“Não é Só Futebol, Estúpido” (It’s not Just Football, Stupid) by Hugo Leal | OneFootball

Win a football book with a difference (written in Portuguese)

Hugo Leal was a Benfica wonderkid whose playing career did not hit the heights many had predicted. Last year he wrote a book.

It could have contained salacious details about who had derailed what should have been a dazzling career. It doesn’t. It could have been a lament about moments of ill-fortune that prevented him from becoming a household name. It isn’t. Leal could have cashed in on rubbing shoulders with a generation of star names by revealing saucy secrets. He hasn’t.

Instead, he has compiled a fascinating book focusing mostly on his post-playing career as the director of Estoril Praia’s youth set-up for a decade, and his unique perception about how to run a football academy. I have not enjoyed reading a football book as much as this one in years.

It is impossible to read it and not be impressed by the intelligence of Leal’s ideas, not be struck by his positivity and not be touched by the wonderfully human approach he brought to the role in a cut-throat sport when all three qualities – intelligence, positivity, humanity – are often conspicuous by their absence.

The book’s opening gambit:

“What I am most often asked is whether I passed up having a great career. I always give the same reply: I’d be more worried if I had passed up having a great life. I think the next pages prove I need not worry.”

Judging by the dozens of contributions from coaches, ex-players, journalists, teachers, parents of young footballers in Estoril’s academy and many others who have come into contact with Leal in one capacity or another, he has fully achieved the goal of making the most of his life.

Reading the words of appreciation afforded to Leal, above all as regards his outlook and personality, we understand why the title of the book is so apt. Not to mention its subtitle: “Transforming lives through sport”. Football is important. Living a good life is more important.

The format of the book works well, whereby the candid thoughts of numerous contributors are interspersed with Leal’s treatise, including a couple of delightfully insightful windows into the coaching philosophies of Rúben Amorim and Jorge Jesus, in their own words.

If you understand Portuguese and like football, read this book. If you only have a passing interest in football read this book. Hell, even if you don’t really like football, read this book! You won’t be disappointed.

Three questions for Hugo Leal:

1. What was more difficult? Progressing through Benfica’s youth ranks to make your senior debut or putting together this book?!

“Clearly writing a book is harder work than what I experienced as a youth player at Benfica. The fun, the pleasure, the innocence, the irresponsibility of that period meant I lived day-by-day pretty much like the child that I was, merely enjoying myself without any kind of concern about the consequences; this comes somewhat from ignorance and a carefree time.

“Writing a book gives more work. It brings more responsibility because what you write can be read by a lot of people and may influence others in some way – and we’re talking about influencing attitudes and behaviours – so we must be very careful about the way we do it because people search for good examples and good reference points, so every care must be taken.

“But I really enjoyed writing the book. It enabled me to revisit a lot of events from my past, not only as a footballer, but also as a youth academy director.”

2. What are you most proud of in your career, either as a footballer or in subsequent roles?

“I’m very proud of the career I had. I’m proud I managed to make good friends, I’m proud of having a reputation of being a good teammate, someone who tried to do the right thing, somebody who contributed a lot to the team spirit.

“I’m happy that as a player I could experience many good moments, and as a director I’m happy that I have transmitted a good image with regard to a way of living, respect for others, how you should compete, and I hope that in this latest phase as a director, some of the shared experiences I had make sense for those who were alongside me.

“So the pride I feel is a general pride, for how I have interacted with others, and how I have stuck by my ideas even in difficult times. When tough decisions had to be made, when some of my positions may have led to a lack of sporting results, even so I stuck to my principles, and that fills me with pride.”

3. What is the best thing about the three capital cities whose clubs you played for: Lisbon, Paris and Madrid?

“I’d say that I considered Lisbon my home, so it was the reality – the only reality – I knew.

“As far as Madrid goes, it raised a doubt when comparing it to Lisbon, because I adored being in Madrid, I adored the city, I adored the Spanish mentality, I loved the timetables. So I was left with a feeling of ‘so Lisbon is good, but we also have this, Madrid also exists’ – although of course Madrid is missing the beach.

“Then we have Paris, which has incredible cultural offerings, which is a beautiful city to get to know and to live in, but which is associated a little to a colder climate, night-time falling earlier, an earlier timetable, and to a certain extent a people who are more reserved and less open than what I was used to – the Portuguese and the Spanish – but they are three amazing cities and three amazing clubs.”

Contest to win the book

For a chance to win a copy of the book, Hugo set the following question: How many years did Hugo Leal play as a professional footballer? 15, 17 or 20?

To win a copy of Não é Só Futebol, Estúpido, send the answer to the above question to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by midnight Lisbon time on Monday 14 April. All the correct answers will enter a draw and the winner will be sent a copy of Não é Só Futebol, Estúpido. The winner will be announced on this page on Tuesday 15 April.