I Started My Football Career As A Centre-Back – Bruno Fernandes

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has said that he started his career as a centre-back. He recently had his say while speaking exclusively on the Beast Mode Podcast after winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.

Opening up about his unlikely footballing roots, the Portuguese playmaker revealed that his journey actually began at the heart of the defence, where tactical awareness had to compensate for a lack of physical stature.

Bruno concluded by crediting his fearless approach to playing street football against children much older than him.

His words, “I started my career as a centre-back.

Being the skinniest and the smallest, that was good for me because I had to use my brain to get ahead of the striker.

I wouldn’t give you the space to pin me. I would allow you to have the ball and then when you turn I might need to get a very strong tackle in to get the ball from you. If you come too fast at me that might be a problem too!

Growing up, in my time, you play in the streets a lot. I was always one of the youngest, because my brother is five years older than me, so I was playing against him and his friends.

I got used to getting beat but also to beating people who were stronger than me. So I’m never afraid to put my foot in or to go into duels.

Growing up, in my time, you play in the streets a lot. I was always one of the youngest, because my brother is five years older than me, so I was playing against him and his friends.

I got used to getting beat but also to beating people who were stronger than me. So I’m never afraid to put my foot in or to go into duels.

Last season in training I had to do a 50-yard run with Benjamin Sesko. I started two steps earlier and he was behind me so I was pushing myself and I beat my highest top speed that was 35.5.

He got to 37 [km/h] something at the end so that’s why he caught me at the end but I was so proud of myself because Ben is such a strong and physical player, and very quick.

But this is the thing I like in training, to go up against the ones that I know are better than me at something so I can test myself.”