Player Mirosław turns to coach Sznaucner
Former players choosing to become coaches go through a tough transition period –only sportsmen can appreciate the difficulty level. Mirosław Sznaucner is disarmingly honest in admitting that his first months as coach were extremely hard.
“I wanted to play myself the first time I went to the pitch as coach. It was such an intense desire. However, sticking to the bench, watching, learning and getting used to my new capacity was equally important. It took me 2-3 months to get in synch”, the coach of PAOK U16s admits to paokfc.gr, in an interview reviewing his first season as coach.
“I did get to learn though. Instead of worrying about my own performance, I crossed over to worrying and planning about the performance of all 11 players. Now I can finally say that I feel myself a coach. I used to attend matches from the stands and just watch them, but I catch myself now thinking about what I would do if I were holding the reins”.
Despite not winning the title, Miro is satisfied with his first season as coach. “We lost the final (against Bebides), but as I told my players, the best team doesn’t always win in football. I was upset, especially after seeing my pupils cry, but I have nothing to reproach them with. It was a fine season, we worked well, I learned a lot from the guys and from my experienced collaborator Alekos Theodoridis, whom I wish to thank. I am perfectly satisfied with my players”.
When asked about his thoughts regarding the upcoming season, he doesn’t hesitate: “Of course I want to keep working, especially with this squad, as I believe them very talented”.
Next stop for PAOK U16s? They will participate in the Houten tournament in the Netherlands (22-25 May), coming up against Feyenoord, RSC Anderlecht, KRC Genk, Brøndby IF and FC Groningen.
Regarding his advice to Zisis Chatzistravos to miss a penalty erroneously awarded to PAOK in the final of the Makedonia Clubs’ Union league, Miro considers it a natural reaction: “There was no breach of regulations, it was funny actually. We were wondering at the bench why the referee took such a decision”. He also describes his astonishment when the referee came up to the bench and showed him a blue card –he did the same with Chatzistravos. “They explained to me afterwards that blue cards are actually Fair Play awards. Of course my player and I were only too happy to receive such a reward”.
He talks to us about his son Max, who plays for PAOK. He is a member of the U10s, despite being younger (born in 2006). “He was asking to join a football academy since he was 5”, the proud father says. Five-year old Leon, the younger member of the Sznaucner household, wishes to follow his own path and refuses to follow the family tradition –for now…
