Goncalo Paciencia

When Eintracht Frankfurt played at FC Porto in the UEFA Europa League on 20 February 2014, Goncalo Paciencia had a front row view of the action as a ball boy at theEstádio do Dragão. While he can't remember if he was called to be involved during the game, what has stayed with him is the fantastic atmosphere in the away end during the thrilling 2-2 draw: “I was stood in front of our ultras and at one point their chief with the microphone urged our fans to generate as good an atmosphere.” The same atmosphere the 23-year-old now enjoys with 50,000 Eintracht fans at the Commerzbank-Arena.

The Portuguese striker started playing for Porto at the age of just eight. There was never any question of which club he’d choose since his father Domingos, now a respected coach, is a true Porto legend. He scored 106 goals in 263 competitive appearances, winning seven league titles and five cups with the Portuguese giants, achievements that acted as a heavy burden for his son: “My dad achieved great things but I want to go my own way.” He is confident that in Germany he will no longer be compared to his successful father: “It certainly doesn’t make things harder for me.”

Paciencia junior has represented his country at every youth level, making over 50 appearances in the process. He was regularly loaned out by Porto in recent years, gaining experience at Olympiacos, Rio Ave and Vitoria Setubal. The striker now wants to settle at Frankfurt, where he has signed on until 2022. For him, the Europa League is “a special bonus, but I would’ve still come to Frankfurt regardless”. Paciencia is keen to impose himself at Eintracht and in the Bundesliga, and the DFB Cup final served as a reminder that anything possle with the right attitude: “That was a great game against Bayern, which ended in a deserved win.”

On 25 January 2020, the Portuguese extended his contract for another year until 2023.