RECORD – What was your path to becoming CEO of Botafogo?
THAIRO ARRUDA – Me and my partner, Danilo Caixeiro, created Matix Capital to work on acquiring clubs. Before the creation of the SAF law in Brazil [n.d.r.: equivalente às SAD em Portugal] we were in Europe, we spent a year in Portugal and we were close to agreements to acquire Académica and V. Setúbal. It didn’t work out, much due to the pandemic. Meanwhile I came to Brazil, Danilo stayed in Europe, but we were pioneers here, there was no competition. We were hired by John Textor to buy Botafogo and we closed the deal. We did the same with Vasco da Gama and two other smaller clubs for other investors. John Textor needed reliable people to manage the club and invited us. Botafogo had a CEO, who left in May 2022 and then I took over as interim, but I stayed until today.
R – What were the biggest problems and challenges you detected?
TA – The club was almost bankrupt, with many problems. We needed an operational and financial ‘turn around’. Last year was one of survival, new people came and a lot changed with professional management. This year is one of growth. We already have a very stable operation and now we are looking at expansion.
A – In addition to Botafogo, Heagle Football Holdings, owned by John Textor, owns Lyon (France), Molenbeek (Belgium) and part of Crystal Palace (England). How does networking benefit all parties?
TA – It is a very different project from the City and Red Bull groups, which have much less interaction between clubs. We are changing that logic, not only with athletes, but in all aspects of the business, to optimize club growth. We plan to create a Lyon cell when we build the new training centre. It will allow a methodological interaction, extracting the best of Brazilian football and the best of Lyon’s training methodology, which has, with Benfica and Ajax, some of the most important academies in the world. All Lyon, Molenbeek and, eventually, Crystal Palace scouting in Latin America has the support of Botafogo, as we have created a huge and very competent scouting and analysis area. But they also help us with European scouting. Then there is the financial issue, with a more homogeneous flow between clubs, which can grow optimally. And the transfer of athletes is also interesting. The European market buys Brazilians but with a limit. Even though he is very good, the player is rarely sold for European market prices. We were able to maximize the sale value and the financial flow can come back in other ways.
A – John Textor tried to buy Benfica and FC Porto. Do you still want to invest in Portugal?
TA – It makes and has always made perfect sense to invest in a Portuguese club, but we run into a shortage of assets, as in the 1st League there are almost no clubs willing to sell. In the 2nd there are interesting cases, but with less expression. Another barrier is the valuation and the high price, but I believe that in the future we will be able to enter Portugal.
“Luís Castro was fundamental for Botafogo”
R – Has Bruno Lage succeeded Luís Castro in charge of Botafogo? What is the role of the two Portuguese coaches?
TA – Portugal has an incredible school of coaches, who create their careers from an early age. In Brazil most are former players. With Luís Castro we saw the experience and knowledge, the depth of methodology and training. Botafogo came from the 2nd division, signed more than 20 players and he had many challenges, so he was fundamental. Brazilian culture requires layoffs and he had a hard time here, but Textor was incisive for his continuity. Luís turned around and left the club in 1st. Bruno Lage came to continue, but said, and rightly so, that there are always things to improve. The team scores more goals, is more aggressive and dynamic. With Castro, he rarely conceded goals. That’s just the difference.
2023-08-30 01:56:36
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