Marcelo OTERO
A talented central forward able to score as many as 4 goals, on the road, against Fiorentina during the first game of the 1996-97 season, but also an eclectic player able to turn into a wing and help Guidolin's Vicenza by defending and pressing. When he arrived in Italy, 3 years ago, he was almost unknown, even if he could already boast a couple of important credentials: the America's Cup that Uruguay won led by his goals, and a manager like Paco Casal who rarely brought bad players to Italy. (Fonseca was another of his discoveries). In other words he was not well known but he was expected to consistently help a team like Vicenza that was just arrived from Serie B and was going to depend on Guidolin's strategies and on its players' enthusiasm. Otero was immediately given an huge responsability: scoring goals for a team that seemed to be too frail to sail among Serie A's tough waves.
However a few games were enough to prove that Vicenza had made a very good bargain, especially considering that nowadays there aren't many forwards as talented as him around. Otero was acquired for 2.5 thousand millions of Italian Lira while now he is valued for about 10 thousand millions of Italian Lira. So far Vicenza's managers resisted Derby County's and Napoli's offers, and it's funny to learn that he is paid just 250 millions of Italian Lira per year. (Much less than other less talented forwards playing in the Italian League). However his first season in Italy was also characterized by some problems and after a few weeks he even risked to be ejected. Not from the field but from Italy. Otero himself recalls that stage of his Italian experience while talking with us in the stands of Menti stadium, the theatre of his weekly performances and the former scene of stars like Paolo Rossi and Roberto Baggio. This interview is almost an unique event, since everybody knows that Otero doesn't like to talk with journalists and reporters. He prefers to express himself through his plays and his football performances.
Even after scoring 4 goals against Fiorentina he just claimed: 'It was nothing but a lucky day for me”. However let's go back to that night when you risked to be ejected from our Country. 'Now it sounds like a joke, but that night revealed itself to be a real nightmare. It was November and I was going back home after having a dinner with my parents who were in Italy to visit me. I was stopped by the traffic police because I was running at 80km per hour through downtown, which is legal in Uruguay but not here, where you must keep yourself under 50km per hour. In addition my international driving licence was expired exactly that day and when they checked if I was drunk they realized that I had had some wine. Of course, I was coming from a dinner where I happened to drink a couple of glasses. In short I was heavily fined and some polemics started around my foreign origins. The media began to interfere with my privacy and I was treated like a drunkard and a clandestine person. A Member of Parliament claimed that I should be ejected from Italy and that Lazio should refuse to play against me the very next Sunday. Later I found out that, in Italy, people use to running well faster than I did that night and my fans began to support me more and more by singing in joke: 'Otero bevi un nero" (Otero, let's drink another glass of red wine). I repaid them through my goals that are always the best answer and now when police stops me it's usually to have nothing but an autograph. That was a really bad night, but it's gone and now it's just a curious memory. Altogether my Italian experience has been great, and one of the main reasons of my good performances is just the tranquillity that usually surrounds me and my life'.
Tranquillity but also a great professional nature, that makes him willing to sacrifice for his team and for Guidolin's strategies. A real central forward, who gives his best inside the goal-mouth, but who accept to play as a wing and to defend for Vicenza's good. His talent and his generosity allow him to successfully play any position.
'I give my best when I can play closer to the goal-mouth, however I'm happy because even playing decentralized my performances keep on being good and the coach looks to be satisfied'.
Would you like to play for a greater Club?
'I feel very well here in Vicenza, however, to be honest, I'm kind of ambitious and I always try to improve. When my contract expires I'll talk with Casal and with Vicenza's management. We'll see if there is any offer and what type of options we can choose among'.
Your career started very early.
'Yes, I had my first team when I was….4. It was called Stocolmo. Obviously it was a Montevideo's team and I played as a forward. When I became a little older I was noticed by another Montevideo's Club: Rampla Juniors. I made my debut with the major team at the age of 16. (September 1987, a game versus Progresso). The coach was Juan Borteiro'.
Did you already believe that you could become a successful player?
'Yes, like any other young Uruguayan player I dreamt to play in Italy, the best football championship in the world'.
Your dream came true.
'I had a very lucky career. From Rampla I went to play with the juvenile team of Nacional, then I went back to Rampla and we won a championship. Later I moved to Penarol and I won another 3 national Titles. In 1995, then, there was the America's Cup'.
Where, at first, you were almost unknown.
'Yes, but our coach Hector Nunez knew me very well. He coached me when I played for Nacional, and decided to place his trust in my hands. Ruben Sosa was injured and I emerged as the main protagonist. We won the Cup and I felt really excited because that revealed itself to be a great opportunity to make a name for myself all around the world. Those goals brought me in Italy'.
How did you happen to go to Vicenza?
'Suddenly, one Saturday, Casal called me and said: 'get ready, tomorrow we fly to Italy". It was a surprise. I knew that the America's Cup made my name famous but I thought I would go to Spain'.
What did you know about Vicenza?
'Nothing. Casal only told me that it was a northern Club just arrived in Serie A. I didn't ask anything more because I knew that going to Italy would be, in any case, a crucial step for my career'.
You quickly found your feet.
'Yes but nevertheless Italy is almost another planet for me. Since I'm here my life has been quickly changing. Vicenza is a small city that doesn't offer as many entertainments as Montevideo. If you play in Italy you must observe very strict rules and you have only time to train and to stay home with your family. In Uruguay, for exemple, I used to go very often out for dinner with my teammates and we hadn't to pay so much attention to our diet'.
What about our football?
'Also football is different but Uruguayan players have a certain advantage. In the first place we all come from important Clubs like Penarol and Nacional, which means that we have a good international experience and we are used to playing in big stadiums in front of big crowds. In short we already have the right personality to compete. In addition Uruguayan defenders are very tough, so when we go abroad we are ready to play everywhere'.
Which is the main peculiarity that you found in the Italian football?
'I was impressed by the athleticism of the Italian football. Players, here, keep a very high rhythm, they defend very hard and their pressing is almost choking. For all these reasons now I have to train much more compared to when I was in my Country. Here you always need to be in perfect shape'.
Is the Italian Championship really the hardest one in the world?
'I think so, and the reason is the one I have just mentioned. The technical level here is high but I think that many foreign players have problems especially because of the rhythm and the tight defenses. In Italy you must always run very fast to stay competitive. Maybe even too much. I mean, a so high rythm often causes mistakes and prevent you from making great plays. Strategically there aren't so many differences. Penarol used to play with 3 forwards because it's a great winning team, whereas Vicenza plays with the 4-4-2 and often I have to go back and play as a midfielder. However it's not so different compared to when I played for Gregoio Perez'.
Which are your worst habits?
'I can't tolerate to stay on the bench, I always need to play. Then I'm quite irascible and when I suffer too many fouls I get very angry'.
Which are your best qualities?
'I can score a lot from inside the goal-mouth. I feel the goal. Then I have a good character, I'm usually cheerful and I always try to help my new teammates to get acclimatized. My friends know that football is not everything for me. I would like to be a great champion also outside the field, in everyday life'.
Do you still enjoy playing football?
'Sure. Football should remain a great amusement. When I play I know that I'm expected to give my best to help my team to win, but I also realize that football is basically a game and not a matter of life and death. Any player has fun, especially if he happens to play in great stadiums, and in front of great crowds like Maracana' in Brazil or Milan, Turin and Naples in Italy'.
Which is your favourite player ever?
'Maradona. I grew up admiring his unique talent. All he made through his feet was just exciting. You don't see champions like him very often'.
Who is the best one, right now?
'I think Ronaldo. He is not as good as Maradona yet, but he is definitely the best talent around at this moment. He has talent, strenght and is just 20'.
Let's go back to you. Has your career been always happy so far?
'No. When I played for Penarol I suffered a sprain muscle and shortafter I was operated of meniscus. That was the only serious injury of my career, and I hope it was the last. Staying healthy is the most important win for a professional athlete'.
How do you spend your free time?
'I don't have so much free time. However I like to spend it with my family. My wife Caterine, my son Diego who is 3 and my daughter Caroline who is 1 and half. Then my parents often come from Uruguay to visit us. My father Raul, who runs a supermarket, and my mother Ana, who is an housewife. They have always been my first fans and supporters. When I'm in Uruguay I like to play paddle, a sort of Uruguayan squash, played by a wooden racket. Unfortunately nobody in Vicenza knows this game and when I asked for a paddle game everybody looked at me as I were crazy'.