Marco Caneira's interview in the Nemzeti Sport

An interview has appeared in the Friday edition of the sporting journal Nemzeti Sport.

There is a giant 15 meters photo of you draped upon the exterior of the main stand at the Sostoi stadium.  What do you think about it, and your thoughts on seeing yourself when you arrive at your workplace?  

This is a recognition of my work - begins Marco Caneira, Vidi's Portuguese defender. Ego is always an important aspect of a footballer, and it feels good and is a nice gesture. I know that marketing is an important factor for the club.

Let's talk about football: You made a total of 25 appearances for your country, playing with the likes of Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo. Which is the better player?

They belong to two different generations, with Luis coming to the end of his playing career, just as Cristiano was beginning his. Luis Figo is one of the biggest figures in Portuguese football. He was similar to what Ronaldo is today, and both have played for Real Madrid, so they are very much the same. 

What is your relationship with Luís Figo? Do you ever give him a call when you feel like it? 

We do not speak on a daily basis, but we regularly call each other. We also go on holiday to the same place, so we meet when we are resting, and we also have joint friends, so our relationship is good.

You achieved several successes during your playing career. You won cups, championships, and was even a European Super cup winner. What one are you most proud of?

I cannot really pick one out, as I am proud of all of them. I remember back with pride at all of my successes. I have had a good career achieving many things, especially during my playing career. I was part of the Portuguese national side, and won European trophies.

What is the best ever side that you have played in?

It is easy to say with it being Spanish side Valencia, who not only won the European super cup, but also the fact that I was successful also in Spain, and they chose us as the best team in the world nine years ago. I spent two years before that in France with Bordeaux, and the transfer was a very important change in my life. I picked up a championship medal in a league, which is considered by many to be the best in the World. 

Your career has been a good one without any dispute. What was the reason that you ended up joining Videoton FC?

Short answer: Paulo Sousa.

In more detail?

I played with him earlier in my career for the national team, and his call to me was a guarantee that I would be moving to a good place. I was familiar with both Ferencvaros and Honved, and also heard about Debrecen, who have won several league titles over the last few seasons. Paulo Sousa called me and said what he was preparing for, and I wanted to be a part of this work. I have no doubts whatsoever about the decision I made, which is confirmed by the fact that I signed a new contract four months ago, for a further two years. I still believe that I am in a good place.

You will be 36 years old when your contract comes to an end. Will you retire after that?

I have not really thought about it yet. The current trend is for footballers to end their careers later than before, with the circumstances being more professional. I feel good at Videoton, and I like the area and the supporters. Perhaps I will finish my playing career here, but I still do not know exactly when.

The name of Paulo Sousa has already been mentioned. Have you heard that many believe he could be the next manager of the Hungarian national team?

Yes, I have heard, but this is not an actual question at the moment. The World Cup qualifiers are on going, while Paulo is the manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv, who are preparing for the Europa League. He has everything needed to become an international manager, either here or elsewhere around the World. The rumours of change are not respectful to the current national team manager, so we should not deal with them. 

What kind of match are you counting on against Debrecen on Sunday?

I hope that the work we have put in during the week will pay off. Our opponents will be a really good side with plenty of experience. We would like to perform to the best of our ability away from home, and pick up the fruits of our work.

The winning team will end up picking up the league title?

It is early to talk about this, as we are still at the start. A very important match is ahead of us with an importance on the season. We need to overcome this barrier, as it is important for us to win and send out a message to the outside world.