Sandro is one of those players who straddled the line between cult hero and club legend. A phenomenal defensive midfielder who often came up with iconic moments such as his rocket against Manchester United, he was a huge part of a Tottenham Hotspur squad that came to the cusp of Champions League qualification under Harry Redknapp and Andre Vilas-Boas, a goal that seemed almost unthinkable until Spurs’ miraculous CL campaign in 2010/11 (a campaign in which Sandro also played a significant part).
Unfortunately, both for the Brazilian and the club, injuries derailed his career, as significant knee problems prevented him from continuing to contribute at the top level. I loved Sandro; and he still loves us! In a recent interview with Gianluca Di Marzio’s website, he talks about a potential return to the club in a coaching role:
My dream is not to coach Barcelona or Real Madrid but Tottenham. I’m only 35 years old and have a lot of time ahead of me. I’m aware that first, however, I have to work my way up. But my goal is the Tottenham bench which I consider the best club in London.
It’s always great to hear former players express their affection for the club, and it’s clear Sandro was fond of his time here. The Brazilian retired at the end of last year, and now it seems he’s set his eyes on staying involved with football in a managerial capacity, setting himself a goal to return to North London. We’ve already seen the likes of Ryan Mason and Ledley King do similar, and Ben Davies has been working on his coaching badges as well.
There are some other good tidbits in the interview: he compliments Daniel Levy and the job he’s done running the club, identifies Brighton’s De Zerbi as a coach he’d like to emulate, and gives a little sideswipe to Real Madrid and Barcelona in the process. What’s not to love?
Come home, Sandro. I’ll welcome you back with open arms!