Michal Zewlakow, former international footballer, and now commentator,  speaks exclusively to Discoveryfootball.com editor-in-chief, Manos Staramopoulos.

Watching Kristoffer Velde at Olympiacos games, at the beginning of the season, I had seen some nice things he did on the pitch. But very soon his good image began to fade. So remembering what the Serbian, Sinisa Gogic, had attracted from the fans and the press when Dusan Bajevic took him to Olympiacos in 1993 from Anorthosis, I said leave Zewlakow's interview aside for now.

We had seen the Polish former international multi-talented footballer many times since he returned to his homeland. The most recent was in Monte Carlo where we discussed many interesting topics, and now with the Norwegian winger showing his good side, which Zewlakow had told me about, I thought the time had come: "Velde is a striker who you are happy to see. When he is in a good mood, which is not always the case, you cannot stop him. He is very similar to Castillo. It is difficult for an opponent to take the ball from his feet. In fact, if he is on his day, then he is capable of dribbling the entire opposing defense and putting the ball in the net. You will remember me...".

DF: And what do you attribute to a Norwegian being such a good ball handler?

R/: "Look. Velde has the nickname Veldinho, as he is half Argentine. So you can see from there that he has football in his blood…”

These were exactly the words of Zewlakow about Velde, whom he knew from Poland where the Norwegian winger was playing for Lech Poznan…And Olympiacos acquired him through a regular transfer on July 29, 2024, paying the amount of 4 million euros.”

DF: Let’s now go to Olympiacos, where you played for 4 years

R/: “In Olympiacos, which spent 4 beautiful years, it is a fact that character was lacking. Now with the Spaniard, José Luis Mendilibar, who found him, we saw what he achieved in Europe. Olympiacos was dominating in Greece but was not doing well in Europe. However, last season he showed us what progress he had made and was able to conquer the Conference League. A great success as it became the first Greek team to win a European trophy… Now I believe that with the experience and character it has acquired, it can also stand out in the Europa League...”

DF: Tell us about football in your country...

R/: “First of all, our national team has changed many coaches recently. Paulo Souza didn’t change anything, he just went to Flamengo as soon as he was given the opportunity. Cesare Culesa, formerly of Jagiellonia, didn’t make it. Then came Fernando Santos, who left early as he couldn’t get close to the players. We lost to the Czech Republic, Albania and Moldova. Then Michal  Probierz took over (he had worked at Aris for a while) and he continues…”

DF: Let’s go to the Champions League, with the new format, how do you see it?.

R/: "I think he will present something different. But the favorites will again be Manchester City, Bayern, Real".

DF: Michael, tell us about yourself and what you are doing now?.

"I now work for the Canal+ channel, which has a new owner. I comment on the games of the national championship and the Champions League. Sometimes from the studio, sometimes I go abroad to appear on the pitch."

Zewlakow is married and has two children, 22-year-old Maia and 17-year-old Jacob. In his career as a football player, he won 3 Greek championships with Olympiacos (2007, 2008, 2009), 2 cups (2008,2009), 1 Super Cup (2007). 2 Belgian championships with Anderlecht (2004,2006). 1 Polish championship with Legia (2013) and 2 cups (2012, 2013).

He played 102 times for the Polish national team from 1999 to 2011. He participated in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, as well as the 2008 European Championship.