Folha Seca

The guest on the ninety-second episode of Folha Seca is Jacob Lennartsson, CEO of Mjällby AIF. A true "club man" whose history with the organization began as a six-year-old ballboy, Jacob’s journey to the executive office is as remarkable as the club’s own ascent. Throughout the conversation, he reflects on Mjällby’s incredible turnaround—from the brink of bankruptcy and the fourth tier in 2016 to winning their first-ever Swedish League title in 2025. Jacob details the unique "farmers and fishermen" spirit of Hällevik, explaining how a club from a locality in which only approximately 840 people live manages to outperform giants with much larger budgets. He discusses his transition from academy coaching and communication to the role of CEO, where he emphasizes a leadership philosophy rooted in efficiency, transparency, and empowerment.

O convidado do nonagésimo primeiro episódio do Folha Seca é João Amaral, head of scouting do FC Barcelona e ex-director-técnico do Rio Ave. Ao longo da conversa, João detalha a sua evolução desde a formação do Benfica até à elite europeia, analisando como a bagagem técnica e a experiência no mundo do agenciamento de jogadores potenciaram a sua leitura de jogo e capacidade negocial, respectivamente. O convidado explica a importância vital do contacto humano e da validação pessoal no processo de recrutamento de um jogador, revelando como identifica 'red flags' no comportamento do atleta ou da sua 'entourage'. Entre vários temas, João aborda ainda a complexidade da gestão em redes de multi-clubes (os chamados 'MCOs', multi-club ownerships), a estratégia de mercado do FC Barcelona face à sua reengenharia financeira actual, o potencial do mercado africano, o uso de dados no processo de scouting e as competências essenciais para liderar a prospecção de um colosso do futebol mundial como o Barça.

O convidado do nonagésimo episódio do Folha Seca é Edu Gaspar, Global Head of Football da rede de clubes de Evangelos Marinakis. Ao longo da conversa, Edu revisita a influência de Arsène Wenger na sua visão de liderança, compara a gestão estruturada do Arsenal com a agilidade do actual modelo multi-clubes e detalha a importância vital do alinhamento estratégico entre o director-desportivo e o treinador. Edu aborda ainda a gestão de casos disciplinares mediáticos, como a saída de Aubameyang, explica como a comunicação fluida resolve crises internas e descreve o seu processo de recrutamento, que valoriza a entrevista ao atleta. Entre vários outros temas, o ex-jogador analisa o impacto da saúde mental e das redes sociais nos jogadores modernos, discute a transição de director-técnico para director-desportivo e elenca as competências essenciais, como a imparcialidade e a inovação, para ter sucesso nesta função.

The guest on this episode of Folha Seca is Lorin Parys, CEO of the Belgium Pro League and former Chief Operating Officer of Club Brugge. Throughout the conversation, Lorin reflects on his transition from club management to leading the League during a critical period marked by the fallout of a match-fixing scandal, detailing how the "Football First" plan was implemented to restore trust and financial stability. He dissects the League’s strict "Positive Equity" regulations—acting as a mandatory savings account for clubs—and explains the strategic decision to prioritise intelligence over size, evidenced by pioneering investments in centralised data and youth development. Lorin also breaks down the upcoming format changes to an 18-team league, aiming to balance the heavy schedules of European contenders with the need for domestic solidarity. Finally, as a Board member of the European Leagues, he addresses the complexities of the international calendar, the collapsed BeNeLiga project, and Belgium's unique competitive advantages in the transfer market relative to its neighbors.

The guest on the eighty-eighth episode of Folha Seca is Claudius Schäfer, CEO of the Swiss Super League and President of the European Leagues. Throughout the conversation, Claudius discusses his ascent from the SFL's legal department to the top executive role. He reflects on the strategic evolution of the Swiss competition, detailing the implementation of the new "Scottish Model" format and the complexities of maintaining competitive balance in a league often dominated by just a few clubs. In his dual role as President of the European Leagues, he covers critical geopolitical battles—from the landmark legal action against FIFA regarding the international calendar to the fight for fairer revenue distribution—and addresses the paradox of media rights cannibalization. Claudius also shares his management philosophy, redefining the League as a proactive service provider rather than a mere regulator, offering a comprehensive view on the fight to sustain Europe's small and mid-sized football markets.