The Rise of Diego Cavalieri

Diego Cavalieri at Palmeiras

Diego Cavalieri was signed by Liverpool from Brazilian side Palmeiras, but became one of many Goalkeepers who found it difficult to dislodge Pepe Reina from his place between the Anfield posts.

Cavaleiri made his debut for Palmeiras early in 2002 for Palmeiras B, as they beat Rio Clara 4-0 in a friendly. During his early time at the club he was able to learn from the experienced goalkeeper Marcos, and as the years passed he was able to replace the Palmeiras club legend as the number one keeper for the Alviverde (the green and white of Palmeiras). Marcos was to return to the side after the departure of Cavalieri to Liverpool, and had some of his best years for the São Paulo club during this time.

On joining Liverpool Cavalieri knew that he would be the understudy to Pepe Reina. Signed by Rafa Benitez on 11 July 2008, he was to become Liverpool's third ever Brazilian signing, after Fabio Aurellio and Lucas, and was set to fight for his place in the side. On joining the club Cavalieri commented:


"I know it won't be easy to get into the team. I know I will have to be patient and work very hard to achieve my aims - but it is always like that when you come from another country. I am sure that one day I can get the number one position but that will only come with hard work."

"It was a dream for me to come to Europe, though I was taken aback by how quickly everything happened. It's all been sorted out in one week. But I have been given a very good welcome from my team-mates and the manager, so I'm very happy to be here. I just hope I can respond to all this. Rafa and I spoke for a long time on the day I arrived. He explained to me how the football is here and the differences from Brazil. He also talked to me about the responsibilities of representing a club like Liverpool."

Diego Cavelieri celebrates a Liverpool goal during their 2-1 FA cup
defeat at home to Reading.

Alas Cavalieri would become one of many goalkeepers who were unable to replace Pepe Reina, and he was unable to do what he had done back home in Palmeiras in replacing a club legend in goal. He made a total of 10 appearances for Liverpool, which all came in cup competitions:

Diego Cavalieri @ Liverpool FC - Games Played

Carling Cup 23 Sep 2008 - Liverpool 2 - 1 Crewe
Carling Cup 12 Nov 2008 - Tottenham 4 - 2 Liverpool
Champions League 09 Dec 2008 - PSV Eindhoven 1 - 3 Liverpool
FA Cup 03 Jan 2009 - Preston 0 - 2 Liverpool

Carling Cup - 22 Sep 2009 - Leeds 0 - 1 Liverpool
Carling Cup 28 Oct 2009 - Arsenal 2 - 1 Liverpool
Champions League 09 Dec 2009 - Liverpool 1 - 2 Fiorentina
FA Cup 13 Jan 2010 - Liverpool 1 - 2 Reading

Europa League 29 Jul 2010 - Rabotnicki 0 - 2 Liverpool
Europa League 05 Aug 2010 - Liverpool 2 - 0 Rabotnicki

After leaving Liverpool, mainly due to his lack of first team chances, he joined Cesena in Italy, but again his chances were limited to the odd cup appearance due to the preference for experienced Italian 'keeper Francesco Antonioli.

On the Rise at Fluminense

After similar experiences in both England and Italy, Cavalieri moved back home to Brazil where he joined Rio club Fluminense. This time he was able to work his way into the side as Fluminense mounted a title challenge for much of the 2011 Brasilierao season, but eventually finished third with 63 points, 8 points behind eventual winners Corinthians.

But Cavalieri had done what he needed to do and was now finally the established number 1 for the first time since his Palmeiras days.

With Cavalieri in goal, Fluminense were able to win the Taça Guanabara, or Campeonato Carioca, at the start of 2012, with the shot stopper making several imprtant saves to take his team to victory.

"Diego Cavalieri made ​​two spectacular saves on shots from Diego Souza and Alecsandro within the small area. After the pressure has cooled, and the crowd waited for the final whistle to celebrate." Globoesporte.

This win would give the side a springboard going in to the 2012 Brasileirao season, and they were eventually crowned Campeonato Brasileiro Série A champions for 2012 with a total of 77 points, 5 points ahead of second place Atletico Mineiro.

Diego Cavalieri would be selected in all the teams of the season for the 2012 Brasileirao, as pundits and fans praised his shot stopping abilities and contribution to the team at important stages throughout the season. He was as vital to Fluminense at one end of the pitch, as the goals of Fred were to the team at the other, and as a result his name has been mentioned as a possible addition to the Brazil national side in the build up to the 2014 World Cup.  It is thought that if he can improve his game, and make himself as competent at commanding his area as he is at shot stopping, then he could well play a part in the national side in the years to come.

Diego Cavalieri's saves helped Fluminense to their 4th Brazilian league title. 

The Original Nomadic Striker

Henry "Harry" Welfare.
The British Tricolour

Henry Welfare, known commonly as Harry, was a Liverpool born striker who went on to score 163 goals in 166 games for Fluminense of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  From what we know of his story there is a sense that he was a wandering football nomad who played the game by mixing amateur ethics with the hard work of a professional.  Here we look at how he ended up being a Flu club legend, rather than a Liverpool one.

Welfare played for numerous clubs in the North West of England including St Helens Recreation, Sandown, Hoylake, Northern Nomads, and Liverpool.  He probably played for far more teams than is documented, as he seemed to be willing to turn out for any local team who fancied giving him a game, and given his talents many would be willing to do so.  Some records state that he also played for Tranmere Rovers, Southport Central, and Wrexham.

At Sandown, Welfare was made player secretary by the club, and he always returned to this club in between playing for the more renowned and higher profile Northern Nomads.  The Nomads were another club who suited Welfare’s amateur outlook on the game, and they could be regarded as the northern equivalent of London’s Corinthians club.  Unlike the amateurs from down south, the Nomads would not limit themselves to playing against only amateur teams, and their matches against professional teams in the area may have been where Welfare was first noticed by Liverpool, especially as some of their games were played at Prenton Park in Birkenhead.  In the 1911/12 “season” (the Nomads only played friendlies) he scored 35 goals for the Nomads and this seemed to have been enough for Liverpool to want to take a closer look at the centre forward.

He made several appearances for Liverpool Reserves before eventually being promoted to the first team, and during this time he still made appearances for Northern Nomads, and maybe other amateur matches we (and Liverpool) don’t know about!  Liverpool realised that his performances in the reserves showed that he could easily adapt to a higher level, and his standout performances earned him a first team place.

His time at Liverpool brought mixed success, but the fans had taken to the hard working striker even after only four appearances.  Officials involved with the management of the club during this time obviously thought very highly of him, as is evident in the lucrative contract offer he received in an attempt to persuade him to stay on Merseyside and play full time for Liverpool in the First Division.  Fans and club officials thought that if he could dedicate himself full time to the club he could become one of their best players, but Welfare enjoyed the freedom his amateur status brought him too much to commit himself to one club on professional terms.  And he had a job or two lined up in Brazil...

His reluctance to play professionally may have played a part in him eventually joining Flumenense, as he was offered generous professional terms to play full time for Liverpool, but turned them down.  He went to Rio to teach at the Ginásio Anglo-Brasileiro not long after this offer - many of the so called gentleman amateurs of the time will no doubt have been persuaded to stay by the wages on offer in Liverpool.

There is an article on the Fluminense website which describes Welfare as the British Tricolour, and refers to him as “o gigante ruivo-grisalho” – the giant red-grey – when recalling the striker’s goal record and contribution to the clubs success.  Their debt to him is evident when the same article mentions that his goals helped make the club a power in football, and that he is still thought of so highly today shows the impact he had on the club.

The nomadic striker seems to have found his home, at least in football terms, at Fluminense, but some unconfirmed records state that he also played for Flamengo and even Corinthians.  Although an appearance for Flamengo could have been likely given that they are also based in Rio, it seems doubtful that he would have played for Corinthians who are based in Sao Paulo.  He did however score against the touring English Corinthains side whilst playing for an unofficial Rio de Janeiro team in 1913.

It is also known that an Exeter City team visited Rio as part of a South American tour in 1914.  They played against an early Brazilian national side made up of players from Rio and Sao Paulo teams, as well as playing in a match against English ex-pats.  Both games are said to have been played at Fluminense’s Estádio das Laranjeiras.  You wouldn’t bet against Welfare having played in one of these matches for either team, or maybe he was away playing for some little known local college side.