How a love for Messi led to a passion for Bradford City

A young Ivo Soboleosky pictured with his hero Lionel Messi and the man who, very inadvertently, set him on course for a love for Bradford City

Of all the reasons to start supporting a football club very few can compare with the story of one Argentine's love for Bradford City.

The then 10-year-old Ivo Soboleosky could have no idea that tuning in to see the Bantams' stunning 4-2 FA Cup win at Jose Mourinho's Chelsea in 2015 would lead to a lifelong passion.

Mourinho had a number of clashes with Lionel Messi's Barcelona with the Blues, Inter Milan and Real Madrid and that led Soboleosky to root for the underdog at Stamford Bridge.

"I'm from Rosario, the same city as Messi and I'm a big fan and I was watching the Chelsea v Bradford game and I hated Mourinho because of Messi," he told BBC Radio Leeds.

"When a third division team beat the top of the Premier League I was buzzing and I wanted to know more about them.

"I started following the results and where they were in the table and then I started paying to watch the matches live."

Soboleosky built up a large following of City fans on social media over the years that followed and came over to West Yorkshire to watch the team for the first time in May 2022.

He returned for a three-month spell in December last year, coinciding with the Bantams going on a club-record run of home wins as they charged up the League Two table.

When results dropped off after he had returned to South America a plan was hatched to get him back as they look to earn promotion.

Soboleovsky will be at a sold out Valley Parade on Saturday as they take on mid-table Fleetwood Town with a win enough to secure their place in League One.

"I was here for three months between December and March and we had a very good run of results where we were winning every game we played," he added.

"The fans started calling me the good luck charm and when I went home we started losing games and one of the fans worked out the points per game and said we should do a GoFundme for this guy to get him back for the last two games.

"People started donating and last time I checked it was at £1,500.

"I thank them so much. I don't have words enough for not only paying for the trip but all the messages they have sent me on my social media accounts. I don't think I deserve them."

'Bradford are my team now'

Then Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho congratulates Phil Parkinson after Bradford's famous win at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup

In the 10 years since that famous FA Cup win, Bradford have endured far more downs than ups and were relegated to League Two in 2018-19.

The 20-year-old, who supports Newell's Old Boys in his homeland, said he could not describe how his passion for the club had blossomed so much.

"I wish I could explain it. It just happened," he said.

"Some of the history is similar to my club in Argentina, they were both founded in the same year... I wish I could say this is the factor that made me fall in love with City but it was just watching the games and following the team it started to play a massive part in my life. It is my team now.

"The first time I went it was just magical. I don't think there are words to describe the first time you go to a place that you have been looking forward to going to for so long.

"It's very special."

Ivo Soboleosky (right) in the studio at BBC Radio Leeds

'I hope the ground is going to rock'

Victory against Fleetwood would end Bradford's six-year stint in the fourth tier.

Soboleovsky is confident the supporters can help the team get the result they require and make his latest visit even more special.

"I hope the ground is going to rock on Saturday. We need to play our part and make Fleetwood feel that pressure," he said.

"We need to support the team and I'm pretty sure we'll get the three points.

"We need to be confident. There is nothing to lose, get the three points and we are promoted."