He fell in love with our nation over soccer…
While our fans may have won over millions of people with their antics in France for Euro 2016, our soccer team were wooing people back in 1990.
Matthew, from Natal in North Brazil, has been a keen supporter of all things Ireland since he saw the Boys in Green at Italia ’90.
Our correspondent in Rio, Joe Harrington, caught up with passionate Irish fan and spoke to him about the birth of his love of the Irish.
He explained that he’s supporting all the Irish athletes at the Olympic Games and he’s going to as many of the events containing Irish athletes as he can.
Matthew picked up his Irish jersey from a second-hand store in Brazil, it’s now one of his most treasured possessions and he fondly remembers Ray Houghton’s goal against Italy at USA ’94.
Matthew, from Brazil, is Ireland's biggest fan at #Rio2016. He's supported the Boys in Green since Italia '90 pic.twitter.com/5ttAwfHsVm
— JOE.ie (@JOEdotie) August 10, 2016
Speaking to JOE, he said: “In the 1990 World Cup I started to support Ireland, for an unexplained reason, I started to support them alongside Brazil.
“The team that progressed in the tournament drawing with England, after with Egypt and finally with Holland.
“In the last eight finals, they beat Romania in the penalties and since then I support Ireland. It’s a pleasure to be here.
“I made a flag, there are two flags. On one side it says Ireland and the other side it’s Brazil.
“It’s a pleasure to support your teams here and a pleasure for them to come back to Brazil and enjoy this place,” he said.
What a lovely guy and let’s hope the Irish athletes give him plenty to cheer about in Rio…
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