Stephen Eustáquio | It was a no-brainer to join Swansea City
Stephen Eustáquio says it was a “no-brainer” for him to join Swansea City after the midfielder completed his move from Portuguese giants Porto.
The 29-year-old has signed a two-year deal, which includes the option of a further 12 months, with the Swans and will wear the number 46 shirt, adding considerable experience and pedigree to Vitor Matos’ midfield options.
Eustáquio arrives in south Wales with an impressive CV. The Canadian has 61 international caps to his name and has represented his country at the last two FIFA World Cups, while his club career has seen him feature in some of European football’s biggest competitions.
And now, having completed his move to SA1, Eustáquio is determined to bring that experience to Swansea and help the club chase its long-term ambition of returning to the top tier.
“It’s my pleasure to be at such a great club,” he said.
“The last couple of days have been a little bit stressful, but the fact that the outcome was to come to such a big club like Swansea is a big motivation for me.
“I’m very happy, it’s an amazing city and I can’t wait to get started. The dream of being part of a big club looking to get back to the top league was the big attraction for me.
“Obviously, it’s going to be very hard, but at the same time, if you think game by game, it’s very possible to create a special atmosphere here in the stadium, and it might be a special season. Who knows?”
Eustáquio’s decision to make the move was also heavily influenced by the presence of head coach Matos, who has a strong understanding of his new midfielder having previously worked at Porto.
For Eustáquio, that previous connection helped make the decision to move to Swansea a straightforward one.
“It was a big part of my decision to come here,” he admitted. “I know what type of work he does, and I know how much he means to the Swansea fans as well.
“For me, it was an easy pick when he called me saying that he really wanted to give me the opportunity to play for Swansea.
“It was almost a no-brainer for me. I know what I’m going to get here, so I’m very happy that I made this decision.”
Eustáquio heads to Swansea having enjoyed a memorable summer with Canada.
Having also featured at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he played a key role as Canada reached the knockout stages at this summer’s tournament, with the midfielder finding the net against South Africa to secure a historic knockout stage victory.
With regular captain Alphonso Davies struggling for fitness, Eustáquio also wore the armband for much of the tournament.
“This summer was amazing,” he reflected. “For us as a country it was a dream come true to go so far in such an amazing tournament.
“The fact that we broke some records was amazing, and the fact that I was able to help the team with that goal against South Africa was a really big moment of happiness.
“I just want to bring that to Swansea and really push the team to make it to the highest standard.”
Eustáquio is the latest member of the Swans squad to arrive following a World Cup campaign, joining Marko Stamenic and Elijah Just, who both represented New Zealand at this summer’s tournament.
But while his recent experiences have taken him to the biggest stage in international football, Eustáquio’s journey to this point began with his family.
Born in Canada to Portuguese parents, Eustáquio moved to Portugal as a child. His parents had a background in the fishing industry, and the midfielder says the values he learned growing up continue to shape the player he is today.
“I’m a very hard worker. I like to enjoy my football as well,” he said. “I think that I’m a very technical player, but at the same time, if I had to make a decision, it’s to be a warrior on the pitch.
“Being that type of player brought me very far, and I just want to continue with that profile.
“My family always taught me the best things: to be very humble and to work hard. That got me to big places, so I just want to continue like that.”
Football is also very much a family affair for Eustáquio too, with his brother Mauro - a former player now working as a coach - continuing to play an important role in his career.
“I always say that I have had a lot of coaches during my career that have helped me loads, but my brother is the main one,” he added.
“After every training session and every game, he’s always there to call me and give me his opinion.
“He’s somebody that understands the game a lot. All the feedback that he’s been giving to me over the past couple of years has been right.
“For me, it’s always good to have somebody in the family that breathes football, and that helps me a lot.”
Eustáquio made more than 150 appearances for Porto having previously featured with Portuguese top flight club Chaves and a brief stint in Mexico with Cruz Azul.
However, playing for one of Portugal’s biggest clubs brought huge expectations, with the demand to win every game and perform at the highest level.
“I think a player that plays in Porto really has the experience to know that they can play in any club in the world,” he acknowledged. “The pressure is very high. The demands are very high. The standard is high.
“Basically, you have to win every game and you have to perform.
“For me, the fact that I was able to play for Porto for so many years and in big competitions really made me a better player – a player that knows the responsibility that it takes to be at the top level."
Now, Eustáquio wants to use everything he has learned throughout his career to help Swansea navigate the demands of a long Championship campaign.
He admits there will be difficult moments, but believes his experience can prove valuable when the Swans need to find a way through them.
“For me, it’s just the fact that there’s no days off,” he insisted. “Every day is important, every metre is important, every decision is important for the team.
“I know that you guys know better than me that the Championship is a lot of games, a lot of dirty moments in the game, a lot of pitches that are very tough, but we still have to get a result.
“Hopefully, I can just help the team in the best way possible.”