Galicia kisses it's hero: Roy Makaay

Sjoerd Mossou
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Thursday 27 November 2008

Behind the goal line in Riazor where Roy Makaay scored so many goals it smells of garlic.

The herb drives away the evil spirits, or at least that's what the fans of Deportivo La Coruña believe.

Superstition and magic are rooted deep into Galicia, the coastal region in the northwest of Spain, and it was exactly here where Roy Makaay became a folk hero, the center forward who has absolutely no mystery about him.

The welcoming at Aeropuerto de Alvedro is warm and chaotic as fans and reporters jostle each other around the player who made history in La Coruña.

Makaay observes it with a smile, mumbles some friendly words in Spanish and shuffles towards the team bus.

But no matter how down to earth Roy Makaay is: he enjoys his return.

His wife Joyce and their kids have come along for the occasion to the city where the player was happy between 1999 2003.

On the pitch of Estadio Riazor, just before the last evening training, Makaay dreamily looks around him.

"The good memories come back here easily," he says ahead of the UEFA Cup clash between Feyenoord and Deportivo La Coruña on Thursday.

"Because I had a great time here."

In 2003 became European Topscorer here, thanks to 29 goals in the Primera División.

But most of all he was key player in the team that won the Spanish League in 2000, the only league title in the 102 years of history of the club.

A region that has so little to flaunt with was filled with pride.

As the economy fell behind to other parts of Spain, Galicia is one of the poorest regions of Western Europe.

The robust Atlantic coast is known for the many lives of local fisherman it has taken and then there was the oil spill disaster of the Prestige in 2002, that steeped the region into an ecological and economical crisis.

The successful era of Super Depor – roughly between 1994 and 2004 – gave the self-awareness of the Galicians a big impulse.

Deportivo La Coruña didn't just grow to be a Spanish giant, they also conquered Europe.

The team in which Roy Makaay grew to be a star, was moulded into a close-knit and highly skilled collective by coach Javier Irureta.

A team without real stars that suited Makaay so well.

Makaay never gained the super-stardom of his predecessors Bebeto and Rivaldo.

So Makaay might have been the most successful striker in the history of Deportivo, it were the Brazilians who brought glamour to Galicia.

"Most of all I like watching cartoons with my daughter," Makaay once said when asked about his favorite spare time activity.

But that doesn't the great amount of respect the center forward enjoys here.

The press room of hotel Melia Maria Pita is packed with Spanish reporters who have come here for Makaay.

Calmly he recalls the memories: "The championship in 2000 was really special. We played the decider in Riazor and I shall never forget what it unleashed among the people. It was a madhouse, in the stadium, in the city. The thousands f people by the side of the road..."

Three players from those glorious days are still there: Manuel Pablo , Sergio and Juan Carlos Valerón.

With the latter the Feyenoord-striker had a special bond.

"He is perhaps the best player I have ever played with, but after three operations on his knee I am most of all happy that he can actually play. I am really looking forward to seeing him again," Makaay says.

Before and after the training of Feyenoord Makaay shakes many hands in the catacombs of Riazor.

With unfailing precision he finds his way around the old, charming stadium situated at the main boulevard of the city.

No, he will not cheer if he scores tonight.

"I have too much respect for the people here to do that. I will enjoy seeing all these people again until kickoff and then I will fight with all my heart and soul for Feyenoord."