LFC Global Family: Brazil

A life-long Corinthians supporter, who travelled to Japan to watch them against Chelsea in 2012, Barbara adopted Liverpool as her English club when she was 15 - and this summer made a 12,000-mile round-trip to visit Anfield for the first time.

Today she's the subject of our LFC Global Family series as we turn the spotlight on our fans in Brazil... 

Name: Bárbara Rubio
Age:  18
City/country: Fortaleza, Brazil
Job: Student, English teacher 

What's your earliest LFC memory?

It was the second match of the 2010-11 season and I remember watching it and the fans were louder than the commentators, even though the team was losing. It was beautiful.

What made you pick Liverpool as your team?

I grew up in a family where there's no such thing as abandoning your football club. It doesn't matter if they've just won a championship or if they're being relegated. And Liverpool fans are exactly like that. When they sing 'You'll Never Walk Alone', it's breathtakingly beautiful and there was no way I could walk away from that.

How did people in Brazil follow Liverpool's fortunes at first?

I believe for many people it all started in 2005 - at the FIFA Club World Cup. Liverpool played against a Brazilian club and people knew about Istanbul and how they got there and the club gained a lot of respect and fans here.

Was it difficult to find out news or see the match?

Not really, since it wasn't long ago and it's okay for me to read in English - but it's definitely easier now with the club having an official Facebook page and Twitter account in Portuguese.

Who was your first LFC hero and why?

Can someone from my generation not choose Steven Gerrard? He's my hero for the same reason I chose Liverpool - he has soul and heart and would never leave the club. And, of course, I love him for his skill as well. To me, he's still one of the best midfielders in the world.

What is your favourite LFC memory?

Definitely the Carling Cup final. It was the first trophy I had watched the Reds win and the match was so intense. I got YNWA tattooed on my back two days later and when people ask me about it, I always tell them about this match with a big smile on my face.

Who has been your favourite Liverpool manager and why?

Kenny Dalglish. I could talk for hours about his achievements the first time he managed Liverpool, but I also liked to see him back a couple seasons ago. He took over after Hodgson left and Liverpool finished the 2010-11 season in in sixth place, 13 points away from Champions League qualification, which is quite impressive if you remember that the team spent a few weeks on relegation zone earlier that season. And, in the following season, he led Liverpool to their first trophy in six years and to the FA Cup final.

Have you ever been to Anfield?

Yes. I went there this summer and I couldn't ask for a better experience. I attended one of the Legends Tours and met Ian Callaghan, who played 857 matches for Liverpool. To walk around Anfield and to listen to Ian's stories at the club - about other legends, memorable cups, how things really were decades ago - made that day one of the greatest in my life. I also couldn't hold back some tears when we walked to the Kop and 'You'll Never Walk Alone' started playing. I bet the atmosphere there on match days is something unique.

Where were you while we were in Istanbul?

I was 10! So I was probably at school.

Do Liverpool have a passionate fan base in Brazil?

Yes, of course! It's great to see lots of fans meeting up at pubs to watch the match together, wearing scarves and jerseys and shouting at the TV as if we were at the match. Sometimes it feels like we grew up around Anfield when most of us haven't even been there yet.

Which teams are considered Liverpool's biggest rivals in your country?

Manchester United, and especially Chelsea now, after they played a Brazilian club in Japan for the FIFA Club World Cup 2012. I was there - wearing my Liverpool scarf - and supporting Corinthians against the Blues.

Where do you go online to follow news about LFC?

On busy days, I check the LFC Brazilian Twitter and Facebook accounts so I can keep up with the news, but when I have time, I go to the official website and read all the stories.

Do you also support a local team?

I support Corinthians and even followed them to Japan last year with my whole family! We take football and loyalty very seriously here.

Who is your favourite current player and why?

Paulinho - he used to play for Corinthians, but he went to Tottenham this season. I like him because he's a midfielder, but we would often see him helping the defence or at the front, scoring goals. I would love to watch him and Steven Gerrard playing together, one day.

If you could meet anyone connected to Liverpool FC - past or present - who would it be and why?

Is 'everyone' a good answer? I can't choose just one or two of them because everyone is so important and it feels like I'd make a mistake, but I'd love to meet Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Dalglish, Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel. Yes, I think this is my top five.

What makes you most proud to be a Liverpool supporter?

The passion everyone related to the club has and how the match never ends until the final whistle is blown. Supporters never give up, players never give up. We're like a big family and we go through good and bad moments together and that's all that matters.

Finally, what does 'the Liverpool way' mean to you?

Heart and soul are the two words that I think about when it comes to the Liverpool way and the club's history speaks for itself when it comes to those words. To me, Liverpool FC is like a religion and I couldn't have it any other way.

Click here to follow @LFCBrasil - the club's official Portuguese-language Twitter account.

Previous articles in the LFC Global Family series:

South Africa - Melissa Reddy>>
Thailand - Jeerawan Duangnam Herriot>>
Australia - Wayne Psaila>>
Mexico - Victor Alvarado>>
Indonesia - Andhika Sarwendha Suksmana>>
Nepal - Nischal Adhikari>>
Ghana - Aristo Dotse>>
India - Kaushal Goyal>>
Singapore - Henry Hann>>
Bahrain - Mohamed Ashoor>>
Mongolia - Amarsaikhan Orsoo>>
Vietnam - Pham Quynh Le>>
USA - July 4th Special>>
Iran - Mohammad Reza Rahimi>>
South Korea - Yong-Suk Choi>>
Norway - Arild Skjæveland>>
Russia - Ivan Potapov>>
Myanmar - Khin Maung Cho>>
USA - Roy Yates>>
China - Chen Jing>>