I hope to continue the legacy made by Stracqualursi [...] and show the people that we Argentines always want to win.’ These were the words uttered by current Everton midfielder Carlos Alcaraz, during his first press conference after being unveiled by the club in January. With one solitary goal during his season-long loan, and the unfortunate accolade of being ‘The worst footballer to play for Everton’ according to Toffee TV’s Peter McPartland, why is Denis Stracqualursi remembered with such fondness amongst fans and players alike, almost fourteen years later?
Recommended to Everton, by the aptly named agent Simon Conning, alongside a DVD compilation from Stracqualursi’s goals in Mexico, it was immediately apparent, even to himself, that the Argentine never quite belonged at the top level. Having been forced to sell Yakubu and Jermaine Beckford, Everton reneged on their rejection of the services of the Argentine, who had previously failed a trial at then Championship outfit Leicester City, and triggered the ‘strange and fast’ loan August 2011 deadline day deal which led David Moyes to admit he was ‘not sure’ and would ‘find out in time’ what qualities the target man offered. The wool was pulled over Stracqualursi’s eyes too, who stated in an interview with The Independent that Conning had told him the ‘lie’ that ‘the club really liked’ him.
Described as a 'big lump' who had ‘a touch like a trampoline, and ‘ran like he had a plough attached to him’ by an unnamed former Everton teammate in Greg O’Keefe’s Athletic piece on the 6 foot 3 inch striker, it was the humility which accompanied his dearth of quality that endeared him to the Goodison Park faithful. ‘The Strac’ admitted he ‘had to give five times more’ than his teammates if he wanted to succeed in the Premier League and that work-rate was evident to those involved at the club. Dave Billows, the club’s former head of Sports Science and Performance claimed that the ‘always smiling, gentle giant would chase paper blowing in the wind if you asked him to’ whilst Leon Osman also echoed Stracqualursi’s keenness to ‘work hard and fit in’ meaning ‘you couldn't not take to him.’ The loanee was intent on making the most of his limited talent, with a disregard for his own safety accompanying his attitude in training, a lasting image of his tenure on Merseyside being his horizontal header at the feet of David Luiz.
With Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar (2011) following Joleon Lescott (2009) in handing in transfer requests and moving on to pastures new, the opportunity to represent Everton seemed to have lost its shine. Stracqualursi’s storybook-esque character, garnered by his genuine adoration for the club and the disbelief at his belonging, was evidence of a new type of cult hero, in a time where Everton’s best footballers were jumping ship. His description of playing at Goodison Park as ‘A Beautiful Dream’ in his departing love letter to the toffees was an indictment of his gratitude at being given a chance at the top level of football.
His aforementioned interview with The Independent turned into something of a love letter to The Toffees faithful itself. Stracqualursi claimed ‘knowing people there still remember me is worth more than any money to me’ and recalled his loan spell as ‘The best time of my life.’ Describing his sole premier league goal as ‘like touching heaven with my hand', a photo of him sealing victory against Chelsea, still proudly displayed on the wall in his parents’ living room in Santa Fe, is further evidence that Stracqualursi views his time in Liverpool as one of his happiest and proudest times.
Citing the life experience of living in the city and its community homeliness, Stracqualursi’s adoration goes deeper than mere on-pitch commitment. A well known fact that the vast majority of footballers from Merseyside and Manchester’s top clubs reside in Cheshire, Stracqualursi’s love affair with scousers is as much to do with his assimilation to the proud city. Describing Liverpool as representative of where football came from, with unending public support in close quarters; similarities can be drawn between Stracqualursi’s Hometown Rafaela, known for its industrial roots, and his home from home on the docklands of the North West. It is therefore no wonder that the big man still talks about his ‘soft spot for the place and fantasises about taking his son back to watch his old club.
Football is oftentimes considered a game for mercenaries and some of Everton’s most talented Academy Graduates have immediately turned their back on the club responsible for their formative years in football. Born a stone's throw away from Goodison Park, Wayne Rooney kissed the Manchester United Badge in the direction of the Gwladys Street end on his return to his boyhood club. Anthony Gordon, an Everton player since the age of 11, followed suit, speaking of his and his family’s adoration for cross city rivals, Liverpool, after leaving The Toffees, in what was seen by many as a ‘come get me’ plea. Despite making just 21 Everton appearances before being deemed surplus to requirements, Stracqualursi’s commitment and love for the club far outshone some of those who grew up with it and this was reflected in the way he played. Perennially fondly remembered amongst supporters, ‘The People’s Club’ tag line is ironically perfectly embodied by the adopted Scouser born over 10,000 Kilometres away from Goodison.
The great Alan Ball said ‘Once Everton has touched you, nothing will be the same.’ Never has that phrase rung truer than for Denis Stracqualursi. A footballer who never quite made the grade at Goodison Park, but understood more than most what it meant to pull on the royal blue shirt. The Argentine who briefly returned to Europe, playing Semi Professional football in Italy, is currently seeing out his career at his local Argentinian Third Division club, Union De Suchales. A suitably humble twilight to a career reflective of his love for the game and a distinct lack of ego, Stracqualursi is evidently eternally proud to call himself an Evertonian. The Everton faithful are in return eternally grateful for a cult hero, who revitalised a fractured club looking to regain its identity.