In part two of my Big Interview with the eloquent, funny, intelligent Jon Dahl Tomasson we talked coaching, and about how his recent stint as Malmo manager culminated in an at times tough learning experience in the Champions League. Jon lives for football and it’s the challenging all-round nature of a club project that inspires him as a coach.
Also in part two, great insights into how Denmark so regularly punch above their weight, and why Jon knocked back Barcelona to play for Milan.
I caught up with Jon Dahl Tomasson in Rotterdam, the city where he enjoyed one of his greatest moments: scoring in the 2002 UEFA Cup final victory for Feyenoord against Borussia Dortmund.
Jon’s next port of call was AC Milan, where the forward starred alongside greats such as Filippo Inzaghi, Alessandro Costacurta and Andrea Pirlo. There was tough competition for places, but legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti managed the club’s big egos, got under the players’ skin and inspired them with his passion.
Here’s another chance to hear my Big Interview with Gus Poyet from season four.
The former midfield maestro explains the indefatigable mindset of players from his native Uruguay which makes the nation overachieve, and culminated in the 1995 Copa America triumph which Gus starred in. That sparked a level of euphoria only football can bequeath, as did Gus’ incredible European Cup Winners’ Cup final win with Real Zaragoza against Arsenal that same year.
Also in this extraordinary Big Interview: why playing in a Chelsea midfield alongside Roberto Di Matteo, Dan Petrescu and Dennis Wise meant he felt they could beat anyone.
At the start of his pro career at Barca B, Oriol Romeu was under the auspices of Luis Enrique. It was an incredibly demanding experience, but the current Spain manager made the midfielder see football completely differently, not least because of Oriol’s desire to improve.
Also in part two, we chatted about Oriol’s published diaries. He found the writing experience fun, cathartic and self-improving – and he wanted to leave a legacy, a testimony.
And there’s great content about the methods of Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl and why club team-mate James Ward-Prowse is the best free-kick taker in the world.
Oriol Romeu is a midfielder with such game intelligence that he has adapted to playing a pivotal role under several Southampton managers. Key to this success is his ability to seek out critique in order to improve his game, even contacting Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez for pointers. Xavi said his famously consistent level of performance was rooted in his stubborn refusal to give the ball away.
Also in part one, you’ll hear Oriol’s ultimate five-a-side team picked from the clubs he’s played for – Barca, Chelsea, Valencia, Stuttgart and Southampton. He barely hesitated in rhyming his selections off.
