In order
to see the concept of the conditions for a successful strategy, we
are going to look at an example of a person in the sports world, more
specifically in footabll. Vitor Borba Ferreira, Rivaldo, (19/4/1972)
is one of the greatest football stars of last century and the beginning
of this century. You can emphasize his elegance, quality and passion.
However, not many people know how Rivaldo became a star in such a
competitive world like the one we live in today.
The
leader of Brazil that didn't want to fail
Born 19th
April 1972 in Paulista, the state of Pernambuco, Rivaldo is the paradigm
of a footballer brought up in waste and neglect. He followed the route
common to those in the suburbs of this part of the world: poor family,
cattle ranches extremely great talent, great interest in football
and immediate traditional future.
Hi family
lived in utter poverty. When he was a child, he had to have his teeth
pulled out because they had rotten due to malnutrition. He walked
bare-footed or with his foot bound up in pieces from a shoe. He couldn't
afford anything else. To survive he had to go to Recife beach to sell
what he could: bracelets, drinks, sweet. Rivaldo was convinced that
football was going to save him and his family from mysery. It was
the only thing he was sure of. Rivaldo greatly admired Zico and he
travelled 25 kilometres on foot to train with Santa Cruz football
team in Recife. He didn't have enough money to pay for the bus. Rivaldo
slowly found a place in all of the teams that he played in and his
technique was impecable. As soon as he became a teenager, he was hit
with some news that broke his soul, but later made him more resistent,
a stronger person: his father died when he was run over by a bus.
As did
Pelé and Ronaldo, Rivaldo had a modest education. However,
unlike his compatriots he didn't imagine becoming a future megastar
from the start of his career. He started at Paulista Recife football
club in 1991, the then went on to Santa Cruz, where he signed his
first professional contract. After a transfer to Mogi-Mirim, in 1993
he signed for Corinthians, where he scored 11 goals in 19 games. After
being with the club for less than a year, he was transfered to the
classic rival, Palmeiras, where he won the Brasileiräo in 1994.
At the
end of the olympic games in Atlanta 96, in which Brasil won a bronze
medal, Rivaldo went to Deportivo La Coruña. His debut with
the team was a party: he scored 21 times and he became the favourite
with the Galician fans. However, he only stayed one season with Deportivo:
Barcelona bought him for almost 30 million dollars. Cataluña
was the best place for him in his carrer: he won the league twice,
The King's Cup, The Spanish Supercup and on a personal level he won
the Golden Ball for being the best European footballer of 1999. This
was the most productive year in his carreer: he also won the America's
Cup which he also won with Ronaldo.
However,
it wasn't always easy for him to stand out in the Scracht. Rivaldo
competed in his first international game in December 1993, but was
not selected for the World Cup in 1994. "It was the most difficult
time in my football career. I felt that they had taken something away
from me that belonged to me".
During
the America's Cup in 1995, in Uruguay he was not mentioned. However
they called on him in 1996 for the summer olympics in Atlanta. They
held him responsible for the team's elimination in the semi final
against Nigeria and they don't ask him to play until December 1997.
In France 98, he was the best in Mario Zagallo's team. Even FIFA included
him in the Star's team in this competition.
He is married
with two children, Rivaldinho and Tamiris. He is extremely religious:
his favourite book is the Bible and before a match he usually prays
that nobody gets injured. He has a foundation in Brazil and Spain
dedicated to sponsoring children suffering economic difficulties.
Despite
the fact that is classified as a magical football player, Rivaldo
doesn't make his trainer's task very easy. His critics claim that
he likes to have the ball to himself, which is too selfish. With Rivaldo
there is also space for an argument. "I wish Brazil could have
many Rivaldo's in the team. This way everything would be better"
claimed Pele who recently defended him. "He is a footballer that
plays for himself and not for team. Often he disappears when you most
need him. He doesn't show any commitment", claimed Johan Cruyff,
Johan Cruyff, who in the presence of every crisis for Barcelona's
team, usually claims it is Pernambucano's fault. "Rivaldo is
an important football player to our team. He is the inspiration of
the team. Every team needs inspiration" admited Luis Felipe Scolari
the Brazilian expert. The barefooted man of the past no longer joins
in with the discussions. He plays like he has always played and he
imagines a happy outcome in the East.
SOURCE:
http://www.superfutbol.com.ar/jugadores/RivaldoBrasil.htm
It's for
this reason that I believe Rivaldo perfectly fulfils the successful
strategy conditions, giving his example to understand what we are
talking about, as he his a person known throughout the world.
1.- Simple,
coherent and long term objectives
To remove
his family from poverty using the world of football. Throughout his
adolescence he is convinced that his football technique will allow
him to become a word star, which will give him enough money to survive
for the rest of his life. This is a long term strategy as he creates
this objective as an adoloscent.
2.- Deep
knowledge of the competitive environment
As a lover
of this sport, he knows what he should do to achieve his objective.
He knows that in order to be a star he has to stand out in the best
European teams and be the leader in the national team. Rivaldo has
outlined his strategy: now he knows what he has to do and where.
3.- Objective
valuation of the resources
He knows
that he has some weaknesses but he doesn't let the scouts see them.
To stand out in Brazil, he relies on his impecable technique, which
is seen by the public and stands out, it is called "samba-football".
He knows that in Europe, the big clubs are not satisfied with winning,
but that players need to give a show to their fans. He knows perfectly
well that he is a show, an authentic footbalistic clown to his fans.
4.- Effective
Introduction
Rivaldo
knew how to introduce his strategy that he drew up when he was a teenager
to extract his family from poverty. His motivation and conviction
to introduce his strategy meant that he was considered the best footballer
in the world in 1999, he has also played in some of Europe's best
football clubs (F.C. Barcelona y A.C. Milan). Most importantly, World
Champion with the Brazilian team in the World Cup in 2002.
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