The fall and rise of Luis Suarez in 2013

LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 29: Luis Suarez of Liverpool looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on December 29, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

It’s not often that a player’s career or mentality can be summed up in a single moment or freeze-frame second, but that’s precisely what a whole host of commentators attempted to foist upon Luis Suarez a mere eight months ago.

When El Pistolero infamously decided to bite Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on April 22 resulting in a 10 match ban, it looked for many as though the Uruguayan international had reached a nadir from which there would only be an inglorious and very turbulent return.

From the very outset, he was openly earmarked as a player who ought to struggle to regain his penchant for goal-scoring and as someone who should find his form dipping dramatically due to the torrent of negativity and hostility that would be sent his way upon return – it really didn’t bode well for the controversial figure.

Clearly, though, the 26-year-old striker begged to differ as the latter half of 2013 has proven with remarkable clarity.

Battling the strong current that was moving against him all year, Suarez continued to focus on his football where others pointed to his personality and his momentary indiscretions.

Notching up a decent three goals in the World Cup dress rehearsal that is the Confederations Cup – his breath-taking free-kick past Iker Casillas of Spain the pick of the bunch – he showed early signs of promise, although he couldn’t quite reach the dizzying highs he would have liked as the attacking triumvirate of Diego Forlan, Edinson Cavani and Suarez failed to really gel as well as national team coach Oscar Tabarez would have liked.

That said, he did manage to become Uruguay’s all-time leading goal-scorer with his trio of international duty strikes, all the while maintaining his desire to stay with Liverpool – despite not signing a new contract.

Biting off more than many others could chew, he’s managed to become the league’s top scorer with an incredible tally of 19 goals and all after missing his side’s first five matches, eventually making a goalscoring return against Sunderland with a well-taken brace, wasting no time in passing the thorough appraisal with flying colours.

From that point there was little arresting Suarez’s meteoric rise from English football’s bad boy to become the most feared marksman in the league as he terrorised defence after defence, week in, week out. Amazingly, the nearest challenger to him on that front is Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero with 13 goals.

Undoubtedly, the Liverpool forward will have had a lot of soul-searching to undergo throughout his time on the sidelines and although not many could have doubted the innate talent he possesses, it was still quite difficult to imagine just how the goal-poacher would tie seamlessly back into life under Brendan Rodgers

There were even some dissenting voices calling for him to be let go, complaining that he was a liability that could unsettle and disrupt Liverpool in their bid to launch a successful title surge in the absence of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Throughout the summer, the former Ajax star was linked with a move away to sunny Spain as reports began to filter through that La Liga giants Real Madrid were preparing a sensational big-money swoop to secure his talents in time for the beginning of the new season.

However, the Reds no.7 finally pledged his future to the Merseyside club on December 20 by signing a new contract and only recently broke the record for the most goals scored in a calendar month in the Premier League when he smashed home an impressive 10 throughout December.

In truth, Suarez has grown immeasurably in the last few months and has developed into a more fine-tuned player with a more level head on his shoulders, and he is gaining plaudits with every passing day as he continues to successfully distance himself from his former on-pitch persona.

Facing up to Branislav Ivanovic once again in his side’s 2-1 away loss to Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, there were no signs of him dredging up the demons of the past and there seemed little sense in anyone else doing it either (although that didn’t stop some from trying as Mourinho accused him of simulation) – he had come full circle.

And, while it’s nigh on impossible to dilute a player’s main characteristics down to a single incident or trait, Suarez is doing his best to shift the attention back on his goalscoring skill and his raw ability to find the net and light up a pitch with a flick of his boot or a rustle of the net.

Of course, it’s highly possible that 2013 will turn out to be one of the most memorable and influential in Luis Suarez’s career when he reflects back on it in years to come. The reason? He’s subverting the order of power by shedding light on the snapshots that portray him in a positive light and he’s erasing his negative image; he’s defining himself.