37, and the game has left him behind

The café is quiet on a Thursday afternoon, but Paulo António still draws a few glances. He is 37, retired for six months, and the game he gave two decades to has not called him back. That is the wound he is willing to talk about.

**You won the Bundesliga with Dortmund in your first full season, 2044/45. What do you remember about that title run?**

It was a special time. I was a young player who had come up through the second team, and suddenly I was part of a side that had to fight every week. The Bundesliga was very strong then—Bayern, Leipzig, Wolfsburg—and we had to be almost perfect. The home games were incredible; the Yellow Wall carried us. I didn't play every minute, but I scored some goals and felt I contributed. When we lifted the trophy, I thought, "This is what it means to be at a big club."

**You stayed at Dortmund for nine seasons and won three Bundesliga titles and two DFB-Pokals. Why did you leave?**

In football, sometimes you feel it's time for a new challenge. I had been there a long time, and there were moments when I wasn't playing as much as I wanted. I went on loan to Hamburg first, and then the club got an offer from Nottingham Forest. I was 27, and I thought, "Why not try England?" It was a difficult decision, but I don't regret it.

**You won the Europa League with Nottingham Forest in 2053/54. What was that like?**

That was a special season. Forest were building something, and I felt I could be important there. The Europa League run was magical—we beat some very good teams, and the final was a night I'll never forget. I had played in big games before, but to win a European trophy with a club like Forest, who had such history, was incredible. The fans still sing about it, I hear.

**You moved around a lot after that: Huddersfield, Nice, Lorient. How did you keep going?**

You have to adapt. Every club has a different culture, different expectations. I was lucky to play in England, France, and Germany. At Nice, we won the French Cup in 2059/60, which was another great moment. I played a lot of games there and felt valued. By the time I went to Lorient, I was 36, and I knew my body was telling me it was nearly over.

**You retired at the end of last season. What are you doing now?**

I'm out of the game, which is strange. I thought I might go into coaching or scouting, but nothing has come up. I'm spending time with my family in Angola and Germany, and I watch football as a fan now. It's hard because I still love the game, but I don't miss the training or the pressure.

**You won 185 caps for Angola and scored 88 goals. What did representing your country mean to you?**

It was the greatest honour of my career. I made my debut when I was young, and I played for Angola for almost two decades. We didn't win a major trophy, but we had some great moments, and I was proud to lead the team. The fans in Angola were always behind us, and I hope I inspired some young players there.

**What do you think of the modern game?**

It's become very fast and tactical. Players are incredible athletes now. But I worry about the money—it's too much. Young players are treated as commodities, and clubs forget about loyalty. I was lucky to play in an era when you could still have a long career at one club. Now, if you don't perform for six months, you're sold.

**Do you think Dortmund can win the Champions League this season?**

They have a chance, but it's tough. The squad is tired, and they've had some injuries. But Dortmund always have a special spirit in Europe, especially at home. If they can get past Inter, they'll believe.

**You haven't been involved in football since retiring. Would you like to return?**

Of course. I have a lot of experience, and I think I could help young players. But the phone hasn't rung. Maybe people think I'm too old, or maybe they don't know I'm available. I'm open to anything—coaching, scouting, even media. I just want to be part of the game again.