Hi all,
This is going to be a new limited series of some interviews we did in the past and they are in the vault.
To kick it off, here is the Newcastle United great, a live wire on the field, a constant English Premier League fixture, at least for older millennials like me.
It was such a pleasure to speak to him on life, legacy, philosophy, playing with Maradona, and him picking Lamine Yamal as a player to watch out for when it comes to the new crop of legends.
This interview is from August 2025, just a few weeks after he arrived in Pakistan.
Since his arrival he has created history with the team by lifting the first stand alone trophy for Pakistan in 74 years.
I though it is a great opportunity to release this interview since Pakistan will be playing the FIFA ASEAN Cup in September-October 2026 for the first time.
According to a Pakistan Football Federation press release, Pakistan are one of 14 teams participating in the tournament and one of eight teams to compete in Indonesia.
Here’s wishing more highs to Solano’s Pakistan team.
I hope you all enjoy this virtual tête-à-tête!
Transcript with highlights
Why choose to come to Pakistan?
NR: There you are. So here it is. So, Nolberto, I just wanted to ask you first and foremost, what is it like to be in Pakistan and why Pakistan? Because what did you hear about Pakistan before coming here? Because a lot of times we do not get a great press abroad.
NS: Yeah, well, first of all, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to speak to all your audience, your people, follow you. It’s an honor. I’m saying many times, it’s an honor, it’s a privilege to be here, be part of the, represent your country in the football sport. So for me, it’s not really... Even I’m from Peru. I moved to England. I’ve been living in England for the last 20 years because I was playing football in England. I got a lot of friends from Pakistan. So I knew, of course, a little bit of your culture, of your country. But I’ve never been the opportunity the first time. So honestly, I’ve been, I would say, 10 days, 12 days so far. It’s been amazing. The reception, the welcome from everyone. So that made me... You know, get engaged a little bit faster and get me engaged to know what’s Pakistan about. And really, really, first of all, really, I would want to say thank you again to the president of the federation, Mr. Mohsen Gilani to get in touch with me to give me that wonderful opportunity. I understand Pakistan football. I’ve been talking before. We have a lot of few meetings before, you know, made decisions. I like the challenge. I like the challenge because what I see so far is being here like a week. Players, footballers are desperate to show the talents, you know. They are really, really working really hard, the boys. They want to show to the world, they want to be proud of Pakistan to move forward in the football. So that all, you know, convinced me to really be part of this because I know will be, like I said to you before, is a lot of issues and the way you call, if we want to call issues or problems. But the more important is if your heart is here, you want to do that. You don’t want to use excuses or make any excuses, yet you want to do it. That’s a part of myself, you know, building my career as a coach. So I hope so Pakistan give me the opportunity to carry on doing my career as a football coach. I hope so. Like you said in your language, Inshallah, I’ve been learning that. So all these dreams come true.
Being a superstar vs being a coach
NR: Right. So, I mean, for you as a player, because you’ve played football at the highest level, I remember watching you while watching the English Premier League. So obviously it is such a surreal thing to be now interviewing you as well. But for you personally, Playing football at a very competitive level and then switching to coaching, what has been your personal journey and is easy, is difficult and how does that play a part in life generally for you?
NS: Well, it’s completely different, of course, when you’re a player. It’s responsibilities less because you only just go training, perform on the weekend. So as a coach, as a manager, you have a massive responsibility because there’s a lot of players you need to look after. And your knowledge, you have to build in a team, you have to construction whatever the idea we want to play, the way we want to play. So it’s really... What I thought when I was a player to say, oh, it look easy, but it’s not. I will say to many managers, now you appreciate when they’re winning things. They are really wow. They are hard to you. Really appreciate. But like I’m saying, I’m really... Like you mentioned, the next step for Pakistan Federation or everybody involved in football is, fingers crossed, Pakistan sooner they can have a Premier League, you know, a professional football. Because you have a lot of talent. You’re a huge country, massive country, 240 million people. It should be a lot of talents around. But you need to give it the platform. You need to give it a club. You need to wake it up to say, okay, we want to be the next one to move forward to the boys to develop good players. You know, the kids in here, like I know your country, so massive big fans of cricket. All the young boys want to play cricket, want to play hockey. I believe now the football is became very popular too. So... We hope so. The Federation, all the people involved, it’s not only the president, it’s everyone needs to be in the same positive way to say, come on, we need to move Pakistan in the football. So we need to be competitive. To be competitive is you need to have a professional lead. The player has to be more, I mean, has to be professional. It will understand when you need to fight for something, win, play for win, play for win a trophy, things like that. That will happen. So I mean, that way, I mean, I hope to be a little bit part of this building football here in Pakistan. So I’m really proud. I’m so happy to be here.
Solano’s philosophy as a coach
NR: Right, and I can clearly see that you’re very passionate about rebuilding Pakistan football. For you, Norberto, what have you seen in Pakistani players so far? I know you’ve seen a bit of the camp and then there’s also the squad that was announced yesterday. So, two questions. First is, what is your philosophy when it comes to coaching? And secondly, what has been your criteria when it comes to selecting the players? Like, is there any general thing that you’re looking for? What impresses you the most in a player?
NS: Being very, a lot of help, you know, when I arrive here, I’m working with two, three coaches from locals coaching from Pakistan and being helping to selections and not being short time. I have to be honest. To adapt, I will always say about philosophy, you know, it’s a very nice word when you’re here in football. To me, football is a simple game, if you want to play simple. It’s more about adapting. It’s not my philosophy. It’s about adapting myself, adapting what the Pakistan players can do. Remember, like we were talking before, the Pakistan need to support, the players need to support with strategic, with tactic, because remember, when you’re not playing high level, Every weekend is difficult because when you come in the national team, it’s a different level. You play against the best player from Iraq, the best player from Oman, the best player from Cambodia or whatever it is. So we must prepare mental. So what I see so far from these boys is... Hungry. They are really hungry. They want to doing well. They want to look like the players is desperate to go because the moment I’m here in Pakistan, they don’t have much opportunity to play professional football. They look this player to want to go abroad, play football abroad, you know, so. That’s we try to, in the short period, I see a lot of talent. I see young boys, you know, hungry to doing well, hungry to learn. So that’s made me a little bit confident and positive. So we have that tournament in less than 10 days in a week. Being here, we have to face the pre-Olympic matches against Iraq, against Oman, against Cambodia. So, but I’m positive. I’m positive. As a person, I’m positive. Of course, it’s not much time, but we try to in this week working really hard. We having double sessions, try to get on first of all with the players. Not many of them, you know, speak the language, but always a football language for me is around the world is the same in Pakistan, in Peru, in Brazil, in Argentina, in England. It’s the same ball, 11-11. So that language being no issues for me when trying to communicate or trying to ask the player what we want from then in the pitch. So I hope so they will get together sooner. These boys need to play each other together. You know, they need to be together because that’s only the way we want to be successful. If we’re strong, Together as a team, I believe that will be our philosophy. Be strong as a team, you know, fighting together, attacking together, defending together. And I hope so we have a good tournament next week.
Difference between coaching U23 and the Pakistan Nat’l team
NR: Right. And for you, it was first announced that you’d be coaching the national under 23. And then it was announced, at least for the local press, we were told that you’d also be taking on the duties of the national head coach. Is it difficult or is it easy? Does it make it easy for you as a professional coach to have an under-23 team under your wing and also then forming a national team? Is it something that you find easy or difficult?
NS: Like I’m saying, both responsibilities. I know we look after the senior team. You go, of course, more professional players in this senior team. A lot of these guys have the opportunity to talk already. But at the moment, we focus only on their 23s because we have a competition this week. After we come back from Cambodia, we have a time to, of course, looking around how many You have a quite good, a lot of few international players, you know, and the senior team play abroad. So it will be important to helping the team, you know, the boys from local boys, mix it up with the abroad players from abroad. It will help in a lot. So. We need to make that combination. But what we say at the moment, we’re talking to our staff is we need to focus on under-23s. And after that, we go before the next matches to qualify to Asia Cup. With the senior team, we have a time to prepare for that because The only with the senior team, as you know, because it’s FIFA rule, the players only allowed to arrive only week early, only week before the match. So we don’t have enough time, but I hope so. We need to get together with the locals. We want to carry on. After the 23 tournament in Cambodia, we want to try to arrange a To training with the locals boys with potential to be in the senior team. So we try to do another training camp in there until the other players arrive with the two boys joined together. So yes, like I’m saying, it’s not easy under 23. It’s not easy senior team, of course. It’s a massive responsibility. But like I said to you before, we still believe what we can do. We still believe in the players. I hope so the players understand quicker the idea we want to do. Us from then to doing the pitch represent the best way Pakistan in the international football.
Challenges with Pakistan
NR: Right. And as you said that your focus is to get the results. And then Pakistan is famous for not having a real style of local football because we do not have academies. Obviously, there is a lot of infrastructure issues. We do not have quality facilities. So does that make you worry a little bit and intimidate you?
NS: Listen, Natasha, I know what you mean. That’s why all these issues, all these things, I knew before I arrived. I’m not here looking for excuses. I’m ready to work. The players, while we go, we try to do our best. After all these things you just mentioned, it has to be off to the Federation. The Federation, the people on charge, of course, in the charge, I believe in Mohsen Gilani, the chairman, the president of the Federation, he has a lot of ambitions too. So we hope so, step by step. That’s not what will change in a week, in two weeks. Maybe we’ll take a little bit of time. But I hope so, at the same time, when we’re looking for that change, The Pakistan results in international tournaments start to come true, you know. But as you say, it’s not easy, but I’m a really positive person. Fingers crossed. Inshallah, like you say here. So we start to doing well.
NR: And for you, I saw that coaching, you haven’t had like a long stint of coaching in terms of, you know, staying in a country for a year or two or three, you know. So obviously it’s a long commitment. So for you, what are you targeting with Pakistan? Like if you have, you know, do you have any targets that you say, you know what, I’ve set up certain goals. If you would like to share them, I know you’d want to keep them, you know, private as well. But if you can just share a little bit about, you know, what is it that you’re trying to achieve with the Pakistani team personally? Because I know Stefan Konstantin was here. He was taking it on as a challenge, right? That, oh, I’ll get this team qualified. So every coach has certain strategic things that they’re looking for. So what is it for you?
NS: I believe very much in the present because we’re here. We... We got blessed to be here and the opportunities. So the future, I’m never thinking in the future because we never know what’s going to happen in two, three years. Nobody knows the future. Only we have to be pleased. God be blessed to be here. That’s the reason. Whatever I have to face, like a tournament in this case, you know, going to under 23s, You know, we want to work in really, really hard to try to qualify, you know, to stay in the competition. And after another dream is try to be with the senior team, you know, to try to qualify to the Asian Cup. So that’s to me, I mean, with all this, as you know, everybody know, all the issues, all the things, just try to live in the side. It has to be thinking in positive. And like I said to you before, it If everything, fingers crossed, going well, that helping probably all this plan for the future in Pakistan, Lee will help him. Maybe we go a little bit, a step maybe a little bit faster. So yeah, like I said to you, I’ve been in the game, I’ve been in football, I’ve been competitive for many years. So I like it to be competitive as a coach. I like to pass this message to the players. I told all the time, day by day with training, you remember, never forget, you represent your country. We have to go fight, do our best we can, you know. So that’s to me, that’s because what I’m saying again, I don’t know what’s going to happen, but the plan is supposed to be in the future. I hope so, still in the future. We’re still in charge in the future in Pakistan. We’re moving on everybody together, you know?
Similarities between Peru and Pakistan
NR: And I think I’m coming to my favorite question. I think it’s just one of the questions that I’d like to ask is, is there any commonality that you found between Peruvian football and Pakistan and especially people? Football is obviously a way of connecting with each other. It is because of football that I’m connecting with you as well. And of course, saw you play. So what do you think connects? Is there anything common between Peruvian people and Pakistani people? Have you seen any common threads?
NS: Listen, you know, I was quite impressed with the food. The food is pretty similar. We eat a lot of rice in Peru. In Peruvian people eat a lot of rice with everything, you know, with chicken, with beef, lamb, fish. So, yes, it’s quite similar things. Of course, you go here, your religion, you can tell how much religion you are here. But the way probably, maybe I said too many times to people, the way you drive, we’re pretty similar. So, but yeah, people nice. Honestly, you very humble people, you know, I’m working very, very kind people, really, really kind. We in Peru the same, we foreign people, really kind. You here is amazing, the people. It made you feel so welcome, you know. So it is very, very nice. I told you, very nice. And I said to you, it’s quite pretty, pretty, pretty similar few things, pretty similar. But yes, I tell you, honestly, you’ve been so nice everywhere. And people, treatment, especially people involved in football, Of course, many people don’t know me much because when you walk in the street, no people recognize. One day, I hope so, when we start to get successful, maybe I will get more compliments from people. But so far, you are very, very warm people, very nice people.
A moment o grace on the field while playing with greats
NR: Well, thank you. Thank you so much. Now, one more thing I wanted to ask is, in your long career, again, I think you’ve played with one of the greats. I wanted to ask, have you ever felt a moment of grace on the pitch or off the pitch that had made you feel like football is bigger than just a game?
NS: Yeah, of course. I’m saying we are lucky in this profession, Natasha. We are very, very lucky. Footballers, coaching, because you will recognize, it’s nice to be recognized, you know, from people. Sometimes I say life is not fair because I see doctors, nurses, many people, policemen, sacrifice things, you know, people in the army. They are, for me, real heroes, you know, because they are people... Working so hard to save lives, do things like that. And after, we are lucky to people, You know, value us, what we’re doing in the pitch. I know we’re entertainment, you know, the football is entertainment, but it’s amazing. You have good moments, bad moments, but you never forget. I will never forget we’re humans. We ended the day with humans. So I’ve been learning from home. My family, my dad was in the Navy. My mom, of course, working at home because we have too many kids. I was the last one from seven. So we all the time being education to respect people, doesn’t matter who we are. But the more important, we are humans. That we’re humans. So that we learn in life. So it’s nice. It’s very grateful when people come in to appreciate what we’re doing in the football. But at the end of the day, I feel like yourself, like anybody else, because yes, we’re humans. So I’m really proud. I’m really lucky to be in this profession. But at the end of the day, like I said to you, we are humans. We have to respect each other.
Solano predicts Lamine Yamal to be one of the greats
NR: Right. And, okay, a few questions for international football, because I would not let you go otherwise.
NS: No problem.
NR: All right. So, who is one player to look out for now? Do you think in international football, be it club, in any which way that you think, one young player or talent that you think would be a generational talent?
NS: In the whole world, you mean?
NR: Yes. Yes.
NS: Well, the player you can tell, everyone, I believe we will be agreed, is Lamel, Lamel, Llamal, no? Yamal, the boy Yamal from Barcelona. It looks like it will be, it got all the talent to be the next generation of the best players in the world. We’ll see. It’s still very early, but it’s so far so can be one of the best players.
Playing with the idol Maradona
NR: Right. And for you in your career, what has been, I don’t want to ask favorite, but what has been your most memorable or a game that you enjoyed the most? What has been that game for you?
NS: Oh, I have a great time when I moved to Boca Juniors, one of the biggest clubs. Played with Diego Armando Maradona, my friend. It was like, wow, it’s a dream. A dream for me to one of my best players back in the years, in the 80s. I was only six years old. I have a lot of He was my idol, Maradona. For all we born in the 70s, 74, 75, our idol was Maradona. I was very, very lucky and proud to play with him. He was my teammate. It’s a shame he’s not here anymore. God bless him. But he was a fantastic person. He was for me. I was over the moon. Played for Boca Union, win Maradona. I cannot ask him for more. But I moved to the Premier League. I was the first Peruvian player in the Premier League. It’s another that made me so proud. We had a great time with Sir Bobby Robson from the 2000 and 2004. Around these years, it was a fantastic time in Newcastle.
Solano on Brazilian ‘Triple Rs’
NR:And who has been your most influential player from your generation, do you think?
NS: Well, like I’m saying, I will say, he always, I was quite lucky in the generation I’m born playing football. You know, I had to play against Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, big Ronaldo, we call it big Ronaldo, no Ronaldo, the Brazilian Ronaldo. Fantastic player, Rivaldo, you know, great, great, fantastic player. Always I like Brazilian players, you know, the Brazilian players always show We have a pretty similar style in South America to play football, to enjoy a smile. Neymar is another fantastic player. But yeah, I will say back in the years, always Maradona was an inspiration for us.
Solano on his legacy
NR: Right. And to wrap it all off, what do you think? Will be your legacy. I think every person thinks about it at some point in life, no matter who they are. And of course, you have so much on your list of achievements. I mean, it’s hard to beat that. No normal person can. So what do you think would be your legacy?
NS: Well, like I’m saying, I’m really... Honest person. I like it to be honest to people. I like it. I really appreciate when people give me opportunities. So I will work in really, really, really hard to honestly from the heart to hope so be part of the small part of the Pakistan football in the future. That to me will be my legacy. It will be fantastic if he achieved that.
On info-gaps about teams at regional events
NR: Right. And I was just looking at the schedule and the teams you would be playing against in Group G. What do you think? Do you know any coaches in those teams? Iraq, Cambodia, Oman? To be honest...
NS:The information being very, very poor. We tried to search, we scout, with people around the world to say, because they play, we found out Iraq play against India, sorry, two friendly matches they play against today, I think. But we have no information because they play in the closed door. So it looks like, well, being hiding. The same from Cambodia, the same from Oman, being difficult, maybe for them too, because we, We don’t have, we don’t give much information, but like I’m saying, we only, in this case, we try to prepare ourselves, be strong, prepare whatever it is we have to face, like Iraq, Oman, Cambodia, we will be prepared for that. We will be ready for them. It won’t be easy, as you know, but we hope so. Fingers crossed, and we’re doing quite a good tournament.
South American football style vs European football
NR: Right, and one more thing, I know I’m just, because I think I have this opportunity to pick your brains.
NS: No problem, Natasha. No problem. I got plenty of time.
NR:So you have played football at the highest level on both like in the Latin American, South American continent and the European continent. What do you think is like I personally grew up with my father. We’ve always in Pakistan, we’ve loved Brazil and we’ve loved Argentina. There’s a huge fan following for these two teams. And unfortunately, We don’t get to see a lot of club matches from there, but each time we have World Cups, everybody is either supporting Brazil or Argentina, at least in Karachi. That’s where I’m from. So what do you think is the difference between the culture and just as a player growing up and then playing in Europe? What do you think is the difference between these two continents and the way they look at football?
NS: Well, what we say in South America, we probably, we don’t have, well, now it’s pretty, pretty, we improve a lot in South America. But back in the years, The, I will say the facility for the footballers in South America wasn’t easy. It wasn’t the best. Europe always been ahead of many things, you know, good training ground, good training pitch. So what we say, what we learn or what we bond with the talent we play in football and a lot of ability because the fields, the fields wasn’t the best. The fields you sometimes play in the street because the weather is completely different with Europe. So all this ability always been key for Argentina or South American football. That’s why when back in the years, many years, you know, when Brazil or Argentina or South American team play against Europe teams, it was something different. But it looks like to me now, probably Europeans now is too much influence into South American footballers. Now they take it very early to move to Europe and change a little bit the style. But what we say all the time, we enjoy very much. We smile very much. We have so much ability to play football. So that was make the difference, you know, South America would compare with European players. But that’s I told you about that’s happened 20 years ago. Now is don’t see much like that because it’s like I said to you, they bring in too early South American players into Europe. So they’re adapting more into European style than keeping the South American style. But I would say all great footballs around the world, creating from England, from Germany, Belgium, Portuguese, Spain. So they have a fantastic football too. So that whole mix makes now the football, as you’re watching Premier League now, the best leagues. That mix it all looks like a fantastic league. It makes everybody to love football now.
Best advice Solano has to pass on to you
NR: Right. And lastly, what has been one advice that was given to you that you think you’ve kept for the rest of your life? What has been your favorite advice given to you and what would you like to pass it on?
NS: No, just to be honest. Discipline, I believe, is a very key, important thing because for everyone in life, yourself, myself, in this, any profession, you have to have a discipline and be humble. Be a nice person. That’s the more important. And after, you know, everybody can win. You can win. You can lose. But at the end of the day, the more important you be a good person.
NR: Well, thank you so much, Norberto. I can really feel the positivity and genuineness and sincerity from you.
NS: Thank you.
NR: I’m just going to, you know, since we’re saying bye. But thank you so much. I hope to speak to you soon. I hope to be cheering for your team.
NS: Anytime.
Solano’s message for Pakistanis
NR: Is there anything left, any message that you have for Pakistanis, if you want to say?
NS: No, no. Just be together. I’m saying to everyone, just being together. That’s very important, especially where we are. I like it to all federation, all the members, the president, game, and the same mentality. It’s the only one. The only one winner is Pakistan football and national team. I know many disagrees probably from different sides. It’s part of the life. But when we now we’re involved, it just has to be together in the same mentality, positive. Because, you know, everybody knows it won’t be a easy job. But I believe if we’re all together working hard, all the good vibes, you know, positive vibes, it’s important for all the results come for Pakistan national team.
NR: I’m saying thank you so much. I hope you have a great day and best of luck with everything that you do.
NS: Thank you, my friend. You too. All the best. We’ll speak to you soon.
NS: Same. Bye-bye.
Bye. Thank you.
