Premier League giants Manchester United announced the capture of Swedish defender Victor Lindelof from Benfica on Saturday and the Swede has the current India U-17 coach Luis Norton to thank for bringing him into the limelight of professional football.
Lindelof a statement signing for Man Utd
Luis Norton was in charge of S.L. Benfica B, the reserve team of the current Portuguese champions, during the 2012/13 season. The current Manchester United defender made his debut under the Portuguese coach in the same season and helped the team to 7th in the table.
The Swede was also part of the youth team that claimed the Campeonato Nacional de Juniores, which is the U-19 tournament in Portugal, thanks to his gaffer. Current C.F. Os Belenenses player Miguel Rosa was the top scorer of Norton's Benfica side.
After departing his boyhood club Vasteras SK in the summer of 2012, Lindelof signed for Luis Norton's side and did not have to wait too long to cement his place in the squad. Although the coach left after a solitary season in charge, the young defender made very good use of the opportunity that was given to him and soon became a part of the senior team and later, a transfer target for multiple European giants.
As Luis Norton prepares his India U-17 team for the upcoming and much awaited FIFA U-17 World Cup that is scheduled to take place in India later this year, the player he introduced to the world of football prepares to enter the theatre of dreams. With the senior Indian national team targeting a World Cup qualification, fans will be hoping for Norton to work his magic on the current crop of U-17 players.