The sports director of Olympique Lyonnais said he wanted to leave his post to “rest a little”.
Former Olympique Lyonnais player between 2001 and 2009 who became Jean-Michel Aulas’ right-hand man as sports director in 2019, Juninho should disappear from the organizational chart of the Lyon club at the end of the season. The ex-midfielder with devastating surgical long-range strikes on free kicks broke the news that no one expected during an interview on RMC. «I hope to finish the season well, and at the end, normally, it’s over. I said three years. (…) At the end of the season, I will think carefully. But in my head it was for three seasons“, He explained during the show Rothen ignites.
The international with 40 caps confided to be worn out by his function even if he remains extremely attached to the club which is going through a difficult period in sporting terms. For two seasons, the Gones have failed to qualify for the Champions League after reaching the semi-finals in August 2019 (elimination against Bayern Munich 0-3).
“There is enormous mental fatigue. I don’t want to go over the limit. It is not a threat ”
Juninho
«For a lot of people, sports director, you don’t do much. But there is enormous mental fatigue. I don’t want to go over the limit. It is not a threat. We are adults. I love the club, I have a lot of respect for the president, the institution. I am grateful, but I also gave a lot to the club. It should not be forgotten either. I used to talk about what the club gave me, but I also do a lot of things for the club. I want to rest a little», Admitted the 46-year-old leader.
Soon on a bench to train?
Juninho, who was at the origin of the arrival of Silvinho, coach who disembarked a few weeks after his arrival in the summer of 2019 but also of the arrivals of Lucas Paqueta or Bruno Guimaraes, real recruitment successes, confided that he was exploring other avenues for continuing its conversion. The one leading to the post of coach is one to favor. “It’s in my head. I like football, training, tactics, I like to discuss. But since I don’t have a coaching diploma today, I am not allowed to work in Europe. But I have the right to work in other countries“, Said the Brazilian before specifying that”never received a proposal.»
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