A midfielder born in Guimaraes, he spent most of his youth career at Vitória, collecting trading cards and making many friends. In an interview with Maisfutebol, Tomas Handel recalls figures like Rui Borges, Quaresma, and Manu Silva. And he reveals the key to his season at FC Porto = PART II
Nearly three thousand kilometers separate the village of Serzedelo from Belgrade. However, the distance and social context do not diminish the passion of Tomás Händel, from Guimarães, for Vitória. The 25-year-old midfielder left his beloved club in September and opted for his debut abroad, playing for Red Star Belgrade in Serbia. An undisputed starter, he has accumulated 39 games and has already won the league and cup, in addition to playing in the Europa League. His continental campaign included matches against Braga and Porto.
In an interview with Maisfutebol from Belgrade, the Portuguese player recalls his time at Vitória and the numerous figures he worked with. From Rui Borges to Andre Almeida, from Ricardo Quaresma to Alex Costa, Tomás Händel doesn’t forget the work of Luís Pinto and Luís Freire.
Part I: Handel and the Belgrade derby: “Nothing in Portugal compares, it’s out of this world”
Part III: “My great-great-grandmother was Austrian, but I want to play for the Portuguese national team.”
Maisfutebol (MF): What is your first memory of Vitória?
Tomás Händel (TH): The trials in my childhood. I remember my parents taking me there and I recall it fondly. It was at Vitoria’s academy. I arrived at Vitoria after starting at Moreirense and I’ve kept friends there ever since. I always played for fun and I never thought I’d reach this level. I gained awareness and I feel fulfilled, but I want more.
Nearly three thousand kilometers separate the village of Serzedelo from Belgrade. However, the distance and social context do not diminish the passion of Tomás Händel, from Guimarães, for Vitória. The 25-year-old midfielder left his beloved club in September and opted for his debut abroad, playing for Red Star Belgrade in Serbia. An undisputed starter, he has accumulated 39 games and has already won the league and cup, in addition to playing in the Europa League. His continental campaign included matches against Braga and Porto.
In an interview with Maisfutebol from Belgrade, the Portuguese player recalls his time at Vitória and the numerous figures he worked with. From Rui Borges to André Almeida, from Ricardo Quaresma to Alex Costa, Tomás Händel doesn’t forget the work of Luís Pinto and Luis …
Part I: Handel and the Belgrade derby: Nothing in Portugal compares, it’s out of this world”
Part III: My great-great-grandmother was Austrian, but I want to play for the Portuguese national team.”
Maisfutebol (MF): What is your first memory of Vitória?
Tomás Händel (TH): The trials in my childhood. I remember my parents taking me there and I recall it fondly. It was at Vitória’s academy. I arrived at Vitória after starting at Moreirense and I’ve kept friends there ever since. I always played for fun and I never thought I’d reach this level. I gained awareness and I feel fulfilled, but I want more
MF: Who was your idol at Vitoria?
TH: Honestly? None. I never had a role model or idol. My father was the one who introduced me to football. He always liked refined and intelligent players, like Deco and Zidane. And they were a perfect fit for me.
MF: During his time at Vitória, he shared a locker room with, for example, midfielder André Almeida (Valencia) and defender Afonso Freitas (Marítimo)…
TH: They are two great friends. Their careers took different paths, but that’s a good thing, because Afonso is a champion of the Second Division and André is a fabulous player who will continue to have a very successful career. And I’m in favor of André being at the top of Portuguese football. National clubs should pay more attention to Portuguese players.
MF: It’s interesting how Vitoria develops and nurtures several national midfielders: Händel, André Almeida, Manu Silva (Benfica), among others. But they are different profiles.
TH: Manu and André are fabulous players. Manu has more defensive characteristics, with a superior build and is very good at recovering the ball. He’s refined and has a lot of technical quality, with the ability to think about the offensive build-up. André, on the other hand, is very strong in ball control and very good in one-on-one situations. And me… My main characteristic is tactical intelligence, knowing what I’m going to do before receiving the ball and reading my surroundings. Besides that, I’m a box=to=box midfielder. We would be a great trio!
MF: And we could bring in other midfielders who played for Vitória, like Luis Esteves.
TH: Awesome! He would be number 10 and we would play with four in midfield.
MF: During your time at Vitoria, you also shared a locker room with the twins Romain and Anthony Correia, who play for Marítimo and Académico de Viseu, respectively. Are they different?
TH: Romain was more reserved. They always stood out because they were already physically developed, combining that aspect with the quality of their passing as center-backs. I ended up spending more time with Romain, since Anthony left for Leixões.
MF: More recently, in Vitoria’s first team, you worked with Ricardo Quaresma. How does it feel to see “Harry Potter” enter the locker room?
TH: It was something monstrous. It was incredible, and I was lucky that we got along very well. I made the most of it. I talked a lot with him about his career path and learned from the composure he demonstrated on the field. Sometimes, the secret is in not overthinking, playing calmly.
MF: When he was very young, Tomas was coached by Alex Costa, a manager who made history and promoted Amarante to the Second Division. Who is this coach?
Nearly three thousand kilometers separate the village of Serzedelo from Belgrade. However, the distance and social context do not diminish the passion of Tomas Handel, from Guimaraes, for Vitoria. The 25-year-old midfielder left his beloved club in September and opted for his debut abroad, playing for Red Star Belgrade in Serbia. An undisputed starter, he has accumulated 39 games and has already won the league and cup, in addition to playing in the Europa League. His continental campaign included matches against Braga and Porto.
In an interview with Maisfutebol from Belgrade, the Portuguese player recalls his time at Vitória and the numerous figures he worked with. From Rui Borges to André Almeida, from Ricardo Quaresma to Alex Costa, Tomás Händel doesn’t forget the work of Luís Pinto and Luís Freire.
Read also.
Part I: Handel and the Belgrade derby: “Nothing in Portugal compares, it’s out of this world”
Part III: “My great-great-grandmother was Austrian, but I want to play for the Portuguese national team.”
Maisfutebol (MF): What is your first memory of Vitória?
Tomás Händel (TH): The trials in my childhood. I remember my parents taking me there and I recall it fondly. It was at Vitória’s academy. I arrived at Vitória after starting at Moreirense and I’ve kept friends there ever since. I always played for fun and I never thought I’d reach this level. I gained awareness and I feel fulfilled, but I want more
MF: Who was your idol at Vitória?
TH: Honestly? None. I never had a role model or idol. My father was the one who introduced me to football. He always liked refined and intelligent players, like Deco and Zidane. And they were a perfect fit for me.
MF: During his time at Vitória, he shared a locker room with, for example, midfielder André Almeida (Valencia) and defender Afonso Freitas (Marítimo)…
TH: They are two great friends. Their careers took different paths, but that’s a good thing, because Afonso is a champion of the Second Division and André is a fabulous player who will continue to have a very successful career. And I’m in favor of André being at the top of Portuguese football. National clubs should pay more attention to Portuguese players.
MF: It’s interesting how Vitória develops and nurtures several national midfielders: Händel, André Almeida, Manu Silva (Benfica), among others. But they are different profiles.
TH: Manu and André are fabulous players. Manu has more defensive characteristics, with a superior build and is very good at recovering the ball. He’s refined and has a lot of technical quality, with the ability to think about the offensive build-up. André, on the other hand, is very strong in ball control and very good in one-on-one situations. And me… My main characteristic is tactical intelligence, knowing what I’m going to do before receiving the ball and reading my surroundings. Besides that, I’m a box-to-box midfielder. We would be a great trio
MF: And we could bring in other midfielders who played for Vitória, like Luís Esteves.
TH: Awesome! He would be number 10 and we would play with four in midfield.
MF: During your time at Vitoria, you also shared a locker room with the twins Romain and Anthony Correia, who play for Marítimo and Académico de Viseu, respectively. Are they different?
TH: Romain was more reserved. They always stood out because they were already physically developed, combining that aspect with the quality of their passing as center-backs. I ended up spending more time with Romain, since Anthony left for Leixões.
MF: More recently, in Vitória’s first team, you worked with Ricardo Quaresma. How does it feel to see “Harry Potter” enter the locker room?
TH: It was something monstrous. It was incredible, and I was lucky that we got along very well. I made the most of it. I talked a lot with him about his career path and learned from the composure he demonstrated on the field. Sometimes, the secret is in not overthinking, playing calmly.
MF: When he was very young, Tomás was coached by Alex Costa, a manager who made history and promoted Amarante to the Second Division. Who is this
TH: Coach Alex was a Vitória player and is passionate about Vitória. I also worked with him in the under-19s and the B team. He was always intense and demanding, perhaps different from what is expected in youth development. The message was always geared towards winning. He was a good teacher and instilled ambition in me. He’s an excellent team player.
MF: He worked with Rui Borges in Vitória’s first team.
TH: I really liked it. The success he’s achieving doesn’t surprise me. I was impressed by the way he prepared for the games, by the detailed study. At the same time, he gives us freedom on the field. We know exactly what to do and we’re comfortable; the quality comes naturally. Rui Borges’ career path doesn’t surprise me and he will continue to be successful.
MF: (…)
TH: After Rui Borges left for Sporting, coach Luis Freire arrived, someone I identify with because of his playing style, his focus on possession and supporting play. He comes from a school of thought I appreciate. The result of his quality is that he’s in charge of the under-21 national team. I hope he continues to be successful.
Nearly three thousand kilometers separate the village of Serzedelo from Belgrade. However, the distance and social context do not diminish the passion of Tomás Händel, from Guimarães, for Vitoria. The 25-year-old midfielder left his beloved club in September and opted for his debut abroad, playing for Red Star Belgrade in Serbia. An undisputed starter, he has accumulated 39 games and has already won the league and cup, in addition to playing in the Europa League. His continental campaign included matches against Braga and Porto.
In an interview with Maisfutebol from Belgrade, the Portuguese player recalls his time at Vitória and the numerous figures he worked with. From Rui Borges to André Almeida, from Ricardo Quaresma to Alex Costa, Tomás Händel doesn’t forget the work of Luís Pinto and Luís Freire.
Read also.
Part I: Handel and the Belgrade derby: Nothing in Portugal compares, it’s out of this world”
Part III: My great=great=grandmother was Austrian, but I want to play for the Portuguese national team.”
Maisfutebol (MF): What is your first memory of Vitória?
Tomas Handel (TH): The trials in my childhood. I remember my parents taking me there and I recall it fondly. It was at Vitória’s academy. I arrived at Vitória after starting at Moreirense and I’ve kept friends there ever since. I always played for fun and I never thought I’d reach this level. I gained awareness and I feel fulfilled, but I want more.
MF: Who was your idol at Vitoria?
TH: Honestly? None. I never had a role model or idol. My father was the one who introduced me to football. He always liked refined and intelligent players, like Deco and Zidane. And they were a perfect fit for me.
MF: During his time at Vitoria, he shared a locker room with, for example, midfielder André Almeida (Valencia) and defender Afonso Freitas (Marítimo)…
TH: They are two great friends. Their careers took different paths, but that’s a good thing, because Afonso is a champion of the Second Division and André is a fabulous player who will continue to have a very successful career. And I’m in favor of André being at the top of Portuguese football. National clubs should pay more attention to Portuguese players.
MF: It’s interesting how Vitoria develops and nurtures several national midfielders: Händel, Andre Almeida, Manu Silva (Benfica), among others. But they are different profiles.
TH: Manu and Andre are fabulous players. Manu has more defensive characteristics, with a superior build and is very good at recovering the ball. He’s refined and has a lot of technical quality, with the ability to think about the offensive build=up. Andre, on the other hand, is very strong in ball control and very good in one-on-one situations. And me… My main characteristic is tactical intelligence, knowing what I’m going to do before receiving the ball and reading my surroundings. Besides that, I’m a box=to=box midfielder. We would be a great trio!
MF: And we could bring in other midfielders who played for Vitória, like Luis Esteves.
TH: Awesome! He would be number 10 and we would play with four in midfield.
MF: During your time at Vitoria, you also shared a locker room with the twins Romain and Anthony Correia, who play for Marítimo and Académico de Viseu, respectively. Are they different?
TH: Romain was more reserved. They always stood out because they were already physically developed, combining that aspect with the quality of their passing as center-backs. I ended up spending more time with Romain, since Anthony left for Leixões.
MF: More recently, in Vitória’s first team, you worked with Ricardo Quaresma. How does it feel to see “Harry Potter” enter the locker room?
TH: It was something monstrous. It was incredible, and I was lucky that we got along very well. I made the most of it. I talked a lot with him about his career path and learned from the composure he demonstrated on the field. Sometimes, the secret is in not overthinking, playing calmly.
MF: When he was very young, Tomas was coached by Alex Costa, a manager who made history and promoted Amarante to the Second Division. Who is this c0ach.
TH: Coach Alex was a Vitória player and is passionate about Vitoria. I also worked with him in the under-19s and the B team. He was always intense and demanding, perhaps different from what is expected in youth development. The message was always geared towards winning. He was a good teacher and instilled ambition in me. He’s an excellent team player.
MF: He worked with Rui Borges in Vitoria’s first team.
TH: I really liked it. The success he’s achieving doesn’t surprise me. I was impressed by the way he prepared for the games, by the detailed study. At the same time, he gives us freedom on the field. We know exactly what to do and we’re comfortable; the quality comes naturally. Rui Borges’ career path doesn’t surprise me and he will continue to be successful.
MF: (…)
TH: After Rui Borges left for Sporting, coach Luís Freire arrived, someone I identify with because of his playing style, his focus on possession and supporting play. He comes from a school of thought I appreciate. The result of his quality is that he’s in charge of the under-21 national team. I hope he continues to be successful.
MF: This season I played against FC Porto twice at the Dragao stadium. The match for Red Star Belgrade was in October, during the Europa League group stage.
TH: At Estrela we have many experienced players and we could have won. FC Porto is very pressing and intense, with a different energy than last season. They are very strong. The key is the coach, the most important piece. FC Porto has invested a lot and has very experienced players in all sectors.
MF: You started the season at Vitoria and also worked with Luís Pinto, the young coach who led them to the League Cup victory, but who left during the season. How do you explain this “intensity” at Vitória?
TH: It’s difficult. It’s not up to me to explain. Luís Pinto has a bright future and a lot of quality; I liked the ideas he shared and his mentality. With him, every game is to win, there’s no fear. He won the League Cup and, although it’s huge, Vitória has few titles at this level. After all that, few expected Luís Pinto to leave. But it happened. I believe everyone acted with the best interests of Vitória in mind.