Labelled the “legend” by Vasco fans, Dede has been outstanding since last year as the best player of a club in a remarkable recovery. After relegation to Serie B in 2008, the club was promoted back to A in 2009, and won the Copa do Brasil earlier this year. This ensured qualification to the Copa Libertadores, and now Vasco are fighting for the title of the Brasileirão. All of this was achieved with Dede in the side.
After his success with Vasco, during which Dede was always one of the best defenders on the field, he attracted the attention of Mano Menezes, and was called for the friendly against Germany. Dede did not play, but impressed the management. He was summoned again for the friendly against Ghana, and should be in the squad for the Copa Rocca, when Brazil face Argentina and are only able to select domestic based players.
This week, before heading to London to join up with the Seleção, Dede spoke exclusively with Sambafoot and discussed his career, Vasco, the Brazilian team, the 2014 World Cup and of course Ricardo Gomes.
Dede, our site has readers in Spain, France and England interested in Brazilian football. When you were first called up for Brazil,, everyone started asking the writers here in Brazil, “Dede? Who is this?” I then ask the question for you to begin: Who is Dede?
I am a quiet guy who always kept his feet on the ground, and worked hard to try to succeed with a career in football.
You started at Volta Redondo, in Rio. How important is the city and the club to your life?
Both were important, but the city much more. Being close to the river, any little break allowed me to go to Volta Redonda, which is my hometown. Most of my friends and family are there. The club was also important, as it opened the door to an opportunity, but it was also there that one of the hardest moments of my career took place, when I was unfairly sacked. The players went to the management to say that what they were doing was crazy. I think now the club recognises my potential.
You began playing with Vasco when they were in Serie B. Did you appreciate the size of the club even at that time? Even though you didn’t play much, how did you feel about winning the title?
I always knew about the greatness of Vasco, but if I had played more when we won the title, it would no doubt have been better for me.
And come 2010, you broke into the team and the crowd fell in love with you. You are called “The Legend”. How is that for you?
I’m far from a legend! (laughs). But it is nice to feel the love from the fans, and I try to reciprocate that passion by playing well.
The way the fans treat you is very reminiscent of the way the crowd of Fluminense idolised Thiago Silva, who today is a regular for Brazil and plays for one of the biggest clubs in the world. Do you want to achieve something similar?
He is the best centre-back in the world at the moment. I model myself on him, and hope that like him, at the right time I can have a great career in Europe.
Speaking of which, what have your experiences been like with Brazil, with your fellow defenders? There are players with different stories: Lucio is very experienced, while Thiago Silva is younger but has some experience.
The time spent with the Seleção is short. For now, I listen more than I talk, but I am still talking. But I have been able to listen to their advice and their experiences. The team environment is very good.
Would the team have a better chance of winning the 2014 World Cup with you in the back four?
If I get in the group that will fight to make history, I will be satisfied.
And your relationship with Mano, how is it?
Again, very good. He talked to me a lot, and is also the coach who gave me my first call-up. I will never forget this.
Football in Rio has many Seleção representatives: yourself for Vasco, Ronaldinho for Flamengo, Jefferson for Botafogo and Fred for Fluminense. It also has three teams fighting for the title, and the clubs have won three major titles in the last two years. How do you explain this success?
Rio clubs are starting to invest, and be more professional in some departments that are important for the team. I think some clubs in Brazil, like Cruzeiro, Inter and Sao Paulo, for example, has been adopting this stance a few years ago. So they began to reap the results before the clubs of Rio.
And what about Vasco’s success?
The team is very good. The coach knows us all and what has to be done.
Ricardo Gomes is vital to this process. How has his illness affected the team?
Very much so. Ricardo is like a father to us. We know he can get the best out of us. All the players are very upset about what happened, and we all hope he will soon recover.
You already said you want to play in Europe, but also want to stay at Vasco for the 2012 Copa Libertadores. Your contract runs until 2014 with Vasco, but a transfer can happen then. Do you think it would be easier to be summoned to the 2014 World Cup as a player at Vasco or at a European club?
My desire is to defend Vasco for a long time, but it is very difficult to see the future now. Some things change throughout the course of planning.
Do you have a preferred championship? English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese?
I like the Spanish and Italian leagues.
Finally, for a high level player like you, the possibility of playing a World Cup at home; is that the kind of thing you dream about?
Yes, but for now it is still just a dream. I know that I am being watched for this, but I prefer to think about that closer to the competition.
