As the curtain fell on the 2011/12 season, it proved a highly positive weekend for several Portuguese players and coaches stationed abroad.Striker Ricardo Vaz Tê fired West Ham into the Premier League, Hearts manager Paulo Sérgio won the Scottish Cup in style, CFR Cluj lifted the Romanian championship, while the biggest prize in club football was won by Chelsea in dramatic style, with José Bosingwa playing the 120 minutes against Bayern Munich.
Ricardo Vaz Tê seals promotion for West Ham at Wembley
Ricardo Vaz Tê once again proved the difference for West Ham, netting an emphatic goal in the game’s dying embers against Blackpool in the Championship play-off final, where the prize is promotion to the Premier League. The reputation of the Portuguese starlet is only increasing, with his goal earning an estimated £90 million for the East London club.
After a nervy opening to the encounter, with Blackpool looking the livelier, West Ham finally began to settle. A slick move between the West Ham forward trio of Cole, Gary O’Neil and Vaz Tê led to the latter hitting the side netting. The first goal arrived in the 33rd minute as Carlton Cole held off his defender to sweep the ball into the back of the net. Vaz Tê could have doubled his side’s lead just before the break only to drag his shot wide.
Blackpool got a deserved equaliser soon after the break through Thomas Ince. The next forty minutes was a see-saw battle, with both West Ham and Blackpool having numerous opportunities to score.
With extra time looming and only three minutes remaining, a Cole shot ricocheted kindly to set up Vaz Tê who, with poise, rifled the ball into the roof of the net (pictured above), much to his and the fans’ jubilation. A yellow card for taking off his shirt did nothing to ruin his day as he secured West Ham Premier League football after 12 months in the Championship.
“My second chance”
“I feel like I have been blessed with a second chance in my career,” said the Lisbon-born striker during a post-game interview, “I’m just cherishing every moment. I’m loving it. It’s great to be here. The Premier League? It’s another step, a big challenge. We must get there with the mentality that we’re a premier league side and not just fighting (to avoid) relegation.”
At only 25 years of age, his maturity and team ethic are evident: “It wasn’t about my goal, it was about togetherness. We showed tremendous character.”
Paulo Sérgio guides Hearts to Scottish Cup triumph
On the same day in the United Kingdom, but 550 kilometres further north, in Glasgow, celebrations were just as fervent as Hearts thrashed Edinburgh rivals Hibernian 5-1 in the Scottish Cup final.
The result was the perfect end to what has been an at times difficult but ultimately successful season for Hearts’ Portuguese manager, Paulo Sérgio. Just like during his time at Sporting, Sérgio has had to contend with a far from stable atmosphere at boardroom level. The season included some memorable performances (victories over Rangers and Celtic) and a fifth-place finish.
However, the best was saved until last as Hearts completely outplayed Hibs to deservedly lift the cup. Sérgio’s team had knocked out runaway Scottish champions Celtic in the semi-final.
“It’s probably my biggest achievement as manager,” said the ecstatic 44-year-old. “I was champion in my first season coaching, I got my team promoted. But this is different because I’m working outside of my country. That can make things harder, even with the language because I can’t express myself the same way I could in Portugal. So it gives a different flavour, a fantastic flavour.”
Chelsea stun Bayern
After pulling off a huge shock to knock Barcelona out of the Champions League semi-final, Chelsea surprised the football world again by beating Bayern Munich in their own stadium. A stoical performance saw the Londoners soak up heavy pressure throughout the 120 minutes which ended in a 1-1 draw. Petre Cech and Didier Drogba were the heroes of the subsequent penalty shootout as the Blues were crowned Champions of Europe.
Portuguese defender José Bosingwa had an excellent match and was one of the most effusive celebrators as Chelsea lifted the trophy. “It was a difficult game. When we went behind I thought that was it, but Didier Drogba scored a spectacular goal. André Villas-Boas had told us earlier in the season that we would be European Champions!”
Bosingwa has been controversially left out of Portugal’s Euro 2012 squad after a public fall-out with Selecção coach Paulo Bento, but the right-back said he would be rooting 100% for his compatriots. “I’m going to watch it on my sofa and it’s going to be spectacular. I wish my colleagues the best of luck.”
One player who will be in Ukraine and Poland is Raúl Meireles. The midfielder was forced to miss the final through suspension, but was on the pitch at the Allianz Arena partying with the rest of his team-mates having played a big role in Chelsea’s run to the final. Likewise, goalkeeper Hilário and defender Paulo Ferreira were in the midst of the celebrations. For Ferreira and Bosingwa it was a second Champions League triumph having won the trophy for José Mourinho’s FC Porto in 2004.
Cluj clinch Romanian championship
In Romania, CFR Cluj, were crowned champions for the third time in five years. As has constantly been the case in the recent successful history of the club, there was a big contribution made by Portuguese players. Captain Cadu, Celestino, Rui Pedro, Camora, Nuno Diogo and Beto were all part of the squad, which was coached for most of the season by former FC Porto hero Jorge Costa.
Goalkeeper Beto, who is part of Portugal’s Euro 2012 squad, was voted the player of the season by the club’s fans. “I achieved all my objectives and that makes me very happy. I left FC Porto for one season and fulfilled what I had planned. I played regularly, I got back into the Selecção and I won the championship,” said Beto.
