In an interview with L’Équipe, OGC Nice defender Dante (40) revealed the secrets of the longevity of his playing career. The Brazillian defender has over 670 matches to date for club and country in a professional playing career which has spanned over 21 years.
The first secret the former Bayern Munich centre-back revealed to his long and illustrious playing career was the importance of sleep to his routine. Dante said, “When I was little my mother used to make me go to bed early, saying if I went to bed late I would have nightmares. So from a young age, I went to bed at 9 – 9:30pm. I have kept this habit, so much so that when I played my first professional matches at 8:30pm I struggled. When it comes to sleep, there is no negotiation”.
Despite being adamant that there was no negotiation for sleep, Dante did reveal he had one exception where he would break his habit: “I allow myself to go to sleep at 11:00pm or 11:30pm so I can watch the big Champions League matches”.
When you have been playing for over 21 years at the top level, there are several facets to a routine to keep you fit and ready for matches at the top level – one of those being a strict diet. Dante revealed, “I used to love desserts as a young player at Juventude. The doctor explained to me you immediately feel different even if you’re carrying an extra 2 or 3kg in weight.”
The defender also commented on the importance of what times you eat as a professional athlete, “You have to eat as early as possible: 7:00pm. I know that when I delay eating I won’t be hungry in the morning which will impact my training”.
Some players upon retirement have expressed regret that they did not enjoy their careers because they didn’t allow themselves to enjoy it while they were playing. This is something Dante was keen to avoid, “Aside from being with my kids, the most fun I have during the day is being on the field”. Dante also commented on the importance of staying grounded, “A lot of players tend to have people around them who give them the red carpet treatment. They live like a king. I do not like this. Either people around me stay simple or they’re not with me”.
Finally, Dante commented on the importance of having examples you can relate to and take influence from. The Brazilian discussed the examples set by his former Bayern teammates: “Ribéry, you had to see how he worked, his seriousness in what he did on the pitch with all the extra conditioning and extra runs he imposed on himself in the locker room or after a match. Lewandowski was the worst. His wife is a sports nutritionist. He would eat his muesli with hot water in the morning! At Bayern, they told me you don’t need this or that, and I immediately saw a change.”
GFFN | Liam Wraith
