Fabio wishes to remain fixture with Union
CHESTER » It was five years ago this week, at an ungodly hour in Philadelphia but a perfectly reasonable one in Australia, that news came across Twitter. A player by the name of Fabinho was rumored to be linked with the Philadelphia Union, the only thing distinguishing him from the handful of other Brazilian pros by that name was that he was a leftsided player who had spent the previous three years Down Under.
Five years later, Fabinho’s beaming smile and ubiquitous thumbs up have become among the most lasting institutions in the Union’s history. And for a player to navigate a halfdecade of the tumult of the soccer world in the same place is nothing short of extraordinary.
“It’s amazing,” Fabinho said this week at training. “I’m so happy to be five years here. I feel like here in Philadelphia is my home. My son always comes to games and he feels for this team, when we win games or when we lose games. I’m so happy to five years. I don’t know how much more I’ll play, but if it’s my choice, I’ll stay here for the rest of my career.”
The 13 years of Fabinho’s pro career is a study in contrasts, his permanence in Philly a far cry from the tumult that is all too normal in Brazil’s atmosphere of abundant opportunities and equally bountiful stocks of human soccer capital. Starting in 2000, he bounced around to several youth setups, including significant clubs like Botafogo, Flamengo, Gremio and Newell’s Old Boys — even as he earned a call-up to the Brazilian Under-20 squad. He made his pro debut in 2005 with Coritibia, then plied his trade at six other clubs in Brazil over the next six years in various leagues and competitions in the country’s patchwork of seasonal and regional competitions. He mostly played in the lower divisions and the Campeonato Paranaense, the state championship of Parana; so fluid was his soccer existence that one of his former clubs no longer exists.
Following the well-worn pathway from Brazil to Australia offered stability with seasons at Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC. He logged 41 A-League games before making the jump to MLS, which has truly been a world apart.
In his sixth season, Fabinho has made 115 MLS appearances, scoring two goals and adding 15 assists. He scored the winner in the 2015 U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 to send the 10-man Union past D.C. United on the way to the final. He’s developed into a solid contributor at a position where mistakes stand out more than excellence.
The 33-year-old has seen the changes in the league, particularly out wide where the team game can often be boiled down to a oneon-one encounter between winger and fullback.
“When I came here, everyone talked about MLS, but I think five years ago, six years ago, it’s a little bit different,” he said. “I remember when I arrived, we don’t have players like now. Now, when I have to play against teams, every winger is good. Five years ago, I think it started getting better. From my opinion, I’ve played in different leagues in the world, I think MLS would be in the six top, seven top leagues in the world. Every player talks about MLS before I came here.
“That’s why I chose to come here. I had chances to stay in Brazil before I came here, but I chose to come here. I think I’m so happy with my choice because now I play in a big club. For me, Philadelphia is a big club. I think MLS has grown fast, and I think everyone in the world wants to come to MLS.”
Fabinho has become a fixture in the Union soccer community, whether signing autographs and interacting with fans or being the unofficial Brazilian liaison to a shifting contingent of players from the nation, which currently includes the Union’s secondleading scorer, Ilsinho. He’s worked hard on improving his English to be a bigger voice in the locker room, and long ago earned a U.S. green card so as not to occupy an international roster spot.
And if those aren’t enough to endear him to the fanbase, there’s the omnipresence of his young son David, usually found during games near the bench sporting a Union jersey with Fabinho’s No. 33 and “Daddy” written across the nameplate.
Fabinho’s role has been reduced this year, limiting him to five starts. He was a victim of the Union’s poor start, and Ray Gaddis has clicked when switched to the left from his natural right side, augmenting his usual lock-down defense with increased attacking verve.
Fabinho has staved off challenges from his supposed replacements before (i.e., Giliano Wijnaldum). But the Union have successfully retained talented foreign influences after their playing days. Both Fred and Kleberson, a pair of Brazilians, are coaching in the Academy. Like Fabinho, Ilsinho was drawn to Philadelphia from Ukraine in part by the promise of stability and a safer environment to raise a family.
The Union could do worse than ensuring someone like Fabinho remains with the club to launch his post-playing career. Enthusiastic, and he brings the insight of a global perspective.
“That’s why you have that rotation a lot,” Fabinho said, comparing and contrasting his pro life in Brazil and the U.S. “And that’s why players are not happy because sometimes they don’t get in the 18 or the bench, and the players try to trade clubs. For me, this is bad because we don’t have consistency and we don’t have confidence to play, like me. Before I came here, I changed every year my club. I never had confidence like I have now. At this club I have a (starting spot). I have more than 100 games here.”