Ten things you should know about Maxwell

by Xaviniesta

1 - Maxwell, whose full name is Scherrer Cabelino Maxwell Andrade (nicknamed "Ali Maxwell"), was born on August 17, 1981 in Cachoeiro de Itapermirim, Brazil. His father is an engineer and former amateur football player while his mother is a former teacher and marathon runner. He is the youngest of 3 children.

2 - He is a left footed product of the Dutch school of football (he joined Ajax at age 19), and can play in any position on the left wing having played at full back, left midfield and as a wide striker.

3 - Maxwell also came from the renowned Cruzeiro youth system which counts among its products former Barcelona players Rivaldo, Luiz Ronaldo, Juliano Belleti and Juan Pablo Sorin, as well as footballers Dida, Alex and Gilberto da Silva.

4 - With Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam, he won 2 League Cups, 2 Dutch Cups and 2 Dutch Super Cups. He was named Dutch Footballer of the Year and won the Dutch Golden Shoe for 2003-2004. With Italian club Inter, he won 3 scudetti and 2 Italian Super Cups. His goal against Parma at the San Siro in April 2007 was voted Inter's Goal of the Season. Watch the video here.

5 - He suffered his worst injury on April 21, 2005 during Ajax' Amstel Cup semi-finals against Willem II. Maxwell avoided a tackle by jumping but landed awkwardly twisting his right knee. He tore a cruciate ligament and was out of the team for 8 months. This game would become his last for Ajax as he would be sold to Inter the following year. View a clip of the incident here.

6 - When he was all set to be transferred out of Ajax in 2006, many European clubs expressed interest in his services including Spanish side Barcelona. Maxwell later joined Inter while Barcelona signed Italian left back Gianluca Zambrotta.

7 - Asked who his footballing hero was, Maxwell said: “I always wanted to be Romario. Everything he did on the pitch I would always do at home after.” He later met Romario in Rio de Janeiro and immediately asked for his autograph.

8 - His older brother Gustavo died at age 24 from a car accident in 2002, an event which profoundly affected him. He has a tattoo on his arm in honor his memory. Speaking about his death, Maxwell once said: "The loss of my brother in this life is all relative. For him, I would like to be as strong as possible and to win prizes. That thought gives me strength. He is always with me, that I feel."

9 - Maxwell who is a Baptist admits to being a religious person: " I like going to church. Faith is very important for me. I also read the Bible, that is my favorite book."

10 - His favorite free time activity includes fishing, a hobby he shares with close friend and former Inter team mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.


Read more:
Maxwell: "My biggest hobby is playing football"
Ten Things You Should Know About Zlatan