Mon 09 Mar
Time to read: 3mins
Alefe Santos’ journey to Derby County will be vastly different to that of many players within the Rams’ camp.
Alefe Santos’ journey to Derby County will be vastly different to that of many players within the Rams’ camp.
It is one that started in Brazil – a country that is heralded for its footballing culture. It is a nation that has developed legends aplenty, but as an aspiring youngster, whose only ambition was to kick a ball for a living, Santos and his family his education was best served in England.
Santos said: “There is a massive culture and appetite over in Brazil for football, the people thrive on it, but in terms of development, it isn’t what people maybe think it is.
"You learn far more over here, the facilities are far better and at the age that I was there was no better place for me to come and get better.
“I want to make it in this game. My family have been so supportive. They took me everywhere, they have helped me with me football and even when it wasn’t going well, they really pushed me on.”
His time in England saw him tutored at Southampton and Stoke City before having his big break through at Bristol Rovers.
At just 17 years of age, he was making his Football League debut – desperately trying to help the side retain their status as a Football League side, but it was not to be as they were relegated on the final day of last season.
The summer brought about a new move and from Brazil, Southampton, Stoke and Bristol, his next stop was Derby.
He recalled: “I broke into the first team there (Bristol Rovers) when I was 17 and made a few appearances whilst John Ward was there. We had a new manager (Darrell Clarke) come in towards the end of the season.
“I was dropped, but I came back into the side for the last game of the season against Mansfield and we all know how that went.
"The club got relegated and in the summer, a few clubs were interested but I decided to come here because there is a clear pathway to the first team here at Derby.
“Steve McClaren told me that I have got ability, that I have got potential but I have to work hard if I want to be successful.
"He just told me that if I keep doing what I was doing then, eventually, I would get an opportunity in the team. I appreciate that it is hard at the moment because the team is doing so well.
"I have just got to keep working hard and when my opportunity comes, I am going to try and grasp it with both hands.”
Only a matter of months passed and Santos took the next big step of his career by making his debut for the Rams in the Capital One Cup Second Round clash with Charlton Athletic.
With the tie locked at 0-0, McClaren strolled across his touchline and called both Santos and Ivan Calero over to get ready.
Both made their Derby debut and played a big role in helping the Rams secure their place in the next round with a 1-0 win over the Addicks.
On his debut, Santos said: “I was very shocked. I didn’t think I was going to come on in that game. When he called me and Ivan over I was really taken back and felt quite nervous. You have to deal with that and just play your football.
“I played with good players when I was at Bristol, but playing in the Championship is a different level. It shocked me when I first joined at how far apart the two sides are.
"The gaffer just wants us to play football. That suits me right down to the ground.
"I enjoyed that experience against Charlton and I came away from that game just wanting more.”
