Paulo Futre

Paulo Jorge dos Santos Futre, better known as Paulo Futre is a former professional soccer player. On February 28, 1966, Paulo Futre was born in the city of Montijo, Portugal , one of the best players in the history of soccer who, at the age of just nine years old, caught the attention of Sporting de Portugal.

His power as a footballer is undeniable, as is the repertoire of controversies in the matches that he carries on his back. Refusing to change in the middle of a match or not playing unless it was with his beloved number 10 on his back. He retired at the age of just 32 after a tough knee operation, but for fans, he will never be forgotten in soccer history.

His first steps on the field

His father was not a professional player, but he played in the team of his village, in Montijo, so Paulo's childhood was always surrounded by balls and as he has stated on several occasions "it was the best gift they could give me".

When he was only nine years old, the Portuguese player began his career as a sportsman playing in an 11-a-side soccer tournament organized by Sporting, using a false card, since only children between 10 and 13 years old could participate. Finally, Futre's team reached the final and the player began to attract Sporting's attention. A year later he returned to this tournament and traveled to France with the team, where he was named the best player of the tournament. When he was only 11 years old, he signed with Sporting. Every training day, the player travels by boat from his hometown to Lisbon. "It took him two and a half hours from home to the stadium. I would go, train and get home at midnight. When I was 14 years old I played in the lower divisions of the national team, I spent five or six months a year in hotels, I had to leave school because it was impossible to combine it, my father always tried to keep me there", said Futre in an interview with Líbero magazine.

At just 15 years old, he signed his first professional contract with the team that saw him grow up, Sporting. On January 20, 1982 he debuts with the main team and six months later, at just 17 years old, he debuts in the national championship against Finland. Paulo Futre becomes the youngest player to play for the Seleção. The Portuguese player played 41 times for the national team, scoring a total of six goals.

Arrival at FC Porto

During the 84/85 season, Sporting's coach decided not to count on the young Portuguese and it was then that Porto offered him a contract, which he decided to accept. It was then at the Estádio das Antas, the former temple of the Dragons, where Futre was crowned as one of the best players of the moment, winning important titles such as Porto's first European Cup after beating Bayern Munich 2-1. "It was a difficult decision, but one of the best of my life. I was taken in by Pinto Da Costo and with him I really learned the rules of the game. I was still a very rebellious kid and with him I learned not to push the limits. I played for only three years, but they made me feel an enormous warmth. I always insist that my heart is with Sporting, but they always have respect for me".

New promise from Jesús Gil

In his last days with Porto, Inter Milan bid for the Portuguese, however, when everything seemed to be ready for his signing, someone appears to change the life of the Portuguese, Jesus Gil.He was the candidate for the presidency of Atletico, who made the second most expensive signing in the history of that time after Maradona. The president of Porto and the player himself ask for everything they can, and this is when the famous story of the yellow Porsche comes into play. Paulo Futre asks Gil for a Porsche, and he wanted it now, the coach accepts and accompanies him to the dealership to get the car that becomes the most famous in the entire Iberian Peninsula. "I had a pre-agreement with Inter, but the negotiations were tough and we argued until the last minute. When Jesus Gil appeared, the clauses had changed and he no longer cost 200 but 400 million. It was a great deal, for me, for Porto and for Gil, who managed to win the elections," said Futre during an interview.

With Atleti Futre managed to win two Copa del Rey trophies, one against Mallorca and the other against Real Madrid. On numerous occasions the player has acknowledged that he would not change that cup for anything in the world. "It's a final and I wouldn't change that goal, not even for winning the Champion's Cup. If there is ecstasy in life, I reached it there, I entered another dimension. "I was 22 years old when I arrived in the dressing room, I was the only Portuguese in a squad with 23 Spaniards. Gil made me captain and probably unfairly, you couldn't say anything to him, but I always stood up for my teammates and for the club ."

On numerous occasions the confrontations between Gil and Futre were public, but the reality is that they adored each other. Gil even helped the footballer to be able to live with his partner without being married, as he had previously had problems with the church in Portugal.

The army and injuries

One of his most complicated moments came when Futre, like all Portuguese, had to do his military service. It was then that Mario Soares, president of the Portuguese Republic granted the player the status of top elite competition, becoming the first Portuguese to have this privilege. However, there was a pending clause, if Futre returned to Portugal, should he have to go to the army. "In my country the military service was compulsory and it was time for me to join. During the negotiations, as the teams didn't know about it, we didn't say anything. Pinto assured me that he would arrange it. The president of Portugal gave me an eight-year extension and that's when I saw that I had to fight for myself, my country and for Mario Soares," Futre confessed in an interview.

In 1993, a severe crisis hit Atlético de Madrid and Futre had to leave the club. At that time there was a law that said that, if a foreign player was sold during the winter season, he could only play for a club in his own country, which is why Futre had to return to Portugal and, consequently, do his military service.

At this time he was signed by Benfica and six months later he had to go to the army. At this time Futre aroused the interest of Olympique de Marseille, who had just won the Champions League. He finally signed with the French club and at the age of 30 he was finally saved from going to the army by nothing more and nothing less than all the injuries accumulated during his time as a player.

Due to the problems of the French team with corruption and match-fixing, Futre must leave the Club, this is when Real Madrid appears, however, the Portuguese rejects the Whites for having his heart rojiblanco.

"We negotiated and when the contract was almost ready to be signed, I had a meeting with my family and that's when I truly realized everything. I couldn't go back to Madrid with them and play for Real. I'm sorry gentlemen, but I'm not going to sign, that's what I told them. I'm the only player in the world who, with a contract on the table, said no to Real Madrid," the player confessed.

France, Italy, England and Japan

At this moment, Futre signed for Regina, an Italian team from Reggio Emilia. On his debut, he suffered one of the most serious injuries of his career and had to be out of action for up to ten months; he did not play again until April 1995. In the summer of the same year, he signed for AC Milan and became the first Portuguese player to play for the Rossoneri. A few weeks later, Futre had to undergo surgery again and at the age of 29, his possible retirement was one of the main topics in the media. Once he recovered, he managed to play another game with Milan and win the scudetto.

After a few months with the Italians he moved to the Premier League, to join West Ham and play with the number 10 on his back. In the first match against Arsenal, he had to play with the number 16 and he refused to play. From here he did not play again until he could not return to wear his number. Despite playing important matches in the English league, his level dropped considerably due to the large number of surgical operations on his back. He also played in Japan.

"I spent a good time in Italy, Berlusconi always treated me well. Then I went through three operations and got out of the military service, when I arrived at West Ham in England, I did it without knowing if it would be for a few weeks or a few months because the truth is that I was no longer up for much trouble. Retirement was getting closer and closer," he told Líbero magazine.

From the field to Atletico's ambassador

At the age of 30, the player decided to put away his boots and take off his uniform to become an ambassador for Atlético de Madrid. "In a television program, Gil asked me to wear the gold badge and be the Atleti ambassador, and I accepted. Then I played a few more games for Atletico. When I truly said that, so far, I cut my hair like the bullfighters," he said in an interview.

From that moment on, Futre dedicated his life to his family. He has collaborated in several television programs and has even participated in a soap opera playing a sports director. Despite his controversies, what no one will ever be able to argue is that he is and will be one of the best players in the world.