Fonseca was born in the Portuguese Colony of Mozambique in 1973, but moved to Portugal with his family once he turned 14.
He quickly joined his local club, and played professional football until the age of 32, where he eventually retired.
He quickly joined his local club, and played professional football until the age of 32, where he eventually retired.
His first opportunity in professional coaching came at CD Alves in 2007, a second division side in Portugal. He bounced around some other clubs, such as Paços de Ferriera before joining Porto in 2013.
He was sacked halfway through the season for poor performances.
He was sacked halfway through the season for poor performances.
After this managerial failure, he went to Paços de Ferreira once again, and also Braga, but these spells are not of great concern, as what he did outside of Portugal are more relevant to what Fonseca would bring to Spurs.
Let us analyze his time at both Shaktar Donetsk and Roma.
Let us analyze his time at both Shaktar Donetsk and Roma.
In May 2016, Fonseca left the comfort of Portugal and joined Ukrainian juggernauts Shaktar Donetsk.
There were lots of expectations for him once he joined, coming off a golden era that won eight league titles, six Ukrainian cups and a UEFA cup.
There were lots of expectations for him once he joined, coming off a golden era that won eight league titles, six Ukrainian cups and a UEFA cup.
During his three seasons at Shaktar, he won the league double every single season, meaning he won both the League and the domestic cup.
He attracted many suitors in Europe due to his high intensity, positive, pressing football. Thus, his merits at Shaktar prove him a success.
He attracted many suitors in Europe due to his high intensity, positive, pressing football. Thus, his merits at Shaktar prove him a success.
Now that we understand his successes, let’s dig into his tactics.
Fonseca mostly deployed a 4231 formation, that aggressively clogged the middle of the pitch in order to push the ball towards the flank.
Any ball that flirted with the back four was met with great hostility.
Fonseca mostly deployed a 4231 formation, that aggressively clogged the middle of the pitch in order to push the ball towards the flank.
Any ball that flirted with the back four was met with great hostility.
Fonseca’s side tries to dominate the middle of the pitch in both offence and defence
Once the ball was pushed out wide, both the winger and fullback would engage in order to trap the opposition.
The midfielder would then cover the space left behind by the fullback.
Once the ball was pushed out wide, both the winger and fullback would engage in order to trap the opposition.
The midfielder would then cover the space left behind by the fullback.
The result that put Fonesca’s side on the map was his 2-1 victory over City that secured them a place in the CL R16, how did he do it?
•Med. Block (Forcing the ball to wide areas by keeping the wingers inside)
•Transition from Def-Att exploiting space
•Med. Block (Forcing the ball to wide areas by keeping the wingers inside)
•Transition from Def-Att exploiting space
Furthermore, he:
•Invited the high press, to create space between AND behind lines
• Had positional superiority against City’s fullback to give two pressing options
•Invited the high press, to create space between AND behind lines
• Had positional superiority against City’s fullback to give two pressing options
One last video from his time in Shaktar. This was against Gent, where all 11 players completed a total of 29 passes before putting the ball into the net. This really shows his tactical mantras.
Note: This was against Gent in 2016, who eliminated Spurs.
Note: This was against Gent in 2016, who eliminated Spurs.
He left Ukraine loved, for both his merits on the pitch and his charismatic personality.
He won 7 trophies in his 3 year spell with the club, and gave them memories that they will never forget.
Such as dressing up as Zorro for making the CL R16 👏
He won 7 trophies in his 3 year spell with the club, and gave them memories that they will never forget.
Such as dressing up as Zorro for making the CL R16 👏
Due to his populous style of football, plaudits from key influencers, such as Pep Guardiola, and his footballing merits, it’s no surprise that Fonseca earned a managerial role in a top 5 league.
On the 11th of June 2019, Roma announced the arrival of their new manager.
On the 11th of June 2019, Roma announced the arrival of their new manager.
During his spell at Roma, he finished 5th in his first season, and 7th in the next. Some factors that explain these poor results were out of his control, such as disputes with the board and key injuries.
His flaws are his in-game management, and his indifference towards defence.
His flaws are his in-game management, and his indifference towards defence.
Nonetheless, he provides an exciting brand of football that oozes chance creation. How does he do this?
His 2 most popular formations are the 4231 (imported from his Shaktar side) and his new experiment the 3421.
His 2 most popular formations are the 4231 (imported from his Shaktar side) and his new experiment the 3421.
I will not go into depth for his 4231 formation, but know he’s very much capable of using it.
He is not married to a single formation, which is important to note for tactical flexibility.
In defence it’s very much a 442, and in offence it switches to a 3241
He is not married to a single formation, which is important to note for tactical flexibility.
In defence it’s very much a 442, and in offence it switches to a 3241
In the 2020/21 season, Fonseca has adopted an exciting 3421 that has placed his side in the top creators, with an honestly mediocre side that houses veterans such as Pedro and Džeko.
A key injury to arguably his sides most promising player Zaniolo also derailed the side.
A key injury to arguably his sides most promising player Zaniolo also derailed the side.
Target men are critical in his system, as they clog up the middle, bait the oppositions cb’s, which opens up space for the inverted wingers and fullbacks. Džeko serves this role well.
Since the wingers tuck in, they essentially play as 2 #10’s, as the fullbacks provide the width
Since the wingers tuck in, they essentially play as 2 #10’s, as the fullbacks provide the width
Another key takeaway are the number of late runs that his centre midfielders perform.
Fonseca overloads the middle, which requires runs into the box. Jordan Veretout had 10 goals in his recent campaign, the most of any midfielder.
Hojbjerg or Lo Celso could profit off this.
Fonseca overloads the middle, which requires runs into the box. Jordan Veretout had 10 goals in his recent campaign, the most of any midfielder.
Hojbjerg or Lo Celso could profit off this.
31% of Fonseca’s attack came from the middle of the pitch - the most in Serie A this szn.
It starts from short positional play in the back, with the GK being expected to keep it short.
Lulling the opposition into the middle, they often swing the ball out wide for a cross.
It starts from short positional play in the back, with the GK being expected to keep it short.
Lulling the opposition into the middle, they often swing the ball out wide for a cross.
His defensive strategy has not changed much since Shaktar.
It’s an aggressive midblock that does not leave much space for runners behind. They attempt to clog the middle and force the opposition out wide.
Cristante serves as a libero, a versatile CB that engages the attacker.
It’s an aggressive midblock that does not leave much space for runners behind. They attempt to clog the middle and force the opposition out wide.
Cristante serves as a libero, a versatile CB that engages the attacker.
The wingbacks tuck in and form into a back 5, as seen in the photo above. Once possession is retained once again, Cristante either looks for runners on the flanks, or Veretout collects the ball from deep, emphasizes the importance of short transitional play.
This video from Total Football Analysis explains his buildup strategy well.
Here is another clip that breaks down his buildup.
Notice the patience and constant movement of the ball.
His ideals are clear to anyone who analyzes, so if he does join Tottenham, we may be seeing some Fairytale football once again.
Notice the patience and constant movement of the ball.
His ideals are clear to anyone who analyzes, so if he does join Tottenham, we may be seeing some Fairytale football once again.
Thus, Fonseca’s tactical system can be described as:
•Building from the back
•Overloading the middle in both attack and defence
•Creativity from the inverted wingers
•Absorbent target man that opens space for runs
Thank you for reading, let me know what you think! #THFC 👇
•Building from the back
•Overloading the middle in both attack and defence
•Creativity from the inverted wingers
•Absorbent target man that opens space for runs
Thank you for reading, let me know what you think! #THFC 👇
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