Already a world-class coach in the 1970s, Menotti is known for her long hair and cigarettes. And, of course, there's his personality, for example, "yes" is not as simple as "yes" for him. After three appointments, Menotti finally met with a Sunday Bild reporter who was eager to interview him, but still 20 minutes late.
César Luis Menotti, born on November 5, 1938 in Rosario, Argentina, was the first coach to lead Argentina to the World Cup (1978) and the World Youth Championship (1979). He is an extremely expressive manager, and in the 1970s his name was seen in Argentina as synonymous with fashionable, advanced football. On February 1 this year, Menotti officially returned to become the secretary general of the Argentine Football Association, and he will work with the coaching staff led by Scaloni to plan the future development direction of the national team.
Menotti's two labels: long hair and cigarettes
Talk to the cigarette box and quit smoking
Reporter: Sir, come on with a cigarette?
Menotti: No, thanks, I've quit.
Reporter: Did I hear me wrong? We only know you who smoke.
Menotti: Yeah, I used to smoke at least two packs a day. But about eight or nine years ago, my doctor told me when he gave me a physical examination, "You are very healthy. But if I continue to smoke like this, I can't guarantee that I will still say so next time. "So I realized it was time to quit smoking.
Reporter: Well done.
Menotti: So I walked 50 blocks from the hospital to get home, put my backpack in the living room doorway, and said, "I'm going to quit." "My wife thought I was crazy because I was talking to cigarettes.
Reporter: You talked to the cigarette box?
Menotti: Yeah, it's been like this for many years. Then I broke up with my wife. However, I really quit after that. I threw the cigarette case in the trash and begged the cleaning lady to throw it away.
At the 1978 World Cup, Menotti did not select Malado to join the team, and a year later the two won the World Youth Championship together
It all stays in the brain
Reporter: You are considered to be maradona's Bole. Do you still have contact?
Menotti: The last time I saw him was 20 years ago. Now he spends a short time every time he returns to Argentina, and there are always gossip about women.
Reporter: Since February 1st, you have been given a new job – Secretary General of the Argentine Football Association. Why do you have to take on new challenges at the age of 80?
Menotti: I'm thinking about that too. One thing is for sure, I like our coaches. I pay attention to our national team at every level, but the dangerous thing is that everyone thinks that as soon as Menotti comes back, Argentina will soon become the world champion.
Reporter: You won this trophy at the 1978 World Cup on home soil...
Menotti: If we hadn't won the championship, our junta at that time might have evaporated on the planet. They wanted to kill me before, but they couldn't do it because I was great. And, they couldn't find a replacement for me.
Reporter: How did you rebel against the junta?
Menotti: Football gave me courage and other than that we had nothing.
Reporter: What other regrets do you have in your career?
Menotti: No, on the contrary, what I am most proud of is my demeanor as a coach. I never celebrate my own goals, whether it's a domestic derby or a World Cup final. Because, I can feel the disappointment and sadness from the opposing coaches, and the screams after the goal are to pour salt on their wounds.
Reporter: If you are still coaching, will you also be a "laptop (computer) coach"?
MENOTTI: Absolutely not. No computer, no pen and paper, everything stayed in my head. If I want to show, I'll show on the pitch.
(Menotti said of the rise, using biscuits to make tactical arrangements on the coffee table: "Look, the theory is simple, but the stadium is 7,000 square meters, and each player needs to cover 80 square meters of territory, so they have to know how to move.") ”）
Menotti used cookies in an interview to lay out tactics
What's the difference between Luo, Mei, and Nei?
Reporter: Neymar moved to Paris for $220 million, what do you think?
Menotti: The numbers sound crazy, and they're just as crazy for normal life. But that's football today. If you compare it to music, today's singers can also make a lot of money when they tour.
Reporter: What do you think of his "performance" on the pitch?
Menotti: There is a philosopher in Argentina who once said: Success is like a foothold on a cliff, one step forward you fall into the abyss, two steps back you will be safe. Neymar has not yet taken two steps backwards. But maybe he never goes well.
Reporter: Messi or C Ronaldo?
Menotti: Cristiano Ronaldo is a dangerous goalscorer, he is full of threats in the 40 meters in front of goal, but Messi can also assist his teammates, he is full of threats in the 90 meters in front of the goal.
Reporter: Do you follow a star on social media?
MENOTTI: Never, and not interested. I'd rather read when I have time.
Reporter: What books have you read recently?
Menotti: A book of poems that the author gave me. There's also a biography of Guardiola, but it's too boring.
Menotti after winning the 1978 World Cup final
He refused Bayern's invitation
Reporter: Have you ever been invited by a Bundesliga club?
Menotti: Bayern invited me in 1980, when I was puma's face of image, so I came to Germany a lot. But I wasn't ready for Bayern at the time, and despite this, I was still full of respect for the German language.
If you are still a coach, which German player would you most like to have?
Menotti: Tony Kroos, it's a treat to watch him play. Another German player I like is... He also played for the German national team, where Guardiola brought him into the professional team...
Reporter: Joshua Kimmich?
Menotti: It's him. By the way, where is he playing now?
Reporter: Bayern.
Menotti: Then he must have a bright future.
Reporter: What do you think of tattoos?
Menotti: My son got a small tattoo on his arm when he was 14 years old. It seemed bad to me at the time, and my wife advised me not to care, but I still threatened my son that if he did one more, I would kick him out of the house. Today I am relieved that tattoos for young people are normal. But it's too much to get a tattoo after 40 years old, like Sampaoli (former Argentina manager) with tattoos all over his arm, which I can't understand. But it has nothing to do with the ability of the player or the coach, but I just can't accept it.
Source: German "Sunday Bild", abridged