Steven Alzate was the protagonist of the first win in Brighton & Hove Albion’s history at Anfield. Born in Camden, London, but with deep Colombian roots, this midfielder grew up watching Cesc Fabregas and Thierry Henry and now dreams of representing Colombia at a World Cup. “That is my goal,” he admits in a conversation with Efe a few weeks after hitting his first goal in the Premier League in the best possible scenario.
“It meant a lot to me as a player. Scoring my first goal as a Brighton player against a team like Liverpool. And not just to score, but also to win the game. Hopefully I can continue like this,” said the Colombian.
Born 22 years ago in the Camden neighborhood, Alzate is fluent in English and Spanish, but when asked why he chose Colombia as the team he wants to represent, he’s clear. “I feel Colombian to my parents,” he explains.
Alzate grew up among the music, food and customs of Colombia and never broke away from it. Although she developed her love for him
watch football to the great players of the Premier League. “I saw players like Thierry Henry, at Arsenal, Cesc Fabregas … I’m telling you these players because I’m an Arsenal fan and I always saw them when I was a kid.”
Alzate fell in love with Arsenal at a glorious stage in his history and fulfilled his dream of signing for a Premier League team in 2017, but his progression was cut short by a series of injuries that held him back on his assignments and his time with the affiliated team . “I’ve had to recover from several injuries, but it’s not just injuries that hit you, you also have to recover quickly from when you’re not playing. You have to be physically and mentally strong. You always have to be ready for when they need you and to take advantage of the opportunity the technician gives you. ”
During his loan season at Swindon Town in 2018, he suffered the worst setback. The loan contract was broken due to a serious back injury that separated him from the team in December. Until then, he had been the undisputed starter. Everything indicated that the Colombian would leave for 2019, but no.
A lover of the touch game, Graham Potter decided to test Alzate in the preseason and asked him not to go out. He established himself as a regular in the eleven headlines, playing 21 games last season, despite missing the final leg with a groin injury. He extended for four years last July and returned all the trust placed in him to Potter when he went on to face Liverpool with his goal on February 3. “I don’t know if it was played by Trossard or just me, but I’ll score the goal,” Alzate said with a laugh after handing Brighton their first win in the Liverpool fief.
“Once the game was over, I received about 10,000 messages and didn’t have time to read them all. Messages from my family, the people closest to me, my friends … they were all very happy for me. “Now his goal sets him very high. “My dream with the national team is to play the World Cup. My dream as a club right now is to be here and succeed here. When I get older I will think about moving to a new club for a new adventure” , said Alzate, who already knows which one will make his debut with the senior team when Carlos Queiroz was there, although he still has a call-up with current coach, Reinaldo Rueda.
In addition to being a hero in Brighton, Alzate is also a hero in Villavicencio, the town where his father grew up and where his brother runs the Alzate Foundation, aimed at helping underprivileged children through the ball. “We do it to help children so that they have the chance to play football and that they don’t do things on the street that they shouldn’t. In South America there are a lot of talented players and so we can give them that chance. We also help the most disadvantaged people who do not have the opportunity to eat or drink. ”
With that 2022 World Cup in its sights, Alzate is striving to become what his childhood idols once were in the Premier League. For now, it has already reserved its place in Brighton’s history books. Alzate is Anfield’s hero.