LB presents the Full Story of a Football Genius best known by the Nickname; ‘O Magico’. Our Philippe Coutinho Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts brings to you full account of notable events from his childhood time till date. Analysis involves his life story before fame, family life and many OFF and ON-Pitch little known facts about him. Without doubt, it is his no-nonsense and pragmatic approach to the game that renders Coutinho’s private life and humble beginnings an enigma to fans. Now lets Begin;

Philippe Coutinho Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts –Early Life

Philippe Coutinho Correia was born on the 12th of June, 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Ze Carlos Coutinho (father) and Dona Esmeralda Coutinho (mother). He grew up in a family that operated a low budget and also a low standard of living. He was a shy type as a kid. He would prefer to stay along and cry all day when pushed to do something he had previously shied away from.

His journey to greatness began in the shantytowns of Rocha, in Rio de Janeiro. Infact, his home was close to the iconic Maracanã stadium which was build in the shanty areas of Rio. He liked the game as a little kid but never participated. He could only watch people play football close to a concrete pitch at his home. It was at this same concrete pitch he watched his two elder brothers Cristiano and Leandro challenge their friends. It was this pitch he also conjured his magic.

There was no hesitation from Coutinho’s father, and the gifted youngster joined a local boys team who concentrated on local kid’s tournaments. This time, he wasnt shy to play football with his friends because he had known them from childhood. Coutinho excelled a lot more than his pairs in kids tournaments. Little did he know his expertise had been spotted by scouts.

A few months later, Vasco’s coaches approached the architect at a tournament Coutinho performed best and encouraged him to get Coutinho to attend a trial with his club.

“I was crying and I didn’t want to play because I was shy,” Coutinho remembers. He still exhibited his shy tendencies and was afraid of stage frights. When he first approached the academy, He held onto his dad in the stands while he watch other kids warmed up. “I was new to the group, everyone knew each other so I was feeling a little shy and uncomfortable. He said.

“After a short while and some motivation, I was fine. When I actually started to play, it was all normal and natural. I wasn’t shy anymore, I was enjoying it.”

It was at the age of 13 that it got dawned on Coutinho that he might just make a living from football. As he puts it;

“I first thought to myself, ‘Okay, you can actually be a professional’ this was when I got called up to the Brazil Under-14 squad,” reveals Coutinho.

“I was selected out of so many really talented players, so it was a way of showing me that this could be a career — that I could make it, that I was good at it. At that point I realised I had to start thinking about the game more seriously.”

Philippe Coutinho Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts –Nickname

Back as a kid, Coutinho adopted the nickname ‘The Little Magician’ by fans who who were fond of describing him as the youngest dead-ball specialist in his hometown. This is a nickname he had kept till date. A nickname that shaped him in very quickly. His football growth potential was high. Infact, it didn’t take long before Courtinho became one of Brazil’s premier playmakers while still very young. He was able to play on the flank, behind the striker or as a lone-man himself. His awareness, passing ability and flair for the ball made him unique from other footballers.

According to Coutinho, “Being unique isnt easy. It is very difficult to stand out from the rest when there are millions who are trying to do exactly the same. It’s a shared feeling among boys in Brazil, because football is like a factory,” he explained. “You have to give everything because there’s an endless supply of talent and the factory is always full. It is constantly in the back of your mind that there are millions of kids trying to do the same thing. But what I knew is it wasn’t just about the skill or the technique, you have to be really strong mentally and be very determined to make it. Most of the youngsters I grew up playing with do not have a career in the game now. Sometimes people think it is easy to be a footballer. For me, it is hard work that never stops.”

Philippe Coutinho Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts –Family Life

Philippe Countinho came from a struggling lower-middle class and a happy Brazilian family who once lived in an economically precarious situation. Though they were not officially poor, but his family experienced limited economic opportunity for their last born son. One major setback was low income which at some point almost pushed them into poverty.

It was football which helped them to improve in their living standard thanks to their golden last child ‘Coutinho’. His early familiarity in Brazil brought in lots of cash which aided the well keep of his family.

Philippe Coutinho Childhood Story; How he saved his family from poverty:

Infact, as soon as Coutinho started making money, there was no longer issues of food and economic insecurity in his household. It  is pertinent to note that his father, Mr Ze Carlos Coutinho (at the left side of the picture above) is a anti- Barcelona fan. He is the sole reason for his son’s decline to the Spanish giant despite Neymar trying his hardest to convince the midfielder to join Barcelona.

MOTHER: 

Dona Esmeralda Coutinho is Philippe Coutinho’s mum. The Brazilian forward has once revealed how Liverpool’s 2016/2017 title push was inspired by his mum. Coutinho says manager Brendan Rodgers struck on an unusual motivational tactic of reading letters from mums as his side once charged towards Barclays Premier League glory during that season.

Liverpool ultimately fell just short, losing out to Manchester City by two points, but Coutinho has spoken of how the messages had a profound effect in the dressing room. The message from Coutinho’s own mother was read out just before Liverpool’s trashing of Manchester City at Anfield in April, 2017. It was a game in which the Brazilian himself went on to score a superb winner.

The 22-year-old told CNN Sport: “I was so anxious for it to be my turn, for the manager to read the letter from my mum.

‘I waited and waited for it. The manager had spoken to the mothers of every player in the team, he’d been reading a message before every game for months and finally my turn had come. At first, I didn’t know that the manager would be reading a letter from her, then he mentioned her name and I was really overwhelmed. It said she loved me, is proud of me, is always with me and missing me.”

BROTHERS: Coutinho has two older brothers named Leandro Coutinho and Christain Coutinho. Both elder brothers grazed football from their early childhood time. Unlike their kid brother, they didn’t stand out from the crowd. They shifted their focus on the game and later became professional lawyers.

Philippe Coutinho Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts –Relationship Life

Part of the reason Coutinho’s name isn’t plastered across the headlines for engaging in any farcical off-field incidents is because his family has tie him down long ago. Here is his Philippe Coutinho Love Story.

Coutinho and Aine were childhood sweethearts who evolved into life partners and each other’s best friends. Aine was only 17 when she left all that she knew behind (including her family) to follow Coutinho to a new continent where she lived a new life.

When he was 20-years-old, the former-Inter Milan midfielder wedded his wife Aine and they are still happily married as at time of writing.

“We’re from the same neighbourhood and after the party, we just started seeing more and more of each other, going places together. This was when our love we have grew deeper and stronger.”

Aine goes to every home game, and as many away days as possible. When he scores, part of his celebration is to always acknowledge her. He is fond of blowing kisses in her direction. It is a symbol of his gratitude for all she has sacrificed and the unwavering support she supplies.

It is the love from Aine that assuaged Coutinho’s early fears. Nagging away at him was an important question. Being deeply loved by her gives him strength and courage. This he takes to the field of play. Infact, these two love birds share sad and happy moments together.

Coutinho has once showcased his wife’s baby bump for fans to see. The picture below shows the Brazilian playmaker and his partner looking pretty excited as they await the birth of their first child together. To celebrate their future family member, Aine Coutinho had a ‘70% loading bar’ drawn on her stomach.

Moreso, both have celebrated the birth of their first child together. The Brazilian playmaker Coutinho appeared to be in a good mood after a certain game, as he posed for a picture with his wife Aine and young baby to celebrate Mother’s Day in the UK. Coutinho shared the picture below on his personal Instagram account and wrote: “Happy Mothers day my Love.”

Philippe Coutinho Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts -Social Media Presence

Coutinho has a significant presence online and on social media. The former Vasco da Gama man has his own official website. He also has more than 150,000 followers of his Twitter account, an individual YouTube profile and 4.6 million followers on his instagram.

Philippe Coutinho Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts –A Close Friend with Neymar

While Roberto Firmino is undoubtedly a close compatriot of Coutinho, given that the pair line-up together for the same club and country, it is believed that Philippe’s biggest inspiration is Barcelona frontman Neymar.

In a recent interview with FourFourTwo, Liverpool’s talismanic forward went as far as suggesting he had based his entire game around Neymar, “He’s our main idol in Brazilian football and someone young children look up to.” Continuing, Coutinho stated, “He’s a close friend of mine and it’s great to have a team-mate the same age as me who I admire”. From childhood friends as pictured below, both parties have grown to adults and have still maintained such friendship.

Philippe Coutinho Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts –The Chemistry with Roberto Firmino

Although chemistry throughout the entire squad is important, footballers will always have certain individuals they bond with better than others. In Phillipe Coutinho’s case, it’s Roberto Firmino who he outlined as his ‘best friend’ at the club.

“We have a good understanding,” Coutinho explains, “I really enjoy playing with Roberto and we are close friends. We both speak Portuguese. The two of us, plus Lucas and Alberto (Moreno), spend time together away from football.”

Philippe Coutinho Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts –A devoted Christian

All footballers draw inspiration from somewhere; an obsession with fitness, former footballing idols or, in Coutinho’s case, religion. Despite having gone back on his desire to not have tattoos, the midfielder still claims that he’s “not a nightclub goer” doesn’t drink alcohol and above all, loves Jesus.

Coutinho claimed at the time of signing for the Reds, “I don’t drink alcohol… I pursue happiness through other avenues. Shall we talk about how great it is to have God inside us?”. Whether you yourself are religious or not, it’s refreshing to see a footballer so contented with live’s simple pleasures. Jurgen Klopp certainly won’t have to be worried about any off-field antics from the Brazilian.