Their journey ended in Rotterdam. They settled there, built their home and raised their family. That would be the starting point of Garry Rodrigues’ own journey. He is a nomad of football. He believes that home is the place where he can smile doing what he loves most: playing football.

Since he was a little boy, he listened to his parents’ tales of Cape Verde and he would have fun with a ball at his feet and dream of making his own suitcase. He used it for the first time at the age of 8, when he visited the homeland of his parents. Since then he has been packing and unpacking with considerable frequency, because of football.

He learned football basics at the youth ranks of Sparta Rotterdam before moving to those of Feyenoord. He never made it to the senior side, thinking that his future was not linked with the De Kuip side. He left the Netherlands and his Rotterdam home on Adrien Milderstraat at the age of 17 to embark on a trip around the world.

To Portugal and back

Real Sport Clube of Queluz invested on the diminutive player’s talent and pace. Garry remained in Portugal for two seasons before packing his bag for the trip back to the Netherlands.

Things were not going as planned, but he never stopped smiling. He joined amateur side Boshuizen and was an instant hit. After netting 25 goals in one season, he convinced ADO Den Haag to offer him his first professional contract –but he didn’t become part of their roster.

Next stop, Bulgaria

In 2012, Rodrigues went on loan to second-tier FC Dordrecht. “It was the right choice”, he said. “I got playing time there, I was able to improve my game, work on my weaknesses and get valuable experience».

His displays attracted the interest of PFC Levski Sofia. The Bulgarian side followed his progress and moved to sign him from ADO Den Haag. They were proved right. Armed with pace, impressive technical skills and unpredictability of moves, a handful for every defender, the 23-year old attacking midfielder amazed at the ranks of PFC Levski Sofia.

Dreaming of the Primera División

Netting 21 goals and serving 14 assists in 47 games was his “passport” for the exciting world of the Spanish league. He had already rejected a move to the English Premier League, when West Ham United FC knocked on his door asking him to go through trials.

“I want to join a club who trust in me and are ready to offer me a contract”, was his determined answer. That is how he ended up signing for Elche CF in January 2014. “It was the chance of a lifetime for me, a dream come true. I know I find myself in the best league of the world, I will work hard and I will not let this opportunity pass me by”, was his first reaction. And he was true to his word.

His adjustment was far from easy. He needed one month to make it to the 18-men squad, but was eventually successful. He got a place in Fran Escribá’s plans and won the fans over. He was greeted with a standing ovation on 16 March 2014, when he came off the bench to take Manu del Moral’s place on the pitch. “I am very happy for the welcome of Elche’s fans from the day I joined the club”, he said and helped the Ilicitanos remain in the top-flight league.

My name is Rodrigues

Last summer, despite their financial hardship, Elche CF paid 600.000 euros to acquire his rights from the agents’ firm who owned them. Escribá established him in his starting line-ups, on the right wing of attack.

In Spain he decided that “Mendes Rodrigues” was too long a name to fit on his shirt, he stuck with “Rodrigues” and also changed his style of play and became more of a team player. He learned to open the field, create goalscoring chances from the flanks without having to enter the box, as he did in Bulgaria.

Capped with Cape Verde

Meanwhile, sporting No11 on his back, he represented his parents’ homeland in the African Cup of Nations, earning his first cap with Cape Verde in the encounter against Zambia in the group stage. “I am proud of my heritage and to be able to help my parents’ country”.

By the end of the season, Garry was no longer a starter due to his absence with Cape Verde, but he got to celebrate Elche CF’s permanence in the Primera División. Remaining in Spain however was not in his future.

He was released of his contract due to the dire financial situation of the club. He packed his bag once again, destination Thessaloniki. He will not be alone this time. He will bring along his partner Denise and his newborn daughter Iliana to watch him from the stands of Toumba.