Joao Moutinho has already revealed his plans to become a manager in a conversation with Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Bruno Lage.
Bruno Lage said: “Last time I spoke with him (about his plans) he wanted to be a manager. I think he has five more years to play, then he can be a manager. What I want to say, from my point of view, is that I’m very happy with him. The personality, the way he works, the way he wants to be in training, even the way he talks with the other guys to help them to understand better the way we play. He needs to enjoy every day and wait for what happens.”
Moutinho has started nine of Lage’s 10 games in charge to date – only Max Kilman has played more – and he’s also featured in four matches for Portugal since September. The way Moutinho conducts himself, with and without a football, is why Lage believes he can extend his career for another five years.
Bruno Lage added: “I think there’s two ways for players to play more than 35, 36, 37… The behaviour outside – stay healthy, rest and everything about the recovery – and the other one is about the way you train. I see Joao every day training hard. If you have that rhythm, you continue with that rhythm. You need to work hard, recover, work hard, recover. One month ago it was his birthday and when I asked, he said he feels 28, so he’s in a good way. The most important thing for him at the moment, and he’ll know this better than me, is to not look at his ID and enjoy training every day.”
Portugal legend Moutinho, who has won 140 caps for his national team, has proved to be an excellent signing for Wolves since arriving from Monaco in a £5million transfer three years ago. Now 35, Moutinho is playing some of the best football of his Wolves career and Lage has started him in all eight Premier League games this season. There are growing calls for Moutinho to be offered a new contract at Molineux, with his existing deal due to expire at the end of the current campaign. Lage is ‘very happy’ with Moutinho and believes his compatriot can play on for another five years before becoming a coach.
