'I had my haircut like Ronaldo' - Firmino's football firsts
It’s perhaps no surprise Roberto Firmino’s first ever goal celebration was a ‘little dance’.
The Liverpool No.9 has made a habit of marking his strikes – 96 in total for the Reds so far – in unusual and inventive ways since arriving at the club in 2015.
That trait began during his earliest days as a professional player with Figueirense, as Firmino revealed during a feature interview published in the latest edition of the official Liverpool FC magazine.
In it, the Brazilian talked through a series of his football ‘firsts’ – from nicknames to key career moments and mixed World Cup emotions.
Read a summary of the chat below…
My first chat with Jürgen Klopp…
That’s difficult! I remember we exchanged messages and in person it was when he arrived here at Liverpool. I told him how happy I was that he’d come here and here I am today, very happy alongside him. His arrival here changed everything. We really clicked and got on great immediately. I knew him already from playing against him in Germany. I knew him, he knew me. I grew and developed a lot here thanks to him.
My first time kicking a football…
As far back as I can remember. I can’t remember how old I was, but I remember when I was six or seven I already loved playing football. I would take the ball with me to bed. I’d play football every day after school. That’s when I started getting into football when I was about six or seven.
My first live football match…
It was in my hometown. My dad’s team, I started supporting them as well. CRB – Clube de Regatas Brasil – from my city, Maceio. I was six or seven and my dad took me to the stadium and I started going every week from then on.
My first match as a professional…
If I remember correctly, I was 17. It was for Figueirense against Ponte Preta. We lost unfortunately, 2-1 I think. It was a second-division game and was a memorable occasion for me as I’d made it as a professional at 17. I remained in the first team from that day on.
My first goal in professional football…
It was for Figueirense again, in the State Championship away to Sao Caetano. We won 2-1.
My first goal celebration…
Here at Liverpool ever since my first goal I have done goal celebrations. I had goal celebrations in Brazil too. I can’t remember exactly what my first goal celebration for Figueirense was, but I did a little dance.
My first nickname at Liverpool…
Bobby! I was given this nickname here, it’s very affectionate. I ended up embracing it as it’s easy to say and it caught on here. It’s used affectionately, I like it.
My first World Cup memories…
I remember Brazil losing to France in the 1998 World Cup, I cried a lot. It was really sad. The 2002 World Cup came straight after, I really experienced that one. I would wake up in the early hours to watch the games and Brazil won their fifth World Cup. It was a really memorable World Cup, I remember it as if it were yesterday: waking up in the early hours and cheering the Brazil team on. For the final I had my haircut just like Ronaldo. I remember it as if it were yesterday, it had a big influence upon me.