Marcos Senna: Helping to align the stars at NY Cosmos

Kenny Laurie 12:24 13/03/2014
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  • Effortless brilliance: Senna was vital to the Spain side that won Euro 2008.

    After making his name protecting the Spanish back line, Marcos Senna is now working to protect one of North American sport’s most enduring brands.

    At the back end of a gloriously understated career, the defensive midfielder walks in the shadows of greats like Pele and Franz Beckenbauer for the New York Cosmos.

    Newly recreated in the North American Soccer League – the second tier below the MLS – the Cosmos are looking to recapture the glamour years of yore, but with a more sustainable model.

    Instead of extravagant strikers, they plumped for a player that was almost a byword for stability in his heyday with Villarreal and Spain.

    The club won the league title in their first year, with Senna its hub and mentor.

    “At the Cosmos, I’m really happy to be in New York,” Senna told Sport360° this week in Dubai. “After six months of being here we won the championship, so I have to be happy with that.”

    Speaking to members of the club, it is clear just what an influence Senna has on his teammates. Despite the language barrier that exists between him and many of his colleagues, club officials claim his experience and tutelage can transcend it.

    As a European Championship winner he is comfortably the most accomplished player in the squad, and observing him in action on the training ground shows he hasn’t lost his touch.

    His mentoring is highly valued in the club but Senna is modest about his role.

    “I can help the squad with my experience but really I think the credit has to go to the coach [Giovanni Savarese], he brought the team together and chose the players,” he said. “Me coming to the team with my experience helped the team to unite and I try to advise the younger guys and they respect me. That’s what Gio wants from me, to give advice but I have to give more credit to the coach.”

    In Iberia, Senna was at the heart of Spain team that would change international football. Before Sergio Busquets, he sat deep in the Spanish midfield breaking up attacks and feeding the burgeoning carousel manned by Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta.

    Not as recognised as Claude Makelele – whose name was virtually given to the defensive midfield position – Senna was equally adept in the dark arts of the game while possessing a greater attacking threat than his French counterpart.

    When Spain finally asserted their dominance on world football with victory at Euro 2008, Brazilian-born Senna received equally as much praise for the triumph as his now-legendary teammates.

    The success stopped there, however, as Senna failed to win a place at the 2010 World Cup after being phased out of the team. Something that still rankles.

    “I didn’t get frustrated or angry with Sergio for taking my spot,” said the midfielder. “What was frustrating was that I thought I would be in the squad for 2010. Instead they brought an inexperienced player in Javi Martinez. It was in my mind that I was in, but I didn’t make it and obviously wasn’t happy.

    “There were two lists of players for the World Cup, Javi wasn’t on any list before the World Cup but still got a spot. That was so disappointing, even the Spanish newspapersand radio found it shocking.”

    While Spanish talent is at an all-time high, the country are still not averse to welcoming assistance from outside. This time around, La Roja are looking to Brazilian-born Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa to help them to glory, just like Senna before.

    Turning your back on your own country – particularly when your native land has a habit of winning trophies – is never an easy decision, even if Senna claims it was a simple choice.

    He adds: “You can’t compare the situation, it’s far more difficult for him. I only had to pick one team, Spain were the only team interested in me. But with Diego, both teams wanted him. All of his family and friends will have helped make his decision. Plus, he has to play in Brazil at the World Cup.”

    Spain are one of the favourites going into the World Cup as they look to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962. Apart from Senna, Spain retain more or less the same nucleus of players that were victorious back in 2008, leading some to wonder whether the team has enough motivation to mount another charge with a nearcreaking squad.

    Senna is having none of it, as he explains: “The national team are more mature and more experienced than before. They have the possibility to repeat what they did four years ago and I think they will because they are so much more experienced.”

    International football is long in the back of his mind now. He has a project to enjoy in the final years of his career. Senna promises to continue playing for as long as his body allows.

    Perhaps such a seasoned player with so many experiences to draw on would like to move to a coaching position. “It is the last thing in the world I would do,” he laughs.

    Marcos’ magic moments

    Best team-mate
    Nilmar and Giuseppe Rossi. I played with many different team-mates so it changed every step of the way.

    Toughest opponent
    t is hard to name one player. You cannot pick out one individual because you defend against a whole team. I always suffered against Barcelona at the Nou Camp, the ball just moves from one player to another and you can’t get the ball.

    One player you wished you played with
    Oh, so many players. I was lucky to play with Xavi and Iniesta for the national team. But obviously Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Baggio and Diego Maradona!

    Favourite game and goal
    My best goal was against Real Betis where I scored from the half-way line in 2008. My favourite game was the final of the European Championships, it was just such an important game. I had great games at Villarreal but Euro 2008 was just so big.

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