PETALING JAYA: Long before new Selangor signing Kevin Deeromram became a flying wingback in South-East Asia, he was a young boy glued to the TV screen watching Real Madrid’s marauding leftback Marcelo light up the Bernabeu with his Brazilian flair.

“I like Marcelo when he played for Real Madrid,” said Kevin, now 27, in his first interview after joining the Red Giants.

“He is technical and you could see how good he was in Europe. I try to play like him - being on the offensive, always trying to create chances.”

It’s no surprise, then, that Kevin’s own game has blossomed in the same mould.

Marauding leftback: Kevin Deeromram is now set to bring his high-energy style to Malaysian football after a solid eight-year stint in Thailand.

A bold, attacking leftback with a forward-first mindset, Kevin is now set to bring his high-energy style to Malaysian football after a solid eight-year stint in Thailand.

Kevin’s rise in football, however, is somewhat a surprise as his background did not hint at a future on the pitch.

“I’m the first professional footballer in my family.

“My father was a wrestler. He put me into football, but we didn’t come from a sporting world.”

Born to a Thai mother and Swedish father, Kevin’s multicultural roots offered him options, but his love for the game paved his path forward.

He joined the Djurgardens IF academy in Sweden in 2012 before moving to Werder Bremen in 2015. A year later, he returned to Djurgardens and made his professional debut against Levski Sofia, a moment that tested every nerve.

“Imagine the fans, there were flares everywhere.

‘‘I was literally shaking. But it made me a player. Since then, I haven’t looked back.”

In 2017, Kevin moved to Thailand, representing Ratchaburi and then Port, where he played from 2018-2025.

He won the Thai FA Cup with Port in 2019 and also earned four senior caps for Thailand, after clinching the SEA Games gold with the U-23 team in 2017.

Now, Kevin is charting a new chapter with Selangor

“I felt the time was right to spread my wings. Selangor showed interest, and I thought, ‘Why not?’ It’s a big club with a huge fanbase and good facilities.”

Adapting, he believes, won’t be an issue. Having already spoken to coach Katsuhito Kinoshi and his new teammates, Kevin is itching to hit the ground running.

“I can’t wait to get started. We want to win as many games as we can and try to be champions.’’

If he can inspire a few young footballers, the way Marcelo once inspired him, that will be a bonus for Selangor.