At just 19, Jota was still making his way through the lower tiers of Portuguese football, earning a mere 150 euros a month – just enough, as he put it, “for the gas.”
However, now at 25, his situation is dramatically different. This summer, Jota achieved the remarkable feat of advancing from a semi-professional status to the Premier League by joining Nottingham Forest.
Yet, the Vitoria star is still on a mission to challenge the odds.
“Five years ago, I could never have envisioned him playing for Portugal, signing with a prestigious club like Forest, and entering the Premier League,” recalled one of his first coaches, Joao Ferreira, who trained him at SC Espinho, while speaking to BBC Sport.
“We all recognized he would become a professional footballer, but how far could he really go? That was anyone’s guess.”
Often referred to as the ‘Portuguese Jack Grealish’ due to his resemblance to the Manchester City star, Jota is eager to showcase that they share more than just a similar hairstyle.
He began sporting the slicked-back look – with a hairband – during the Covid-19 lockdown when salon visits were impossible and has maintained the style since.
“I admire him [Grealish] greatly, so it’s wonderful to be compared to him. People often mention our similar appearance, particularly the haircut, but as a player, I like to think I have the edge over him,” Jota remarked with a laugh during an interview on Dezanove22, Vitoria’s official podcast, last year.
