In this new edition of 'stars play too' we went to talk to André Almeida, Real SC's rock at the back, who has just returned to Portugal (and to the club where he came through the ranks) after two successful years in Lithuania.
André, who has been standing out in this edition of the Campeonato de Portugal, is a true Football Manager enthusiast (as you'll see from our conversation below) and doesn't hide that he'd love to sign himself in his savessaves, and make himself the penalty taker, to boost his value!
FMPortugal.net: We know you like Football Manager. What was the first edition you played? Was it love at first sight, or since it's a 'different' kind of game, did it take a while to get 'hooked'?
André Almeida: The first edition I played was Football Manager 2013, and it was love at first sight. Since that edition I've bought the game every year, and it will always be my go-to game.
FMPortugal.net: What captivated you most about the game that made you fall in love with it?
André Almeida: Besides being a football game, I've always really liked games built around strategy and management to reach a goal. I was never much of a fan of games where I had to actually play the matches myself. For example, in FIFA, I always preferred to simulate the games and just focus on managing the squad, transfers, etc. When I was younger, in class, I really liked writing down starting line-ups and the strategy I'd use if I were the manager of that team, and Football Manager let me apply that in a much more realistic way.
FMPortugal.net: Which teams do you usually manage regularly, and why?
André Almeida: I always have 3 scenarios: Usually, when the game comes out, I start a save save with Benfica. It's always better to start with a powerful team, so it's easier to understand the changes made to the game. I always play 3-4 seasons to properly get to grips with it.
Then, I start a save save with the team I'm actually playing for, for obvious reasons. I like to see how my player performs, how I manage the squad I work with every day, and whether I can do better than what's happening in real life.
Lastly, I go for the saves saves that give me more of a kick starting at the bottom and working my way up. I always try to be as realistic as possible, as if I were really starting a coaching career. I start with no badge and minimum reputation. I simulate a season and then start applying to clubs.
FMPortugal.net: Are you successful in your saves? What's your greatest achievement?
André Almeida: I'm reasonably successful. I've been on cloud nine and I've hit rock bottom. I've won the Champions League and I've also been sacked.
I think that's what ends up being the most enjoyable in my saves — managing teams with a weak foundation and trying to turn around the 'inevitable', and that always takes a lot more work than managing Benfica, Barcelona or Real Madrid.
I wouldn't call it an achievement, but I really enjoyed a save I did on this latest Football Manager.
I started at Académica, got promoted and had a comfortable first season in the top flight. Halfway through the second season, I accepted an offer from Hellas Verona, who were bottom of Serie A. I didn't reach the target and ended up getting relegated. The first games in Serie B didn't go well and I ended up getting sacked. I was unemployed for a while and then took over Rangers, where the goal was to end Celtic's dominance. I managed to become the strongest team in Scotland and even won a Europa League.
I really enjoyed doing this save because most of the players were already wonderkidswhich ends up meaning a lot more work, and that work paid off. Combined with the fact that I started 'from the bottom' and got sacked along the way, I managed to have a lot of success with the team I built.
FMPortugal.net: Do you adapt your tactics to the characteristics of the players available to you, or do you try to implement a set tactical model regardless of the players you have?
André Almeida: My favourite tactic is the classic 4-3-3 with wingers.
Full-backs always pushed well forward with an attacking role, and the defensive midfielder always as a Ball Winning Midfielder on defend duty. These are the 'mandatory' roles in my team, and after that it always depends a lot on the roles each player suits best, but always kept balanced, with one more supporting midfielder and another more attacking one. That said, it always depends on the squad I have available… that save save at Académica I played with 3 centre-backs and 2 wing-backs, and had success in the top flight.
So I do have my tactic set, but always in line with the team I have.
FMPortugal.net: Do you end up giving in to the temptation of signing yourself in the game, or do you only do it if you'd really be a key piece in your tactics, or not even then?
André Almeida: It depends… I used to have that 'habit' more. When I started a save at Benfica I always liked to sign myself. I was usually a substitute but would get a few games and end up increasing in value. Then my contract would end and I'd leave for a much higher fee, which helped me find a club very quickly, and after that I'd just follow from a distance. Nowadays I let things follow their natural course, I just follow my own career, but if there's a chance to sign myself and it'd be an asset, I don't hesitate.
FMPortugal.net: And when you sign yourself, do you make yourself the penalty taker, just like you do in real life for Real SC? Or if there's someone with a better penalty-taking attribute, do you let them take over?
André Almeida: That's the first thing I do as soon as I sign myself, make myself the penalty taker straight away. I end the season with a few goals, not to mention that it's for Benfica.
FMPortugal.net: Now about your career. You spent two seasons in Lithuania, won a cup, reached the final of another, and took part in Europa League qualifying matches.
André Almeida: Yes, it was a really good experience. Winning the Lithuanian cup was a very important milestone because it was the club's first title, which took us into Europa League qualifying.
We made history, and in the club's debut in European competitions we won the first leg at home, which made it even more special since it was in front of our own fans. In the second leg, we couldn't hold onto our one-goal lead and ended up losing 2-0. We played against Apollon Limassol, who that year reached the group stage, and we were the only team to beat them in qualifying.
I spent 2 and a half years in Lithuania and played in 2 Cup finals, 1 Super Cup, Europa League qualifying, and we achieved the club's best-ever league finish, so it was very positive overall.
FMPortugal.net: However, some less flattering news came out about what was going on at the club, regarding the living conditions. Did you enjoy the experience, and did you grow as a player and as a person?
André Almeida: Everything that was said at the time wasn't true. That was all a war between an agent and the club's owner.
That agent and the club couldn't reach an agreement over the release of 2 players, and the agent decided to damage the club owner's image, but unfortunately went about it in a way that ended up mainly targeting and hurting the players.
Players were free to have their own house, and whoever didn't want one would stay in a huge house set aside for the players. That house provided everything the players needed, nothing was ever lacking in that regard. I had my own house and my own car.
It was all a failed attempt by someone who wanted to use every means possible to get what they wanted.
FMPortugal.net: Despite the relative success of the experience, you returned to Portugal to compete in the same tier you'd left when you went to play in Lithuania. Do you feel there was little coverage in Portugal of what you achieved?
André Almeida: Honestly, I think there was only a somewhat reasonable amount of coverage because the coaching staff was Portuguese, the manager was someone with a respected Primeira Liga background in Portugal. Maybe if I'd been the only Portuguese player in the team there wouldn't have been as much coverage, but that's something we'll never really know.
FMPortugal.net: You're only 24. You surely have the ambition to compete in Portugal's professional competitions again. If that doesn't happen in the short-to-medium term, do you plan to head abroad again?
André Almeida: I'd like to go abroad again, because the hardest part is leaving the first time.
Once you leave your comfort zone everything gets easier, and you end up gaining a lot more maturity. I was very happy abroad, but now I've come back to 'my' club, the club where I grew up, and I feel really good here. I want to help the club reach the divisions it deserves, and we'll see after that.
FMPortugal.net: Coming back to Football Manager. Has playing FM made you want to become a manager once you decide to end your career, or haven't you thought about that yet?
André Almeida: I do think about it, because a career goes by so fast that we have to start preparing as early as possible. Right now, I feel more inclined towards player agency, but Football Manager gives me that coaching itch that's impossible to ignore. Over time I'll see which way the scale tips, but Football Manager definitely has an influence.
Quick answer
Favourite league to play in? England
Best signing? Myself
Favourite player across all editions? Myself
Do you use community-made graphics? Yes
Have you ever used the editor to improve your own attributes? No
