Steven Alzate starred in the first victory in the history of the Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield. Born in Camden, London, but with deep Colombian roots, this winger grew up watching Cesc Fàbregas and Thierry Henry play and now dreams of representing Colombia in a World Cup. “That’s my goal,” he admits in a chat with Efe a few weeks after scoring his first goal in the Premier League on the best possible stage.
“It meant a lot to me as a player. To score my first goal as a Brighton player against a team like Liverpool. And not only to score the goal, but also to win the game. I hope I can continue like this. “, points out the Colombian.
Born in the neighborhood of Camden 22 years ago, Alzate is fluent in both English and Spanish, but when asked why he chose Colombia as the team to represent is clear. “I feel Colombian for my parents,” he explains.
Alzate grew up surrounded by Colombian music, food and customs and has never taken off from them. Although he developed his love for
football watching the great Premier League players. “I saw players like Thierry Henry, at Arsenal, Cesc Fàbregas … I tell you these players because I’m an Arsenal fan and I always saw them when I was a kid.”
Alzate fell in love with an Arsenal at a glorious stage in its 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 slowed him down during his assignments and his stage in the team’s subsidiary. “I’ve had to recover from several injuries, but it’s not just injuries that affect you anymore, you also need to recover quickly from when you’re not playing. You have to be strong physically and mentally. You always have to be ready for when they need you and to take the opportunity provided by the technician “.
During his transfer season at Swindon Town in 2018, he suffered the worst setback. The transfer agreement was broken due to a serious back injury that sidelined him from the team in December. Until then he had been an undisputed starter. Everything indicated that by 2019 the Colombian would come out again, but no.
Graham Potter, a touch game lover, decided to try Alzate in preseason and asked him not to come out. He settled as a regular in the starting eleven and played 21 games last season, although he missed the final part due to a groin injury. He renewed for four years last July and returned all the confidence placed in him to Potter when on February 3 he tipped the duel against Liverpool with his goal. “I don’t know if Trossard played it or just me, but I’ll score as much myself,” Alzate said with a laugh after handing Brighton his first win at the Liverpool feud.
“As soon as the game was over, I received about 10,000 messages and I didn’t have time to read them all. Messages from my family, the people closest to me, my friends … everyone was very happy for me. “. Now his goal puts it very high. “My dream with the national team is to play in the World Cup. My dream as a club at the moment is to be here and succeed here. When I get older I will think about going to a new club for a new adventure,” said Alzate. who already knows what it is like to make his debut with the national team, when Carlos Queiroz was there, although he still has a call pending with the current coach, Reinaldo Rueda.
In addition to being a hero in Brighton, Alzate is also a hero in Villavicencio, the city where his father grew up and where his brother runs the Alzate Foundation, intended to help disadvantaged children through the ball. “We do it to help children, so that they have a chance to play football and not be on the street doing things they shouldn’t be doing. In South America there are a lot of talented players and so we can give them that opportunity that they can prove it. we also help the most disadvantaged who do not have the opportunity to eat or drink. ”
With this 2022 World Cup in the spotlight, Alzate aspires to become what his childhood idols were once in the Premier League. For now, it already has its place reserved in Brighton’s history books. Alzate is the hero of Anfield.