Thanks to a few hours' time difference, we managed to FaceTime with Wamberto. The former Ajax player, back in his home country after playing in the Ajax Legends match against Real Madrid, answered our call while with his family. "Hello, hello!" he said with a big smile. "What's the weather like over there? Here, it's 39 degrees."
Friends like family
Wamberto now lives in the north of Brazil, in São Luís. "Hold on, let me move to another spot." With his phone in hand, he walked to another part of the house and sat down. "Ajax is in my blood and in my heart. I loved the Legends match so much. I hadn't seen some of my friends in ages: Danny Blind, Sjaak Swart, Dani, Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder, Ronald and Frank de Boer, Edwin van der Sar, Jari Litmanen, Kiki Musampa," he listed enthusiastically. "For me, they are family."
The former Ajax player joined the game briefly before resting. "I slept for three days after the match," he laughed. "I was a little sore, but I enjoyed it. You know, the Ajax shirt is so special to me. I’ve given the Gala Match shirt a beautiful place in my home."
Love for Ajax
Wamberto turned 50 years old recently. Reflecting on his past, we journeyed back to July 1998, when the 23-year-old Brazilian transferred to Ajax from Standard Liège. "I learned how to play football at Ajax and played alongside world-class players. It was a dream come true. A few years earlier, I was watching Ajax in the UEFA Champions League on TV, and then, suddenly, I was sitting in the same dressing room as those players. My career skyrocketed in Amsterdam, and for that, I'm grateful to God."
"I received so much help from the people in Amsterdam, which allowed me to settle in quickly at Ajax. I am very grateful for that," he continued, wiping sweat from his face. "A few weeks ago, I saw them all again. After the match, we ate and drank together. I laughed so much. It was one of the best evenings of the past year for me."
One match forever linked to Wamberto is the 2002 Dutch Cup final against FC Utrecht. In the dying minutes, the short winger scored the 2-2 equalizer from what seemed to be an offside position. "I'll never forget that moment. Andy van der Meijde crossed the ball, and I had already started running. I think I was too small for the linesman to see me," he said with a big smile. "Three meters offside, I saw afterward. I love it," he laughed again. Ajax went on to win the cup in extra time thanks to a golden goal by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, securing the domestic double. "The celebrations were incredible."
The Ajax fans even made a song about the moment. Wamberto was asked about it and immediately started singing. "Yes, yes, I know the song. Fantastic. I love it."
Samba spirit
Just as Wamberto was warmly welcomed upon his arrival in Amsterdam, he later played the same role for new arrivals. In 2001, fellow Brazilian Maxwell joined Ajax. "He's one of my best friends in football. I told him to stay calm, and he spent a lot of time with us. He came over for dinner often and quickly realized he had joined one of the biggest clubs in the world. After that, everything improved for him, and he became an excellent player at Ajax." Wamberto also helped Kerlon later on. When Kerlon's name came up, he started laughing. "I danced samba with him and some other Brazilian guys. It was amazing," he chuckled.
In 2017, Wamberto extended the same hospitality to David Neres. "Edwin van der Sar asked me to help Neres acclimatize to the Netherlands. I showed him around the city, helped him settle, and told him he was at the best club in the world. Ajax is huge, I told him. On the streets, people wanted to take pictures with me, and that surprised David. I told him that I had always given everything for Ajax, and people here never forget that."
He wiped his forehead again before continuing to talk about the club. "Ajax is so special to me. During the Legends match, I looked around the stadium and felt emotional on the pitch. The club is fantastic and will always have a place in my heart," said the former Ajax player, who won two league titles, two domestic cups, and the Johan Cruyff Shield with the club.
Farm life and FC Wamberto
Fast-forward to today, and Wamberto now owns a farm in Brazil with a variety of animals. "I've got horses, cows, and goats. About ten people work on the farm. Every now and then, I ride horses—it was a bit tricky at first, but now I’m getting the hang of it," he grinned. "We also have a football pitch, a footvolley court, and a tennis area. It helps us stay in shape."
Additionally, Wamberto runs a childcare center. "It's located in the neighborhood where I was born and raised. My sister manages it, and we currently have about fifty children there. Life is tough for the youth in that area, so I try to give something back."
Lastly, Wamberto has plenty of successors in his family. "I have three grandchildren: Matteo (7 years old), Matthias (5 years old) and Massimo: 2 years old. The eldest loves karting, and the middle one is really good at football. He reminds me of his grandpa," he smiled. "The youngest will probably play football too. Hopefully, I can bring them to Ajax one day. Ultimately, I'd love to start my own football club with my sons: FC Wamberto," he laughed again. "Why not? That’s the dream."
