EPL: The Life of Liverpool's Luis Suarez in 13 Proud Moments

Luis Suarez has been ever present in recent news from the footballing world—albeit for different reasons than those through which he has helped teams win by playing sublime football. Luis has polarized opinion about him as a character if not his footballing talent. Even from the blessed support from the red half of Merseyside—Liverpool, England.

I am one of the biggest fans of Suarez and feel that he has been more misunderstood and unlucky at times rather than being at fault.

One thing with Suarez is that he has been reprimanded each time he has been even "alleged" to have done wrong—something of a rarity in a world where thugs get away even after elbowing, spitting and having affairs with ridiculous ease.

Even though I might get stick for sticking up for him at the moment, I hope in due course of time, we will all realize that he has a little kid in him.

Let us look at 13 moments that have defined Luis Suarez's life so far.   

13. Scoring 6 Goals in a Single Game at the Highest Level for Ajax

Luis Suarez scored an astonishing double hat-trick in a game against WHC Wezep in the KNVB Cup competition.

The scoreline ended with Ajax reaching double figures and Suarez and his men won 14-1 on the day. The KNVB, also known as the Dutch Cup, is the Eredivisie's version of the FA Cup.

If anyone can state any other instances of players scoring six or more goals in a single game at the highest level in the 21st century, please do so in the comments section. Luis Suaresz's record with Ajax is truly amazing, and this feat would have given him a lot of confidence for scoring that many.

Enjoy the video. 

12. Scoring All 4 Goals for Uruguay in an International vs. Chile

There are numerous players who are able to make it big at club level, though surprisingly enough, they find it hard—almost impossible at times—to replicate that sort of stuff for their national team.

Luis Suarez, as you will note through this and a few of the following slides, does not come into that category.

Scoring four goals in a single international game is no walk in the park, even when the top ranked teams play countries that find it hard to qualify for any tournament of note. In this recent instance of 2011, Suarez scored all four goals of the game against Chile, who boast a present world FIFA ranking of 12 above the likes of France and Ghana.

Again, if someone has other instances to share here, please do so in the comments section. Enjoy Suarez's rout of Chile.

11. Martin Jol Makes Luis Suarez Captain of Ajax

Suarez was named Ajax captain at the start of the 2009-10 season by manager Martin Jol.

Being the second highest scorer in the league the previous season, Suarez continued his goal scoring exploits into the new season even with the pressure of captaincy, most notably against RKC Waalwijk when he scored a hat trick in Ajax's 4-1 win.

A gamble of giving him the present captaincy for Liverpool would probably be the last thing the club needs to spur more turmoil from the media. However, once he starts scoring regularly, the tone of "disgrace" gets attenuated and he wins back his name in the perception of Liverpudlians, the manager of Liverpool whom I hope will be Dalglish, may give the club its new captain after legendary Gerrard. 

10. Suarez Dodges Half a Dozen Manchester United Players Before Setting Up Kuyt

Keeping this slide in the list might be ridiculous to some. However, I would like to mention the scenario first to make my point.

Liverpool was having an indifferent season, and there had been a managerial change after the horrendous Hodgson reign. Fans were looking for their king to finally turn things around after a long wait. One of the measures was bringing in a marquee signing in the form of Suarez in January, and then marched Manchester United towards Anfield.

That last sentence probably will not work for any references for this season as fortress Anfield has not been a fortress at all—eight out of 12 games were drawn there. But it does for that fixture, with Suarez's performance on the day leaving the feel of intimidation that the "This Is Anfield" sign has on opposition players intact, at least for a few subsequent weeks anyway.  

Being a foreigner, Suarez took little time to adjust, but it was this game and this skill shown above that truly announced to the Barclays Premier League that 'El Pistolero' has arrived.

9. Suarez's Work in Africa

The recent allegations mean that few probably believe this is the same Suarez that has been highlighted by the media so vehemently of late. He might have been "only" found guilty of racially abusing another player, but people do not take time to read into that as bold "racism."

This slide has not been placed in this collection for highlighting the other side of Suarez, but simply because I feel that he must have been proud of this work and he took time out for even while preparing for the biggest tournament in football—the World Cup.

8. Suarez Named Club Footballer for 2008-09 and 2009-10 for Ajax

Suarez amassed 28 goals and 16 assists in the 2008-09 season for Ajax.

He further notched up a jaw-dropping 49 goals and 14 assists for Ajax the next season. For these figures and his sublime finishing and unselfish link-up play, he was awarded the club player of the year for both seasons.

Go ahead and enjoy the video.

7. The New "Hand of God"

After the 2010 World Cup, Luis Suarez was the talk of Africa. Not because of his footballing guile that helped his team to the semi-final—something you would come to expect—but because of his hand-ball incident in the quarter-final against Ghana, Africa's pride.

In Uruguay's match against Ghana, Suarez had stopped a goal bound header crossing the goal line with his hands in extra time to deny Ghana a goal. He was sent-off for the offence and Ghana failed to convert the penalty.

Uruguay eventually won in the penalty shootout with much of Africa's ire still directed at Suarez for what was perceived to be as cheating.

Now, I may get criticized to the hilt for yet again defending Suarez's actions, but hello—if that is termed cheating then why is it within the rules? Wasn't a penalty awarded? Didn't he get sent-off for the offence? Didn't he miss the following penalty shootout? Didn't he miss the semi-final which who knows Uruguay might have won along with the World Cup itself?

Readers might say that ifs and buts are never really convincing but hang on—I have more to say.

All that I have stated might have happened but for a linesman and the referee getting a decision wrong. Please see the video.

I will admit to the first pass not being offside as the two players further up the pitch did not really interfere with play. However, the second pass (header) is offside, even though marginally, and so it means that the flag should have gone up well before Suarez played goal-keeper. 

A minuscule number of people know about this, and so Suarez's character is tarnished manifold everyday. I am not here to fuel controversy but to help someone getting more and more isolated (even from his own fans) by the hour get some well-deserved justice.

Anyway, for the sacrifice that Suarez embraced for his country, it must have been a proud moment when Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty. Suarez did not realize the serious offence committed by him and thus celebrated in joy.

Afterward, he did provide an explanation and said he was sorry that people in Africa became unhappy with him. Before moving on, do you think Africa would have been angry right at the moment that this incident took place? Only after Gyan missed his spot kick did people find a scapegoat in Suarez rather than lambasting Gyan for missing the penalty.  

6. Eredivisie Golden Boot Winner 2009-10: Luis Suarez

For the same reasons that Luis Suarez made a name for himself in the Netherlands to make it impossible for Ajax to have anyone else as its player of the year, he won two more honours.

One of these was the Eredivisie Golden Boot for scoring 35 goals in the 2009-10 season in the league. A major feature of the journey to this accomplishment was a flurry of games where he scored more than one.   

5. Luis Suarez Awarded Dutch Footballer of the Year for 2009-10

As mentioned in the previous slide, Suarez won three honours for a magnificent 2009-10 campaign. The third and last of these was the award of Dutch Footballer of the year.

Enjoy the music and the goals.  

4. Luis Suarez and Sofia Are Blessed with a Baby Girl

Luis Suarez and his wife Sofia are blessed with a beautiful baby girl—Delfina.

Here, Delfina enjoys a match of Liverpool Football Club from the stands. Suarez is a family man and his daughter certainly provides one of the most compelling reasons for him to stay happy and be proud.

3. Suarez Marries His Childhood Girlfriend

At present, I am engaged to the love of my life. I would trade my life with none, but if I were given no other choice, I would certainly choose Luis Suarez's. His humbling love story actually makes you melt inside.

Luis is one of seven brothers and has had to deal with issues regarding his parents not being able to stay together. His family was not well off when he was a kid. He met Sofia when he was 17 and she was 14.

They experienced love at first sight and strangely enough, Sofia's parents were very fond of Luis.

Because of the economic crisis, Sofia's father moved to Barcelona where Sofia would join him later. Suarez found it difficult to be without his love, though he spurred himself on for clubs in Europe to take notice.

He scored 13 times in 16 games for Nacional that year. And then Mr.Cupid arrived.

While Sofia was working in Europe, Suarez was still in Uruguay with Nacional. Step in Groningen Football Club, and Suarez jumped at the chance to play in the Netherlands—moreover to be nearer to his love and life.

2. Luis Suarez Is Named Player of the Tournament at Copa America 2011

Luis Suarez was named player of the tournament at the Copa America 2011. He scored four goals for the Uruguay national team during the campaign.

This has to be one of the proudest moments for any footballer in his career, though for Suarez there might have been a prouder moment still!

1. Uruguay Won the Copa America in 2011

Contrary to popular belief (made popular only recently), Suarez is a very good team player.

He wears his heart on his sleeve and one may see the effort he puts in his game in every match that he plays. He has always spoken about winning together as a team, and so there would have been very few people who would have been happier than Suarez when he and his teammates won them the Copa America for a record 15th time.

Thus, at No. 1, we have Uruguay lifting the Copa America in 2011 with Suarez as the player of the tournament as the proudest moment for Suarez to celebrate in his life.