Alisson Becker, Liverpool’s goalkeeper, has shared the story of a heartfelt gesture from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola following the tragic death of Alisson’s father, Jose Becker, in February 2021. Guardiola sent Alisson a letter of condolence after his father drowned in a lake near the family home in Brazil. Due to strict travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Alisson was unable to attend the funeral in person and had to watch the ceremony via FaceTime.
After missing a match against Sheffield United, Alisson returned to play the final 12 games of the Premier League season, even scoring a dramatic last-minute goal against West Bromwich Albion that helped Liverpool secure Champions League qualification.
Alisson revealed that the support he received from his Liverpool teammates, as well as from rivals like Guardiola and Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti, was crucial in helping him cope. He described the period as extremely difficult, with his wife unable to travel due to pregnancy and the pandemic, leaving him to face the ordeal alone. Alisson recalled in an interview with The Players Tribune:
“When he died, it destroyed me. I could not even think about football. I had to keep remembering that I even played football, and that we were fighting for the Top 4. It was even more complicated, because it was right in the middle of the pandemic, and the logistics of getting home were a nightmare…”
He recounted how his home was filled with flowers and condolence notes from teammates and even from rivals like Guardiola and Ancelotti. Alisson emphasized how much these gestures meant to him during his grief:
“I don’t think those people can understand how much something small like that means when you’re suffering. It was a reminder that even your biggest rivals recognise the human behind the name on the kit.”
He also highlighted the unwavering support from Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp and his teammates, who treated him like family and gave him the time and space he needed to grieve and recover.
In summary, Guardiola’s letter, along with the collective support from the football community, provided Alisson with comfort and strength during one of the most challenging periods of his life.