Former football manager Andre Villas-Boas, known for his stints at Porto, Chelsea, and Tottenham, made a surprising career switch to become a rally driver. However, his venture into the Dakar Rally in 2018 ended in disappointment when he crashed out of the race.
Villas-Boas began his career in football as a scout at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho. He then followed Mourinho to Inter Milan before taking his first managerial job with Coimbra in Portugal in 2009. Despite achieving success with Porto, winning the Primeira Liga and Portuguese Cup, Villas-Boas struggled to make an impact in English football. He was sacked by Chelsea just nine months after taking charge and lasted only eight months as Tottenham manager before being dismissed.
After leaving Tottenham, Villas-Boas went on to win the Russian title with Zenit Saint Petersburg. However, he had already expressed his desire to pursue a career in rallying, stating that he would quit coaching within the next five to ten years. He fulfilled his ambition by entering the Dakar Rally but unfortunately crashed into a sand dune during the fourth stage in Peru, resulting in his withdrawal from the race.
Currently without a managerial position following his departure from Marseille in February 2021, Villas-Boas has continued his rally racing endeavors. He participated in the 2018 Baja TT do Pinhal and the 2022 WRC Vodafone Rally de Portugal. Reflecting on his experience, Villas-Boas described rally racing as a childhood dream and a special opportunity to support charitable causes. He admitted that he underestimated the intensity and stress of the sport.