Former Everton left-back Bryan Oviedo has revealed his goal for the Blues against Manchester United was the best moment of his career.
The Costa Rica international struck the winner back in December 2013 to help the Toffees earn their first win at Old Trafford in 21 years.
Fondly looking back at his time on Merseyside, Oviedo wrote in the club’s ‘My Everton’ series : ”I have so many good memories - and only good ones - but I think the goal against Manchester United is the best goal of my career, and probably the best moment of my career because it meant so much to the Evertonians at the time.
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“Even now, it’s the one people speak to me and message me about.
“When I travel around the world, I always seem to bump into an Evertonian wherever I am! I love this.”
Oviedo spent five years at Goodison Park after signing from Copenhagen in 2012 though only made 68 appearances - his game-time hampered by a leg break in 2014 which kept him sidelined for nine months and the fact he was deputy to the consistent Leighton Baines.
However, he made an impact, writing his name into Toffees folklore and even had his own song.
“Every time they sung the ‘Oviedo, Baby!’ song for me it gave me a special feeling,” he said of the supporters anthem for him.
“All I wanted to do was provide good moments and good performances for them - the love they gave to me was mutual. It will always be there for me.
“The club was amazing in every single aspect - the people around it, the players I played with, everything… And the support? The support of Everton is huge. They can give you power, even when you feel at your lowest.”
Remembering the night he netted to end Everton’s winless run at the Theatre of Dreams, he said: “Thankfully, I was in the right place when I needed to be.
“I can still see Lukaku crossing it now… the ball came straight to me. It was a tight angle but I was never going to cross from there, my only thought was, ‘You have to score’.
“After that, I just remember the celebrations from the Evertonians. I actually ran to the opposite corner where they were, purely because of the adrenaline and my emotions were all over the place to think about exactly what I was doing in that moment!
“At the end of the match, Sylvain Distin picked me up on his shoulders and the fans were singing and singing. They always created amazing atmospheres but, obviously, this one was extra special for me. They were still in the stadium for a good 30 minutes after the final whistle singing away.
“My wife and some of my family were there that night. It is something I will never forget and it makes me happy whenever I think back to it.”
Oviedo left in 2017 to join Sunderland but admitted he thinks about his time at Everton ‘almost every day’ and revealed his family are still Blues.
“I have two sons. My eldest boy is really into football and he watches all sorts of clips on YouTube. Sometimes he’ll tell me he’s been watching me play for Everton, or that he’s watched that goal against Manchester United. It’s funny, it’s a nice feeling.
“He is an Evertonian, like the rest of my family.
“I hope I can come back one day to experience Goodison Park again. It’s one of my favourite-ever places.”
A version of this article was initially published in December 2021.
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