Paris Saint-Germain defender Willian Pacho will seek to expand his trophy collection on Wednesday when his team defends their European Super Cup title against Aston Villa. Referee Omar Artan, who missed out on the World Cup, will officiate the match.
Pacho forms a defensive partnership at the French club alongside Marquinhos that is considered one of the best in Europe. Since joining Paris Saint-Germain two years ago, the Ecuadorian central defender has won two Champions League titles in his first two seasons.
Born in 2001 in one of the Ecuadorian provinces most affected by violence, Pacho began playing football on dirt streets surrounded by houses with tin roofs. He started his career at local club Huracan de Quininde, where his talent quickly stood out.
Early career and personal tragedy
When Pacho was 14 years old, his coach, Byron Cedeno, took him out of school classes to attend a trial with Liga de Quito. The capital club rejected him, prompting a disappointing return to his hometown. Cedeno did not give up and obtained permission from Pacho's teacher for a three-day absence to take another trial with Independiente del Valle in Sangolqui. Pacho impressed in a friendly match and signed with the club, where he played alongside future Ecuador national team teammates Piero Hincapie and Moises Caicedo.
After rising through the youth ranks, Pacho made his professional debut on November 2, 2019. On that same day, his mother, Glenda, died from breast cancer at the age of 51. Pacho said in an interview that he did not know about her death during the match because his sisters kept it from him so he could play. He described it as an unexpected day filled with mixed emotions.
Her death inspired his choice of shirt number. Pacho explained that wearing number 51 is his way of paying tribute to his mother, stating that it gives him strength in every match and makes him feel her presence. In 2021, he established himself in the first team and helped Independiente del Valle win the first league championship in the club's history.
Move to European football
In January 2022, at the age of 20, Pacho moved to Europe when Belgian club Antwerp signed him for just over 5 million euros. His initial months in Belgium proved difficult as he struggled with the cold weather and underwent surgery on both shoulders. He gained valuable experience after Mark van Bommel became manager and he began playing alongside veteran defender Toby Alderweireld. Pacho noted that he learned a lot from Alderweireld despite relying on hand gestures to communicate because of a language barrier.
During the 2022-23 season, Pacho became a key figure as Antwerp won both the Belgian League and the Belgian Cup. Early in that campaign, he suffered a fracture in his left wrist, forcing him to play with a plaster cast and bandage. When called up to the Ecuador national team, he continued playing with the bandage and scored his first international goal. He has worn a bandage as a superstition in every match since.
After a year and a half in Belgium, Pacho signed for Eintracht Frankfurt. He immediately secured a starting position, making 44 appearances in his single season in Germany.
Success with Paris Saint-Germain
Pacho's performances in the Bundesliga attracted interest from Paris Saint-Germain. Sporting director Luis Campos contacted Pacho while the defender was on holiday, telling him that he wanted to present the club's project. Campos recalled in an interview that Pacho immediately asked if the club wanted to sign him and said he would fly to Europe the following day. Paris Saint-Germain completed the transfer for 40 million euros in the summer of 2024.
His arrival in Paris attracted little public attention initially, and Pacho maintained a quiet profile. However, his performances quickly established him in the team. Manager Luis Enrique praised Pacho, saying that he plays very cleanly, wins duels without committing fouls, avoids bookings, and serves as a vital, world-class defender for the squad.
Over his two seasons in France, Pacho has won two Champions League titles while wearing number 51. After each victory, he dedicated the achievements to his mother, saying that the success was for her wherever she is and that he knows she is happy with his progress. He also publicly thanked his former youth coach, Byron Cedeno, expressing gratitude when selected for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and again for the 2026 World Cup.
Within five years, Pacho has progressed from winning the Ecuadorian league with Estudiantes del Valle and a Belgian double with Antwerp to excelling in Germany and lifting the European Champions League trophy twice with Paris Saint-Germain. He now aims to add another trophy when Paris Saint-Germain face Aston Villa in the European Super Cup.
