5 Footballers who don't go by their real names
For one reason or another, there are several football personalities who choose to go by names that are different from their actual ones.
Many footballers' real names are distinctly different from what are effectively stage names they use for their professional careers. This is the case with sport as an overarching field, not just with football.
Many figures even choose to go by relatively shorter names to make it easier for people all over the world to remember them by. Louis van Gaal's actual name, for instance, is Aloysius Paulus Maria van Gaal. Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho Gaucho was born Ronaldo de Assis Moreira.
Some footballers use their first names on the back of their shirts, such as Dele Alli and Memphis Depay, who do so due to personal reasons.
Memphis revealed that he stopped using his family name due to his father walking out on his family when the winger was just four years old. Dele, on the other hand, began going by his first name after he stated he 'had no connection with the Alli surname' back in 2016.
For others, it could even be a nickname they grew up with that sticks with teammates and supporters alike.
Atletico Madrid captain Koke's actual name is Jorge Resurreccion Merodio. 'Koke' is just a nickname coined by his elder brother when the midfielder was young and the name stuck with him well into his professional career. Former Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez is another player better known by his nickname, Chicharito.
Similarly, there are several popular football figures who have come to be known by their aliases, to an extent where some might not even be recognisable by their birth names. On that note, here is a look at five famous players who don't go by their real names.
#5 Hulk | Givanildo Vieira de Sousa
Givanildo Vieira de Sousa arguably has one of the most interesting nicknames among present-day footballers. The Brazilian journeyman is popularly known as 'Hulk', so much so that very few would be able to recognise him via his actual name. In this case, Hulk is very much a reference to the popular Marvel Comics character.
There have been many myths about the reason behind him choosing this moniker, including one related to the green shirt he wore at Tokyo Verdy in Japan. However, the truth is that Hulk's father, Djovan, was allegedly a fan of the 1978 TV show about the iconic comic book character.
'The Incredible Hulk' starred former American bodybuilder and actor Lou Ferrigno, who Djovan was a fan of. This led to him giving his son one of modern football's most iconic nicknames. In this case, it also helps that Hulk i.e. Givanildo Vieira de Sousa is a commendably well-built athlete.
#4 Pepe | Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira
Former Real Madrid star Pepe is quite commonly regarded as one of the best and most aggressive defenders of his time. The centre-back is still playing European football at the age of 38, and put in a string of magnificent displays in the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League. The Portuguese rolled back the years against Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus with a breathtaking showing to knock them out of the UCL.
The highly-decorated defender has always been referred to by his nickname, Pepe, which isn't a part of his official name. However, there isn't much of a story behind this name, as Pepe himself revealed a few years ago. He explained;
"My name [Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira] in Brazil is quite difficult to pronounce. My coach and my father and called me Pepe because it was easier. And that how it has stayed; Pepe."
The 38-year-old fired Los Blancos to three LaLiga Santander titles and three UCLs during his time in the Spanish capital. He also helped Portugal win their first-ever piece of silverware as he won the UEFA Euro 2016, and the 2018-19 Nations League.
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