Former Portuguese international Diamantino Miranda highlighted the enduring value of traditional sports journalism and advocated for more in-depth interviews with athletes, even as a major Portuguese sports newspaper marked a significant milestone.
Miranda, 66, a former Benfica player, coach, and now a commentator for Media Livre, described Record newspaper as a long-time companion and "teacher" as it published its 17,000th edition.
He emphasized that reading Record, alongside other newspapers, helped him improve his writing and knowledge. He also formed lasting friendships with journalists, including José Manuel Freitas.
"Newspapers grow on us, through the learning I spoke of and also through these bonds of friendship, through the recognition of existing competence," Miranda stated.
He regularly observes the newsroom operations at Record due to his studio presence. He noted his appreciation for the effort involved in producing the newspaper.
"In my time as a player, we socialized with journalists inside our hotel, our bus. I always had this closeness," Miranda said. "But today I like to see the hustle and bustle in the Record newsroom, to see the concern that everything turns out well close to the deadline. The journalistic profession is very beautiful."
A demanding reader, Miranda called for an increase in in-depth interviews, noting their scarcity today, partly due to club restrictions.
He believes these interviews offer a crucial insight into a player’s personal life and their thoughts beyond football.
"I wanted to read more interviews, but today they are rare," he explained. "We get to know a bit about the personal side of the player, to know what they think not only about football, but about other aspects."
Miranda reflected on his own career, stating he always felt free to express his opinions while playing and coaching. He acknowledged that this frankness sometimes caused him difficulties.
"I said what I thought, and some argue I hurt myself because of it," he added. "We should say what we feel, with conscience."
He concluded by encouraging readers to continue supporting Record, calling it "a great reference."