David Da Costa is taking the next step to stardom in Portland
It wasn’t the easiest environment for a first English interview.
BEAVERTON — It wasn’t the easiest environment for a first English interview.
I met with David Da Costa after Timbers training on Tuesday, just hours before the team jumped on a plane bound for Salt Lake City and an eventual 0-0 draw. Da Costa is Portland’s first-year designated player — a 24-year-old from Portugal, brought in as the club’s counter to the departure of the dynamic Evander.
He speaks fluent Portuguese, French and Spanish, and his English has been improving since he first arrived here in February and told media, “I understand a little English,” before largely relying on a Spanish-speaking translator for the last three months. He’s scored two goals, assisted on four more and, while not as prolific as the player he replaced, has been a key cog on both sides of the ball for a Portland team that sits 10 points ahead of last year’s squad through 13 games.
“His work rate is unreal,” assistant coach Dave van den Bergh told me. “We knew that he liked to press because he loved to run forward and press high, but his work rate behind the ball and back working is unbelievable.”
Da Costa is soft-spoken and his coaches describe his personality as “cheeky.” And while he doesn’t seem to view himself as the star of the Portland Timbers, he is a player who is realistic about his position.
The Timbers paid $6 million to RC Lens in February for Da Costa to be a big part of the club’s future. He’s signed to a four-year deal, and even though he’s a very different player, he’ll always carry the label of being the one brought in to replace Evander.
There’s a story to be told there. And for the first time in Portland, he insisted on telling it in English.