Ayoze Pérez does like a nice cup of tea. One November day last season, in the hours before Real Betis played Mallorca, a friend of his had a feeling. "He said to me: 'You're going to score - and as the game is at teatime, you should celebrate by drinking one,'" the former Newcastle and Leicester forward, now at Villarreal, explains. "I thought: 'Well, at least it's original.' It's something fun, different." Something his too, a challenge to be met. And so there he was a little after half past five lifting a cup to his lips, the year of his life under way.
The following week, in the derby against Sevilla, Pérez did it again. Then again and again. Seven more times last season and 10 this, in nine games. He did it the first time he played for Spain and the most recent time as well, in Copenhagen on Friday, success measured in tea: a symbol of a journey which brings him back to where it all began.
Tonight Spain face Switzerland at the Heliodoro in Santa Cruz. Home of CD Tenerife and his home too, the last time Pérez played there was against Córdoba in the second division in May 2014.
"This means a lot to me; it's a moment I dreamed of as a kid. To go back after so many years and with the national team is special," he says, sitting in a corner of the federation's Las Rozas HQ. "I never imagined playing for Spain in Tenerife." Twelve months ago, few imagined him doing so at all yet he arrives as a European champion, the game's top-scoring Spaniard.
Born and raised on the island, Pérez helped take Tenerife to the second division, where he was their top scorer, but has not been back to the club since he set off for England a decade ago.
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin November 18, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin November 18, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Postecoglou claims coach's life is harder than being PM
A Premier League manager has a tougher job than the prime minister, according to Ange Postecoglou.
Rashford rebuked Players must talk to manager not media - Amorim
Ruben Amorim has said when he was a player he would have spoken to his manager about being dropped rather than react in the media, as Marcus Rashford has done.
Tonali double puts rampant Newcastle into last four
A sticking plaster for Newcastle's internal tensions or a potential long-term cure for their problems? Whatever the reality Eddie Howe's inconsistent team are a two-leg semi-final away from a potentially transformative Wembley showpiece after two stellar first-half goals from Sandro Tonali and another from Fabian Schär undid an immensely disappointing Brentford on Tyneside.
Jesus hat-trick delivers early Christmas gift as Arsenal topple Palace
It seems fitting that Gabriel Jesus should have chosen this time of year to end his goalscoring drought.
Elliott the difference as Rusk's Southampton put up late fight
It was a night that Simon Rusk will never forget, the one when he took charge of Southampton for the first time in the wake of Russell Martin's sacking and carried the fight to Arne Slot and Liverpool.
United circus has derailed Rashford but fresh start is no guarantee of success
It was two years ago yesterday that Argentina won the World Cup. England had gone out to France in the quarterfinals and, beyond the usual kneejerk attacks on Gareth Southgate, there was a sense of general optimism.
Maresca still 'trusts' Mudryk after failed drugs test
Enzo Maresca has thrown his support behind Mykhailo Mudryk, saying he believes the Chelsea winger's insistence that he is innocent of taking a banned substance.
Caldentey's late spot-kick secures first place for Arsenal
A late Mariona Caldentey penalty powered Arsenal to the top of Group C in the Champions League at Bayern Munich's expense after a Magda Eriksson double looked to have secured a draw for the visitors.
Taylor 'desperate' for a break as brilliant Barça take top spot from City
Manchester City's head coach, Gareth Taylor, says his team desperately need the upcoming winter break to bolster their squad, after they were comprehensively outplayed by a Barcelona side who reminded everybody why they are the reigning European champions with an emphatic win.
Freddie calls up Flintoff as teen makes the grade for Lions tour
Rocky Flintoff has been called up to his father's Lions squad for next month's tour of Australia, with England using the trip to give young bowlers who are already in contention for a place in the senior Test squad experience of local conditions before next winter's Ashes.
