Paulo Is Cut From The Same Cloth As Roy

Mar 30 2008

PHIL BABB saw the same steel and determination in Paulo Bento that he did in Roy Keane and Paul Ince - and it convinced him the young Portuguese gaffer had what it takes to be a top boss.

The ex-Liverpool and Republic of Ireland defender (right) played with Bento for a few seasons at Sporting Lisbon with their greatest success coming in 2002 when they helped land the league and cup double.

Bento, who took over as boss of the Lions in 2004, is still just 38 but is a rising star in Portugal and being compared to Jose Mourinho.

With Sporting languishing fifth in their league this season, Gers fans may wonder what the fuss is about. But Bento is still on course for a cup double for the second year in a row.

He steered his side to two domestic trophies in 2007 and faces a semi-final tie with Benfica in this year's Portuguese Cup.

And the boss could crown that by bagging Sporting's first European silverware since a Cup Winners' Cup triumph in 1964.

But it's Bento the player that Babb, 37, remembers - and he sees similarities in his character with the greats he played beside.

He said: "Some players you just know will go into management - and Paulo was one of them. Despite not being the tallest he'd never shirk a challenge. I look at guys I played with who are now in the dugout such as Roy at Sunderland and Paul at MK Dons.

"They had steel and aggression and Bento was the same. Those qualities are vital in a manager. Keane was the complete package as a player but Paulo wasn't far behind.

"He has been compared to Mourinho but Jose didn't achieve what Paulo did as a player."

PHIL now runs golf magazine Golf Punk - more info at www.golfpunkonline.co.uk