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Pace, dribbling, combinations – Yan Couto: a portrait
"I know that Brasilians who have come here have often written history. So I hope that I can also be someone who writes history here," said Yan Cuoto after signing his contract with Borussia Dortmund. The defender grew up in Curitiba, near Sao Paulo. "In Brazil, people often say it's a city that's a bit like Europe. Meaning it rains more than normal there. It's not always sunny. So I'm ready for the weather too."
Yan Couto started playing football at the age of three, wearing his father's football boots, which were far too big for him. Photos show that little Yan nevertheless wanted to play in his father's boots. Then ("I think I was four years old") Couto joined a team of seven-year-olds and soon after took part in his first tournaments. However, he did not want to commit himself to football, which is played outdoors: for four years, until he was 13, Couto indoor futsal.
Couto's home club is Coritiba FC, where he started playing at the age of nine. "I've experienced a lot of things, I made it into the youth national team. These are things I will always remember, they are very important to me. And I am very grateful to my home club, which has shaped me as a person and as a player." While still playing for Coritiba, he was nominated for the Brazilian U17 national team, which won the World Cup in 2019. In the final, Couto provided the assist for the winning goal. The English newspaper The Guardian included him in its "Next Generation 2019" list of the 60 best talents worldwide. In 2020, he made his debut in Coritiba's first team.
Couto had become a hotly-tipped name in the football world and had attracted a lot of attention. Many clubs courted him and at the age of 18, the defender left his home club to sign with Manchester City. But shortly afterwards, City loaned him to partner club FC Girona for the 2020/21 season to gain match practice in the Spanish second tier. This was followed by two further loans to Sporting Braga (2021/22) in Portugal and again to Girona (2022-2024), which had meanwhile been promoted to Spain's top flight. On the Iberian peninsula, he developed into one of the strongest full-backs in the league. Now a senior international for Brazil (four games, participation in the 2024 Copa America), the 22-year-old finished the 2023/24 season with Girona in a surprising third place. Couto was involved in the team's success with ten assists and one goal in 34 games.
Be smarter
The slight winger describes himself as an intelligent player, "because I'm not big, I'm not very strong. So I have to be smarter somehow." His speed is also one of Couto's strengths. He likes to play with speed, to run with the ball. He likes good combinations and wants to help his team with assists or goals. And he tries to dribble past someone whenever possible to create space for his team. Couto is a right-back who also likes to play in the front line; he sees himself as an offensive full-back.
With these characteristics on the pitch, it is no surprise that he also likes to be busy in his private life: "When I can, I'm always doing something. I don't like doing nothing. Well, except when I'm sleeping. I always like to talk to my friends from Brazil, I miss them a lot, and my girlfriend too." Whenever possible, Couto spends time in his home town. He feels at home there: "Whenever I'm there, I can relax well. I'm happy there."
He also travelled from Curitiba to Bad Ragaz to join BVB. After the training camp, Dortmund will be his new centre of life. Couto – the new Brazilian in Black & Yellow, who wants to bring the Brazilian style back to BVB – knows ex-Borussia players Felipe Santana, Tinga and Reinier, with whom he played in the U17 national team. "I think I do have that style, and I want to show it to the fans. Now that there is a Brazilian at Borussia again. I am here to show that on the pitch, and I want to show them beautiful football."
Christina Reinke