Everyone is a “ventu-holic.” Not only a UAE official but also a reporter all gave a “thumbs up” to Paulo Bento, who is leading his country’s national team. In unison, they said, “Bentu has changed a lot.”
Bento took the helm of the UAE national team in July last year. He led the Korean men’s soccer team for four years and five months from August 2018 to December 2022 and not only won the 2019 East Asian Cup but also the second away round of 16 teams at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, he gave up his contract and took on a new challenge. He has been in the UAE for about six months. The UAE national team has been making gradual progress under Bento’s leadership.
The results prove it. The UAE has a big difference in winning percentage of A matches since Bento’s appointment (5 wins, 3 draws, 8 losses). Team Bento had six straight wins before losing 0-1 in the warm-up match against Oman on the 6th. He had six wins and one loss in seven matches under Bento. He planted “build-up soccer” in Korea based on his firm football philosophy and conviction, and he was leading the team consistently in the UAE. 파친코
Compliments are being heard. “Bentu is such a professional man. A lot has changed since he joined the national team,” a UAE football association official told Korean reporters at Al-Egla Training Center in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday (Korea time). “He has six wins and one loss in A matches since his inauguration. He has improved everything,” a UAE reporter said.
“Professional Bento” doesn’t just talk about the inside of soccer. It also includes the outside of soccer. When he was the head coach of the Korean national team, he lived in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province and focused only on “Korean soccer.” Despite his suspicious look, he maintained his conviction and led the team. He proved his leadership by embracing and taking control of the team as a coach, showing that he is always sincere in soccer. Korean fans called him “Ben Verge” (Bentoo + father).
At the training site, Bento maintained a poker face as usual. Coincidentally, it was the same training site as it was at the Qatar World Cup a year ago. When he saw a small number of Korean reporters at the training site in UAE, Coach Philippe Coelho waved his hands and expressed his happiness.
The best performance for the UAE was runner-up at a competition it held in its own country in 1996. If the UAE, which is tied in Group C with Iran, Palestine, and Hong Kong, rank No. 1 in Group C at the 2023 Asian Football Confederation Qatar Asian Cup, and Korea, which is included in Group E, it will face off in the quarterfinals.