Holland: The rise of Europe's marksman
They idolise me, they love me and I pay them back with goals
Next stop: Holland. Afonso left Sweden after almost six years and went to the country that had opened doors in Europe for the two best Brazilian goalscorers of the last decade: Romario and Ronaldo. The only difference was the club: Afonso was sold to the modest Heerenveen.
His arrival in Holland was very different from when he arrived in Sweden at the onset of winter. And that made adapting easier and quicker.
“In Holland I felt much more at home, it’s a much better country. In addition, I already knew some other languages (he spoke Swedish fluently) and I was used to European football. I arrived at a club that offered all the structure that I needed and we also had a good side.”
Heerenveen’s attacking style – they always played with three strikers fed by the Swede Larsson – helped Afonso stand out. The goals flowed and the Brazilian forward started to gain attention and be compared with Ronaldo and Romario. But Afonso was motivated by goals.
“Every day I wanted to score more goals. When I hit the 20 mark, I was already at the top of the European list, competing with players like Drogba, Kanouté, Totti, Ronaldinho…My name started to appear alongside those guys and everyone began to ask, Who’s Afonso Alves.”
But being one of the best in Europe wasn’t enough for Afonso, he wanted more. He wanted to break all the records he could and he went after them, one by one.
“I broke Romario’s record when I scored 25 goals then I broke Ronaldo’s when I scored 30. At that point there was one more game to go, against Feyenoord, and I managed one more feat: I scored four goals in one game setting a new record in the Eredivise, the Dutch First Division.”
And still the records fell and the prizes mounted. He scored seven goals in one game against Heracles in the 2007/2008 season, breaking the all-time Dutch league record held jointly by Cruyff and Van Basten. He won the Golden Boot, was elected best player in the Dutch league and was Europe’s top goalscorer. But there was something missing.
“I still hadn’t fulfilled my dream of playing for Brazil. I had read an interview with Dunga in which he said that for a player to be of any use to Brazil he had to make an impact. And that was what I did.”
Afonso got his reward. His dream came true and he was even celebrated in a special song by Heerenveen’s fans. Afraid their star he would leave, they made up a song urging him to stay with the club and that meant a lot to him.
“They idolise me, they love me and I pay them back with goals,” said the emotional striker.
“It’s something else hearing people chant your name and sing songs about you.”
And all the while following his motto: “A thousand will fall by your side, 10,000 will fall on your right, but you will not be hit. Always have faith in God.” Afonso keeps breaking down barriers in search of new heights. The question is: How high can he go?
His arrival in Holland was very different from when he arrived in Sweden at the onset of winter. And that made adapting easier and quicker.
“In Holland I felt much more at home, it’s a much better country. In addition, I already knew some other languages (he spoke Swedish fluently) and I was used to European football. I arrived at a club that offered all the structure that I needed and we also had a good side.”
Heerenveen’s attacking style – they always played with three strikers fed by the Swede Larsson – helped Afonso stand out. The goals flowed and the Brazilian forward started to gain attention and be compared with Ronaldo and Romario. But Afonso was motivated by goals.
“Every day I wanted to score more goals. When I hit the 20 mark, I was already at the top of the European list, competing with players like Drogba, Kanouté, Totti, Ronaldinho…My name started to appear alongside those guys and everyone began to ask, Who’s Afonso Alves.”
But being one of the best in Europe wasn’t enough for Afonso, he wanted more. He wanted to break all the records he could and he went after them, one by one.
“I broke Romario’s record when I scored 25 goals then I broke Ronaldo’s when I scored 30. At that point there was one more game to go, against Feyenoord, and I managed one more feat: I scored four goals in one game setting a new record in the Eredivise, the Dutch First Division.”
And still the records fell and the prizes mounted. He scored seven goals in one game against Heracles in the 2007/2008 season, breaking the all-time Dutch league record held jointly by Cruyff and Van Basten. He won the Golden Boot, was elected best player in the Dutch league and was Europe’s top goalscorer. But there was something missing.
“I still hadn’t fulfilled my dream of playing for Brazil. I had read an interview with Dunga in which he said that for a player to be of any use to Brazil he had to make an impact. And that was what I did.”
Afonso got his reward. His dream came true and he was even celebrated in a special song by Heerenveen’s fans. Afraid their star he would leave, they made up a song urging him to stay with the club and that meant a lot to him.
“They idolise me, they love me and I pay them back with goals,” said the emotional striker.
“It’s something else hearing people chant your name and sing songs about you.”
And all the while following his motto: “A thousand will fall by your side, 10,000 will fall on your right, but you will not be hit. Always have faith in God.” Afonso keeps breaking down barriers in search of new heights. The question is: How high can he go?
