José Ángel Valdés ‘Cote’ (Gijón, 1989) hung up his boots in tears at the end of last season, putting an end to 18 intense years of career … in which he wore the shirts of Roma, Real Sociedad, Porto, Villarreal and for four years that of Eibar before a short-lived stint at Osasuna prior to returning to his beloved Sporting de Gijón. Having become one more red-and-white fan, he plans to experience Sunday’s clash in Ipurua with the hope that the Asturian team takes one more step towards its long-awaited goal of returning to First Division after eight unsuccessful attempts, but also with the desire that the armored team also achieves the successes it achieves.
–How do you live as a ‘retiree’ at 36 years old?
-Deluxe. It’s good, but always doing something. I got into paddle tennis, I go to the gym…You have to stay busy and active.
–There are those, like Arbilla, at 38 years old, who refuse to give up day-to-day life. Don’t you miss him?
–Day to day life is what is missed the most, being with your teammates, the good times you spend with the people at the club. Once you get the hang of it and get through the first few months, you calm down and now I’m immersed in my routine.
-Have you ruled out continuing to join the world of football?
–My stage is over and you have to know when the end of each one comes. What better than in the club where I grew up. You just had to find the moment and the truth is that it was a very exciting moment. A prize for all the years enjoyed. Now, let’s give myself some time to see what I do. In office things, with a suit and that I don’t see myself, the world of representation and so on doesn’t suit me. What is on the field, coach or scout of kids calls me more and I see myself more in the profile.
–Will you be in Ipurua watching Sunday’s great game?
–I plan to go. I’m excited to return to Ipurua, because after I left I only came back to play for Sporting.
–With how much they both have at stake, a dog-eat-dog duel is expected.
–There will be no shortage of emotion, that’s for sure, and neither will there be a fight, because I expect a very close match. Eibar has come out of a slump, it is one of the best venues in the category and Sporting is in good shape. It’s going to be very exciting and, as always, everything will be decided by small details that tend to be decisive in this division. It’s crazy, it’s terrible stress, and it’s very hard. I don’t know in which League in the world there will be such equality.
–After three years grazing the promotion bar, Eibar has been fighting for two years to avoid relegation. Did you expect it?
–We knew that after going down they were going to be a very strong team, but they had very bad luck, especially in Alcorcón, and once those three years had passed everything became more complicated. From the outside I see it in transition, with many changes, settling down. I think he plays well, but the results outside are being a drag. In the first round here I liked him a lot and he deserves more points, and I am sure that in this second round he will get them.
–I suppose you are aware of the problems that Eibar has on the left side that was theirs for a large part of the four seasons he was here.
–They are stages. When I was there, Mendi made me perform at a high level and I really enjoyed playing and belonging to the club. Let’s hope they find the key.
–Sporting has been pursuing its dream of returning to First Division for nine years. Do you think the ninth time will be the charm?
–We want to return, but we know how complicated it is. It is in a good moment, but this is very long and many things can happen, because every weekend many things can happen. I am cautious, but positive, because I believe that there is a team to fight for the long-awaited prize that we have been chasing for so long. Racing is outstanding, with a very well-worked team and there is Castellón with the dynamics of having risen.
«Mendilibar had me crazy»
–How loud were your discussions with Mendilibar glued to your ear in the band.
-To forget them. That was pure feeling and living football in the same way, with passion. It drove me crazy, but it was because I knew I could perform better. We lived it like a father and a son and the truth is that he made me grow a lot as a player and I have a lot to thank him for.
–He lived the experience of playing in Italy and Portugal. Weren’t you tempted to go to Greece with him?
–What’s up! And even if it had tempted me, I wouldn’t have gone either, because I was clear that my career was going to end at Sporting.
–Have you visited the Areitio Sports City?
–I haven’t had the opportunity to go, but I have seen videos and I think it is spectacular. I think it is a great step for the club, which deserves a sports city like this. Happy for them, because it will help them grow. I am very fond of Eibar, which after Sporting is the team in which I have been happiest.
–And Atxabalpe was tough to deal with, especially in winter.
–But it had its charm. If you compare it with the facilities now, obviously they were not the best, but you get used to everything, and the truth is that we had everything to work at a good level and spectacular views. Without a doubt, now they will work with more comforts and the important thing is that now all the club teams have a place to train together, and that unites and makes the clubs grow.
