Pauleta recalls Vahid Halilhodzic’s intense PSG welcome: ‘He started threatening me’
Former Paris Saint-Germain striker Pedro Miguel Pauleta has shared a candid recollection of his first encounter with then-coach Vahid Halilhodzic upon arriving at the club in 2003, revealing how the Bosnian manager immediately sought to establish his authority through a confrontational conversation.
Speaking to Ici Paris Île-de-France, Pauleta recounted the exchange that took place during the team’s training camp in Aix-les-Bains shortly after his transfer from Bordeaux. The Portuguese international, who had just completed his first training session with PSG, described how Halilhodzic summoned him to his room for what began as a routine discussion but quickly escalated.
“Le soir, Vahid m’appelle dans sa chambre pour parler avec moi. J’arrive et il commence à me menacer partout,” Pauleta said, recalling the Bosnian coach’s opening words. “La première fois qu’il parle avec moi,” he added, before quoting Halilhodzic directly: “Mais tu te prends pour qui ? Ici le boss au PSG, c’est moi, ce n’est pas toi. Ronaldinho c’était pareil, c’est pour ça qu’il est parti.”
The confrontation left a strong impression on the newly arrived striker. Pauleta explained that despite Halilhodzic having pursued him aggressively — reportedly calling him 50 times to secure his transfer to Paris — the initial interaction made him question his decision to join the club.
“Le mec il a tout fait pour que je vienne, il m’a appelé 50 fois pour que je vienne à Paris,” Pauleta recalled. “Je suis sorti de la chambre, j’ai appelé mon agent, je voulais retourner à Bordeaux, je ne voulais pas rester ici.”
Despite the rocky start, Pauleta noted that Halilhodzic was not entirely unfamiliar with him as a player or person. However, the coach made clear his intentions to prevent a repeat of what he perceived as Ronaldinho’s disruptive influence during his final months at the club.
“Il ne voulait pas qu’un autre Ronaldinho arrive au PSG, qui pense qu’il va faire ce qu’il veut,” Pauleta explained. “Et c’est totalement l’inverse, moi ce n’est pas ma façon d’être dans la vie ni dans le football.”
Pauleta acknowledged that Halilhodzic’s approach stemmed from a desire to impose his authority immediately upon his arrival. “Mais bon il voulait s’imposer tout de suite, dès notre première conversation,” he concluded.
The anecdote provides insight into the early dynamics between one of PSG’s most prolific scorers and the coach who would lead the club from 2003 to 2005. Pauleta went on to enjoy a successful five-year stint at the Parc des Princes, scoring 76 goals in 168 appearances across all competitions for the Parisian club before departing in 2008.
Halilhodzic, meanwhile, continued his managerial career after his PSG spell, going on to coach various clubs and national teams including Ivory Coast, Japan, Algeria, and Morocco before returning to Nantes in 2026, where he currently serves as head coach of the Ligue 1 side.
The revelation comes ahead of PSG’s Ligue 1 match against Nantes on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 — the same day Pauleta shared his recollection — adding contemporary resonance to the historical anecdote as Halilhodzic returns to face his former club in his current role.
For readers interested in the broader context of Pauleta’s career, the Portuguese striker represented his national team 88 times, scoring 47 goals and setting a national record at the time of his retirement. He participated in two FIFA World Cups and two UEFA European Championships with Portugal, cementing his status as one of the country’s most celebrated forwards.
As both Pauleta and Halilhodzic remain prominent figures in football history, this recollection offers a rare glimpse into the interpersonal dynamics that can shape a player’s early experience at a major club — demonstrating how even challenging beginnings can evolve into productive professional relationships.
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