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Emotional Abschiede und herzliche Botschaften prägten die Sportwelt im Jahr 2024. Viele Spieler und Trainer äußerten sich, doch einige Namen stachen besonders hervor: José Mourinho, Roberto Martínez, Sérgio Conceição, André Villas-Boas, Neemias Queta, Diogo Costa, Patrícia Sampaio, Iúri Leitão, Pepe, Luís Filipe Vieira, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Frederico Varandas and Ruben Amorim.
- “Sweat, blood, tears, joy, sadness, love, brothers, history, heart and eternity.”
José Mourinho, the Portuguese coach, says goodbye to Roma, an Italian football club, on Instagram on January 16, 2024. - “(Cristiano Ronaldo) is an example of a player giving everything for the national team. (…) My impression when I spoke to him about the national team for the first time was that of an 18-year-old.”
Roberto Martínez, Nationaltrainer, Lusa, 26. January 2024. - “As for the hug I gave to my friend Pinto da Costa at the Coliseu do Porto, he is a mentor and someone I have known since I was 15 and who has given me very important opportunities in my personal and professional life.”
Sérgio Conceição, Trainer at FC Porto, 6. Februar 2024. - “Do I have any idea of the performance I have achieved? No, I didn’t… I’m only 19… I slept with the medals under my pillow, the one from 50 was broken, a cleaning lady must have done that without meaning to, but I was able to exchange them and put them in In the meantime, I did this.”
Diogo Ribeiro, upon his arrival in Lisbon after winning two gold medals at the World Swimming Championships in Doha, February 19, 2024. - “There are no words to describe everything or thank him for what he did for FC Porto. The President of Presidents is not a metaphor! It is memory, respect and gratitude. Above all, it is work, victory and glory. He has an unparalleled service record, coupled with a vivid and present thought: ‘This is the FC Porto I leave to you, take care of it.’ This is how I will do it, Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa. Your legacy is eternal and will always be respected.”
André Villas-Boas, at his inauguration as president of FC Porto, May 7, 2024. - “After 25 years later I can say I’m the greatest of all time.”
Zlatan Ibrahimović, former Swedish international, June 8, 2024. - “It is very important to me to carry the name and flag of Portugal. To be here on this stage and to be one of the pioneers of the sport in our country… That’s something I don’t take lightly.”
Neemias Queta, Portuguese basketball player, after winning the NBA championship with the Boston Celtics, in a statement to ESPN, June 18, 2024. - “It was the best game of my life.”
Diogo Costa, national goalkeeper, was named player of the match in the Portugal vs. Slovenia match after saving three penalties that catapulted the national team into the quarterfinals of Euro 2024, July 1, 2024. - “I think that only when I put it on my neck, when I touch it, when I bite into it, will I understand that the medal is truly mine, I will take it home and I have won it, but it’s all feeling like a dream, and it was a dream.”
Patrícia Sampaio, Portuguese judoka, after winning bronze in the -78 kg at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, August 1, 2024. - “In Portugal we make omelettes without eggs. Every time we get more eggs to make nicer omelettes. We are already starting to make cakes; We’ll see what we have later.”
Iúri Leitão, Portuguese cyclist, after winning the silver medal in the omnium at Paris 2024, August 8, 2024. - “Being Portuguese is a huge source of pride for me. I know I was not born here in Portugal, but I consider myself Portuguese because I am very grateful for what Portugal has given me.”
Pepe, Brazilian footballer, announces his retirement on August 8, 2024 at the age of 41. - “The Club World Cup was a ‘drop’ in an ‘overflowing ocean’. I criticize the one-sided and even undemocratic way in which the calendar of competitions organized by FIFA and UEFA has been imposed without consensus and with the need to coordinate an already overloaded calendar.”
Joaquim Evangelista, President of the Professional Footballers Association, Lusa, September 4, 2024. - “All cycles come to an end and I come to announce that mine has ended.”
Jéssica Augusto, the second best Portuguese marathoner, announces her retirement, Instagram, September 11, 2024. - “I have to say this to the Benfica supporters: I’m sorry, I made a mistake in choosing my successor Rui Costa.”
Luís Filipe Vieira, former president of Benfica, CMTV, September 12, 2024. - “There is a health issue for the players taking part in World Cups and European Championships and the Champions League. There are about 200, but only in Europe there are 50,000 professional players. They want to raise money from those 200 who have six Ferraris instead of five. Is this what we want in football?”
Javier Tebas, President of La Liga, September 13, 2024. - “All the tears of the last few days are from emotion, from pride; they are not tears of sadness. They are the tears of this boy who had the dream of becoming a football player and who succeeded after a lot of hard work, effort and sacrifice.”
Andrés Iniesta, Spanish international, will announce his retirement on October 8, 2024. - “What a career, Rafa. I always hoped that this day wouldn’t come. Thank you for the unforgettable memories and for all your achievements in the sport we love. It was an absolute honor.”
Roger Federer, in a post on Rafael Nadal’s social media, announces his retirement, October 10, 2024. - “(Rafael Nadal) You have inspired millions of children to play tennis and I think that is probably the greatest achievement anyone can aspire to. Your passion, your commitment and your fighting spirit will be remembered for decades to come. Your legacy will last forever.”
Novak Djokovic, Serbian tennis player, record holder of Grand Slam titles, Instagram, October 10, 2024. - “Thank God I managed to fulfill all my dreams. I have achieved much more than I dreamed of as a child. I fulfilled every player’s biggest dream of winning the world title.”
Lionel Messi, Argentina international, October 17, 2024. - “There was a period of ‘golden whistle’ in which Pinto da Costa had built his entire network, his entire structure, and later Luís Filipe Vieira, perhaps tired of investing and not making a profit, comes and does a ‘Portugaization’ of Benfica.”
Frederico Varandas, President of Sporting, RTP3, October 20, 2024. - “It was the best phase of my life. Everyone at Sporting knows how important they were to me. I understand the disappointment of the fans and that they are divided as I leave in the middle of what could be a historic season.”
Ruben Amorim after Sporting’s victory over Estrela da Amadora (5-1) in the 10th round of the League, regarding his move to the managerial position at Manchester United, November 1, 2024. - “If I had any doubts and if I came to this place thinking it could go wrong, I wouldn’t be here. It doesn’t occur to me that it could go wrong.”
João Pereira, during his presentation as new coach of Sporting, November 11, 2024. - “My body told me it doesn’t want to play tennis anymore and I have to accept it. I am privileged to have turned my passion into my career. I’m lucky.”
Rafael Nadal, at the ceremony to end his tennis career, November 19, 2024. - “I can’t say that I was convinced that I would win the Brasileirão and the Libertadores when I arrived. We came to fight for everything, including the Copa do Brasil… to fight. But that was very good; it was an extraordinary year. I have already told my players: There is no story without courage. We were a team with great courage.”
Artur Jorge, Portuguese coach of Botafogo, after winning the Brazilian soccer championship, December 8, 2024. - “I’m ending my career the way I wanted to, with the feeling that I gave everything I could give and it was as it should be. An eternal thank you.”
Telma Monteiro, judoka, BTV, December 9, 2024.
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2024-12-25 11:04:00