How quickly can lives change. Just a couple of months ago, Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca was enjoying being unemployed after leaving his post as AS Roma manager. He dedicated all his time to his young family in Ukraine, relaxing and waiting for a new challenge to come his way.The challenge did come, but it wasn’t a footballing one. When the war against Russia started, he was forced to flee the capital of Kyiv. Along with his Ukrainian wife, their baby and in-laws, the former Porto footballer had to spend a night in a hotel bunker before setting off on a risky 30-hour car journey across neighbouring Moldova and into Romania.21.30: (9.00) Falkirk (6.00) Kilmarnock (1.23)Speaking to CNN earlier this year, Paulo’s wife Katerina said that it was surreal having to leave the country in such a manner.”This war is, I believe, one of the cruellest in the story because the soldiers killing us speak the same language. It’s unbelievable. We left everything in Ukraine. Our friends and relatives who remained in the country. All the places that mean so much to us are still there. My heart is still there, broken because of everything that’s going on.”The classy coach, who brought much joy to fans in the Eastern European county while managing Shakhtar Donetsk for three years, started working with the Portuguese Football Federation to help Ukrainian refugees find homes and jobs. But his real career is coaching. And LOSC Lille need someone to get them back on the right path after a poor season under Jocelyn Gourvennec, who is leaving Stade Pierre Mauroy a year into his two-year contract. Paulo #Fonseca Tactics (ex #Roma & #Shakhtar coach) – Explaining his positional play ideas & luring concept of his 3-2 system in established possession phaseInterview for @CoachesVoice pic.twitter.com/bnlg1JdBeN— Albin Sheqiri (@albinsheqiri) June 15, 2022 According to L’Equipe, Fonseca will officially take over at Lille on 1 July when the first team returns for pre-season training.The 49-year-old coach likes to play attacking football and control possession. Such a brand of football, combined with excellent recruiting, enabled him to win three consecutive league and cup doubles in Ukraine between 2017 and 2019. With a fine reputation, he arrived at Stadio Olimpico to take over as Roma boss, becoming only the second Portuguese coach to manage a Serie A team after Jose Mourinho. Fate would have it that Mourinho was to succeed Fonseca as Giallorossi gaffer.Former Porto and Roma manager Paulo Fonseca has reached Romania after an extraordinary FOUR days spent trying to leave Ukraine pic.twitter.com/rrsmTJ1uBh— Sky Sports (@SkySports) February 28, 2022 During his two seasons in the Eternal City, he showed plenty of promise at first. In the early days, the team was over-performing and looked destined for a Champions League qualification. However, they finished fifth and seventh in the league and bowed out of the UEFA Europa League after a semi-final defeat to Manchester United.After a year out of the game, a survived war and helping his Ukrainian friends and family survive such dangerous times, Fonseca will get his first appointment in Ligue 1. Les Dogues are getting the coach who was shortlisted for jobs at Tottenham, Monaco and Newcastle in the past 12 months.
