Elvis Pressley
07-02-2002, 06:20 PM
Sad Sousa calls time on his career
Tuesday 2nd July 2002
Paulo Sousa has announced his retirement from football after revealing his devastation at playing no part in Portugal's disastrous World Cup campaign.
"I'm sad I haven't been useful at either Euro 2000 or the World Cup 2002," admitted the midfielder. "I formally announce the end of my career."
Former Portugal coach Antonio Oliveira's decision to take the 32-year-old to the World Cup finals was roundly condemned by the national press.
Sousa, though, was convinced that he could make an important contribution. "I went to the World Cup certain that I was in good enough psychological and physical shape to do a good job," he explained.
"I feel bitterness and happiness at the same time. I know exactly how I'm going to live my life from here onwards."
He refused to further elaborate on the reason behind the decision at a press conference. "In the middle of this deafening noise, I fear that anything said would be insignificant."
A strong, elegant and skilful playmaker with supreme passing ability and a strong shot, Sousa was offered terms by Benfica when he was 15. He made his debut for the Eagles first-team at 18 but left the Stadium of Light for childhood favourites Sporting.
A year later, Juventus won the battle to sign a player who was one of the world's most sought-after at the time. From there he had spells with Borussia Dortmund, Internazionale, Parma, Panathinaikos and Espanyol.
He is one of few players to have won two European Cups in consecutive years with different teams - Juventus and Borussia Dortmund. Inter signed him from Dortmund hoping he would link well with Ronaldo but the move failed and he was soon offloaded to Parma in 1999.
He followed his former Inter colleague Ze Elias to Greece in summer 2000 when he signed for Panathinaikos, where he was offered £2 million a season.
The transfer, though, turned sour when he fell out with the coach and he was so disenchanted that he had already threatened to quit football altogether in January 2001.
He stayed for another year but eventually tired of the Athens club, where he was sidelined, and accepted a five-month loan offer from Espanyol, although he later admitted that he would have preferred to return to Portugal.
Portugal unexpectedly crashed out of the World Cup without reaching the last 16.
Oliveira's team lost 3-2 to the USA in their first game, demolished Poland 4-0 in their second but were defeated 1-0 by South Korea in their final Group D clash.
Tuesday 2nd July 2002
Paulo Sousa has announced his retirement from football after revealing his devastation at playing no part in Portugal's disastrous World Cup campaign.
"I'm sad I haven't been useful at either Euro 2000 or the World Cup 2002," admitted the midfielder. "I formally announce the end of my career."
Former Portugal coach Antonio Oliveira's decision to take the 32-year-old to the World Cup finals was roundly condemned by the national press.
Sousa, though, was convinced that he could make an important contribution. "I went to the World Cup certain that I was in good enough psychological and physical shape to do a good job," he explained.
"I feel bitterness and happiness at the same time. I know exactly how I'm going to live my life from here onwards."
He refused to further elaborate on the reason behind the decision at a press conference. "In the middle of this deafening noise, I fear that anything said would be insignificant."
A strong, elegant and skilful playmaker with supreme passing ability and a strong shot, Sousa was offered terms by Benfica when he was 15. He made his debut for the Eagles first-team at 18 but left the Stadium of Light for childhood favourites Sporting.
A year later, Juventus won the battle to sign a player who was one of the world's most sought-after at the time. From there he had spells with Borussia Dortmund, Internazionale, Parma, Panathinaikos and Espanyol.
He is one of few players to have won two European Cups in consecutive years with different teams - Juventus and Borussia Dortmund. Inter signed him from Dortmund hoping he would link well with Ronaldo but the move failed and he was soon offloaded to Parma in 1999.
He followed his former Inter colleague Ze Elias to Greece in summer 2000 when he signed for Panathinaikos, where he was offered £2 million a season.
The transfer, though, turned sour when he fell out with the coach and he was so disenchanted that he had already threatened to quit football altogether in January 2001.
He stayed for another year but eventually tired of the Athens club, where he was sidelined, and accepted a five-month loan offer from Espanyol, although he later admitted that he would have preferred to return to Portugal.
Portugal unexpectedly crashed out of the World Cup without reaching the last 16.
Oliveira's team lost 3-2 to the USA in their first game, demolished Poland 4-0 in their second but were defeated 1-0 by South Korea in their final Group D clash.