In the mid-2000s, a sum of 250,000 was a quite a lay out for 1. FC Union Berlin. The club toppled-and-turned through various economic problems during a hard time for former East German clubs. This was cash, which had to be spent well — step forward: Daniel Teixeira. It's not common for players to be specially serenaded here — Texas is the second, after Karim Benyamina and Torsten Mattuschka's recent farewell in September 2017.

A short-term loan signing from KFC Uerdingen, the Brazilian — then aged 33 — arrived in Kopenick while in the club was competing to get out of the Regionalliga. His impact was emphatic, not only delivering  sporting success, but also earning the love and support of the supporters on the terrace. He is without doubt the most notable non-German player to wear the club’s colours since our establishment in 1966.

“Texas” certainly didn’t conform to any lazy stereotypes either. Born in Belo Horizonte, his career was nomadic, taking him to all corners of the globe. He spoke four languages, came from a well-educated background and embraced the roll-up-your-sleeves attitude of Union in the lower divisions. There was no Samba dance, nor football in the style of the 1970 Brazilian national team. However, there was a big heart, warm personality and outstanding work-rate for the rest of his team.

Instead, Teixeira was a goalscoring phenomenon with 18 goals in 16 league games in 2001 — he fired more goals than the rest of the team combined. He single-handily occupied weak defences and practically fired the club to the title on his own. His form was so good, the club was forced to pay an extra 240,000 Deutsche Marks to Uerdingen in the summer following the end of his loan period. A permanent transfer may have been agreed in the aftermath of Union reaching the DFB Pokal final, but his parent club Uerdingen demanded one million for his signature.

After leaving Union, Teixeira became a fans favourite of Eintracht Braunschweig, where he fired his team to the second division in 2002 as the top scorer. There was one full season at Holstein Kiel before a short stint at Rot-Weiss Essen in 2004. In the winter, at the ripe old age of 37, he was reunited with Union and gave the locals something to celebrate in the final two seasons of his playing career. With 24 goals to his name, Teixeira inspired Union out of the Oberliga (fifth tier) and into the Regionalliga Nord.

On October 13, 2007, he was given the chance to wave farewell to the supporters, more than 3500 of them watching Union draw 5-5 with “Texas & Friends” select side. Few players in the club’s history have been serenaded in the form of a final game, or a specific choreography display. This was perhaps the biggest compliment to his achievements in Köpenick.

“1. FC Union Berlin will always be a part of me.” — Daniel Teixeira