PAULO SOUSA: People say there are too many foreigners in the Premier League... but there is nothing to stop more English players moving abroad to get opportunities

Published: 01:12 EST, 23 September 2013 | Updated: 01:12 EST, 23 September 2013

Paulo Sousa is a former Portugal international, who enjoyed a distinguished career, and won the Champions League in consecutive seasons. He retired in 2002, and began a coaching career in England with QPR in 2008. He has since managed Swansea City, Leicester, Hungarian side Videoton - where Sousa won a cup and league title - before joining Israeli club Maccabi Tel-Aviv at the start of this current campaign. In this Footballers' Football Column, Sousa talks about his time in English football, why Swansea are so appreciated both at home and abroad, while he also discusses the greatest managers he played under - including Sven Goran Eriksson and Bobby Robson.

I have managed five clubs in the last five years - QPR, Swansea, Leicester, Videoton and now Maccabi Tel Aviv. As a manger, I am always looking for a project that is medium to long-term. It is the best way to develop and consolidate a project between myself, the board and the fans. But from the beginning, at QPR, I found out it doesn't work like that!

I'm sure everyone saw the fly-on-the-wall documentary about QPR: The Four Year Plan. (the programme showed co-owner Flavio Briatore and sporting director Gianni Palladini ordering Sousa to make certain substitutions). Football is full of surprises. It is clear in the documentary how I feel. The manager should always pick the players and make decisions over transfers. That is how I felt then and it is how I feel now. I just tried to do my best and work in the best direction for the players.

I then moved to Swansea, where we had a fantastic year and finished seventh in the Championship. At the end of the season, I moved to Leicester - a decision I do regret. At the time, I felt Leicester gave me more guarantees in terms of infrastructure and they had previously been in the Premier League. I regret the decision because Leicester were under new ownership. They were changing people, changing mentality and making decisions without a vision. It was a risk and it turned out to be a negative one for me.

Fresh challenge: Paulo Sousa took over as manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv in the summer

Dream team: Sousa with general manager Jordi Cruyff

Aim: Sousa says he wants to win the Champions League as a manager to add to his two medals as a player

I had no doubt that Swansea were heading in the right direction. Swansea are a club with a clear vision and a defined model. The style of play is defined, the kind of players they target is clearly defined and the profile of managers is defined. It allows for great continuity. You can change the people but the vision remains the same. Roberto Martinez, myself, Brendan Rodgers and Michael Laudrup all helped the club to progress and the philosophy has remained consistent.

I think it is outstanding for Wales to now have both Cardiff and Swansea in the Premier League. It will make for some fierce derby matches, too! It is really encouraging. They deserve all this success. The people in Wales are fantastic.

Some people may wonder - why Maccabi Tel Aviv? Maccabi was an attraction because of the ambition of the three main people at the club: the owner, Mitch Goldhar, the general manager Jack Angelides and the sporting director, Jordi Cruyff, who approached me during last season. He remained in touch with me and kept me updated. They showed a clear ambition and a clear project with results, last season winning the title with Oscar Garcia, who is now at Brighton. We are in the Europa League, too.

Of course, it is completely different to England and the Championship. I will always remember and thank Briatore for the opportunity he gave me to be in England, despite what happened. England is a completely different and unique environment, incomparable to other leagues. What I like about Israel is the passion and intensity of the crowd. There is nothing better than packed stadiums and feeling the base emotions with the fans during the game.

I know there is a lot of concern in England about the amount of overseas players - in Israel, you are only allowed five foreign players. Football is being driven towards globalisation. The players come to England but English players can go outside of their own country, too. Today, the professional English player is different to ten years ago.

The way they approach the game, the way they train, their professionalism and what they do outside of training is completely different now. They have the mentality now to be able to play abroad. So why don't more English players take the leap? It is simple. The English league is the best league to play in and it is where everybody still wants to play.

I don't think the English league is the best in terms of quality. But it is the most popular and the one that everybody wants to play in. The way of living, the intensity and the unpredictability of the English game is hugely attractive. The top team can lose against the bottom team. I'm not sure that's the case in Spain, for example.

Not going to plan: Sousa addresses the QPR squad alongside co-owner Flavio Briatore

Back to back winner: Sousa won the Champions League in successive seasons with Borussia Dortmund who beat Juventus and the season before with Juve against Ajax

I played with some amazing players, like Luis Figo and Roberto Baggio. It is not only about talent for these players, it is about professionalism and personality. They are outstanding individuals. All these players have ambitions to progress each and every day and to become stronger. It is not only for themselves but for the club and the crowd. The best recognition a football player can have is when the crowd is satisfied.

I am one of only four players to have won the UEFA Champions League in consecutive seasons. I did it with Juventus and Dortmund in 1996 and 1997. Marcel Desailly (Marseille and Milan), Gerard Pique (Manchester United and Barcelona) and Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona and Inter) are the other three to do it. It would be amazing to do it as a manager, too. This is one of my targets.

There are clubs where managers start immediately with great opportunities - we're talking about the top two clubs in the best leagues. They give you the greatest chance of success. The gap between the top clubs and the rest is getting bigger and bigger. Money talks. They have bigger budgets, better players and this guarantees results.

Regret: Sousa says it was a mistake to leave Swansea for Leicester

Golden greats: Sousa played for Portugal at the same time as Rui Costa and Luis Figo - but did not win anything

On of the greats: Roberto Baggio is one of the best players Sousa played with in his career

But I believe in projects and visions. Look at Swansea, the aim is not to win the Champions League, but they have great credit for their football not only in England but abroad too. Porto have won two Champions Leagues. They have a vision, pattern and culture with the way they play and the players they buy. They have an identity. This is how I believe it should be done everywhere.

I was part of the 'Golden Generation' with Portugal along with the likes of Figo and Rui Costa. We won the Under-20 World Cup but didn't manage to win a senior tournament. We went close in the Euros a couple of time.

We didn't quite do it but there are other countries with greater resources. I think we were were very close. We kept thinking it might be possible. You can compare us to Holland, who have always had a great quality of player but it hasn't quite happened. Primarily, though, we are countries that develop and educate players. Our clubs sell to balance the football economy and the economy of the country.

 

Impact: Sousa enjoyed working under Carlos Queiroz, Sven Goran Eriksson, Marcello Lippi and Bobby Robson

I have been fortunate to play under some truly excellent coaches in different countries. Carlos Queiroz developed my technical and tactical understanding of the game. Then I had the opportunity to play under Sven Goran Eriksson. I grew up playing as a winger, as a number nine and a number ten.

He played me as a pivot in front of the defence. Then, Marcelo Lippi and Italian football with Juventus. That made me appreciate the tactical side of the game - how to understand opponents and create strategies to win games. Ottmar Hitzfeld was fantastic at Dortmund with his leadership. He really guided the group and made influentials decision during the game.

I only played for Sir Bobby Robson for six months at Sporting Lisbon but I will never forget the impact he made on me. The experience he had and the enthusiasm he showed for the game was infectious. It is something I'm still feeling now. I can not forget Bobby. He helped me to be what I am today. I can still feel his enthusiasm and love for the game all the time and I will never forget him. He was a wonderful man and he motivated me and helped me to believe in myself. 

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