On the edge of the training pitch, there was a figure who turned up to watch each session every single day.
It was the attention to detail and determination to learn which made Bruno Lage stand out during the first steps on his coaching journey nearly 20 years ago.
Now, Lage’s former mentor Carlos Carvalhal believes Wolves have become “the best success story in the Premier League ” as they sit just four points off a Champions League place with games in hand on their rivals.
Braga boss Carvalhal was manager of Vitória Setúbal when he first noticed an unexpected audience at his daily training sessions and exactly the same thing happened when he took over at Belenenses in 2004.
Can Bruno Lage take Wolves into the Champions League? Have your say in the comments section
Carvalhal, who is achieving great things himself at Braga, said: “They would be there every day, a couple of guys, watching, asking me about training and so on.
“We started a little conversation and relationship. Then we moved to Belenenses and the next season, there they were again! I couldn’t believe it. I said to them: ‘you two boys!’
“We met up again and when I received the invitation to manage Sheffield Wednesday, I invited Bruno to join me. It was very interesting for him to be with me, to learn and to know that not everything is paradise.
“I’m very proud because I think it’s the best project I’ve seen so far in England because the resources he has in his hands are very limited. It’s something amazing.
“To me, it’s the best success story in the Premier League. Of course Manchester City are doing well but everyone expected them to do that. But no-one expected Wolverhampton to be in that position and Bruno is doing some fantastic work.
“You can’t put too much expectation on Wolverhampton. We are living with Covid, injuries and if he is lucky, avoids injuries then he can do something amazing. But he is already achieving great things.”
Lage started as a youth coach in Portugal, then became Carvalhal’s assistant at Wednesday and Swansea. When Carvalhal returned to Portugal to be closer to his parents, Lage took his first steps and went from managing Benfica B to the first team and now Wolves.
They remain very close and will meet up for lunch this week as Lage has returned to Portugal for a few days during the winter break.
Carvalhal, 56, is such an infectious character, enthusiastic and loved for his press conference one-liners from his days in charge at Wednesday and Swansea. And it is clear Lage has followed some of those lessons.
Carvalhal said: “He was always so keen to learn. I remember doing a press conference at Sheffield Wednesday, came back into the coaches’ room and Bruno was watching it on his laptop. I said to him: ‘Bruno what are you doing?’
“He wanted to learn everything, about communication, how to talk and what he must say and deal with situations. But the reality is that he learnt from us but we also learnt from him. He was young but he taught us as well.
“After the relationship, I think we are both better coaches. He is very natural, very humble and he knows the importance of being positive and optimistic.
“He is very enthusiastic, wants to learn and improve. You feel his enthusiasm all of the time. I tell him often that we must be crazy. When sometimes you lose, have a defeat, say something crazy, do something crazy to change the mood. That’s why I say my sayings.
“But Bruno is very clever and better than me when it comes to talking to the owners or the president. I don’t have the same patience when I talk to the board or the chairman!
“He is very good at that. I keep telling him he can be a very good politician, a mayor or a president. A perfect diplomat! He’s much better than me. I learn a lot from him.”
Carvalhal’s own return to Portugal has been remarkable. He led Rio Avenue to a record points tally and into the Europa League play-offs. Now at his home town club Braga, he defied the odds and won the Portuguese Cup last season and this season has brought in a rich vein of youngsters.
His success brought interest from Flamengo and most recently a big offer from Brazilian champions Atletico Mineiro but his contract expires at the end of the season and he remained loyal.
“Whether it’s in Braga or somewhere else, we are very excited for the next project,” said Carvalhal.
“We are not Porto, Benfica or Sporting, but we won the cup last year, we sold players last year and we are still playing great football, we’ve put 12 boys from the academy in the last 18 months so it’s a balance but it’s a beautiful feeling.”
