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| Image Credit: Brisbane Roar/York Street Photography |
Joining from Victory in the off-season after he was let go by Ange Postecoglou, Ferreira accompanies local hero Matt McKay and vastly experienced Liam Miller as the new midfield faces at Suncorp Stadium.
After enjoying four fruitful years at Victory, for whom he racked up more than 50 appearances, 24 year-old Ferreira adds versatility and youthful experience to Mike Mulvey’s squad.
A member of Benfica from the age of one, Ferreira went abroad early in his life to trace his Portuguese roots and gain experience at one of Europe’s heavyweights; FC Porto.
“You can’t explain it, it is a different world out there,” Ferreira said.
“I was 15 when I went over there so I was quite young, I left my family and I grew up a lot.
“Training is good here in Australia as well but over there kids are much more switched on tactically.”
Ferreira spent two years on loan with second-division AD Oerias before deciding to return to Australia; a choice he doesn’t look back on with any tinge of regret.
“I had the choice to keep getting loaned out but I made the decision to come back to Australia mainly because I wanted to be a part of the Australian teams,” he said.
“I knew it was a massive decision to take a big step backwards going to the Victorian Premier League but I thought this was a chance for me to start off my career in Australia and it worked out.”
Ferreira did not have to wait long to make his mark with an A-League side being snapped up by Victory after impressing at his boyhood club Green Gully Cavaliers.
It was only a matter of time before he was promoted to the senior squad and once his chance came, against Kawasaki Frontale in the Asian Champions League, Ferreira solidified his position as a key member of the Victory team.
“They’ve got the best facilities, the supporters and everyone treated me well and it was comfortable living in my home city,” he said.
“But to be honest last year I didn’t really enjoy myself.
“At the end of the day this is our work and it’s not all about fun but we still need to enjoy it.”
After becoming renowned amongst the Victory faithful for his work ethic and no-nonsense approach Ferreira is confident he can do the job in the middle of the park for Roar.
“I signed with the club having in mind that I could potentially play in midfield. That’s where I’ve wanted to play and that’s where I think I can play my best football,” he said
“I work pretty hard getting up and down and I can create a little bit as well.
“I do like playing full-back here, it’s different to the way I was playing full-back last year in Melbourne where it was much more defensive.”
Having worked under Postecoglou and now coming to the coach’s former club Ferreira definitely sees a footprint left by the two-time Championship-winning mentor.
“They got success in those two years with Ange here so they’re not just going to change overnight and start playing the way they were playing five years ago but Mike has brought in a lot.
“A quick one-two passing game is what suits me and that’s the way Mulvey likes the team to play.
“I’m not going to try and do things I’m not capable of doing and going on runs taking on three or four players.”
His trust in the coach is mirrored by a growing sense of belief amongst supporters who six months ago witnessed the Roar come within 90 minutes of a third consecutive Grand Final.
After a difficult start Mulvey seems to have got his side playing with confidence again; something that has impressed Ferreira during his short time with the club.
“I’m definitely enjoying my football much more here,” he said.
“I really like the way Mike goes about business and interacts with players.
“When it’s time to train we all know he’s the boss and what he says goes but off the field he is approachable.
“He lets you express yourself and do what you want under the structure he’s set in place."
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| Diogo is all smiles as he laps up the Queensland weather. |
The early signs are that Mulvey’s approach seems to be paying its dividends by winning all four preseason friendlies against A-League opposition but Ferreira knows all too well not to read too much into such results.
“We’re not going to lie and say we’re not confident because we are but we take more confidence out of everything that we do in training rather than the friendlies,” he said.
“It’s not every day that you have players like Thomas Broich, Ivan Franjic and Besart Berisha in your team.
“It’s fantastic for the whole squad and they are players that like to share advice.”
While the immediate aim for Ferreira might be to earn an extension on his one year contract at Suncorp Stadium, the memories of Europe still linger and the dream of a return to the Old Continent is very much alive.
“I’m not a person who puts long-term goals, I prefer to go year-by-year,” he said.
“You’d love to play in Europe and we’ve seen it in the past – all it takes is half a good season and you’re somewhere you thought you were never going to be.”
The Victory fans’ general reaction of surprise and disapproval with Ferreira’s release spoke a thousand words of the player’s potential and success with the Roar may turn his dreams into reality.
The former Olyroos player has high ambitions for the Green and Gold but is also eligible to play for Portugal.
Ultimately, when you share an origin with a certain number seven for Real Madrid, the choice of who to represent becomes all the more difficult.
“To be honest, Portugal,” he said.
“If Portugal played Australia I would be a bit torn, but you’d want to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, no-one can say no to that.”