'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Does the name, Luís André de Pina Cabral e Villas-Boas, strike a chord with football fans? If the name sounds a bit familiar, the man commonly referred to as André Villas-Boas (AVB) is currently the center of attraction in EPL, his popularity overshadowing the luminous Chelsea players in the pre-season build-up.
So, why is there so much hype surrounding the latest entrant to the Chelsea club who is entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring EPL as well as most importantly UEFA Champions League success? Lets analyze the enigma engulfing AVB.
Firstly, André Villas-Boas is the youngest coach to win a European title during his highly publicized stint at FC Porto.
Secondly, his whopping 13.3 million pounds move to Chelsea from FC Porto is the most expensive ever in the history of football.
Thirdly, (here’s when things get better) he is considered to be a prodigy of the famed Jose Mourinho and worked as an as an assistant coach under Mourinho at FC Porto and Chelsea.
No wonder then that the man who got his first UEFA coaching license at the age of 17 has been a subject of much adulation by fans and media alike. Delving further into the functioning of AVB, like his mentor Mourinho, he considers it a prerogative to technically analyze every opponent in the League, chalking out their strengths and weaknesses well before going into the match. His astute understanding of the game and motivational ability to derive the best out of what he has on his hands are two highly spoken qualities of the Portuguese.
Therefore, in fact, it comes as no surprise that Roman Abrahamovich hastily scrambled to sign André Villas-Boas and pay the buy-out clause to land him at Stamford Bridge. This move has surely increased Abrahamovich’s dipping rating points after a disappointing season under Carlo Ancelloti who, after a wonderful start to the last season, lost the plot without any discerning reason. Fans and players at Stamford Bridge seem to be pretty kicked with AVB coming in; its as if he has brought in a fresh belief in the club that required an assuring influence.
