I n TERVIEWS
“I GET CREDIT FOR
MY ROLE AT THE
1994 WORLD CUP,
BUT I HARDLY HAD
TO DO AnYTHInG!”
You went to the 1994 World Cup as a free
agent and remained one for months after
winning the final – how did that happen?
Mad, isn’t it? After that situation at Reggiana
I went to the World Cup without a team, but
my focus was on Brazil. We got the job done- ending the Selecao’s 24-year wait for that
trophy – but I stayed clubless until early 1995.
I seized the opportunity to spend more time
with my family, then I joined Atletico Mineiro
and got back to business.
You were ever-present at USA 94, keeping
five clean sheets en route to the title. Were
they the best performances of your career?
Not even close! [Laughs] Whenever I speak to
Carlos Alberto Parreira [Brazil boss in ’94] he
comes up with the same jokes, saying I didn’t
have to do anything – ‘Taffarel went there for
a rest’. It’s true that we had a solid defensive
system, so rivals couldn’t hurt us that much.
But people remember the penalty shootout
against Italy in the final and give me a lot of
credit for the title. Let’s keep that impression!What was it like training with Romario and
Ronaldo all the time? You must have got
some decent practice!
That’s for sure. Even if you aren’t very good,
you become fantastic! [Laughs] The problem
might be your self-esteem, as you rarely save
a ball when those guys are practising. Again,
we can mention outstanding forwards all day
long: Bebeto, Careca, Muller, Rivaldo, Ronaldo.
I represented Brazil for almost 10 years – it’s
a privilege and something I keep in a special
place in my heart. I’m extremely grateful for
every moment spent with the national shirt.What went wrong in the 1998 World Cup
Final? Was it impossible to focus on the
match after what happened to Ronaldo?
I think so. That was a shocking situation and
none of us reached our best level. Just a few
hours before kick-off, we were worrying. We
didn’t know what was going to happen. We
didn’t know whether Ronaldo would be able
to play. That’s not the best way to prepare for
a World Cup final. It doesn’t change the fact
that France had a great side and put in a top
performance at home. But I honestly don’t
think their team was much better than ours,
as it seemed on the night.You helped Galatasaray to win the
UEFA Cup in 2000, beating Arsenal
in the final. How special was that?
A wonderful story. We had a brilliant
team and that trophy was so special.
That generation was one of the best
in Turkish football history – many of
my team-mates finished third with
Turkey at the 2002 World Cup.How have you enjoyed your time
coaching at Liverpool so far?
I couldn’t be happier. People ask me
about the weather and say it must be tough
in England. Not for me – what a lovely place
to be. I’m thrilled to work for a massive club
with amazing professionals. I’m very grateful
to have this unforgettable experience.As one of the first Brazilian goalkeepers to
play abroad, how proud are you to see lots
of compatriots following in your footsteps?
Very proud, it’s a great feeling. When I went
to Parma in 1990, Serie A was the place to be.
There was a restriction on foreign players too,
so you could only have three in your squad –
imagine using one of the spots for a Brazilian
keeper! I obviously learned a lot in European
football, but I already had my own style and
technique when I moved to Italy. It’s a sweet
feeling to see that I was right. Now the world
acknowledges the value of a Brazilian keeper.
What was it like joining Parma before their
first ever Serie A season in 1990-91?
Like a dream. I remember my first day – the
club picked me up at the airport and I went
straight to a hotel to meet my team-mates.
I couldn’t speak Italian, but I was all smiles
and got along with everyone from day one.
The atmosphere was superb. Our first game
was against Juventus and we were amazed
at all their stars. We built a strong team – we
lacked experience but the talent was there,
and we were tactically and physically good.
We came sixth, which was incredible for our
debut season in the top flight.
You had to leave because of the limits on
foreign players. Was it frustrating to see
the team go on to have so much success?
It’s tough to accept when you’re not playing
because of a bureaucratic rule. It’s one thing
losing your place to a better player – that’s
OK – but another because of your nationality.
I couldn’t even sit on the bench, I had to go
up in the stands. I lost my place when Parma
signed Faustino Asprilla. He was a fantastic
player and did quite well at Parma. That lack
of games affected me for Brazil, too. I went
to the 1995 Copa America in poor form and
ended up losing my place in that side as well.You then signed for Reggiana in 1993 – did
it feel like a step down?
I just wanted to play and that opportunity to
remain in Italy was everything I needed. The
situation was different from what I found at
Parma, though. The Reggiana squad wasn’t
very good – let’s say the level was average or
a bit less than that! That makes the life of the
goalkeeper busy, right? We couldn’t win away
from home, but I had a great season – one of
my best, actually. I had no doubts about my
future at the club, so how on Earth could they
not offer me an extended deal? Instead, the
president told me to find
another club because they
needed to save money. That
was another disappointment.Who were the best players
you faced in Serie A?
Wow, we could be a while!
Napoli had Diego Maradona
and Careca; Milan had Marco
van Basten and Ruud Gullit;
Jurgen Klinsmann and Lothar
Matthaus played for Inter. As
you could only sign three foreigners, the big
clubs were no place for average footballers.
The level of Serie A was similar to the Premier
League now. There was no easy game at all.Interview Felipe RochaThe Liverpool coach on World Cup glory
and heartbreak, facing Maradona & Co
in Serie A and being a Brazilian pioneerFourFourTwo June 2022 91CLAUDIO TAFFAREL