adminNEW YORK. — Last December, in a busy Italian restaurant in Manhattan, a group of local soccer journalists have their eyes on the head of the table. The man who has invited them here to break bread and drink a little wine has won a World Cup, a European Championship, and three English Premier League soccer titles. When he speaks, you tend to listen. The imposing, 6ft 4in man stands and thanks those gathered for coming (the reality is that there is nowhere else they would rather be).
He acknowledges that he may have had disagreements with each of them but that it is important, in life, everyone respects that each person has their own job to do and that they have strong relationships.
He thanks them for their support and raises a glass to future successes.
The audience hangs on every word.
Patrick Vieira may have only just completed his first season as coach of New York City, but he is already winning hearts and minds, as well as football matches.
It is something he set out to do from the start.
When he arrived in New York, Vieira had a request.
He was happy to do a Press day but he wanted to meet the fans.
After spending 10 hours giving interviews and smiling for the camera he was off to two Manhattan bars.
“I’ve been speaking all day,” he told supporters.
“I want to listen to you. Tell me what we need to change.”
Fans spoke of positions that needed strengthening but they also voiced things they wanted improving on game day.
More post-match signing sessions from players, more access.
True to his word, Vieira took those concerns to the front office.
NYCFC train an hour away from Manhattan, where their staff are based. For some managers, who have no intention of mixing with the non-playing types, that would be ideal.
Vieira, however, is a regular at HQ.
Ticket sales, marketing, communications — the diligent 40-year-old will spend time with each department.
“He knows everybody’s names,” said one source.
“We could have an intern here, working as a kit man for a month. Patrick will know all about him.”
Vieira inherited a team which finished a lowly 17th — well outside MLS’s playoffs.
After getting the call he almost immediately jetted to Puerto Rico, where the team were playing an end-of-season friendly, to ensure he could meet the players before they left for their break.
Vieira introduced himself and then spoke to each player.
Telling them of his vision for the future, asking them for their own thoughts, as he would with the fans, on what they could do better.
He made changes.
Previously, players had been allowed to wear their own clothes for the lengthy away trips across America.
Not anymore.
Matching club colours were the order of the day.
In MLS it is common place for players on away trips to be given a “per diem” payment for meals.
Often, they will split into groups and head out to various restaurants.
Not anymore.
The team eats together.
They also sit together.
Clubs in MLS are only allowed to charter four flights a year.
The rest of the time they fly on charter flights with the great American public. Even so, they could snatch a dozen business class seats for the staff and top players (David Beckham used to fly business class while at LA Galaxy).
Not a chance, said Vieira.
If his goalkeeper is sat in the middle of a row in economy class then so is he.
When the team fly out to away matches Vieira is often recognised by tourists waiting for their own flights at New York’s busy airports.
He is always obliging for autographs.
“He could be speaking to a holidaymaker, a youth team player or Andrea Pirlo,” a source back in Manchester said.
“He’s got a natural way of putting people at ease.”
The changes and Vieira’s work ethic — he rarely leaves the training ground before 6pm and watches hours and hours of MLS matches — are working.
In his first season they made the playoffs before exiting at the first hurdle.
This year, after somehow losing a match they dominated at Orlando City they whacked DC United 4-0.
In their last match they were again left scratching their heads following a 1–1 draw with Montreal Impact, but expectations are high.
On the touchline, Vieira is animated, barking instructions.
Less so in the locker room.
He makes his points and, as he told this newspaper in November, rarely loses his temper.
His teams play from the back, are adverse to launching it and press relentlessly.
They have an identity.
Alexi Lalas, the pundit and former US national team mainstay, tweeted his approval, hailing NYCFC’s “defined, consistent and recognisable style of play” under Vieira.
“He’ll break my heart if he goes pragmatic,” Lalas added.
There is not much chance of that.
It is hardly a surprise that his methods are being well-received in the media.
Around 30 minutes before kick-off, while his players are out on the field warming up, Vieira holds a briefing.
He tells broadcasters what his thoughts on the game are, what to look out for, where he thinks it will be lost and won.
The first five minutes they can use as quotes, the next 25 are simply for their benefit.
None of this comes as a surprise to those who saw Vieira up close in Manchester.
After he ended his career at City, he was given a roving role for a year to float around the club from department to department to assist him in choosing his next career step.
He chose coaching, and City saw no issues in handing over their Elite Development Squad.
It was in Manchester where he became close with current group services managing director Brian Marwood, who he credits as his biggest influence in the game.
Marwood saw the potential and Vieira, bizarrely ignored by Arsenal, remains grateful for the opportunity and guidance. He sees the fellow former Gunner as a mentor.
“Patrick had an almost regal presence,” one City staffer recalls.
“An aura. He was softly spoken but made his points. The kids hung on every word. He was big on character and attitude over talent.
“We were all staggered that Arsenal did not come in for him but their loss was and is our gain.”
City are guarded on future plans.
Pep Guardiola signed a three-year contract.
Could Vieira stay in the Big Apple before taking the big job?
It is certainly an option that will be viewed favourably within the corridors of power at the City Football Academy.
That is if someone else does not get there first.
Could Arsenal perform a U-turn?
Many have spoken of a need for change should Arsene Wenger decide enough is enough.
A new regime with a director of football to work with the manager.
A Vieira and Marwood combination? Stranger things have happened.
All of this, of course, remains in the future. For the time being, Vieira has work to do in America.
The big man already had an apartment close to Central Park and on his rare moments of down time he likes to head there with his daughter, Na’ima.
It is early in his career, but he is already making management look like child’s play.— Mailonline.
Online Reporter