Curtesy of Philip Behan, Agent of Marcos Sorato and CEO of Milenio Sports Management

Marcos Sorato resigns from MFK Tyumen

2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup winning Coach and Milenio Sports Client Marcos 'Pipoca' Sorato has resigned from MFK Tyumen. We caught up with Marcos to hear his thoughts on the season in Russia and what lies next for one of the world's leading futsal coaches.

Marcos you had a very solid first season with MFK Tyumen doubling their win ratio and creating the best defence in the Russian Super League, so why did you decide to resign?

The club has decided to go in a different strategic direction where there will be no more foreign players and it doesn’t want a foreign Head Coach either with only Russians from the playing and coaching perspective. I could have stayed on for another two years to see out my contract but it has always been my philosophy that if the club and I are not aligned in our goals then it is best to move on and look for another opportunity.

We were going in the right direction and all that was needed in MFK Tyumen was an investment in quality players be they Russian or foreign to move to the next step and challenge Dinamo for the title. The club doesn’t want to do this so next season will tell the story if their new strategy is the correct one or not. I wish them every success, they will always be my friends in futsal.

With regard to the season, as you say it went really well until we missed out on the semi-finals of the league. In the regular season compared to the previous year we doubled the win ratio the previous season with the best defence in the league finishing three points behind Dina and only four behind Gazprom. Compared to season 2012/2013 this was a serious improvement. We didn’t do as well as I would have liked in attack but losing Ferrao for the last 5 months was a major blow without the strength in depth to replace him. In the Copa Emerenko we were the best team in first two phases but we were beaten in the semi-finals on penalties. In the Russian Cup it was the same story we lost to Yugra Gazprom after two games where they was nothing to separate the two teams.

Why is there such a big gap between Dinamo, Yugra Gazprom and the other teams in the Russian League?

First of all Dina deserved to be Champions. They have a very intelligent President who has invested a lot in quality players. Yugra Gazprom and Dinamo are huge clubs that can count on big game players and huge strength in depth that over the 50 minutes and indeed over a full season makes all the difference.

What did you learn from your year in Russia Futsal?

Without a doubt it the best and most difficult league in the world. The proof of which saw a team as strong as Dinamo going out at the quarter final stage. I learned a huge amount from the Russian style and way of doing things. I really enjoyed it.

Are you a better coach from having spent the year there?

Definitely. I think the second year would have been better with a greater tactical knowledge of teams, players and who is who. After 8 years with Brazil I think the first year I adapted well to working in a club environment which is so different from the National
Team of course.

You are a FIFA Futsal World Cup Winning Coach. What is next for you? What would you like to do?

I am open minded to be honest. Of course I would love to some day to win the Russian Super League with a club there. But equally I would like to be at the 2016 Futsal World Cup in Colombia as Head Coach of a National Team. I think I am ready to continue my development outside of Brazil for now. We will see. I am open to opportunities for Clubs and Countries.

Finally looking ahead to FIFA Futsal World Cup 2016 in Colombia. Who do you think will be the countries in serious contention?

Favourites will still be Spain and Brazil with Russia, Italy, Iran and Portugal always dangerous.






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