The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, referee in the preface of the book “Fernando Gomes – 10 years of FPF presidency”, by João Marcelino, which the leader “affirmed, over and over again, Portugal in the world”.

“Ten years of leadership of any institution, national or international, respecting times of very rapid change, is a work”, considering Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in the preface of the work that addresses the 10 years of Fernando Gomes in the presidency of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF )

The President of the Republic emphasizes that “being the leadership exercised in domains, simultaneously internal and external, and of volatile and emotional contours, the challenge is even greater”.

“It requires a firmness of purpose, a determination of will, a resistance of spirit and a lucidity of constant and unbreakable performance”, he adds.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa highlights that it was like that with Fernando Gomes, “at the head of a house for which he set ambitious and long-lasting goals, in the grassroots bet to prepare victories at all levels and with universal repercussions”.

“And then it was a tenacity, a resistance, an effectiveness insensitive to the vicissitudes of financial, economic or health crises,” said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

For the President of the Republic, Fernando Gomes “promised and fulfilled”, “designed and made” and “dreamed and accomplished”.

“He has affirmed, over and over again, Portugal in the world. And Portugal – read, the Portuguese from here and from abroad, being all from within the common homeland – thanks him”, says the President of the Republic .

João Marcelino’s book addresses “a peaceful revolution in Portuguese football”, with a focus on the world and European football (the result of vision, leadership and management), social intervention and international affirmation.

Fernando Gomes, 69, is serving his third and final term in the FPF, after being elected for the first time on December 10, 2011.