Lucas Leiva is a smiling determine, having fun with representing Liverpool FC as a former participant. However one place he gained’t be capable to put on the shirt is on the pitch for the Legends staff.
—EXCLUSIVE from Hong Kong
Taking trip of a busy day, Lucas grins as he seems to be down the digicam. Outdoors the window is Hong Kong, a spot Liverpool are making their house for the week.
As a part of the Reds’ travelling pre-season tour, the Brazilian is greeted by adoring crowds like an understated rockstar on each day of the journey.
A yr into his struggling Liverpool profession, the notion of him being held in such excessive regard would have appeared implausible.
Whereas the midfielder’s character was by no means doubtful, he was an under-appreciated participant in his early years at Liverpool.
“It’s my third pre-season as a former participant. Time flies nevertheless it’s all the time the identical feeling, actually proud to characterize the membership now as a former participant,” Lucas tells This Is Anfield.
“I do some work extra in Asia right here so it’s nice. It’s all the time a pleasure to return and be round and linked with Liverpool.”
The character and affability which helped Lucas to cult-hero standing had been on present as he sits down with us, three years after his retirement from soccer, to debate his profession and life after soccer.
Compelled retirement and Liverpool Legends
It has been two years since Lucas introduced his retirement, a choice pressured upon him after boyhood membership Gremio found a coronary heart situation when the midfielder reported for pre-season in 2023.
Now 38, Lucas displays: “I’m good. After all, I had a troublesome retirement however yeah, you understand, simply take pleasure in taking my time, learning lots to grasp the subsequent step.”
A type of subsequent steps, although, gained’t be enjoying for the Liverpool Legends in charity video games.
Fortunately he doesn’t rule out an Anfield return fully: “Sadly, I can’t play anymore, but when they want an assistant supervisor – as a result of I do know Kenny is the supervisor – so if he wants an assistant supervisor, I in all probability may be concerned!”
Regardless of not with the ability to play soccer correctly, Lucas retains himself busy in retirement and has stayed in form.
“Much less stress, I might say,” Lucas chuckles when requested for his secret to his glow.
“Solely 40 minutes, half-hour mild coaching. I attempt to preserve my weight, nevertheless it’s very arduous. However no, in fact we’re having fun with (life).
“And it’s true, it’s much less stress for positive, as a result of we had that stress to carry out and all the things, so simply take pleasure in my retirement now and have time with the household and luxuriate in issues like this.
“Excursions like this are actually pleasurable. It’s arduous work however very pleasurable.”
In the beginning of his time at Anfield, Lucas generally discovered himself a scapegoat as many questioned why Rafa Benitez wanted to play two defensive midfielders directly.
As time went on, the Brazilian started to win supporters over along with his work ethic and growing confidence.
4 years after his arrival, he gained the 2010/11 Liverpool Participant of the Season award in a staff that had struggled as a consequence of Roy Hodgson’s administration, Steven Gerrard‘s accidents and Fernando Torres’ exit halfway via the marketing campaign.
Issues took an upward flip when Sir Kenny Dalglish was appointed supervisor and Lucas gained his solely trophy at Liverpool the subsequent yr: the 2012 League Cup.
He wasn’t nevertheless concerned within the latter phases of the competitors after struggling an ACL harm through the quarter-final tie towards Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool felt his absence within the second half of the season and misplaced 11 of 19 league matches earlier than he returned the next August.
Lucas didn’t fairly return to his earlier finest, however his work fee and professionalism, coupled with a relaxed head on the pitch, had been the explanation why 5 Liverpool managers held him in excessive regard.
Jurgen Klopp’s affect on Lucas
The Brazilian’s remaining coach on Merseyside was Jurgen Klopp, and whereas Lucas left earlier than the silverware arrived, the German didn’t overlook his contribution upon the announcement of his former participant’s retirement at Gremio.
“What a man and what a profession,” Klopp stated in a video message.
“We’ve just a few Brazilians right here, however (you might be) in all probability the one actual Scouser of all of the Brazilians that play right here at Liverpool. Sure, that’s you.
“I actually need to congratulate you for a implausible profession and I need to congratulate you for being a implausible man – a sensational individual.
“You helped me, you helped us from the primary day after we arrived right here.”
Lucas is equally effusive in his reward of Klopp: “He’s a supervisor (from whom) I discovered lots. After all, he got here in direction of already a late stage of my profession – not very late however I used to be 28.
“So I discovered lots with him. He was a person that was very sincere, very easy and the connection that we created is absolutely good.
“I believe his man-management is exclusive. I believe, you understand, he’s implausible and that’s why he was so profitable, as a result of he might have the staff actually going behind him and supporting him.
“That’s why I believe he was so profitable.”
Whereas Lucas didn’t finally get to expertise that success on the pitch, he was part of the squad of gamers that constructed in direction of the tip objective.
He left an actual mark on the membership and gained maybe a higher honour than trophies: the hearts of Liverpool supporters.
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