"My hometown Daegu played in 300 games." Captain Bam's "Ambitiousness"

"My hometown Daegu played in 300 games." Captain Bam's "Ambitiousness"

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"My goal this year is to make 300 K-League appearances in my hometown of Daegu."

Can you imagine a Daegu FC without Cesinha (36)? Cesinha, who will enter his 10th season after joining the team in 2016, is literally the king of Daegu. In his nine-year career in Daegu alone, he has played the most matches (264 matches), scored the most goals (102), and assisted 66 assists). Cesinha contributed the most to keeping Daegu at the top of the league table last season, which was on the verge of being demoted to the second division. Some Daegu fans openly call for a statue of Cesinha in front of the DGB Daegu Bank Park.

"It's been a long time since my hometown," Cesinha said in a written interview with the Seoul Shimbun on Wednesday. "I don't know when it will be, but I'm sure I'm going to retire from Daegu. I want to wrap up my retirement game brilliantly watching my statue being completed," he said. 2025 is the Year of the Snake. "Honestly, it's hard to understand because it's an unfamiliar culture to be born in the Year of the Snake and the Year of the Tiger," said Cesinha, who was born in 1989 and was born in the Year of the Snake. "But I'm happy to hear that this year is my year. I will win more games this year to make my fans' outings more enjoyable."

Cesinha made his professional debut in 2010 after playing for the SC Corinthians youth team, a prestigious Brazilian club based in Sao Paulo. As a member of Atletico de Janeiro, Daegu is his first and only overseas challenge. "I always wanted to play in a non-Brazilian place and get to know a different culture," Cesinha said. "Daegu had good impressions from the moment I arrived, and everyone treated me very well. Of course, I had difficulties due to language, cold and food."

His most memorable scenes were the final match of the 2018 FA Cup (currently the Korea Cup) and the promotion and playoff last year. He scored consecutive goals in the first and second rounds against Ulsan Hyundai during the FA Cup finals, and was named the top scorer (five goals) and most valuable player of the tournament. It was the only championship he has won since his foundation in 2002. "The first Asian Champions League goal against Melbourne in Australia in 2019, the last tying goal against Buriram in Thailand in the round of 16 at ACL in 2022, the 1,000th goal in the K-League and the goal for his daughter (Diana) against Jeonbuk are also memorable," Cesinha said.

We had tough times, too. It was the last season. Daegu finished 10th in the regular season league, and had to play a match against South Chungcheong Province Asan FC, the second division team. The team lost three to four in the first match, but won three to one in the second match, successfully surviving the match. Notably, both of Cesinha's goals at the end of the first half were deflected off the opponent team's defense, and headed into the goalpost, instilling hope in Daegu.

"Many people said they were lucky, but I don't believe in luck," Cesinha said, "I just believe that God is with me and do my best. Both goals are blessed by God." He added, "In fact, it was not easy to play because I was in pain from a broken rib." After all, it is not a "lucky goal" but a score made by tenacity and will. The sense of responsibility has grown as he has to lead the team again. Cesinha, who took over as Daegu's captain in 2022 and 2023 and named the third foreign captain in the K-League, was forced to wear the armband again when Hong Chul, who took over the baton last season, moved to Gangwon FC.

His goal is to play 300 games in the first and second divisions of the K-League this year. He has 36 games to play. Considering that the entire K-League 1 season is 38 rounds, he needs constant participation and management. "I want to leave my achievements in Daegu forever and show my daughter who was born last year to score a goal often," he stressed.

Cesinha made no secret of his desire to win the match against Gwangju FC and Jeonbuk Hyundai. "Coach Lee Jung-hyo is the best leader of the K-League. His team is always well-trained, and it is very difficult tactically to play against Gwangju," he said. "The best players in the K-League are Hwang Jae-won (Daegu) and Lee Seung-woo (Jeonbuk Hyundai), and I want to win the match against Lee Seung-woo." 메이저사이트

I asked Cesinha for a New Year's greeting to Daegu fans. The succinct answer came back. "We're a family and we're Daegu."