The story of former Reims assistant, João Nuno Fonseca: “My dream? Sitting on the UCL bench”
João Nuno Fonseca, 33, recently with Stade de Reims in the top-flight of France, is driven with huge ambitions, where he dreams about sitting on the Champions League bench one day.
In an exclusive interview, Fonseca highlights his journey as a coach, his plans for the future and much more.
The Portuguese coach has already gained a remarkable amount of experience; working at the likes of the City Football Group, reaching the peak of French football as an assistant coach with Nantes, Reims and with SL Benfica’s under 23’s, where he reached the UEFA Youth League final against Real Madrid.
For João to reach this stage, required a lot of patience, dedication and time – in which he studied the beautiful game closely in his youth days.
He then later went on to develop his learning in his native country at the University of Coimbra, where he specified José Mourinho as his coaching inspiration.
Mourinho won six trophies between 2002-2004 with FC Porto, including the monumental UEFA Champions League.
“I got inspired by Mourinho’s success in FC Porto. What he did in Porto inspired me to start my coaching badges. I started taking notes about everything that I could see on TV and through press conferences.”
With hard work you also find luck falls into your path, and that’s what happened with João, where he had the pleasure to meet André Villas-Boas, who ironically was the manger of Coimbra at the time.
Villas-Boas’ CV speaks for itself, who has coached at the pinnacle of football, namely with Chelsea and Tottenham in England and with Marseille in France. The 44-year-old also had spells as a coach in Russia and China.
“During my time at the university in Coimbra of being an assistant head coach with Académica U19’s, I had the luck to meet Villas-Boas in a university lecture, where he gave me advice to understand the finer details about the game and the relation of training to an in-game scenario.”
It was certainly a surreal feeling for João, that he will forever fondly remember – A student learning off a master moment.
After João completed his studies at University, he wanted to aid his learning by going the extra step. This took him to Qatar, where he spent two years with the ‘Aspire Academy’ as a match analyst and then went onto join the ‘City Football Group’.
The 33-year-old had the opportunity to experience a coaching methodology at Manchester City, New York City, Melbourne City and Yokohama F-Marinos City in the 2017-18 season, in which significantly helped further his development.
“Being involved in the CFG [City Football Group] was like working and having the chance to have a Master’s Degree at the same time. The methodology that was applied to all the clubs with the same identity, same philosophy was absolutely amazing.”
“On top of that, I got involved in analysing the game processes and coaching methodologies.”
“But more than that was the opportunity of being involved in a type of football that I truly believe to coach, where the teams are organised around the ball, because the ball has the “responsibility” to organize the game.”
“I have learnt throughout my career as a coach that it is important to understand that the abilities of the players are what will generate a certain play, and that is where the coach’s work comes in – knowing how to relate to different abilities and model a common idea that leads to the understanding of “play”.”
Fonseca has gone on to manage many talents over time at different clubs, and last season he had the pleasure to coach one of hottest prospects in world football right now – 20-year-old striker, Hugo Ekitike, who this summer joined French champions, Paris-Saint Germain from Stade de Reims on loan.
A big move for Ekitike at a young age, where he scored 10 goals in Ligue 1 last season, but João believes he will live up to his potential and go the extra step.
“It was a pleasure to have the chance to coach Hugo. His mentality, capacity to see before others with his anticipating movements against the defensive line is huge.
“The talent that he has will be much more potentiated with the quality of players that he has around him at PSG, who in my opinion, if he continues to develop his capabilities, he will be a serious case for the French National team in the near future.”
Regarding the topic of talents, João also picked out a “one to watch” for the future and a “hidden gem” that he has coached: “Talking about attacking players, who is already making a real diference to Benfica’s squad this year, but 21-year-old striker, Gonçalo Ramos is a talent that gave me a lot of pleasure to coach.”
“He was always ready to listen to the intentions that we requested from him. His mobility and capability to play also as an offensive midfielder – it’s an amazing capacity from a player in my opinion.”
“Gonçalo gives you the choice as a coach to be even more unpredictable when you plan a strategy for a game.”
“Another player that for me is incredible is 20-year-old midfielder, Paulo Bernardo. He already plays for the Benfica first team, but I’m sure that if the coach gives him time and chances to play at the highest level (like the Champions League), then he will improve and showcase his ability.”
Last summer, João – whose career and interests are directed by the Wasserman Group, one of the most powerful and influential sports agencies in the world – has left Ligue 1 side, Stade de Reims at the end of last season, where he helped them to a 12th place League finish. Fonseca is keen to return, but wants to make sure it’s the correct project to help fulfil his goals.
“My future plans are to find a club or national team that believe in my capacity, to add value from the experiences that I have already, whether that is as an assistant or head-coach. I want to find the correct opportunity and project to make my dream come true, which is to listen to the Champions League anthem on the bench.”
By Nathan Gissing