Andre Villas-Boas
Birthplace: Porto, Portugal
Previous Clubs: British Virgin Islands, Academica de Coimbra, Porto, Chelsea
Honours: Portuguese Primeira Liga: 2011; Portuguese Cup: 2011;Portuguese Super Cup: 2010; UEFA Europa League: 2011
Profile
Villas-Boas firmly arrived on the scene in his first season at FC Porto when he won a treble of league, cup and Europa League, and took the team to an unbeaten league 2010-11 campaign. A move to Chelsea ensued for the man known affectionately, and for ease of headline-writing, as AVB -- but things did not go to plan and he was sacked by the Blues in March 2012. However, he was soon back in Premier League management, replacing Harry Redknapp at Tottenham in July 2012.
Andre Villas-Boas celebrates winning the Europa League
Villas-Boas' career as a player never got off the ground. Indeed, he had plans to become a football reporter but a break at FC Porto came courtesy of neighbour Sir Bobby Robson, who invited the 16-year-old to training while in charge in the mid-90s before later offering him a job in the club's youth set-up. The coach has insisted that Robson was key to his development, maintaining that: "He was decisive in the love I feel for this profession and for the doors he opened for me at that age. I owe him."
Villas-Boas' English language skills -- his grandmother is from Cheadle, near Manchester -- saw him impress in Portugal and he gained his UEFA C coaching license at the age of 17, before moving to become the head coach of the British Virgin Islands national team at only 21. Moving back to Porto to take charge of the Under-19 side, he picked up his B and A licenses and would later be promoted to study under another young manager named Jose Mourinho as his assistant.
Learning from a master, he was a key component of the club's success in claiming the 2004 UEFA Champions League and was labelled Mourinho's "eyes and ears" by the man himself. Therefore, it was no surprise when Villas-Boas followed Mourinho to Chelsea and then Inter Milan. At Chelsea, his role was to compile Opponent Observation Department (OOD) reports - basically a secret service-style dossier on Chelsea's rivals, and usually delivered as a DVD presentation. However, a year after Mourinho had taken on a new chapter of his career at Inter in 2009-10, Villas-Boas took the decision to cut the cord and try and make it on his own.
He soon found a job in the Portuguese Primeira Liga with Academica de Coimbra, filling a vacancy created by Rogerio Goncalves. Taking over a club in crisis, he was so effective that the side finished 11th that season and also reached the Portuguese League Cup semi-finals. The team's attacking style gained praise and he was linked with a move to Sporting Lisbon, before he moved back to Porto again to take on the manager's role after the departure of Jesualdo Ferreira.
His Porto side -- which remains a better representation of his favoured footballing style than his efforts with Chelsea or Tottenham thus far -- was a perfect example. Porto had talented midfielders, but they didn't hold onto possession for the sake of it -- they attempted to transfer the ball into the final third as quickly as possible. Porto were relentless, powerful and determined, consistently launching wave after wave of direct, immediate attacks. Opponents were overblown by their sheer force, rather than cut open slowly by their subtlety.
His first title arrived when Porto beat Benfica 2-0 in the Portuguese Supercup and more were to follow as one of the most impressive debut seasons in recent memory (probably since Mourinho took the Porto reins, in fact) also saw him take the Portuguese Primeira Liga (unbeaten), UEFA Europa League and Portuguese Cup titles. However, his head turned by interest from Chelsea, Villas-Boas resigned in the summer and after the Blues met his record €15 million buyout clause, he followed in the footsteps of Mourinho by swapping Estadio do Dragao for Stamford Bridge.
He was not to tread the same trophy-laden path at Chelsea as his compatriot, though. Tasked with bringing a youthful flavour to the club by owner Roman Abramovich, he attempted to overhaul the remnants of the Mourinho era but faced stiff opposition from the older players in his squad who were unwilling to step aside. Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba were among those who he attempted to phase out in favour of fresh faces, but pressure from supporters and the dressing-room led him to reverse those decisions and eventually he appeared to lose control, resulting in his sacking in March 2012. Further salt was rubbed into the wounds when the same squad that had struggled under him went on to win the FA Cup and Champions League under Roberto Di Matteo.
Villas-Boas was not out of work for long, though, with Chelsea's London rivals Tottenham calling on him to lead a new era at the club ahead of the 2012-13 season. He made plenty of changes at the club and overcame some early scepticism to challenge for a Champions League place in his debut campaign, though his side ultimately fell just short of north London rivals Arsenal.
Strengths: A strategic thinker who has learned from the very best in his short career.
Weaknesses: His age was viewed as the main cause of his struggles at Stamford Bridge, as he was unable to command the respect of and control the big personalities of the club's veterans. Stubbornness. Tinkering with team selection, substitutions.
Career high: Clinching the treble with FC Porto in 2010-11, which included the Europa League trophy.
Career low: Being axed by Chelsea after failing to stamp his authority on the club.
Tactics: Said to be obsessed with tactics, he holds special 30-minute tactical teach-ins the day after every match -- plus sessions after each training stint. He likes a lone centre-forward, with an attacking 4-3-3 in the shape of the formation Mourinho employed in his early days at Chelsea. Against stronger opponents, the wide players tuck in and create a solid 4-1-4-1 system, but counter attacking is still a key part of the philosophy. There is also great emphasis placed on a team ethic and he has been quoted as saying: "If a midfielder does not fight for me, he does not have a place in the team."
Quotes: "People focus a lot on the work of the manager and I don't see it that way.
I don't see myself as a one-man show. Football isn't won by one person but by collective competence. It is the quality of the players and the structure of the club.'' Andre Villas-Boas, May 2011.
Trivia: He became the youngest manager ever to win a European competition when he guided Porto to the Europa League at 33 years and 213 days of age.
And now.........................
"Andre Villas-Boas needs wins not words as Tottenham's manager fires back at critics"
Spurs have had 178 attempts at goal this season, more than any other side in the top flight, but they also have the worst conversion rate - 5.4 per cent.
"The only thing that we have to do, if we are not scoring from the opportunities we are creating, is making sure that we double the amount of opportunities we create to make sure a couple of them finish in the back of the net."
Well how would that improve a 5% conversion rate???
The Spurs problems:
Spurs aren’t scoring too many goals, nor are they creating too many chances. They have fared poorly against big oppositions in the league – accumulating just 1 point against Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City. They have suffered odd defeats at home like losing out to West Ham and Newcastle which left resentment among the fans.
Further, Villas-Boas has failed to make a proper transition since the departure of Bale. The cohesiveness in the squad is missing – existing players have dropped down the pecking order which has led to gripes. But most importantly, his major big money signings mainly Erik Lamela and Roberto Soldado haven’t performed to the required level of expectations. Team selection changes constantly not just for enforced injuries but almost as if AVB was playing his favourite computer game. Consequently there is a lack of understanding and cohesion. There is a lack of width, especially on the left and a lack of balance between success on the right as opposed to the left. Too often square ball passing and back passing, because of a lack of movement up front, man marked by opposition defences due to Spurs slow build up play.
The Blame game:
When that sixth Manchester City goal went AVB appeared stunned, much as he did when West Ham United scored three at White Hart Lane without a striker.
Usually we see, managers protect their own players, staff, fans etc and blame the external influences like referees but in this case, the Portuguese has caused consternation by blaming his helping hands. He said the players should be ashamed. That is the marvellous thing about being AVB — there is always someone around to carry the can.
So how are Chelsea’s old guard going to take the fall for this one? It is surely only a matter of time before John Terry and Frank Lampard are fingered for the mess at Tottenham this season.
It was, after all, the senior players who undermined Villas-Boas at Chelsea. Not his pig-headed high line defence, utterly unsuited to the personnel at his disposal. Not his determination to change fast when evolution, not revolution, was needed. As ever, events and foes conspired to obstruct his genius.
Players, other managers, pesky head trauma experts, Villas-Boas is beleaguered by so many random factors. The game against Newcastle brought a once-in-a-lifetime display from goalkeeper Tim Krul; the defeat by West Ham saw a tactical masterclass from Sam Allardyce (although one cannot help noticing that his false striker system has landed two points from 15 since the win away at Tottenham on October 6).
Villas-Boas had every right to be critical after the defeat at Manchester City. It was a limp and inadequate display. But these are his players, his solution to the loss of Gareth Bale.
Tottenham had sold Elvis Presley and bought the Beatles was the claim
Take the case of Hugo Lloris controversy. The goalkeeper had suffered a head injury in the 0-0 draw at Everton on 3 November and played on. Spurs’ medical team said that Lloris was unfit to play the following week’s home defeat to Newcastle United. But, Villas-Boas went against their decision, justifying it that it was their decision rather than his, and saying that Lloris had been “clinically and medically” ready to play.
As a result of that, Villas-Boas was left isolated and at odds with the doctors at the club. Likewise, his decision to vent frustrations on the Spurs fans hasn’t been greeted well. After their 1-0 victory over Hull City (courtesy of a referee penalty decision), Villas-Boas chose to blame the fans saying they had created a “very tense, difficult atmosphere”.
The chain reaction had its worse effect against Manchester City, where they were humiliated 6-0 . Man City looked that they could score at will, Spurs did not look like they could score at all , or stop them. They looked in a different league.
Comments after the City defeat were badly received in the dressing room and it reinforced the impression that Villas-Boas might be happy to talk up the collective when results are good but he will revert to blaming others in times of adversity.”
Villas-Boas has had time. This is the 1st time he has ever stayed at a club for more than one season!!!! He has made few mistakes but everybody does. May be he should keep things more behind the closed doors, than openly blaming others in public.
This is a closely contested title race and Spurs are 7 points behind the leaders. Spurs have been fortunate most of the season with referees awarding penalties, and scraping results against "worse" teams. AVB need wins then performances to bolster the confidence among everyone.
Europa results have been good, but consider the opposition including Tromso and Anzhi both bottom of their leagues. Spurs were allowed to play, goals came as a result. The League Cup was also a hit and miss affair, still in it (just). Arsenal away in the FA Cup 3rd round, what joy !!!
Will AVB stand the test of time. What team will he put out against Liverpool, it's anyone's guess.
Does AVB know his best team or is he still playing Football Manager on X box ??
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