Santos seeks to continue Greek success story

Fernando Santos said that he wishes to continue the success that his predecessor Otto Rehhagel enjoyed over the last nine years at the helm of the Greek national team.

The 56-year-old Portuguese manager told a press conference on Friday that every coach has his own way of managing a team but that the Greek squad has had “an excellent course over the last few years and that our aim is to continue this outstanding work.”

Santos was named to succeed 72-year-old Rehhagel on Thursday and signed a two-year contract with the Greek football federation (EPO) at a reported 500,000 euros yearly, half of what his predecessor was getting.

“One era has ended and a new one will begin for the team,” Santos said of Rehhagel’s nine-year stint, which included a Euro 2004 title.

“In professional football, words are worthless, the significance is actions and especially wins.

“We will create a very strong and competitive team and will try to give the Greek fans an outstanding squad, with new elements different from my predecessor. The players know me and I know them and this is good.”

Santos, who has coached at three of the country’s top club teams – AEK Athens, Panathinaikos and PAOK Salonika – and was named the Coach of the Decade last month in the Greek Super League, said the team must show professionalism on and off the pitch.

“We must organise Greek football at its best. I know Greek players give 200 percent effort for their clubs and this must continue on the national team as well,” said Santos.

“We have to take advantage as much as possible of the very little time the players are together.”

He said he will be permanently based in Greece and that he and his assistants will be watching many club matches to find “the best players to make up the team.”

“I have already begun to look at our opponents Georgia and Croatia for the qualifying round of Euro 2012. We have a short time before us before the official matches and we must all work together to our limits,” Santos said.

His first match as coach of the Greek team will be a friendly next month against Serbia at which time it will be seen if he will be making major changes in the lineup.