In this season alone, the clubs in the main Saudi Arabian League have spent 976 million euros on transfers, after Cristiano Ronaldo moved from Manchester United to Al Nassr in December 2022. The investment and media coverage of Saudi football, which has several Portuguese people in different roles, has never been so great.

Even before this new phenomenon, many Portuguese people had already played in the main League of the oil-producing country, one of them being Gabriel Silva. The current assistant coach of Trofense, who has Nuno Manta Santos as head coach, was with Jorge Simão at Al Fahya in 2019/20.

"The championship, at that time, was very competitive. We had some foreign players, arriving from good championships in Europe. There was already quality, both in players and in physiotherapists, members of the technical team in general. And, as far as Al Fayha is concerned, it was a newly promoted club but it knew very well what it wanted to create foundations so that this could happen", he begins by saying, in an exclusive interview with Desporto ao Minuto. 

Asked about the country's financial power, compared to Portugal, Gabriel says: "When I was there, there was no comparison, as it is obvious that it is a factor that attracted players and coaches. But it wasn't just that. The Saudi player himself is a player who has quality, and with the knowledge of foreign coaches, we are witnessing this growth in the League." 

In that season, Al Fayha ended up being relegated to the Second Division. Gabriel Silva reports on the differences in adapting to that championship. "Initially, it is not easy to adapt to training schedules, for example. There, training takes place at the end of the day, because of the heat. The Saudi player himself is different. While here the player clearly knows the stages he has to go through to reach a different level, there it takes a bit of conviction. Adapting to their culture, gradually imposing the way we see the game, the tactical, strategic part, not entering suddenly and wanting to change everything right away. Some mastery is needed", admits Jorge Simão's former physical trainer. 

Torreense's long-awaited promotion and the competitiveness of Liga 3 

After some time alongside Jorge Simão, Gabriel Silva joined the technical team of Nuno Manta Santos, former coach of Feirense, Marítimo or Aves. With him, he had the opportunity to become an assistant coach and do what he likes the most: "Planning the training. The tactical part, above all."

Alongside the coach, he was the champion of Liga 3, in 2021/22. "It was a remarkable moment, for the club, for us. Torreense is a very special club. It has a fantastic fan base. The management sought to provide all the conditions for us to achieve this feat. Fortunately, we managed to do it. The work group was fantastic. We brought joy to the people of Oeste. It was a landmark in our careers", he recalls. 

"We had some health problems throughout the season that culminated in the moment we became champions. In this case, against Guimarães B, we won 3-0 at home, with the stadium full. It was a special day for us on a personal level", according to Gabriel Silva. Nowadays, he continues in the Portuguese third division, in Trofense, which is playing the maintenance phase of Série 1.

"In the first phase, we had to reformulate both the squad and the reinforcement and professionalization of the structure. We reinforced ourselves with players from I Liga clubs, but on loan. The most experienced [Diogo Viana or Kukula] are players who bring that very thing. They impose the values we want on the youngest", he assesses.

   Liga 3 gives visibility to young coaches and players

Two games before the end of the championship, and with maintenance assured, Gabriel Silva praises the competitiveness of Liga 3. "It has greater exposure than Liga 2. They are Leagues organized in different ways, Liga 3 is from FPF and Liga 2 is from Liga Portugal. In the year we were champions for Torreense, by statistics, in terms of leveling of results, it was the most competitive League. It has to do with that. The visibility it gives to young coaches and players to promote themselves and launch themselves", he says.

In the future, the position of head coach is the great goal of the 31-year-old. "I am grateful for the opportunity to work in what I like. But I'm looking for something more. I aim to reach higher levels such as Liga I or even abroad. I am focused on the two remaining games but I have that ambition. All the steps I have taken in my career have been in that direction. I feel more and more prepared", he guarantees.

Leia Também: Cristiano Ronaldo and Otávio in the spotlight in training... without Luís Castro (Portuguese version)

Leia Também: Saudi Arabia does not forgive. The punishment he prepares for Cristiano Ronaldo (Portuguese version)