Igli Tare is undoubtedly one of the most successful Albanians in the world of sports and of course the highest level of leader in the European arena. Vlonjati, who has also held the captain's armband of the national team today, who turns 49 years old, has received special dedications, but the most spicy was from the "Calcio Totale" portal, which once again brought back a fragment from the interview he gave some time ago for " Gazzetta dello Sport".
Here's what Igli said about his career:
"I left Albania running away on foot and crossed the border without documents. My wish was to go to Germany. I am not ashamed of anything, because after this adventure it was a dream that I had to crown and I am very happy for the journey I have made.
When I arrived in Germany I was offered to several teams that gave me the opportunity to do a trial. Ludwigshafen offered me the opportunity. The offer was: "In the morning you will work as a gardener, while in the afternoon you will come to play football".
I immediately agreed.
One day a friend of mine accidentally hit me with a chainsaw and removed almost 3 millimeters of bone.
In life I have been very lucky.
Only a crazy president like Lotito I think would have made me sports director. He had seen things that even I hadn't noticed in myself.
A few months later, Lotito explained to me why he had chosen me as director: "You speak six foreign languages, you know western football and you are distant from the Roman environment and the evils of Italian football".
How do I discover talents? I don't have supervisors: I don't like to work with a lot by myself. I have an associate for their data, one who prepares the videos for the players and one who analyzes the opponents. In addition, I receive constant information from the many friends I have around the world.
Have I received threats? Yeah a lot! Some even with death... Letters, phone calls, messages. Even though I have changed my phone number several times, it still appears on social networks and I know who does this. During these 10 years something in me has died, but this is who I am, I never give up and I never brag.
Now my challenge is not for me to stop the fans from contesting Lotito because that is just a consequence. My real challenge is to grow this club. Not to change the system of the ultras, but to move forward and do great things together with the ultras".
Once a good player.
Then a great leader.
Happy birthday Igli Tare.
Source: Gazzetta dello Sport