River: Dare To Dream

29.5.2015, Milanello Sports Centre.

I’ve done it, I’ve passed. No longer shall I be turned down by clubs for not having the right qualifications, it’s time to step into the world of management once I’ve updated my CV. I’ve learnt over the years that being a failed goalkeeper isn’t easy especially when your friends and peers in the game achieve so much. I hope to now achieve a lot in management to prove my doubters wrong. The first person I called after gaining my UEFA Continental Pro license certificate was my best friend Maarten, Maarten Stekelenburg. Maarten and I played at Ajax together in the youth teams, it was plain to see he was a talent but even though we were both competing to get that No. 1 shirt we still remained friends. After Ajax, I travelled a lot – club hopping in the process and ended up retiring aged 26. Maarten’s the one who encouraged me to take my coaching badges as he thinks I’m management material. I mean I’ve had plenty coaching roles here and there but nothing which looks amazing on my CV. I can’t wait for whatever the future holds. Dare to dream.


Rivelino Azevedo (River) – Who Am I?
A washed up goalie with a Continental Pro License if you want the short version. I was born in Guimarães on 8.9.1983 to a Brazilian-Portuguese father and a Dutch mother, full name Rivelino Jairzinho Azevedo. We moved to Haarlem, Holland when I was six and that’s when I started playing football. As I was new to Holland, whenever I wanted to play football I was put in goal – as I was the new kid. That turned out to be a blessing in disguise as Ajax gave me trial when I was 13 and I played for them in their youth sides. I was in the youth teams I became good friends with the now-Southampton goalie Maarten Stekelenburg, he gave me the nickname River. Released at 19 however I club hopped around the globe playing for many teams (below);

-Ajax (NED)
-FC Eindhoven (NED)
-Hansa Rostock II (GER)
-Fort Lauderdale Strikers (USA)
-Chicago Fire (USA)
-Bidvest Wits (SFA)
-Be Quick 1887 (NED)

It was at Be Quick ‘87 where I took up the offer to become senior player/coach, then I was snapped up by VVV-Venlo and I became a defending coach and the U18’s ‘keeper coach. Then I moved to China to help Henk ten Cate as his assistant manager at Shandong Luneng. Now after going on various courses and trips I've earnt all possible qualifications and I find myself job hunting.

Metalist Kharkiv have announced that current manager Oleksandr Sevidov has left his current role as manager after coming to blows with current owner and president of Metalist Serhiy Kurchenko over the clubs transfer budget. The search is on for Sevidov’s successor with Spaniard Juande Ramos the firm favourite for the job - Metalist finished in 6th place last year and had brought Sevidov shortly after the season end. Fan favourite at Metalist Papa Gueye, who left for Dnipro in the summer said the club ‘looks pretty on the outside but everything is crumbling inside it’. It’s hard to believe this is the same club that was challenging Shakhtar Donetsk for the title a couple of seasons ago. Some Ukrainian newspapers have even tipped the side to be relegated. However, the team should still probably be considered ‘too good to go down.’

Real Sociedad have announced that their new manager is to be named within the next 24 hours. Managerless since Scotsman David Moyes left in the summer, it looks as though they’ve found his replacement in the shape of Dutchman Frank de Boer according to Guillem Balague. He said that Sociedad’s president mentioned to him through a private telephone call that the next manager would definitely be Dutch as he is an avid voetbal fan.

Montpellier have accepted Rolland Courbis' resignation and will reveal his successor's name soon. The 62-year-old returned to MHSC for a second spell as head coach in 2013 and, after steering them away from relegation from Ligue 1, secured a seventh-placed finish at the end of the 2014-15 season. Courbis’ reasons are unknown, but it is thought that he is not right mentally after his long-term wife passed away a week ago.

1.6.2015, La Mére Brazier Restaurant, Lyon – 13:45

I arrived in Lyon somewhat jet-lagged after a short night flight from Milan after I decided to stay there for a couple of days to celebrate getting my Pro License. Whilst I was in Milan I noticed that Montpellier had sacked their manager and I got on the phone with my agent, as I knew for a fact he was good friends with their chairman Louis Nicollin. He used to have some players on his books that played for Montpellier. Louis rang me personally to say he has arranged a flight to Lyon for me and that he would like to exchange thoughts and philosophies I have on football. Basically, a job interview in a restaurant.

The interview lasted a good three hours, man that guy can talk. He spoke about his ever-lasting passion for Montpellier and his willingness for them to succeed. We spoke about French football in general and how much I knew about it. I like French football, I feel it’s a good tactical league and a good platform for any player to ply their trade. However, we did disagree on plenty of things such as league and cup expectations, which for me, we way out of reach for the club. Going into the interview I thought it would be a nice place to start, but after talking to Nicollin in depth I think the pressure would be too much especially in my first season in management. So, I rang him (Nicollin) a couple hours after to say I’m not interested, he took the news well – I think he wanted someone else aswell to be honest.

I applied for a couple roles in Ukraine and my native Holland. Those teams were Metalist Kharkiv of Ukraine and SBV Excelsior in Holland. Excelsior said they had others in mind and rejected me straight up. However, I have to jump on a plane to Kharkiv for an interview with Metalist on the 3rd. Exciting times ahead.

Looking forward to this story, good luck mate

Great start, I will be following!