The Cesinha Interview: "I made K League history"

The K League United 2025 interview series continues with Daegu FC forward Cesinha, who talks about being the "King of Daegu," his statue, the fan culture in K League, saving the team from relegation, and much more. Audio and video versions can be found at the bottom of this article.

Cesinha is not just a Daegu FC legend; he is a living K League legend. With over 300 appearances for the Sky Blues, over 130 goals, and close to 100 assists in all competitions, close to 250 appearances in K League 1 alone, with around 100 goals, and over 70 assists, he is a certainty for the K League Hall of Fame. The year Daegu won the FA Cup, Cesinha was named as the competition's MVP, scoring five and assisting two, including a goal in each leg of the final against Ulsan.

Unsurprisingly, although not something that is common in K League and Korean sports, there's talk of a statue being built by the club, which he addresses in our interview.

Cesinha represents a special type of player who has given everything to one club. It is seldom seen these days for players to stay at just one club, even for foreign players in K League. Clubs like Daegu FC might be seen as stepping stones to so-called "bigger" clubs. But for Cesinha, Daegu FC and Daegu Metropolitan City have become his home since 2016.

There's an aura around Cesinha, primarily because of his mercurial nature on the football pitch, but also perhaps because he doesn't do many interviews. But despite being worshipped by Daegu FC fans, he's very down-to-earth and approachable. Anyone who follows him on Instagram will see that he is forever stopping to take pictures with fans, young and old.

K League United approached Daegu FC to interview Cesinha in the build-up to the draw with Suwon FC, primarily to talk to him about his legacy and how, at 35, soon to be 36, he is still producing the goods.

It would be disrespectful to the other players to label Daegu as a one-man team, but at the time of writing, Cesinha has 11 goals and 12 assists for the campaign; 23 goal contributions mean Cesinha has been involved in more than half of the team's goals this year. Such incredible form has earned him a place in the 70-70 club of 70 goals and 70 assists, a place where only two other players can say they hold membership, but Cesinha is the only foreign player.

Has there ever been a player in K League so universally liked? Perhaps not, and there may never be another player like Cesinha in K League again, a player of his calibre and style, but also one who stays at the same club for 10 years.

Cesinha may only have two or three years left, as he put it, in the interview, so enjoy him while you can.

Interview

So, Cesar Fernando Silva Melo, also known as the "King of Daegu," also simply known as "Cesinha".... What do you think of that nickname?

Well, about the nickname King of Daegu, I'm very honoured. First of all, I'm very happy. But with this name, there's also a lot of responsibility. It's a very great nickname, because this is an honour for our supporters, but has more responsibility.

The fans really worship you like a king. When you're out and about in the city, do they come up to you a lot for autographs and pictures?

Yeah, of course. I try not to visit places that have a lot of people, because sometimes having a lot of people disrupts the other people. But I like to make autographs and pictures of all the supporters.

Did you ever imagine that you'd become this hero when you first joined the club 10 years ago?

I can't imagine. Of course, I remember that since my first interview, I said that I wouldn't just be another player, I wanted to make history in the club. But then, to imagine that I could become this big player for Daegu, there's no way.

At the moment, you are in the form of your life. Every week, it's a goal or an assist or both sometimes. You're 35, 36 soon; what is the secret? Have you been doing anything differently in terms of your recovery or preparation?

First of all, I don't have a secret... Every day I try to practise 100%, try to every time to do best and, myself, I care about my body, that's the most important. I'm always prepared to how we take a good recovery, to make a good performance in the game... I think this is secret.

How strict are you with what you eat? You know, I mean, is it no sugar?

I'm not like that (not eating sugar), I'm eating everything. For food, I eat everything, I don't have a like a diet like this. I just, if I want to eat, I eat. But in the training, I do my best, I think this is this is most important for me. You know, I'm 35, 36 years old now and I play good.

Yeah, very good. Recently, you became a member of the 70-70 club, 70 goals and 70 assists. It's actually more than that, but at least 70-70. There are only three players who have done this, and you are the first foreign player to do it. Did you know this record was coming up?

First foreign player and playing for a single club, right? I think it's a very big feat where I am very proud of my career so far, and I'm very, very happy to reach this number and get in there for the history of the K League. I'm very, very happy because, first, foreign players and staying only one team, for one team to play a long time, and made some history. So, it's just a very big honour from Daegu and for the league, I make history in K League, you know? I'm really happy. Really happy.

Well, your ex-teammate, Dejan (Damjanovic), was recently put into the Hall of Fame. Is that something that you would like to happen to you as well?

Yes, yes, I hope when I stop the football, and I don't know how long time, but I want to stay in the Hall of Fame and K League, of course, for me, it's an honour - see my name is for me really, really good and really wonderful to see and to say, 'Okay, I make history in K League.'

There was talk a few years ago about you becoming a naturalised Korean citizen. What's the story there?

It was five years ago, I think. More, six years ago, almost, many fans sent messages, I want you to play for the national team, change your passport for Korea, please. And okay, I said, 'Okay, I want.' For me, no problem. For me, really wonderful to play for national team, really. But that time, it's too hard because I cannot speak Korean 100%.... But for me, when I saw and I listened to my name in Korean national team, I think, 'Wow, this is unbelievable.' I want to play, really. Play together with Son (Heung-min) is for me, great honour.

The fans, not only Daegu fans, all fans, Seoul fans, Jeonbuk fans, Ulsan, many fans come to my Instagram and say 'please, please, please, play for the national team. You can play together with Son Heung-min.' I say, 'Oh, why not? Why not, you know?'... But it's too hard that time because we need to do many, many, many things.

There's some talk about a statue. Is that something that you want? Has somebody spoken to you about that? What are your thoughts about that?

Oh, the statue. Well, the first ones who spoke were the fans, too. Even today, the fans are talking a lot about the statue and I, particularly, have been looking forward to see this statue ready. Many fans sent message to me, that I deserve to make a statue in Daegu. So, I'm expecting it to happen. Now, I'm waiting for an answer, 'Ah, now this time to make your statue in Daegu FC.'

Is there a particular picture, like an image of what you would like?

I think my perfect statue would be me with my (God) celebration, right? To thank God, I think, for me, it would be the perfect statue. Always, I'm grateful for God, and I think this celebration (as a statue) is perfect. I have many pictures (of the celebration), different style, but this one is, yes.

What is it about Daegu, the city, and Daegu FC, the club, that you love so much that's made you stay there for 10 years?

I love Daegu weather. It's hot, that's the first one. The nickname is Dae-frica, right? When it comes to winter, for me, really hard, really hard. And second, I love to go shopping, you know? I don't go outside too much, you know? I like to stay home. I like to stay with my family at home, like watch movies, and I go to shopping. I go for picnics. But for me, first one is weather. Very hot. I like this.

And the club too, Daegu FC. Obviously, you love the club, but what is it about the club that's made you sort of fall in love with it?

The most important, for me, here in Daegu is respect. Daegu have many respect for me, for all foreign players, you know? They love foreign players here. I think this, for me, is most important. And I like the aunties. For me, the aunty here in the club is the best one. She's very nice, she's like my mom, you know? I love her. We have three aunties, and I love them. I think Daegu... Daegu, for me, is really a family. I say always because Daegu, here, is like my home, really my home. I love all people here. I love they have two, three fields very good for training, you know? And I love all. Daegu is very nice for me, my home.

These days, it's unusual to see players stay at just one club for a long time. Even just in K League, foreign players move to a bigger club. Like Anderson, obviously, he moved from Suwon FC to FC Seoul recently. Over the last 10 years, have there been offers for you to go to someone like Jeonbuk or Seoul, or somebody else?

Yes, I received many offers. Many offers for... Every year, I have many offers for another team here and another country. But, my president, they say, 'No, please stay here.' And my contract don't have at that time a buy-out (clause), you know? And this is really hard for me to go to another team here or another country. But always, when come good offer, I go to Daegu president, and say, 'Oh, I received this, but I want to stay. What do you think? You can offer another contract for me, or you prefer I go out? And always, they say, 'No, I want you to stay. I'll do my best for you to stay.' And I stay here long, 10 years. But, from three or four years, five years ago, I cannot see I'm play another team here in Korea, you know? For me, really strange. I want to play here only Daegu. If we change the club, I want to go another country and start again. You know, I wanted to like this. But if I stay here, I want to finish my career in Daegu and that's okay, for me.

Would you be able to tell me which K League teams had offered you in the past?

Many clubs. Many clubs. I remember I received from Jeonbuk, from Ulsan, Daejeon, Seoul, (Suwon) Samsung. I received many offers, many of the big clubs here, many offers. But always my president say, 'No, please stay here, stay here. I'll do my best for you to stay here.' And I stay 10 years.

I think that makes people like you more because you are Mr. Daegu. You've stayed at this one club for the whole time, and that I think makes most K League fans, even fans of other teams, like you, and they like Daegu.

Yeah, I think same, really. I think same because many players change the club after two or three years. This is normal in football. But I prefer to stay here. And I think many fans like me because this, staying long time in one club is hard. 10 years in one club is hard. I couldn't imagine staying here a long time, you know, like 10 years. Okay, three, four, five years. I think it's okay, but 10 years is a long time.

Also, you are always smiling and you're always very nice to the fans. So that's obviously another reason why people like you so much.

Yeah, always because, you know, when I was a child, I looked at the soccer players and I just wanted to say hello and for them to smile for me, you know? And now I think same. Why no smile? Why no sign? Why no picture, you know? Why not take a picture together? I love this. I love this because children, babies they have a dream. Maybe after 10 years, 20 years, I don't know, they become soccer player and I want to get their autograph. I love fans because especially here in Korea, they really so kind, so kind. If we lose, they still wanto to say hello or get a picture... for me is fantastic, really.

The fan experience here is very positive. Like you said, even if you lose, they'll still say, 'Okay, well done. You worked hard.' What's it like in Brazil if you lose a game?

No, it's different in Brazil. If you lose the game, you cannot go outside. They kill you, really in Brazil. I hate Brazil fans because if you win, okay, you're very nice. If you lose, you no good. You cannot go outside. If you go outside and some dinner with your family together and fans look at you and are angry, speak bad. I hate this. But here, culture is different. It's very nice. I remember 2016, the first time we lose two games direct, and I'm scared. And when I go to outside, fans come to me and say, 'I want an autograph, I want a picture.' I say, 'Why? They aren't angry?' And the Brazilian player at that time say, 'No, here is different. Here, they love us. If you lose, if you win, they want just one picture or sign. Some fans give you a gift.' And I say, 'What? Really?' This is fantastic, really.

We get a lot of Brazilian players in the K League. Obviously, Brazil is a very famous football country, so there are lots of good players there. But do you think that the fan culture and how it's so kind and positive is a reason why lots of players want to come from Brazil to Korea?

I think, now have many Brazilian players in K League. Of course, before have many, but now, we created a community, you know? More, not rival, like friends. And, I speak to my friend, 'Oh, here very nice, you can come,' and they come. Another friend say, 'Oh, here very nice, you can come. Here, fans no angry, they so kind, they don't fight.' You can come here and live here in Korea, all clubs have a good, how do you say, structure? Good conditions, good clubhouse, good ground, you know? All clubs here, have good (facilities), for training. And, I think because this, now have a many, many Brazilian players, they come and see and say, 'Oh, I don't want playing Brazil anymore,' 'I prefer stay here because Brazil is crazy. You don't have life in Brazil. If you win, okay, you have a good life in Brazil. But if you lose, if you lose, you cannot go outside, you cannot enjoy, you know? Yeah. I think because this, I think.

A lot is expected of you, Cesinha. You need to score or assist in every game, it seems like. How do you cope with that pressure?

How can explain to you?... I think for me, this situation, I don't have a pressure. I want to enjoy game, you know? I want to do my best and don't have a pressure. I think pressure is some guy don't have money and need to work to give money to their son or daughter, their family. This is pressure, I think. For me, not pressure. I have a good life and I love my job. I just train, I just try my best every day in the training, the games, enjoying the game always because I know now I'm 35, 36 years old. I know my career, maybe two years, three years, then finish. And I want to just enjoy, I think no pressure for me, really. Of course, if I score every game, make assist in every game, for me, okay, wonderful. But, I just do my best, you know?

You saved Daegu last year, or you helped to save Daegu. Does last year give you the confidence that this year you can do it again?

I hope so. I hope so. We have four games (at time of interview) and I know we need to win more games. It's too hard because now more hard than last year because of points difference. But I believe all the time. I believe when I have a chance, 1%, I try my best. I do my best every day, every game. Not only me, I think all players here have confidence...

It has been a difficult season. The fans have been angry, and even I think it was a game against Jeju in August, they kind of stopped singing and cheering. It was a very strange atmosphere, that game. What was that like? Do you remember playing in that game?

Yeah, I remember this situation and, of course, I'm sad because I want my fans be happy. And I think all players do their best in the game. After finish game, you want to see your fans happy. But that time we long time no win, and I understand the fans. I understand because they pay tickets and go in the ground and, of course, they want to win. Like, like all players. But that situation, I don't know, the confidence down too much, and I understand the fans. Of course, I'm sad because I think when they speak, when they go together, we are more strong. But I understand really, I understand that situation because fans so sad, angry.

How did you deal with that situation? Because you're the club captain, right? So, how did you sort of help get through that?

Always good. I try to be positive, you know. Always, I speak positive. I try to give my players confidence, always like this. Because if we don't speak this, we're more down, more down, confidence more down, and we cannot go up again. And always I try my best to speak good for training more, you know. Okay, now condition very bad, we need to train more. We need to do our best in training. But the players that time, confidence really, really, really down. And, you know, we play the game and you look to players like sad, not happy. This is very bad, very bad. And always I try to go up, go up, like positive. So, I speak only positive. 'We can do it. Come on, come on.' And losing, I hate it. But very bad situation, but now we a little bit better. Okay, not bad situation, not good situation now, of course, but better than that time.

It took some time to get going with the new coach (Kim Byung-soo). But the team are playing well, you, came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2, for example. How different is the new coach compared to the old coach? And did you just need some time to adapt to his methods?

I think him have a more tactical. I think that's the most important. He have a more tactical, he train more conjunto, you know, like more together. Little bit space and more together, try to pass, pass, pass. Like before we didn't know like this. Tactical, we didn't know. We train, but a little bit, not too much. Now more tactical. This, I think this is more important now, this situation. Because this, I think, players have more confidence and go in the game and win and draw, no lose. This is good. Because always you lose, your confidence, of course, down. Because this, I think the head coach have a more tactical, he speaks well. He think positive and always try to explain for us, you know and I think this is different. This is more different than another coach.

Well, last, last question. What would you like to say to the fans?

For fans, I just say always, thank you so much for all support. Thanks so much for believe me, not only me, but believe in Daegu the club, all players. Thank you so much, and, and I say, we are strong together. Please, please together always, because we need the fans. We need always the fans. Daegu now, I think, if he fans come together, you know, like every game we have a more power. Thank you so much for all affection or support.

K League United would like to thank Cesinha, Daegu FC, and the club's interpreter Lee Sang-min for making the interview possible.