Fyssas returns to study his former master

Published on Wednesday 1 October 2008 09:49

TAKIS FYSSAS, at 35, is the world's youngest technical director at international level. The former Hearts defender won Euro 2004 with his country and is a genuine football diplomat, the perfect choice to harmonise between Greek players and their stuffy federation hierarchy.

He achieved monumental success in the game, not least when orchestrating a packed Tynecastle to an adapted chorus of "Champions League, la, la, la," two years ago. Yet his quest for knowledge continues. Fyssas intends to return to Scotland next month to be reunited with George Burley and Steven Pressley, his mission being to study the hands-on operations of the Scottish national team.

The technical director role within the Greek Football Federation arrived rather early for an ex-player who only retired in May. Nonetheless, it's a position he is determined to embrace. And early indications are he's doing not a bad job alongside head coach Otto Rehhagel.

Greece beat both Luxembourg and Latvia in their opening 2010 World Cup qualifiers to sit comfortably top of Group 2 with five goals scored and none conceded. The defensive record is one Fyssas himself would laud, but resting on laurels isn't something this cultured European is familiar with.

He thrived alongside Burley at Hearts and is ready to fly to Glasgow during next month's international break to watch his old master at work and augment his knowledge on how to inspire top-level footballers.

"I don't want to be a manager, I want to continue as a technical director in my career now," he said in an exclusive Evening News interview.

"I plan to come to Scotland next month and I have already spoken with George Burley, I have big respect for him because I was his player at Hearts. I am very happy about his new job and I will call him again to come to Scotland and see how the Scottish team prepares and trains.

"I know the Scottish FA is a very big organisation and I want to be there for a few days just to see how they work and organise everything."

Such passion and ambition make Fyssas a valued lieutenant of Rehhagel, Greece's head coach since 2001 and the mastermind of the 2004 triumph.

A varied career took the defender from Panionios to Panathinaikos and on to Portuguese club Benfica before two celebrated years in Edinburgh. He returned to Panathinaikos in 2007 but failure to establish himself in the side prompted what some may call an early retirement.

"I was ready to quit football last season because I didn't play much at Panathinaikos," he explained. "I had some options to continue my career at PAOK Salonika and some teams in Cyprus, but I wanted to stop at a high level. I decided to quit football and start a new job somewhere else.

"After Euro 2008, when Greece did not play well, the president called me and asked if I wanted to be the team's technical director. The coach liked my personality and I signed a contract until 2010. I will be with the national team until the World Cup in South Africa and I'm really happy in this job.

"I am heavily involved between the players, the coach and the president. I have a lot to do with their relationships and improving them. After our successful beginning to the World Cup campaign we are on fire and we think we can win our group."

If anyone appreciates the need for diplomacy in his position, it's Fyssas. He once formed part of a five-man delegation – the others being Pressley, Paul Hartley, Rudi Skacel and Neil McCann – which confronted Vladimir Romanov to discuss the majority shareholder's influence on team selection during Graham Rix's tenure at Hearts.

He can call on a wealth of experience from years spent in some of Europe's footballing hotbeds, but the foundations of his relationship with Rehhagel were cemented on that famous night in Lisbon four years ago.

"The person the coach trusts most to look at new players for the national team is the technical director," said Fyssas.

"I am looking for new blood for Greece and I have regular contact with the coach about these technical things. He is in charge, he decides everything, but he asks me many times for my opinion. We have a good relationship and we co-operate well.

"We have new players in the team and my job is to show them that the national team is the best thing they can achieve. It's a big honour to play for Greece and represent your country. I have experience of this and many other things and I try to give them everything.

"It was not so easy because I was one of the players only a few months ago. But I have this talent and I want to show them I have not changed, I am the same person.

"We are in a different situation, we are still friends but they have to respect me and I must respect them also. They are big personalities but I don't have any complaints. So far, the relationship is going well and they are giving everything for the national team."

The hunt for fresh talent again has Fyssas casting his eye towards Edinburgh, where former team-mate Christos Karipidis has been earmarked for international recognition.

"We have some players that the coach believes in so much but we need to look at the team's future," Fyssas continued.

"The coach has already put some young players in the squad and Karipidis is in the plans for the future, but we don't forget all the players who did everything for Greece before. We protect them and they know we believe in them. They are experienced players and we want them to give everything for 2010."

Fyssas has double-pronged motivation for recommending Karipidis. Firstly, Greece would enlist a competent and versatile defender by calling him up. Secondly, Fyssas can monitor his progress by visiting a city which became his second home.

"For me, it would be fantastic just to be in Scotland again. I love Edinburgh and Hearts and I have only good memories," said Fyssas. "I will always be a Hearts fan. I'm not going to forget all the happiness there because the fans gave me so much respect and love. Would I like to be technical director of Hearts one day? Yes, of course. Why not?"

Anatoli Korobochka had better be on his toes.