APOEL Nicosia front man and one of Ireland’s finest exports Cillian Sheridan talks to us ahead of his exclusive video blog series and promises one hell of a ride.
The Cavan native is living in Cyprus where he already has a league medal in his pocket and has had the pleasure of testing himself against European giants Ajax, Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain.
He took time out though to talk to us about his career, his international hopes and how the facial hair works for him.
Cillian, you were in Paris recently, ran PSG close in the Champions League but just couldn’t nick a result…
It was a strange game; kind of similar to the last match except we didn’t create as many chances, and them scoring so early kind of killed us. It’s like when we’re playing in Cyrpus, we’re expected to win and, when we score early, it relaxes everyone and it takes a lot of the pressure off. So that kind of killed us a little bit from the beginning.
Were you disappointed not to start after scoring two last weekend?
Obviously I was wanting to play but the manager’s decision was not to, so I have to respect that but, to be fair, when I came on I didn’t have my best game.
It must be great to test yourself against some of the biggest names in Europe.
Yeah, it has been brilliant to play against the best teams and the best players. We’ve been lucky in our group to get the top teams so, experience-wise, playing in them – I don’t know if it improves you but, performance-wise it brings the best out in you because everyone wants to play their best against these boys. It’s like 100 per cent concentration every game and it kind of shows the team how good we can be when everyone is properly at it.
What’s it like playing against a team of star-studded players? Are they arrogant or annoying?
Naw, not at all. They’re the same as any footballer I’ve met. They’re just the same as we are. Maybe in, like, the first few seconds when you see the big names like Messi, Neymar and the PSG players, you’re a little bit taken aback. But, after that, it’s just another game and they’re just players.
Have you set an example to people that playing abroad is a viable option?
For me, it hasn’t ever really been a problem. I’ve always been willing to go wherever. If there’s a good move or a good opportunity, I’ll do it. I’ve been lucky as well that APOEL is a good club, really well run and organised and, when you’re going abroad, for me that’s nearly the most important thing. You’re not going into a place where everything is a bit of a mess. Here, everything is run properly. It makes it a lot easier.
You’ve already scored some big goals for the club and you’ve hit a bit of form. Are you looking to get back in the Ireland squad soon?
To be honest, I feel like I could be in the team. But the manager doesn’t think so. And it’s the same in club football, if the manager doesn’t pick you, there’s no point crying about it or anything. Personally, me, I feel like I’m there but obviously that’s my opinion. I think I’ll always think that. But I’m not going to cry over it or demand that I should be in it or anything like that because it’s more of an honour to be picked when it’s your country. Like I said, if it was me, obviously I would put myself in!
What is the last movie you have watched?
[Sound of man thinking] Anchor- the thing is, I watch so many so I can’t remember what the last one was. [Sound of man thinking even harder] It might’ve been in the cinema actually. Oh, no, no, no, no, no. I watched Philip Seymour Hoffman’s last film, Most Wanted Man.
Any good?
Ah, it was alright.
Facial hair: yes or no?
Obviously, yes.
Do you think it works?
For me, yeah.
If you were going to be reincarnated as an animal, what would you be?
An animal? Reincarnated as an animal? [Silence] I can’t think of the name of it. I don’t know, I’ll just say a cheetah.
What is the one sporting rule you would change in any sport?
It would be getting booked for dissent on a free kick when you think the referee’s made a mistake. When it proves that you didn’t make a mistake and you got booked for it, I think it should be rescinded.
Who is your sporting hero?
Michael Jordan. When I grew up I was basketball mad so, when I was younger, it was always him.
Did you ever play basketball?
I only played in school.
If you weren’t a footballer, what would you be?
I like to think I’d have been a basketball player. I’m a secret basketball player. I play on the Playstation anyway and I think I am one.
Who’s your favourite cartoon character?
[Bemused] I don’t know, I don’t really watch cartoons. I’m very sophisticated. I don’t know, probably someone in Family Guy.
So what can we expect to see from your video blogs over the year?
Basically just an insight into living abroad and playing abroad. And kind of to show that it’s not all the excitement that people think. So, I don’t know, I’ll have to start trying things that I wouldn’t normally do to kind of make it interesting. I’ll start taking up all these mad hobbies just to get a good video.
