A Name to Remember: Washington

His full name is Washington Stecanela Cerqueira, but in true Brazilian football fashion he is simply known as Washington. Perhaps the first player to ever play in the J-League bearing the name of an American president, Washington is a field general for the Urawa Red Diamonds.

So far this season he has scored 14 goals and if he keeps up that pace he too might get his face plastered on currency or have a city named after him.

Goal scoring is Washington’s claim to fame. He netted 30 goals for the Turkish club Fenerbahçe in 2002-03 before his life was turned upside down when it was discovered that he had a serious heart condition. After sitting out a bit, he returned to lead the Brazilian league in goals with 34 for his new club Atlético Paranaense and he earned a new nickname: Coração Valente (Brave Heart).

At 31 years of age, it is unlikely that Washington will end up on a big club in a big league in the future, which is just as well since there are few things cooler than hearing a Japanese commentator calling out the name of a Brazilian named Washington after he scores a goal.

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Category: World Football