Alphonso Davies emerged from nowhere this summer, signing for one of world’s biggest clubs, Bayern Munich, just over a year after making his Major League Soccer debut for Vancouver Whitecaps.
The latest part of his journey has brought plenty of attention and global media coverage, but the hard work behind the scenes has been going on for some time.
Born in Buduburam, a Ghanaian refugee camp, Davies moved to Canada at the age of five, eventually settling in Edmonton after a year in Windsor, Ontario. His Liberian parents had originally fled their home during the Second Liberian Civil War, finding refuge first in Ghana, and then Canada.
“We were worried because hunger can kill you in the refugee camp anyway,” said Davies’ father, Debeah.
“It’s not only in a war zone, but in the camp if there is no food people die, right? So every day we needed to make sure we have something for him to eat, and make it in life.
“They have a program called resettlement, and they said ‘OK, you have to fill in a form for Canada.’ We went through the interview and everything, and made it, and came over here.”
Up until June 2017, Alphonso was classed as a Liberian national, and had to apply for Canadian citizenship in order to represent the national team of his adopted homeland.
Shortly after receiving his new passport, aged 16, he became the youngest player to represent the Canada men’s national team.
Davies had joined the Whitecaps FC Residency program at 14, having been spotted playing for Edmonton Strikers.
His coach at the time, Nick Huoseh, now his advisor, told us that his talent was evident at an early age.
“Alphonso played in Edmonton’s EIYSA Soccer League with the Edmonton Strikers,” he said.
“Though he was by the best at his age at U10 level, the U12-U16 years were when he really developed.
“Coaching him during those years I realised that this kid will go very far. I believed he would reach the top one day.”
The Residency initiative is described as a “fully funded, player development program unlike any other in North America”, where young footballers are taught key skills which will aid their development on and off the pitch.
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His obvious talent saw him fast-tracked to the club’s United Soccer League (USL) side, Whitecaps FC, who are the equivalent of a reserve team playing in the lower divisions in Europe.
He was promoted to the Vancouver Whitecaps first team in 2016, and now has six caps and three goals for his country, winning the Golden Boot as well as being named Best Young Player at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Davies is now preparing to move to another country to continue his football development, and judging by recent performances he is thriving in the limelight following the announcement of his high profile transfer to Bayern.
With eight assists and five goals in MLS this year, he’s had a hand in more goals than any other Vancouver Whitecaps player, and is joint third in the entire league for assists.
One of the stand-out qualities in Davies’ game is his willingness and ability to take on defenders in one-on-one battles. He has demonstrated this recently with a few highlight-reel goals, leaving opposition players tackling thin air before finishing with his trusty left boot.
His underlying numbers back this up, and are proof that there is no better dribbler in MLS. He tops the league for dribbles completed with 98, and is successful with 68 percent of his take-ons.
It’s a big ask, but if he can maintain these numbers after his move to Europe, then this would put him on a par with the likes of Douglas Costa, Neymar, and Lionel Messi in the group of world class dribblers behind Eden Hazard, who is out on his own when it comes to this part of the game.