Feature: Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal backs growth in grassroots across city

It was on the streets of Braga where Carlos Carvalhal learned his craft.

He started playing football on a regular basis at the age of 11.

“I wanted to play all the time and there were a lot of benefits to playing street football,” said Carvalhal.

“In my generation, street football was very important to develop the players.

“There is no grass so you don’t go down. If you planned on dribbling, you had to develop that side of your game as you didn’t want to damage your body.”

Carvalhal spent his playing career largely in the Portuguese top-flight with hometown club Braga.

“The culture of the club was to play good football with lots of passing and to connect the game,” said the Owls head coach, who used to be a centre-back before retiring at the age of 32. “I was born into that.

“When I wasn’t training, I would follow Braga and go see them at weekends. They would play good football and with good support.

“It was the environment I grew up in and that, of course, helps you to create your philosophy. It developed my football and mind. It had a big impact on me.

“When you are at a club, you are not just there to play football. You learn about their rules, values and traditions. You are working with each other to achieve something.

“You learn about yourself growing up and the values of the club.

“These kind of things make you a better player and man.”

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While Portugal continue to bask in the glory of their European Championship triumph, England’s national team is arguably at the lowest ebb in all its history.

Minnows Iceland knocked England out at the last-16 stage in France and Sam Allardyce was sacked in September after one match and 67 days in charge following a newspaper investigation claiming he offered advice on how to “get around” rules on player transfers.