Alexandrina Cruz, the only candidate for the presidency of Portuguese First League club Rio Ave, hopes to be an “inspirer” for other women to take leadership positions in and out of football, but refuses to be the “flag” of feminism. .
“I didn’t think that the fact that a woman will lead a football club would have such a media dimension, but if it inspires other people both personally and professionally, it will be good,” said the future Vila leader. make the emblem count à Lusa.
The 45-year-old manager, who will become the first woman to lead a professional football club in Portugal, heightened her “surprise” with the influence her decision to run for Rio Ave’s leadership had, but stressed that competence doesn’t matter. have a gender.
“It is absolutely the same for me to be a woman or a man in this position, and it is even strange when I am asked this question. I don’t like being on the news just because I’m a woman. The advantage will be the opportunity to open doors and opportunities for other women who may not have had the opportunity to take on such challenges yet,” he added.
Although Alexandrina Cruz is currently a candidate for the club’s management, she has been a member of Rio Ave’s governing bodies for 19 years, currently serving as vice president of finance, making sure she never feels any or prejudice in the world of football, which is dominated by men.
“I have always been treated very well. When I joined, I was still a girl, I was 24 years old, but it was easy. I have always felt good at club league meetings, there are people whom I have known for several years. , it will be a new experience, ”shared.
In addition to her duties at Rio Ave, Alexandrina Cruz, who graduated in management, has made a professional career at Vila do Conde Chamber as one of the persons in charge of the financial sector, in addition to personal business projects.
“You have to play with the time you have and someone will get hurt more, and I think it will be a family, but I feel like I’ll put up with it well because I’m used to having projects. At this stage, the priority will be Rio Avenue,” he said.
Confessing that she feels comfortable in a “busy life without routine”, Alexandrina Cruz, whose passion for Rio Ave was inherited from her father and maternal grandfather, says she has the ability to “disconnect from work” when necessary. sharing a taste for “traveling and exercising”, namely bastard.
“I’m curious how I’m going to find time for everything now. I know that during games I can be calm and even abstract, thinking about business or what can be done to improve the stadium. players who must contribute to the field. It’s up to me to decide how to manage during the week,” said the future president of Rio Ave.
Alexandrina Cruz will replace António Silva Campos, who managed the club for 13 consecutive years and has now decided not to run for office due to health issues, having achieved some of the club’s biggest sporting and financial successes.
“He certainly left a legacy and I have already personally told him that he is a man who will forever be in the history of Rio Ave. I have a very positive balance of working with him all these years,” he concluded.