Toni's been talking about Benfica for 80 years. "Don't cry my death"

ANDit has to come, but there is no need to think about death, Toni for the football world, gave an extensive interview to the newspaper The Ball, this Wednesday, the day that celebrates the 80th anniversary, where a career passed ‘clean’, largely at the service of Benfica, as player, coach and even sports director.

The old Portuguese international did not hide that, in the Stadium of Light, he went through “many joys, many sorrows, much sweat and many tears in the middle”, in a “life that was lived with great intensity, with great passion”, after arriving there, in 1968, coming from Academica, when he was only 22 years old.

“ Looking back, there is a very great pride throughout the journey because it comes from someone who came loaded with dreams and suddenly sees Everest ahead. When you arrive at a club of a universal dimension, as was Benfica, and with world class players, you know that for all those dreams to become reality, it will take a lot of resilience, which is a word today”, he said.

“ At that time I was very willing, very willing, very determined and very sweaty, to be able to make a path of which I am very proud, but I counted with the help of my companions, because in life we do not do things alone ", he added.

“ My biggest desire was to be able to close the cycle again in Benfica, but the paths did not cross”

With regard to the status that he reached, in the sports field, the now leader of the Portuguese Football Federation (PFF) made a confession: “Neither did I dream that I could get as far as I came. All that may be in your imaginary, in your dreams, but... There are no individual victories in football and they are the result of many people’s efforts.”.

“ At that time, too, Nene, Humberto, Vítor Martins, the Shéu, were born, who eventually made a brilliant career within Benfica. And they all fed the same dreams. We shared all those dreams. Then, get to fill a career where later, in addition to player, I end up being assistant coach and then get to the main coach, all this is something... ", reflected.

Still, he assumed: “I fulfilled, within Benfica, a cycle that began as a player, passed as coach and then leader. And if I told you that perhaps my greatest desire, even when the 80s were at the door, was to be able to close the cycle again in Benfica, but the paths did not cross”.

“ But without sorrow, because sorrows sour life. So, I ended up closing a cycle in the place where I am today, which is a very great pride, where I was also a player, I was a coach, and ended up being part of, as a member of the [FPF] management”, added.

“Don’t cry my death, because my journey has been fantastic”

In conclusion, Toni recalled Sven-Goran Eriksson, his former coach, at Benfica: “It’s someone who left a mark on all Benfica players, of his time, and on all Portuguese sportsmen, because he knew how to win the respect and admiration of everyone. He left in everyone a legacy that makes us all proud to have him as a friend and as a coach.”.

“In fact, he has a moment when he announced his death and has a phrase I will never forget: ‘Don’t cry for my death, because my trip was fantastic. Live life’. And I can also tell you, don't cry my death, because my trip has been fantastic in and out of football. Live life,” he said.

“ I'm not afraid to be afraid. I think it was a phrase I told you about in the other 75-year-old interview. I'm not afraid to be afraid, you have to grow old in a happy way. I'm feeling healthy. With a few mishaps, and a few until I've already been caught at the turn, but it's a good idea. But, I have family, friends and then football, to which I still remain connected ", continued.

“So I feel like I’m happy. I'm walking at age, I'm getting old, but I'm not afraid death will come. She has to come, but you don't have to think about death. Someone I read earlier said, in a reflection, ‘no time to waste time’. You're doing 91, I'm doing 80. No time to waste time. We must enjoy each day as the last day”, he concluded.