There are two options. Either to live reminiscing about the past, trying to bring it into the present, or to accept the natural evolution of things and improve through the process of maturity. Just like the new, different André Vieirinha did. The change is obvious and he is the first to admit it. He has knowingly chosen to switch mode, preferring substance over spectacle. He knows that is the only way to achieve his objective: win titles with PAOK. More titles…

The Portuguese player stood out for his undisputed quality and his personality. A true leader. Even if he voiced a different opinion in his interview, published in Toumba Magazine: “I believe that everyone should be master of themselves. That is a lesson learned through my co-existence with great footballers. I don’t like to stand out as leader, shout at my team-mates and tell them what to do. It’s not in my character. Who am I to tell others what to do? That is a coach’s job. I prefer to show them what I think is best during games and training sessions rather than shout. Therefore, as far as I am concerned, there is no leader. There is the one sporting the captain’s armband, but during encounters I need to listen what my team-mates tell me and vice versa. That is the only way to go forward”.

You can read selected extracts of the interview conceded by André Vieirinha to PAOK’s official magazine Toumba Magazine on paokfc.gr.

What made you love PAOK?

The fans, the atmosphere. I will never forget my first training session in Toumba Stadium, with 15.000 fans in the stands. I was in the dressing rooms and could feel the vibe. The floor was bouncing. That is not simply love for the team. It’s craziness. Both in good and bad… Furthermore, PAOK gave me the opportunity to play and prove myself. I had heard about PAOK, but back then I knew nothing, except Fernando Santos being the coach. It was love at first sight. And that never changed.

What changed about you since your first spell at PAOK? Because fans were expecting to see Vieirinha of 2011 again…

It’s impossible to see that Vieirinha. I have grown up, I look at football in a different way. It’s not that I can’t do anymore what I used to, but now I see the game more seriously. In the old days, I would dribble in defence without thinking. You won’t see me do anything like that now. Back then I wanted to show what I can do. Nowadays I don’t have to prove what kind of player I am. I have already proven myself. I am more collected and I know what to do at any given moment of the game. Do you know how many times Santos yelled at me back then because I would do backheel tricks and dribbles just like that, without a reason? There came a time though that I realized “he was right”.

Does this demure attitude through experience take away part of the enjoyment one gets when playing football?

To be honest, I miss doing crazy stuff on the pitch from time to time. But, in contemporary football, even the tiniest of mistakes can be costly. Therefore, before indulging to craziness, one thinks about it 100 times. Nowadays I prefer providing assists than scoring. In the old days, I would shoot from the halfline! Maturity doesn’t deprive me of doing things on the pitch, but helps me avoid mistakes of the past. Otherwise, it would be as if I hadn’t learned anything.

What is the greatest lesson learned?

I have learned things from everyone I collaborated with: how to look at the game, how to work in order to achieve my objectives, how to approach every encounter. I learned a lot in the five-and-a-half years I was away from Toumba. I played in many, tough encounters against teams such as Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich, a match we won 4-1. We won the German Cup, we reached the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. All that doesn’t happen by chance. As time goes by, I learned to appreciate those working behind the scenes for our well-being. Even the kitman cleaning our shoes. In Germany I would clean my football boots myself, because if I didn’t, nobody else would. I am trying to convey to the young players everything I learned, so that they won’t miss out on the great opportunity they have before them. It’s so fulfilling, towards the end of one’s career, to be able to boast about things achieved. I wish I had such players by my side in the past, get advice and avoid errors. For example, when I joined PAOK, I weighted almost 80 kilos! And there was nobody by my side to tell me “what are you doing?” I was young and didn’t care. I would think: “Since I am scoring 10 goals per season with 80 kilos, I don’t give a shit!” That is why one has to listen. Even the most clueless coach can teach you something. I owe the physical condition I have now to Felix Magath, the meanest coach I worked with. And I thank him for helping me to reach this physical condition.

Have you changed the way you prepare for matches?

Yes, I have. In recent years, I am ‘reading’ the rival, the players I will come up against, trying to learn their moves because I play at left back! In the old days, I would go to my room, watch a movie or play Playstation and that was it. Now, during the week, I train hard because, if I let loose, I won’t perform well –it’s an age thing, you see! I have to be careful with my nutrition, with everything. Our coach helps us a lot in game preparation. The organization is fantastic, he tells us what we should know.