From 'Tiny Tiger' to Premier League Star: Hincapie's Inspiring Rise from Beach Football to Arsenal Defender

PIERO HINCAPIE was the ‘little boy who ran like a wild tiger’ — playing football on a beach in Ecuador.

But even the scout blown away by the impish youngster never dreamed he would become a Premier League star with .

Piero Hincapie has risen from a slight midfielder to a key cog in Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal machineCredit: Alamy The Ecuadorian was spotted while playing beach football

Hincapie’s journey has taken him from Esmeraldas to the Emirates, leaving home at the age of TEN to follow his dream of becoming a professional footballer.

And it was only his incredible will to succeed that saw him overcome his diminutive size to make it as an elite athlete.

He has played 24 times for Arsenal since arriving on loan from and there is an option to buy him for £45million this summer.

The versatile defender, 24, was excellent in Sunday’s 4-1 win at Spurs — he looks to be ahead of in the left-back spot.

Hincapie grew up in the coastal city of Esmeraldas and was spotted by Marcos Zambrano, a distinguished Ecuadorian talent scout who bought a club called North America and transformed it into a premier youth academy with the first team playing in the country’s second division.

Zambrano said: “I would estimate that the national team has used 50 per cent of players who came from our North America club.

“It doesn’t matter the age, the tournament, the city or whether it’s on grass or an outdoor field.

“I’ve even scouted at children’s tournaments held on the beach.

Hincapie (left) played up a division as a youngster

“The closest example of a player I’ve discovered on a beach is Piero.

“Through a contact in the city of Esmeraldas, I was informed about a beach tournament in the area.

“Piero played in the middle of the pitch like a box-to-box midfielder.

“He was very tenacious, a fighter, a complainer — but very, very short.

“I must admit there were many doubts about him because of his size. Piero wasn’t the type of player I usually look at.

“But Piero had a fighting spirit like a tiger.

“I reached out to his parents to inform them of our decision and to propose the opportunity for him to join our project in Guayaquil.

“I’m talking about 2011. I took him to Guayaquil, eight hours away, when he was ten years old.

“He signed with our North America club and lived in our academy along with other boys from different parts of the country.

“Piero started playing tournaments with our team and he worked hard, improved little by little and, over time, he silenced any doubts. One year later I bought a top-division club called Deportivo Azogues.

“We moved Piero there and he played for their under-14 team at the age of 13. He always played a category above his age.

Hincapie made his name for himself at German outfit Bayer LeverkusenCredit: Instagram / @pierohincapie

“Piero didn’t play as a centre-back in our project. He continued playing in midfield because he was too small to play as a defender.

“At that time, the laws prohibited my club from playing in the first division of the national tournament.

“This caused us to lose many players who wanted to participate in the first division.

“Piero’s parents very kindly asked me to let their son leave because he wanted to play in the first division with Independiente del Valle.

“I wasn’t angry. Quite the opposite, because I’m one of the founders of Independiente del Valle in Quito and I knew he was going to a good club.

“It was a good move for Piero. I was happy for him.

“I never imagined that this little boy who ran like a wild tiger would become an elite player playing for the Ecuadorian national team, in the and now in the Premier League with Arsenal.”

Hincapie has not only grown as a player but in height — he is 6ft tall.

After a solid start in north London he suffered a hamstring injury against in January but has excelled since returning to the team.

He also has this summer’s World Cup to look forward to with Ecuador — who play Ivory Coast, Curacao and in the group stages.

Zambrano added: “Looking back, Piero didn’t have the physical attributes I look for in a player.

“I look for players with long, powerful legs who are in demand — Piero was the complete opposite.

“He was small, feisty, very brave and a winner.

“And yes, he had a left foot that was like a velvet glove.

“But we have to applaud Piero for his work, dedication, passion and fighting spirit.

“And even more so for playing as a centre-back or full-back, as I’ve seen him do on a few occasions, playing really well.

“He left his home town, his home and his parents at the age of ten to pursue his dream of becoming a professional soccer player and help his family financially.

“Ecuador has realised the raw talent it has produced in recent years.

“Brazil, Argentina, and have always exported players, along with .”