The High Art of Losing

Isidoro Sequeiros is a man of principle. Specifically, the kind of principles that usually get a manager sacked by November. He is 52, Spanish, and currently in charge of Wigston FC, where he is attempting to teach a squad of grown men that football is an aesthetic pursuit.

He favours a 4-3-3. It is an idealistic setup, designed for technical development and elegant principles. In theory, it is a masterpiece. In practice, it usually involves a left-back being caught thirty yards up the pitch while the opposition counters. To be fair, Sequeiros believes the game should reflect something beyond mere winning. It is a lovely sentiment, provided you aren't the one checking the league table.

The players seem to enjoy the tactical education. They have come to Wigston for the aesthetic engagement, which is a polite way of saying they like to play a few fancy triangles before conceding a scrappy goal from a corner. It is a specific kind of suffering.

The results are, predictably, a mixed bag. He took Wigston to Aigburth FC and came away with a 3-1 win. It was a glimpse of the vision, a brief moment where the elegance actually worked. Then, of course, there was the 1-0 defeat to Acton United. It was a typical afternoon. Plenty of possession, a few sophisticated passing patterns, and absolutely no goals.

He is a one for the future, allegedly. The fans mostly just want to see someone hit the target. Still, there is something admirable about a man who treats a football pitch like a canvas, even if the painting is currently a bit smudged. We watch, we sigh, and we wait for the next masterpiece.