At the age of 42, he competed in the Portuguese Super League! Nene: I used to be a bus ticket seller and refused Milan s offer.

42-year-old former Serie A center Nene is still continuing his green career in the Portuguese Super League team AVS club. Recently, Nene was interviewed and reviewed his career.

Nie, how do you feel when you fight at the age of 42?

The body is inevitably slightly injured and painful, but overall it feels great. I still play in the top league and can always complete all training with the team, never having to practice alone. I think it's okay to play until I'm 44 or 45 years old, but I still plan to hang up my boots after playing this season.

What are your plans after retirement?

I plan to become a coach. I have taken relevant courses and now I have obtained the UEFA B-level coaching certificate. I hope to stay in the football circle.

Can you introduce the AVS you are playing for now?

We are a very young team, which was just established three years ago and started from the amateur league by acquiring a team. We have been promoted from Portugal’s second grade all the way, and last season we successfully relegated through the play-offs. The team has changed a lot this year, and many new faces have been replaced, and the new players are very capable. At the beginning of the season, we only scored one point in the first four games, and the start was indeed not smooth, but I believe the team will perform well this year. I am the captain of this team now.

Let us talk about your growth experience.

When I was two years old, my father left home. It can be said that I did not have the role of father during my growth. My mother relied on working as a cleaner to support her family, and my two brothers and I grew up in poverty. From the age of 12 to 17, I worked as a ticket seller on the bus every day and drilled holes for tickets. Every day, I go out at 5 a.m. and finish work at 5 p.m. to earn some money to supplement my family’s income. After I got home, I had to rush to school to attend night school after taking a shower, and it was almost midnight when I lay in bed. That was my life in those five years.

How did football enter your life? When I was 18 years old, I quit my job and decided to pursue my football dream. Thanks to a friend of mine, he took me to the St. Paul Center, a football school. We had the opportunity to play against giant teams like Sao Paulo and Santos in friendly matches. My performance was very eye-catching. It was also from then on that time that people in the circle began to know my name.

Which name do you know? Anderson Miguel da Silva, or is it a simpler "Nene"?

is "nene". This name was given by my grandmother. She had never been to school and could not read it or write "Anderson". I am the youngest child in the family, and the word "Nené" is pronounced a bit like "nino" in Spanish, which means "little boy". Later, even if I played wild football with my friends on the street, everyone called me that.

A question that many people are curious about: Are you right-footed or left-handed?

I am a right foot player, but my left foot is also free of obstacles. I have never practiced erectile dysfunction before, I think this is a kind of talent. Speaking of which, my two brothers are also people with very balanced left and right feet.

What happened to you when you joined Cagliari by chance?

At that time, I received two invitations: one from Cagliari and the other from AC Milan. Cagliari Chairman Celino really wants me to join, and one of the interesting reasons is that we both actually have the same birthday.

What is your relationship with Chairman Celino?

We have always been like father and son. He came to the training ground to see us almost every day. To me, he was like the father character who was missing in my life. He strongly advocated that I join Cagliari and helped me integrate into the team in every detail.

Then why did he choose Cagliari in the end instead of the wealthy AC Milan?

At that time, Galliani and Cellino reached a gentleman agreement: If I had performed well in the first six months of joining Cagliari (from August to January of the following year), Milan would have signed me in the winter window of 2010. I scored 6 goals in that half season, including a long shot from outside the penalty area that was recorded in history and beyond the reach of Buffon. That was probably the most beautiful goal of my career. But mid-season, I finally decided to stay in Sardinia. I have a great time here, there is the sea I love, and I have also gained a foothold in the team step by step, even in the first season, I was not the absolute main player.

Who is the closest team to in Cagliari?

Avilal. He always comes to my house and we will hold a barbecue party together. He lived alone at that time, so I often called him over. Sometimes we go swimming and sunbathing together.

Allegri is your first head coach in Sardinia.

When I first arrived in Italy, I couldn't speak a single word of Italian. Allegri always encouraged me to learn, he would tell me about Italian culture and how critical it is to master the common language in the locker room. On the court, he always instills in me a philosophy: "The forward is the team's first line of defense." He demanded that everyone, including the striker, have a spirit of sacrifice. He is a very good person, he has given me great help and improved my technical level.

What memories did you leave for your late teammate Astori?

He is a very amazing person, always so sunny and cheerful, and loves traveling. He especially likes to organize everyone to have dinners off the court to create team cohesion. He will live in my memory forever.

Why was the experience in Verona not very successful later?

My football philosophy with head coach Mandolini is not very consistent, and our ideas are always contrary. I only played 11 games in those six months. However, this is football, and there will always be a bad time.

But in Spezia, you have a big explosion and scored 20 goals in Serie B.

Yes, that was a fantastic two and a half seasons. I arrived there in February 2015 and started almost every game since then. The sea seems to bring me good luck, and being surrounded by the sea makes me feel particularly comfortable. Maybe the air there is unique. There, I felt the absolute trust from the club and the coaches.

Who is your idol in your life?

Royce, he is a phenomenal player.