Patrick Vieira, former French national team midfielder and current Genoa coach, recently shared his views on the development of young footballers and spoke about the key moments of his career. Vieira was a guest of honor at the Golden Boy award ceremony, where Desire Doue is considered one of the favorites.
According to Vieira, young players need support and trust from the club to reach their full potential. He emphasized the importance of creating an environment where young talents can learn from their own mistakes and improve. Vieira singled out Doue as one of the most promising footballers in Europe, highlighting his performances in the Champions League. At the same time, Lamine Yamal, according to the coach, is also among the best, even though he is not competing for the award this year.
Vieira compared different approaches to team building. He noted that Chelsea focuses on acquiring young players from around the world, while Arsenal is actively developing its own academy. In his opinion, both approaches are valid, and success depends on the chosen strategy. Reflecting on his work with Manchester City’s youth team, Vieira pointed out that many graduates from English clubs are now playing at the highest level.
Speaking about Arsenal, Vieira drew parallels between Arsène Wenger’s and Mikel Arteta’s teams. He believes that in recent years, the London club has come closer to becoming a title contender, and the current investments have only strengthened this progress.
Vieira paid special attention to the episode when he was approached by the Madrid club. He explained that at that time, he felt comfortable in London and did not want to change his environment. Despite interest from the Spanish giants and a personal conversation with the management, Vieira decided to stay at Arsenal. Now he admits that this choice may be one of his few career regrets, but at the time he was completely satisfied with his situation.
Vieira also noted that the role of a defensive midfielder has changed in recent years. He highlighted players like Declan Rice and Rodri, who combine physical strength with the ability to control the game. According to the Frenchman, modern midfielders must be versatile and able to impact both defense and attack.
Reflecting on leadership at Arsenal, Vieira emphasized that the team always had different types of leaders. Tony Adams was the emotional center of the group, while Vieira himself preferred a more reserved style. He is confident that passion and the desire to win remain part of the club’s DNA.
The coach shared memories from the start of his career, when he became the captain of Cannes at 19. This experience helped him realize that young players need support and the opportunity to learn from experienced teammates. Vieira noted that going pro at an early age requires constant self-improvement and regular game practice; otherwise, development can slow down.
He also noted the differences between countries. In France, young footballers are given opportunities to prove themselves in the top division more quickly, which motivates them to keep progressing every day. In Spain, according to Vieira, there is an effective training system where the B team works closely with the main squad, allowing young players to adapt rapidly to the demands of top-level football.
In conclusion, Vieira praised the work of Luis de la Fuente and noted that the Spanish national team displays a unique playing style. He believes that Spanish youth have every chance to continue developing successfully and achieve new accomplishments on the international stage.
