photo by καρλο [AKA Gilyo]

Today the U.S. Virgin Islands played the British Virgin Islands in the first round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying. The USVI came out victorious with a scoreline of 2-0. The British Virgin Islands are ranked 182nd in the world. They have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup or a CONCACAF Gold Cup. They did, however, play in the 2010 Caribbean Championship. They played two games: a 17-0 loss to the Dominican Republic, and a 10-0 loss to Dominica. Lets just say they play like the 182nd best team in the world. So, what do the British Virgin Islands and André Villas-Boas have in common?

André Villas-Boas is Chelsea's new manager. He led FC Porto to a Europa League title last season. Porto had a few more accomplishments under Villas-Boas last season:

• Second team to go unbeaten through a Portuguese league season (Benefica in 1973 and 1978)
• Club record for the most matches across all competitions unbeaten (36)
• Most wins in Europe in one season by a Portuguese club (14)
• Most points in a 30-game Portuguese league season (84 points)
• Most consecutive wins in the Portuguese league (16)
• Biggest margin over the second placed team in the league (21 points)

Both Villas-Boas and Mourinho were protégés of former Porto manager Bobby Robson. Villas-Boas was Mourinho's assistant coach when he managed Porto, Chelsea and Inter. In 2009 Villas-Boas became manager of portuguese club Académica de Coimbra, and in 2010 the manager of FC Porto. These, however, were not Andre's first managerial positions. From 2000 to 2001, at the age of 21, he managed the British Virgin Islands National Team. Yes, the man that is said to be the next Jose Mourinho began his career as the manager of one of the worst teams in the world. I guess it is not how you start, but how you finish.

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