KEY POINTS:
Brazilian signing Daniel Lins Cortes wants to help the Wellington Phoenix reach the top four in their first season of soccer's A'League.
The 27-year-old left midfielder has joined the Phoenix on a two-year deal and arrived in the capital from Niteroi, Brazil, last week.
Daniel -- like many
Brazilian players he goes by a single name -- began his professional career at age 19 for Brazilian club Madureira before linking with European club sides FC Twente (the Netherlands) and Videoton FC (Hungary).
Before signing with the Phoenix, Daniel had played for Brazilian first division clubs Botafogo, Juventude and Guarani.
Soccer has been a way of life for the amiable Brazilian.
"When I was a kid I could only think soccer, soccer, soccer," he said.
"I was not a good student. My teachers always would say, 'Daniel is a problem student'. That was because all I wanted to do was play. I love soccer."
Daniel speaks very little English so his older brother, Ricardo, has travelled from Rio de Janeiro to help him make the adjustment to life in New Zealand.
Daniel's wife, Danielle, who is pregnant with their first child, will join her husband in a couple of months.
Ricardo said his brother had a driving ambition as a Phoenix player.
"He wants to help the team make the top four. He knows the A-League is a very strong competition but he is prepared to work hard and do what the club needs him to do."
The club will hope he can provide some South American speed and goal-scoring ability.
Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert was confident Daniel is the man for the job.
"We considered two or three different sort of South American players but he was one from the first instance that we thought would give us what we needed," Herbert said.
"He's a natural left-sided player and is attacking-minded. He likes to get forward and likes to score goals and his desire to do that is very much at the forefront."
Herbert said helping Daniel get settled with the club would be the key to helping him reach his potential this season.
"He's got the flair and he's got the ability. While there's no question he possesses all the qualities we are looking for, it's a matter of extracting them from him."
Ricardo said Daniel, who turned down a lucrative offer from Dutch first division side Feyenoord to join the Phoenix, was excited about playing in the A-League.
"It's a very strong competition and we have heard very good things about it. It seems to be getting stronger all the time and is attracting marquee players, like Romario (the Brazilian World Cup winner who played a four-game stint for Adelaide United last season).
"We saw the A-League and the Phoenix as a very good opportunity for Daniel to play abroad."
- NZPA
