SYIVINHO KING OF ALBANIA

The former Arsenal defender was an unexpected appointment last year, but he guided the Balkan nation to Euro 2024 - and now he tells FFT that he wants to spring another surprise...

- Marcus Alves

After becoming Albania's head coach at the start of 2023, Sylvinho wasn't about to take it easy. The Brazilian watched no fewer than 240 matches, even waking early on Saturdays to observe games from South Korea in the search for his dream right-winger, all to draw up a longlist of 70 players for his first squad, before whittling the number down to 23.

More than a year on, it's safe to say that it was all worth it. This month, the former Arsenal and Barcelona full-back leads the Albanians in their second European Championship, having surprisingly topped their qualifying group ahead of Poland and Czech Republic.

They've been drawn into a horror group with Italy, Spain and Croatia, and many expect Sylvinho's men to be on the first flight back from Germany. After narrowly missing out on the last 16 eight years ago, however, Albania are determined to spring an upset.

Sylvinho, 50, has previously managed Lyon and Corinthians, as well as working as an assistant for Inter and the Brazilian national team. Here, his own assistants are former Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta and ex-Middlesbrough midfielder Doriva.

Just as their manager did in his playing days, Albania have a secret weapon that the rest of the continent is about to discover: an ability to shoot ferociously from distance. They already showed that during qualifying, and now they're ready to do it again...

Is the whole nation excited for Euro 2024?