Former Portugal international Oceano Cruz will lead the under-20 team after already coaching the under-21s between 2009 and 2010, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) announced on Wednesday.
“I am excited about this return to a place that I have always considered my ‘home’, the ‘home’ of all of us. It is my intention to contribute my experience gained over the years with the aim of Portuguese to help football I have always loved working with young people, this is visible in my career, in my career in the national team under 21, in Sporting’s B team and also in the renovation works that have been done in Iran.”said Oceano to the website of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF).
On the other hand, Oceano also stressed the importance of returning to work in his country, because “going back to Portugal is great”.
“I spent seven years in Iran, two years in Colombia. It was a long time away and being back in our country is very positive, even from a family point of view. I am very happy to be here and try to join our team”he said.
In addition, the opportunity to return to work in Cidade do Futebol is something that motivates Oceano, since the “conditions are extraordinary”.
“At the time of the Under-21 there was none of this and, above all, things were very different in terms of ‘scouting’. The teams did not focus as much on young people as they do now. This is due to their use in the clubs”he said.
These conditions make it possible, according to Oceano, to exist today “a much more professional recruitment profession”in addition to “breathing a fantastic atmosphere and feeling positive energy in Cidade do Futebol”, where everything is concentrated in the same space, which is why he believes that “it was one of the best bets the FPF made”.
The former under-20 coach Bino Maçães, whose last game for that team ended in a 3-0 defeat to the Czech Republic, in Opava, remains in the FPF and changes tier.
Source: DN
