I feel like a lot of the time it's irrational. He knows? Like, I protect... They can come here, and they come in here and break your roof. And I say, oops, he had some reason to break the ceiling. Do you understand? Exactly. Because I've... Many times, like, my brother did something and I defended him. And then I tell you, it's an irrational love, it's stupid. And I, the only word I have for it, is like, it's a feeling. It's just that I like him, I really love the guy.
Miguel: João, thank you for accepting the invitation once again.
João L: Ah, happy. I hope I wasn't extensive.
Miguel: And sincerely, it's a conversation like this, without a doubt that I won't forget, even because of the friendship we have. And as for you guys, get ready for another Inspired by Legends episode .
I guarantee you it will be as good or better than this one. Big hug.
João Luís Faria Azevedo's trajectory is an inspiring testimony of how passion, persistence and the desire to learn help in building a successful career. His experience goes beyond his solid training in Sports Science, João has stood out in national and international sport.
When listening to the podcast, you can expect an exciting conversation and discover João Luís' motivations, how he overcame obstacles and how he continues in his pursuit of excellence. Their unconditional support for the players demonstrates their character, dedication and passion for the sport.
It's never too late to dream .