Roque Santa Cruz Exclusive Interview
He is immortalised in his home town of Asuncion, Paraguay, idolised in the Far East (Japan especially) and it is no wonder why. Instantly likeable, generous and engaging, Roque Santa Cruz is easily one of the nicest footballers the SoccerBible has had the pleasure of interviewing.
Thanks to Mizuno, we were lucky enough to spend some time in his company to talk heroes, boots and football....
Roque was only nine when he was snapped up by Olimpia, the local club in AsunciÓn. At 16, he was fast-tracked into the first team and he had not even finished his exams by the time he bagged his first championship winner's medal. The South American football press took to calling him Babygol (as opposed to Gabriel Batistuta's Batigol).
At the age of 17, he made his debut for the national side, won Paraguay's Footballer of the Year award and his second league title. After a difficult spell in the Bundesliga and Bayern Munich, where his time was plauged with injuries, Roque headed to the Premier League, where he is currently part of the Manchester City revolution looking to gate-crash the Champions League next season...
SoccerBible: Hi Roque, glad to come in from the cold?! [Mizuno are shooting their latest viral during a late night session in the cold Manchester night].
Roque Santa Cruz: It's ok, it's warmer in here!
Lets start way back - you left Paraguay very young to move to Germany. Were there any players who you looked up to at Bayern?
Roque Santa Cruz: There were many, but Giovane Elber [Brazilian striker], Stefan Effenberg most probably. This was very much because of the way they played.
Was it different to what you knew?
They thought about football in a different way. Effenberg - he was a very tough player. Perhaps one of the less talented players? But he was one of the best, because he was so tough.
Would you say he was an inspiration?
He was strong, definitely. He could just look at people and they would be afraid of him! I remember one match in 2001, we played against Manchester United in the Champions League. He played in midfield against Roy Keane and he was just bigger - he was already a big guy, but he was just "bigger" on the pitch. In those games, he was incredible.
It sounds like you've had plenty of idols in your career so far - but who would be your all-time sporting hero?
In football? My hero would definitely be Ronaldo, the Brazilian Ronaldo. But the one I really, really admire is Roger Federer.
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Do you play tennis yourself? Are you any good?! For a football player I'm good! I play a little bit of everything. Tennis, Basketball, Volleyball...
...Handball?! No, not handball!
OK, so back to football - who was your favourite player when growing up? When I was growing up in Paraguay, our defence was good, we had brilliant defence.Gamarra [centre-back and captain], Rogelio Delgado, even Jorginho [Brasil right-back] - these were all big, |
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massive players, at the time in South America. Everyone wanted to be them. And they all wore Mizuno boots! [laughs]
Are you contractually obligied to say that!
No, no, It is true! Mizuno is very famous in South America, especially in Brasil. Players taking part in the Copa Libertadores were all playing in the Morelia. They were my first boots too [picks up a nearby Morelia]
So you have Mizuno to thank early on in your career!?
[Laughs] When I started playing professionally, I wore Mizuno. But when I moved to Bayern, you needed to wear adidas.
When do you remember first wearing Mizunos?
I started around '97 then came to Bayern in '99, so wore the Morelia until then. Here [at Manchester City] Sylvinho plays with these boots...he trains in the Morelia, but plays with different ones!
The Morelia hasn't changed in that time, that famous Black/White/Red colourway is still around now 25 years on...
Sure - though we used to pull the tongue all the way down. It was very folded over, all the way down. [demonstrates by stretching the tongue right down to the toe area] I think it was the fashion at the time! Everyone did it...
It's a great look we certainly agree! Do you keep any boots from memorable games?
I don't really. But I like these! [picks up the Wave Ignitus]
Ah yes - the new Ignitus. You've been testing and playing in them for a while now...
Sure - they are very, very, comfy and much lighter than other shoes my size would normally be. Normally I find other boots are quite heavy, but this one is very, very, comfortable.
What is your favourite thing about the Ignitus?
The thing that I like the most about this boot, is when you get them you can go straight into a game, they are great like that. I also love the colours!
You've also worn the White versions for City too?
Yes, I have - I like that too, but I love the Yellow colour best. It's definitely my colour!
Do you have any personalisation on your boots?
I have my name here [points to the side of the Ignitus below the ankle] - just "Roque". I think I might change it for the World Cup, but then I might keep it as it is!
Finally Roque - we want to know what was the best piece of advice you've been given?
Hard to say... [pauses]. The only thing I really remember, but I dont remember who told me, was "Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn't work hard".
That's quite an inspirational quote...
That's something I really remember. Some of the famous people I've played with, they never really said a lot or gave much advice, but this is always something I will remember.
With that to finish, Roque headed outside once more to continue with the viral shoot (which you'll be able to see very soon on the SoccerBible). So now you've read his interview, check out the new Mizuno Wave Ignitus football boots Roque will be wearing from now into the World Cup.
