Loyalty to family outweighs soccer stardom for Hong Kong football captain, who led teams featuring Neymar, Alisson, and Casemiro.
Gerson Vieira, the midfielder formerly of Hong Kong's Tai Po, has settled with the reality of never reaching the astronomical heights of his ex-Brazilian teammates famously referred to as the "president." Names like Neymar, Casemiro, Philippe Coutinho, and Alisson Becker all shared the pitch when Vieira led the Brazil team at the 2009 Under-17 World Cup.
Back then, these prodigious talents donned the jerseys of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Liverpool, and more. Life, however, took a different path for Vieira, with gigs in Uruguay, India, Japan, Tanzania, and now Hong Kong.
What held him back? Gremio, his first club, kept him on the bench and refused to sell him, leaving him pinning for a chance elsewhere. Contrarily, his young compatriots were provisioned opportunities or, much like Coutinho, landed roles at Inter Milan in 2008. More than a pity, Vieira once lamented, "I lost the perfect time to be in the first team."
In Brazil, he noted, "we have a queue—when it's your turn, you have to take it, or there's another waiting right behind you." When Gremio declined persistent offers from French club Angers, in 2013, Vieira confessed to shifting priorities, choosing family consolidation over glory.
- Unfair Advantage. Gremio, being his early club, didn't give Vieira a shot at the first team, nor did they sanction his sale to other clubs, thus hindering his growth and development[1].
- Wasted Timing. Due to formidable competition in Brazilian football, Vieira missed his golden opportunity to assert himself amid the top-tier teams[1].
- Family Matters. Instead of chasing glory, Vieira chose to focus on family bonds, roaming various countries like Uruguay, India, Japan, Tanzania, and setting his roots in Hong Kong[1][2].
With grace, Vieira has come to terms with his situation and found happiness in his role with Tai Po in Hong Kong[1][2].
Gerson Vieira's journey in football has been markedly different from his Brazilian counterparts like Neymar and Coutinho, as he never found a place in the European leagues such as LaLiga or the ones they graced[1]. Despite Gremio, his first club, keeping him on the bench and refusing to sell him[1], Vieira made a choice to prioritize family over football, playing in countries like Uruguay, India, Japan, and settling in Hong Kong[1][2]. Vieira acknowledges that he lost the perfect time to be a part of the first team due to fierce competition back in Brazil[1].
