Not everything is perfect for everyone» :: zerozero.pt

2023-05-17 13:02:04

• Article originally published on May 17, 2018

Márcio Sousa had the world at his feet. At age 17, the Maradonaa nickname he earned while still at Vitória SC, was one of the young Portuguese players to whom many pointed a bright future in the world of football, especially after the 2003 European Championship final, in Viseu, where the number 10 of Portugal ‘broke all the dishes’ against neighboring Spain (2×1), with two goals, but who, unfortunately, failed to make the leap to stardom.

Without any kind of regret, at peace with life and very grateful for the moments he lived during the fantastic campaign with the symbol of Portugal on his chest in that European Championship, Márcio Sousa immediately accepted the invitation of the zerozero to travel to the past, more specifically to 2003, and remember everything that will never be forgotten. This final.

«Because despite everything, I still have stories to tell and important storiesA”. So let’s go to that day May 17, 2003.

«Despite having the capacity for much more, things did not happen, but I am not frustrated either…»

zerozero (ZZ): Fulfilled on the 17th (today) 15 years [20 anos] since that grand finale. A long time has passed since then, what memories do you have of that day?

Márcio Sousa (MS): A long time has passed, it is true, but it is something that is always in the memory of those who were there and in the Portuguese. It is something that lasts a lifetime and that you will keep for life and will tell your children and grandchildren. This is something that is marked…

qMárcio had great qualities and everyone expected him to have a career at the highest level. But that’s life. Some make it, some don’t…

Bruno Gama

ZZ: Even more so for you who were the great hero of the final. Do you remember how the goals went?

MS: Yes, yes, I remember perfectly. Sometimes I’m still at home and I start to see those moments as is logical. The first goal was a move in midfield in which João Coimbra put the ball over the defense, the ball hit the ground and I appeared isolated and kicked to the left side of the goalkeeper [Antonio Adán]. Then the ball hits the post and goes in. The second is a free kick on the right side and I put the ball in the corner on the opposite side and the game was 2-1.

ZZ: And you still have some ‘flashes’ from the public after those goals?

MS: I know it was an immense joy. Fontelo Stadium was completely full. It was crazy. There were people on top of the wall, on top of the trees… It was a spectacular environment and it was a happy ending for everyone.

ZZ: What led you to that achievement against a Spain that was the big favorite to win the trophy?

MS: At the time, everyone was talking about Spain, which was a very strong team. Many people took it for granted that they would win the championship, but, little by little, we passed and when we reached the semi-finals, we started to believe more and more and we were happy to beat England in penalties and we reached the final. In the final, it was a moment of great unity because we knew perfectly well that we had quality and we just had to go to the pitch. People already knew each other well, we already knew each other well on the field and we knew the movements and the spaces we occupied and that was the big secret.

Márcio Sousa 1 official titles

ZZ: They were very young, aged 16 and 17, some as young as 15. Were you aware of what was happening around you?

MS: At the time there was certainly an impact, but not like now. Now the televisions are constantly recording games, in the case of social networks it was not as accessible as it is now and despite that everything has already been a very publicized thing, spoken throughout the country. But you, at your age, have no idea what is happening. For you it’s just another tournament, a competition where you enter, but it doesn’t have the dimension of what you managed to achieve at 16-17 years old. Only five/six years later do you have an idea of ​​what you achieved that day. I still think about it today. If it were today, it would be even more publicized and talked about.

ZZ: Looking back, what do you miss most about that time?

MS: The question is very simple. Missing being together in those moments, palhaçadas, group spirit… This is what I miss the most, being with people who stayed for life and that I still talk to them today. These are moments that mark your life and that you will stay with them forever.

Márcio Sousa shone in the final of the 2003 Under-17 Championship, in Viseu @FPF

ZZ: It is inevitable to talk about this. Everyone believed that you could have reached a high level. After these fifteen [vinte] years, how do you look at all this?

qMárcio Sousa, Maradona, was one of the most coveted, most talked about, most desired players… At the time it was said that he was going to be the future number 10 in Portugal

Mário Felgueiras

MS: Of course, but when you’re 16-17 years old, you have no idea what happens because a lot of other things happen afterwards. There are many interests. You have no idea what is happening. There is a lot of work on the outside, many people who come into your life to help you and don’t. Despite all that, despite not having reached the level I wanted to, I even had a very satisfactory career because I was in clubs where I moved up in the division, I was in clubs where I always played not at a maximum level, but Second League and Second B levels where I climbed. Despite being capable of so much more, things haven’t happened, but I’m not frustrated by that either. Because despite everything, I still have stories to tell and important stories.

ZZ: It is also with great pride that you look at Moutinho and Vieirinha who were European champions again in 2016…

MS: Exactly. And I spoke to them. With Vieirinha I have a really good relationship of friendship and at the time when he was at the Euro in France I exchanged messages with him and gave him strength because I knew they were united and could make a moment history for Portugal. Of course I am proud and with enormous satisfaction to see them in the situation they were in, where I and many U17 European champions could be. Football is just like that. The train passes once, they manage to catch it, others don’t… But that’s life. Not everything is perfect for everyone. If it was perfect it wouldn’t be funny.

ZZ: The most important thing are the ties that remain, then?

qMárcio Sousa was one of the few who never played in the Primeira Liga. He had and has a fabulous left foot…

João Coimbra

MS: Without a doubt, the most important thing is the friendship, the moments we spend together and the achievements. That’s what gives us strength when we have less good times, not only in football but in life. We have to carry on with life forward. At the time, maybe I didn’t believe it was possible and, therefore, in life we ​​have troubles and no matter how much our heads are buried in the sand, we have to pick them up and move on. Life is just like that. We have to be positive because if we are not positive, bad things happen.

ZZ: Finally, and also because some people don’t know the reason for this nickname of yours by which the under-17 people call you: Maradona! In addition to the champion’s medal, this is also something you don’t forget… How did it come about?

MS: It was in Guimarães. I was never tall and I played on my left foot and when I was 8-9 years old, when I played with Vieirinha at Vitoria SC, because we were always together until the B team at FC Porto, they started calling me that name. I never asked them to call me that, but it was something that stayed. Sometimes I even felt ashamed because when I saw videos of Maradona playing, I thought to myself how it was possible that they were comparing me with that football star. There is no possible comparison and sometimes I would get a little embarrassed and say: ‘don’t call me that, I don’t feel good about it’. But it stayed and many people still know me by that name. Stay for life.