Dear futsal friends,
we're now ready to announce one more category winner of the UMBRO Futsal Awards 2008 - 9th Edition by Futsalplanet.com. This award is something definitely special for us, as since two years the Best National Team Coach of the World prize is dedicated to the memory of our friend Dimitri Nicolaou. He was a pure futsal lover as well as a talented coach who was serving Platon and Hellenic National team. This is our way to keep his memory alive, Dimitri all this is for you, we miss you.
So, who's the best of the World in the year 2008? Easy answer, is the World Cup champion Paulo Cesar De Oliveira, or we'd better say PC!

Hard work pays off
It can seems something weird, but for sure on futsal media you can learn everything on some worldwide coaches and players of medium-high standard, but not on the one who "rule" the world since past October 19th. This is why PC surely loves hard work rather than interviews or superficial words. He's addicted to the futsal pitch and almost never wasting time selling himself to the international press. Results are under everybody eyes. It's true: hard work pays off.

World Cup mission, accomplished!
When Aécio de Borba Vasconcelos, CBFS president, appointed PC as new Brazilian national team head coach one big aim was at least clear: take back canarinhos on the top of the world. After one more disappointing experience in Chinese Taipei, that seemed to be an impossible task, but PC began his work, season after seasons. An impressive amount of friendly matches and tournament played, a new mentality and organization in team trainings, a continue evaluation of players in Brazil and abroad. And, finally, the "big" event: Brazil 2008 World Cup. Mission accomplished!

Back in the pitch
Turning into a world champion for many of us would mean... a long holiday to enjoy after that! Different reaction for PC, who has managed to defeat Slovenia in a friendly match played in Anapolis just 5 days after the great final vs Spain (not a joke!).
What we wish to express here is that in a world of amateurs who often pretend to be professional, PC is the clearest example of what a professional coach is supposed to be. Results are by his side, and that's enough for us to crown him as the winner of the Best National Team Coach of the World - Dimitri Nicolaou Award category of the UMBRO Futsal Awards 2008 - 9th Edition by Futsalplanet.com!


UMBRO Futsal Awards by Futsalplanet.com

Best National Team Coach of the World category - Dimitri Nicolaou Award - Winners
2008 -> Paulo Cesar De Oliveira "PC" (Brazil)
2007 -> Josè Venancio Lopez Hierro (Spain)
2006 -> not celebrated
2005 -> not celebrated
2004 -> Javier Lozano Cid (Spain)
2003 -> Javier Lozano Cid (Spain)*
Since the 2007 edition the Best National Team Coach of the World category is dedicated to the memory of our unforgettable friend Dimitri Nicolaou
* in this edition also clubs coaches were included in the same category