VARDAN MINASYAN: "I HAVE A VALID CONTRACT AND I TRAIN MY TEAM WITH PLEASURE"
Thursday 20 November 2014 11:15
Photo: Mediamax
Vardan Minasyan
Former head coach of the Armenian national football Vardan Minasyan
started working in Kazakhstan as Tobol head coach in spring 2014.
After the end of the season, he arrived in Yerevan and spoke about his
team, professional growth, return to the national team and friendly
relations with national team football players in his exclusive
interview to Mediamax Sport.
- You have been living and working in Kazakhstan for already half a
year. What has changed in your life over this period?
- Before working and living in a foreign country, one should understand
the mindset of locals to communicate and work with them more easily. In
terms of work, it was huge experience for me. The club football allows
working on a daily basis and I feel many changes took place. I also
sense changes in professional growth as well.
- Are you happy with the results of Tobol?
Vardan Minasyan Photo: Mediamax
- I am pragmatic and try to assess the situation and opportunities
realistically. The team's result is in line with its potential in terms
of the budget and players' choice. Though we could be among the top 6,
many players got injuries all at once which didn't let us manage it.
- Leaving the national team, you said that you would like to try your
hand at club football. Do you like the work?
- I needed work on a daily basis that's why I left the national team.
I should have started from something and I should confess my choice
was right. When you work every day you have time for correcting errors
and seeking for right solutions. Also, you can try novelties.
- How did you manage to settle in Kazakhstan and start working?
- Of course, it's hard to live far away from the family, friends,
hometown, but it's my job, my chosen path and I don't have a reason
to complain about it. To get accustomed to anything, one should first
of all respect the traditions of the country he lives in and where
people treat him well. One should accept some things. Though there
is this notion of national mindset, football has a single language
and there is one answer to all the questions.
Vardan Minasyan Photo: Mediamax
- What are the similarities and differences in organization and
management of football in Armenia and Kazakhstan?
- In terms of finances, there are more opportunities in Kazakhstan: one
can invite good players and coaches from abroad. The local specialists
have also considerably grown. The level of the national championship
in Kazakhstan is higher than in Armenia. The football clubs manage to
pass several rounds in the Champions' League and Europe League. At
the same time, Armenia is in more advantageous position as far as
infrastructures are concerned. We have football academies meeting
European standards which Kazakhstan doesn't have yet.
- You have a valid contract with Tobol. We would like to know if you
had received invitations from other clubs.
- My contract is valid till November 2015. There are teams which take
interest in me, I even got two offers. But as of now, I don't even
consider them as I am focused on working in Tobol.
- We can't pass by the topic of the Armenian national team. You
have been holding the post of the head coach of the team longer than
anyone else and perhaps, you keep track of how our guys play. What
could you say about the current qualifying round?
- I can say the football the team plays is very disciplined and
organized. It has huge potential. There were just many injuries at
the period, and there are players who don't have much practice on the
field. If all these issues are settled they will have more chances
to pass to Euro 2016.
Vardan Minasyan Photo: Mediamax
- When we interviewed you a year ago, you said you already missed
the national team. What will you say now when quite a long period
of time has passed? Do you miss the football players and fans of the
national team?
- If one spends his best years - and I think for me it was the period
when I worked with the national team - the answer is obvious: of
course, I do miss. I should be honest: the results of the work in the
team allowed me to get the current status and work. I am thankful to
everyone and keep in touch with the guys. I can't forget the wonderful
days we spent together.
- The fans want to see you the head coach of the national team up to
now. Is it possible for you to return to the national team one day?
- Everything is possible. One always wants to go back to the place he
was once happy and successful. But currently I have a valid contract
and I train my team with pleasure.
- What are your plans for near future?
- I will spend the upcoming month in Armenia and then Tobol will
begin the trainings before Kazakhstan championship. We will try to
strengthen the team as much as possible not to face the same problems
we had this year.
Hasmik Babayan and Gohar Nalbandyan talked to Vardan Minasyan.
Photos by Mariam Loretsyan.
http://sport.mediamax.am/en/news/interviews_sport/12349
Thursday 20 November 2014 11:15
Photo: Mediamax
Vardan Minasyan
Former head coach of the Armenian national football Vardan Minasyan
started working in Kazakhstan as Tobol head coach in spring 2014.
After the end of the season, he arrived in Yerevan and spoke about his
team, professional growth, return to the national team and friendly
relations with national team football players in his exclusive
interview to Mediamax Sport.
- You have been living and working in Kazakhstan for already half a
year. What has changed in your life over this period?
- Before working and living in a foreign country, one should understand
the mindset of locals to communicate and work with them more easily. In
terms of work, it was huge experience for me. The club football allows
working on a daily basis and I feel many changes took place. I also
sense changes in professional growth as well.
- Are you happy with the results of Tobol?
Vardan Minasyan Photo: Mediamax
- I am pragmatic and try to assess the situation and opportunities
realistically. The team's result is in line with its potential in terms
of the budget and players' choice. Though we could be among the top 6,
many players got injuries all at once which didn't let us manage it.
- Leaving the national team, you said that you would like to try your
hand at club football. Do you like the work?
- I needed work on a daily basis that's why I left the national team.
I should have started from something and I should confess my choice
was right. When you work every day you have time for correcting errors
and seeking for right solutions. Also, you can try novelties.
- How did you manage to settle in Kazakhstan and start working?
- Of course, it's hard to live far away from the family, friends,
hometown, but it's my job, my chosen path and I don't have a reason
to complain about it. To get accustomed to anything, one should first
of all respect the traditions of the country he lives in and where
people treat him well. One should accept some things. Though there
is this notion of national mindset, football has a single language
and there is one answer to all the questions.
Vardan Minasyan Photo: Mediamax
- What are the similarities and differences in organization and
management of football in Armenia and Kazakhstan?
- In terms of finances, there are more opportunities in Kazakhstan: one
can invite good players and coaches from abroad. The local specialists
have also considerably grown. The level of the national championship
in Kazakhstan is higher than in Armenia. The football clubs manage to
pass several rounds in the Champions' League and Europe League. At
the same time, Armenia is in more advantageous position as far as
infrastructures are concerned. We have football academies meeting
European standards which Kazakhstan doesn't have yet.
- You have a valid contract with Tobol. We would like to know if you
had received invitations from other clubs.
- My contract is valid till November 2015. There are teams which take
interest in me, I even got two offers. But as of now, I don't even
consider them as I am focused on working in Tobol.
- We can't pass by the topic of the Armenian national team. You
have been holding the post of the head coach of the team longer than
anyone else and perhaps, you keep track of how our guys play. What
could you say about the current qualifying round?
- I can say the football the team plays is very disciplined and
organized. It has huge potential. There were just many injuries at
the period, and there are players who don't have much practice on the
field. If all these issues are settled they will have more chances
to pass to Euro 2016.
Vardan Minasyan Photo: Mediamax
- When we interviewed you a year ago, you said you already missed
the national team. What will you say now when quite a long period
of time has passed? Do you miss the football players and fans of the
national team?
- If one spends his best years - and I think for me it was the period
when I worked with the national team - the answer is obvious: of
course, I do miss. I should be honest: the results of the work in the
team allowed me to get the current status and work. I am thankful to
everyone and keep in touch with the guys. I can't forget the wonderful
days we spent together.
- The fans want to see you the head coach of the national team up to
now. Is it possible for you to return to the national team one day?
- Everything is possible. One always wants to go back to the place he
was once happy and successful. But currently I have a valid contract
and I train my team with pleasure.
- What are your plans for near future?
- I will spend the upcoming month in Armenia and then Tobol will
begin the trainings before Kazakhstan championship. We will try to
strengthen the team as much as possible not to face the same problems
we had this year.
Hasmik Babayan and Gohar Nalbandyan talked to Vardan Minasyan.
Photos by Mariam Loretsyan.
http://sport.mediamax.am/en/news/interviews_sport/12349