Among all the Afro-Brazilians who have graced the Premier League, Willian stands out as a fan favourite, though Tottenham Hotspur supporters still harbour some resentment due to his 2013 decision to reject their offer in favour of Chelsea, thanks to a call from Roman Abramovich. Over the years, Willian not only won over Chelsea fans but also demonstrated his integrity at Arsenal by agreeing to terminate his contract amid concerns that he was only there for financial reasons. With a great comeback at Fulham, Willian proved his value and silenced his critics.
This article delves into the life of Willian Borges da Silva, better known simply as Willian, charting his journey from Ribeirão Pires, Brazil, to becoming a beloved figure in Premier League football. His story is one of resilience, flair, and exceptional skill.
An Afro-Brazilian Still Loved: How Willian Evolved from Humble Roots
This article paints a vivid picture of Willian’s rise from his humble beginnings, starting with playing futsal at the age of six in his hometown of Ribeirão Pires. It highlights the strong family support he had, including the influence of his late mother, Dona Zezé, who passed away on October 13, 2016, at the age of 57. You’ll learn about Willian’s personal milestones and his determination to overcome challenges. It’s a story of how his skill on the ball and resilience in life has won him fans worldwide, and this article covers it all.
Willian’s Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:
For Biography starters, Willian Borges da Silva was born on the 9th day of August 1988 in Ribeirao Pires, Brazil, to his late mother, Maria da Silva (a homekeeper) and father, Severino da Silva (a car spare part seller).
Originally coming from an average home, Willian grew up trying to help himself financially with his drum-playing skills. He grew up playing all kinds of samba beats on Brazilian drums.
In his words…“If I wasn’t a Chelsea star, I’d still be playing samba beats on my drums in Brazil”. Willian was plucked from the same childhood social network as David Luiz.
Before diving into soccer, Willian played virtually all of Brazil’s popular instruments during his childhood. He was skilled in each of them, showcasing his musical talent early on.
He once said,
“David and I have been friends since we were eight years old, so it feels like a real blessing to reunite with him at Chelsea.”
By his own admission, Willian was not the most conscientious of students in school during his childhood time.
‘I was terrible,’ he confesses with a smile. So bad I’d get my mum to do my homework. Not being cut out for education was what prompted me to take football up as a profession.’
Like many kids in Brazil, Willian has had a football at his feet since he was a child. Watching the 1998 World Cup at just nine years old, he was inspired by legends like Ronaldo de Lima and Zinedine Zidane. Their influence made him take football seriously and fueled his passion for the game.
Willian Biography Facts – Career Summary:
Willian is a product of the Corinthians football academy, making his debut for the first team in 2006. He then joined Shakhtar Donetsk in August 2007 for €14 million, during a period when the club was keen on bringing in Latin American talent. This was also around the time Shakhtar was on the verge of signing Mykhailo Mudryk for their esteemed academy.
During his six years at Shakhtar, Willian enjoyed considerable success, winning five Ukrainian Premier League titles and the UEFA Cup in 2009.
In 2013, Willian had a brief stint with Anzhi Makhachkala before catching the attention of José Mourinho and joining Chelsea for £30 million.
As I update this biography, it’s worth noting that Willian shares a common thread with Joelinton. Both players faced significant criticism but managed to make a remarkable comeback in the Premier League. The rest of Willian’s story, as they say, is now part of football history.
Family Life:
Willian Borges da Silva comes from an average Brazilian family background. Here, we present you with a brief description of his family.
About Willian’s Father:
To start with, Willian’s father, Severino da Silva, said his dad is someone who is overpassionate about football, thanks to his son’s career.
Severino da Silva is credited for his ability to cater for both his family and son’s demands in the early stages of his career. Selling spare parts for cars was what he used to maintain his home from the start.
This was a great means of sustenance for his family. He even relocated his business for his son’s sake.
When young Willian was 10, his dad relocated his family to Sao Paulo so they could be closer to Corinthians football club to monitor his son’s performance.
Willian once said,
“My father is very passionate and sometimes talks a lot, especially when it comes to bragging about me to his friends. I’ve already had a chat with him and asked him to keep it down from now on.”
Instead of singing praises of his son, Willian has put Severino da Silva to another use.
He regularly sends his dad financial donations to his Brazilian village and hometown as a sign of honour for supporting him in his youth career.
As of today, several sports projects have been initiated, all thanks to the goodness and kind heart of Willian Borges da Silva.
About Willian’s Mother:
Sadly, Willian’s mother, Maria da Silva, passed away, and he confirmed her death early in 2016. The Chelsea Player of the Year for the 2015/16 season shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram with a heartfelt poem in his native language, expressing his period of mourning.
Willian had previously shared that his mother, who was battling cancer, underwent chemotherapy before sadly passing away during an international break. Before her death, they had a very close bond, as shown in the touching picture below.
Maria da Silva and her Son Willian.
During the match against Premier League champions Leicester City, Willian’s Chelsea FC teammates, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, honoured him and his mother by dedicating their goals to them.
The dedication didn’t stop there; his manager, Antonio Conte, also celebrated the victory as a tribute to Willian and his family. Willian’s mother, Maria, played a pivotal role in his life, providing unwavering support for him and his sister, Michele. She took on every responsibility for both of them while they were growing up. Here’s a picture of Michele.
Love Life:
First things first: Willian’s love story revolves around one lady. She is no other than Vanessa Martins. She has been at his side throughout some highs and lows at Stamford Bridge.
Without a doubt, she is a paragon of beauty. Willian has indeed made his fans proud of his fantastic off-field life.
Willian and his beautiful angel, Vanessa, got wedded in the year 2011. At that time, he hasn’t thought about coming to Chelsea. He got married while he was playing at Shakhtar.
Willian and Vanessa Martins’ wedding photo.
The fruit of marriage was followed just after his wedding. Sharpshooter Willian made it possible for his wife to deliver a beautiful set of twins in February 2012. Here is the photo of his twins, in all their glories to God.
Willian and Vanessa Martins pose with their twin. (Source: Instagram)
The twins took more of their father’s skin tone. Valentina and Manuella da Silva are said to be growing very fast, as seen in the photo of the Little Mermaid pool below.
Valentina and Manuella are Willian’s twin children.
Family means a lot to Willian. His greatest moment comes when they all celebrate his career of victory together, as seen in the photo below.
The Brazilian has also shared a lovely picture of himself and his wife Vanessa Martins, as they once had a good time in what Willian describes as the ‘Official London Eye.’
The Willian Song:
To begin with, “THE WILLIAN SONG” was created by Chelsea fans and aimed at Tottenham Hotspur supporters.
The song recounts the dramatic story of how Willian received an unexpected call from Roman Abramovich after he had already completed medicals and agreed on terms with Tottenham. When approached by Chelsea’s then-manager José Mourinho and getting a call from Roman Abramovich, Willian decided to reject the Tottenham deal and instead signed a five-year contract with Chelsea, moving to Stamford Bridge.
“I don’t know how I can explain that moment,” Willian said in an interview with Chelsea FC journalist.
He continued… “It was the best moment I think of in my life when I signed up with Chelsea because it was my dream to come here. Yes, it was difficult to turn down Tottenham after my medicals and personal terms with them.
However, It still remains unofficial as I didn’t put a pen on their papers. I got really confused when Roman Abramovich called me on the phone.
After the call, I quickly told Tottenham’s management that I was sorry, but I had to go to Chelsea. I told them it was my dream. I have to go there, I don’t care. I have to go to Stamford Bridge.”
Jose Mourinho’s Friend:
Willian’s strong work ethic is one of the key reasons José Mourinho has always had a deep admiration for him. This commitment was part of why Mourinho chose Willian over Juan Mata.
Since their first meeting, they’ve shared a father-and-son relationship, which is why Mourinho even considered signing Willian during his time at Manchester United.
What Chelsea fans remember him for:
Whether he retires at Fulham or moves on from the Premier League to another league elsewhere, Willian will be remembered for several standout qualities:
- His incredible speed, agility, and technical skill.
- His quick feet and explosive playing style.
- His ability to dribble past opponents at high speed while maintaining close control of the ball.
- His signature Brazilian flair, using tricks like the elastico to outwit defenders.
- His high-shooting vision and creativity helped him connect the deeper midfielders with the forwards and create scoring opportunities.
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