Beto, a former national team goalkeeper, is Nuno Luz's guest this week “Beyond borders”. In a journey full of nostalgia, the former footballer shared the stories and moments – some better, some not so much – that he experienced as a professional footballer. Today, away from the field, he asserts: “My connection with football will always be permanent.”
After retiring from playing two years ago, Beto Bimbarell decided to settle in Sevilla, a place that means a lot to him, not only because of the four years he spent with the city's main club, but also because it was where he met him. the wife.
Between 2012 and 2016, the governor made the Andalusian town his home. This period, as he put it, was “Full of success and filled with so much affection and so much human warmth.”
Finland is the last stop
For almost two decades he played for several clubs in Portugal and abroad and chose Finland where “Football is part of a group of almost compulsory sports,” As a final destination. Why? “I was curious about the way people lived.” In the country, he reveals.
Assume that too “I will never live in Finland” For several reasons, with an emphasis on climate. However, he acknowledges the positive aspects of life in the country: “civility, civilization.” “Education, health and public transportation.”
Seville, in turn, was a completely different experience, he says. “Seville is shaking with everything”he says, before highlighting one of the “a lot of” Advantages of living in the Spanish city:
“The social part here is the most there. People leave work and stop for 20 minutes to have a beer.”
Post-football, a “very painful” period.
Now, away from the big stage, he remains linked to football “in a more marginal way”. He is the league's ambassador, director of the Football Foundation, and ambassador for several solidarity projects.
“My connection with football will always be eternal,” he stressed.
However, he explains, “Weaning” Football was “very Difficult”, Even seek professional help. Although the process was “Very painful” Today he says it is “healing”:
“At first it was very difficult, I had to go through a very painful process. I had to get professional help to stop not wanting to go to the football stadium to watch a match because I couldn't.”
Controversial penalty kicks against Benfica
One of the highlights of Beto Bimbarell's career, without a doubt, was the Europa League final between Sevilla and Benfica, in 2014, a match in which the Spaniards were stronger and defeated the “Eagles” on penalties. The former goalkeeper reveals that this was a game “intense emotion” And who was he?“All ingredients” He is “Final Finals” for you.
The penalty shootout was the moment that caused a stir at the time. Beto took a few steps forward while opponents were in possession of the ball, behavior that upset Eagles fans.
“The important thing, of course, is the violent way some Benfica fans treated me on many occasions,” he said. “There were people who really crossed the line.”
Highlights of his career
He also discusses his career as a Portuguese international and highlights, including the World Cup in Brazil, where he played in two of the three matches the national team played.
To end this trip into the past, there is also an absurd episode, related to the late coaches Vitor Oliveira and Gesualdo Ferreira, which happened when… “I was in a negative spiral and almost stopped playing football.”
Finally, he also leaves tips on what you can't miss during your visit to Seville.
