We had a chat with former Portuguese U-21 international, João Amorim.
He came through the youth ranks at Futebol Clube do Porto, also had spells at Sport Lisboa e Benfica (B team), Trofense, Desportivo das Aves, and currently plays for União Desportiva Oliveirense, where he's one of the second division's key figures, both in real life and in Football Manager.
In his free time, Football Manager is one of his loyal companions.
POP: Do you remember how you discovered CM/FM and how you caught the bug for the game?
João: My addiction to the game started with CM 01/02, I got curious when I found it for sale and asked my parents if they could get it for me for Christmas, that's where it all began.
POP: Is it true that in every new edition, the first thing you do is look up your profile in the game?
João: Yes, one of the first things I usually do is look up my profile and those of my friends.
POP: And do you usually buy yourself in your saves?
João: I don't usually sign myself, but funnily enough, in this latest Football Manager, I did a save at Vitória Sport Clube and signed myself. And it didn't go badly at all!
POP: The researcher who does your profile in the game happens to work at the same club as you. Have you ever complained to him about certain attributes being too low?
João: Haha, not at all, we chat about the game occasionally, but I don't get involved in that side of things. He sets the attributes he thinks are right for me, and that's that!
POP: If you were managing Oliveirense in the 2nd league and received an offer from a top club for your player, would you 'clip his wings' or let him 'fly'?
João: Funnily enough I haven't actually done a saves at Oliveirense in this Football Manageryet, but I think I'd let him leave, if that happened. Unless Oliveirense offered me a lifetime contract :D.
POP: Tell us about your abilities as a manager in the game, do you consider yourself as good at giving instructions as you are at playing? Do you spend a lot of time on details, scoutingsquad building, or do you like to move quickly?
João: I think I'm good, I've already won a few titles in this Football Manager. I like starting with weaker teams, I never start at a 'big' club. All that's missing is winning the title in my first season in the Spanish league. I've already won the Italian league (Lazio), German (Leipzig), Portuguese (Vitória Sport Clube) and English (Southampton). I'm also still missing a champions, but I'll probably win one before the new edition comes out.
POP: Have you ever done a saves with colleagues from your profession?
João: Never done that, but I have a few colleagues who are as hooked as I am!
POP: What new features would you like to see in future editions of the game?
João: For someone like me, who started with CM 01/02, Football Manager has come on incredibly. Honestly I can't think of anything that could improve the game, maybe on the graphics side. On the other hand, if it gets too polished it might lose its charm and become more of an arcade game rather than a tactical one, like Fifa.
POP: Any funny story you have to tell us?
João: I have a tradition in every edition, which is doing a save at Vitória Sport Clube. I like to sell off the older players right away and sign younger ones to later try to make a lot of money off them.
In CM 01/02 I even won a UEFA Cup with Vitória SC, and I had Figo and Zidane in my squad!
Quick questions
First edition you played?
CM 01/02
Favourite edition?
Always the most recent version
Favourite league to play in?
English league
Favourite team to play as?
Vitória Sport Clube
Favourite player you've ever had in any edition?
Pogba
Biggest achievement?
Winning two consecutive champions with Tottenham
Best club you've seen your player move to, with no influence from you?
Belenenses
All that's left is to wish our featured player an excellent season. In the future we hope to see him on other kinds of stages, he certainly has the quality for it.
