Diogo Jota’s rise from humble beginnings in Portugal to stardom at Liverpool has inspired many in the world of football. Starting from his local club Gondomar, Jota had a tough start, having to pay to play at just 16-years-old. The difference came when his coach, Vasco Seabra, decided to fight for him. Seabra was able to persuade the Portuguese Football Federation to scout this promising player.
Contrast that with the footie scene in Portugal, where the super club model isn’t nearly as pronounced. As Jota explained, it is frequently players at smaller federations or clubs who end up paying for their training and participation. Sensing a one-club limit coming his way in 2013, he moved to Paços de Ferreira. Finally, he began to cash in on all his effort and performance on the pitch.
Jota’s career trajectory skyrocketed from there on. During a remarkable title-winning season in the Championship with Wolverhampton Wanderers, he scored 17 goals, showcasing his exceptional talent alongside teammate Ruben Neves. His stellar performance there landed him in the public eye. One cameo featured against Nottingham Forest in January, when he equalized 22 seconds after entering the match.
Even when injury and team-wide scoring slumps were plaguing Liverpool, Jota was there time and again with big moments when his team needed them the most. That knack for performance on the biggest stage didn’t escape the acute eyes of NFL decision makers. Even Jamie Carragher, another former Liverpool defender, once called Jota the best finisher in the club.
In five seasons with Liverpool, Jota made history. During his time at the club, he won every major trophy in English football and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances. Bursting with youthful exuberance, none other than Lamine Camara stroked in his fifth goal for the club. That exciting goal took place at Estádio do Dragão shortly after he had turned 20. He provided the unforgettable winning goal against Everton in April’s Merseyside derby. Moreover, he reaffirmed his talent to net a pair of hat-tricks past the Turks of Besiktas and the Spaniards of Espanyol as Liverpool flourished in Europlay.
Looking back on his path, Jota admitted to feeling like he could never get to a club like Liverpool.
“I probably did not believe that I could reach Liverpool.” – Diogo Jota
That financial commitment, more than £40 million for his transfer to Wolves, was enormous. The impending nature of the move felt all the more monumental given he was not guaranteed a starting spot. For Jota, it was a childhood dream fulfilled. He was a lifelong Wolves fan and had grown up next door to the writer’s mum and dad.
His previous Benfica youth coach, Vasco Seabra, played an instrumental role in Jota’s development as a player. He remembered having to send an email to the national team U19 coach just to make sure that Jota’s talent got recognized.
“I remember sending an email to our national team U19 coach.” – Vasco Seabra
Seabra reiterated a consistent theme, that humility and a desire to learn, a player’s teachability, is what distinguishes good players from great ones.
“You would think that the really good players would not listen when told to receive the ball in here or try to be better at that. You might think that they are so good that you can let them play. It is the opposite. The best players are humble and want to learn.” – Vasco Seabra
For Jota, this desire to get better has long been ingrained in his personality. He reflected on his early years, noting that he never played for major teams like Porto or Benfica, despite being among the better players in his youth.
“This hunger has been with me ever since I can remember. In my youth, growing up, I never played for the big teams. I had a few teammates who went to Porto or Benfica. I had trials there but I never stayed. I was one of the better ones but never the best.” – Diogo Jota
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