TORONTO

A lock box contains relics of Julian de Guzman’s storied past.

The Canadian midfielder says its contents are proof of a football career he didn’t think was possible.

“I made sure I got a jersey every game,” de Guzman told the Sun ahead of Monday’s news conference revealing his retirement.

“I can pull out Zinedine Zidane’s jersey. All the top players, I can pull them out (at my bank) and say, ‘Yeah, I actually played against that guy.’ ”

The 35-year-old added: “I knew what I was going through.”

Back home, many didn’t.

While de Guzman was trail-blazing through Europe, the Lou Marsh Trophy was being awarded to anyone else. In his prime, de Guzman helped lead Spanish side Deportivo de La Coruna to a place in Europe and a stunning win over Real Madrid.

Regardless, de Guzman’s storied career remains largely untold.

“There aren’t many who can understand,” de Guzman added.

He refers to it as a “rare Canadian story” — one that reveals how a teenager from Toronto debunked naysayers to eventually become one of the most accomplished footballers in Canadian history.

‘NEXT THING I KNEW’

While attending Cardinal Newman high school in the late 1990s, de Guzman researched playing overseas.

“I heard examples of Canadian guys who’d gone to Europe and never made it,” de Guzman said.

A standout with North Scarborough SC, de Guzman’s first trial in Holland ended rather quickly in 1996.

“I had to prove to my parents I was responsible enough to go back overseas by getting good grades,” he reminisced.

Upon returning to Canada, de Guzman was spotted by scouts from Marseille — his second chance at an overseas deal.

So he packed up his things and headed to France’s south port, where he learned first-hand that Canadian footballers may as well be extraterrestrials.

“They weren’t sure why I was there,” de Guzman recalled. “It took them three months to figure out who I was, but it turned out to be a tryout and I did well.”

It afforded him the opportunity to stay with Marseille’s under-17s before the club’s academy director eventually broke the news.

“They told me to go back to Canada because soccer wasn’t for Canadians,” de Guzman remembered.

Just thankful for the opportunity, a “disappointed” de Guzman turned his attention to Canada’s under-20 national team.

Amid a training camp in nearby Germany, de Guzman impressed scouts from Saarbrucken to the extent they signed him to a two-year amateur deal.

While the money wasn’t good — roughly $1,000 per month — they offered de Guzman a house and car, “which was great,” he said.

By the following year, de Guzman had graduated to Saarbrucken’s first team, doubling his salary.

No stranger to road blocks, though, he again ran into issues when Saarbrucken sacked its head coach almost immediately.

“The new coach (ex-U.S. international Thomas Dooley) came in and only wanted experienced players,” de Guzman explained.

He found himself back with Saarbrucken’s reserves for six months before Dooley — facing relegation — turned back to his young guys.

Relegation spurred free agency for de Guzman — and he didn’t have to wait long before someone came knocking.

The head scout at newly promoted Hannover 96 happened to be the assistant coach Saarbrucken sacked earlier that season.

De Guzman quickly came to terms with Hannover before making his Bundesliga debut four games into that season. His first start arrived soon after.

“I didn’t know until the day of the game,” de Guzman said. “The next thing you know, I’m a 21-year-old making my debut against Borussia Dortmund.

“That was a huge jump from listening to a director in Marseille saying I could never make it in Europe.”

‘ORGASMIC’ MOMENT

De Guzman appeared 78 times for Hannover before 2005, when his contract was up for renewal.

“I wasn’t getting the offer I thought I should,” de Guzman said.

Hannover’s sports director asked de Guzman to keep a secret.

“He said, ‘Hey, listen. I’m going back to (La Coruna) and I want to bring you there,’ ” de Guzman said, agreeing it was somewhat shady.

The Canadian turned down offers from Werder Bremen, Bayer Leverkusen and Tottenham to play in Spain.

“I went from making 20,000 Euros a month to $750,000 after taxes per year,” de Guzman said, adding that it was like, ‘Wow!’ when he saw his first cheque.

“But I knew that wasn’t the end,” de Guzman said, refocusing the conversation.

“I was told that it’s not about having good games or good seasons, it’s about having a good career. It’s about having consistency.”

De Guzman referred to it as the best time of his career. He was on the same field as guys such as Ronaldinho.

“I was defending them,” de Guzman added. “I would never imagine a Canadian getting that chance.”

Then came what de Guzman called an “incredible orgasm” on the pitch.

Scoring the game-winning goal in a 3-1 win over Real Madrid stands alone as the biggest single moment in his career.

“Nobody knew anything about me,” de Guzman recalled. “I was a joke and a clown walking into that league. Scoring that goal (against Real Madrid) was so confusing to me. I felt like I was on top of the world.”

He was named La Coruna’s player of the year the following season.

But memories of personal achievement are outnumbered by what he witnessed.

“The one person who always stood out, and remains a memory, is Ronaldinho,” de Guzman said.

“I’d be on the bench watching us play Barcelona, and you’re on the edge of your seat. He just had so much fun. He enjoyed the game and was the best.”

RETURNING TO CANADA

Near the end of de Guzman’s deal with La Coruna, the Spanish club still owed him 2 million Euros.

De Guzman also recalls turning down an arranged marriage that would have provided La Coruna with an extra international roster spot.

“They were very nonchalant about,” he said. “That got me frustrated.”

At 28, de Guzman looked to cash in. Wigan showed interest, but wouldn’t meet his demands. He also had options to return to Germany.

Finally, a low-ball offer from Toronto FC sparked a conversation.

“It was a matter of TFC meeting my expectations,” de Guzman said, estimating TFC’s original offer was for roughly 450,000 Euros per season after taxes.

He eventually agreed to a three-year deal worth roughly $3 million annually.

“TFC met my expectations and even more,” added de Guzman, who doesn’t hide from what turned into a rough ride at BMO Field.

De Guzman says he didn’t even know what a Designated Player meant.

“It was a struggle,” he added. “I was presented to MLS as if I scored goals. I had crazy bonuses in my contract where I’d get $10,000 for a goal.

“Those weren’t my strengths. That wasn’t what I was taught in Europe.”

Suddenly, de Guzman, a holding midfielder, was expected to be an impact player. He still jokes about playing as a “second striker behind Dwayne De Rosario.

“When you come to MLS, you’re not just enjoying your time in America,” he said of his struggle. “You’re flying five hours to one game. You’re playing on turf. You’re playing with college players.”

But de Guzman doesn’t regret the decision — and not just for the financial implications.

“I got to learn a different culture,” he continued. “I was only in tune with a European mentality.”

The Reds attempted to push de Guzman out following 2009. And again after that.

“After (head coach Aron) Winter got released, he called me and told me TFC was trying to push me out,” de Guzman said. “He said, ‘Julian, you stay there and you collect every penny.’ ”

Relations continued to disintegrate under Paul Mariner until the club’s top brass decided to take a hit.

Controversy brewed when TFC traded de Guzman to Dallas — which paid a mere 10% of his wages — midway through 2012.

Then de Guzman caught wind of Mariner’s farewell address in TFC’s dressing room.

The Englishman reportedly told the team he’d sent de Guzman to Dallas to “burn in the heat.”

“Guys I was still in touch with relayed that message,” de Guzman said. “It was in a team talk that they had. He probably thought it was humour. I didn’t know if he hated me or was joking. At least he should have had class about it. I should have had better class, too, and not attacked certain people.”

Still, de Guzman refers to it as an “important” struggle. He relished people doubting him.

“You have to struggle,” he said. “That’s one thing I accepted when I stepped on that plane to Europe back in 1996.

“I was going to suffer — whether it was racism or culture shocks or something. I’d be an outcast because I carry a Canadian passport.”

THE FINAL YEARS

De Guzman considered re-upping with Dallas despite being offered a much-smaller deal.

But with his kids in Germany, he headed back overseas. “I wanted to retire,” de Guzman admitted. “I told myself I was out of the game.”

He retired to his vacation home in Mallorca for a few months before an ex-teammate invited him to train with the local club.

That stirred up rumours of a return that de Guzman says led to him inking a short-term deal with Germany’s Jahn Regensburg.

He spent the following season playing for Skoda Xanthi in Greece before his unwavering commitment to Canada eventually brought him to Ottawa, where he’s now an assistant coach.

“(Ex-Canadian coach) Benito Floro said I needed a team,” de Guzman said. “I said I’d sign with any team close to my home in Toronto, or close to my kids.

“I was ready to sign for any amount. It was just about playing and staying fit for the national team.”

De Guzman eventually reached out to former Ottawa Fury head coach Marc Dos Santos. “I said, ‘I don’t even care how much I make. I just need a team.’ ”

De Guzman continued: “Seeing the professionalism in Ottawa was good. It made it an easy decision to stay for another year. Now, here I am.”

And with only good things to say about the staff he officially joined Monday.

“I’ve always told myself — even before coaching was an idea — I want to be involved in the game,” de Guzman said.

“I couldn’t pass up this opportunity in Ottawa ...I’ve been through a lot of clubs and organizations, but here is very special — like a family.

“At the end of the day, I just want to see the game grow. This is my way of giving back to Canadian soccer.”

No matter where de Guzman has been, he’s always respected his passport.

A GOOD SOLDIER

TORONTO -- Nobody has appeared more for Canada’s men’s national team than Julian de Guzman.

At times, it was “painful,” he told the Toronto Sun.

Competing in four World Cup qualifying cycles without making CONCACAF’s hexagonal was tough. Perhaps, though, it was for a reason.

“That’s one of the most disappointing things,” de Guzman said. “But that learning curve of not making the hex is something we can grow from. It’s something we have grown from.”

De Guzman finishes with 89 appearances for Canada. He captained the squad for 25, earning Gold Cup all-star honours in 2007, ’09 and ’13.

“I’ve seen how the (Canadian) game has evolved, but at a very slow pace,” de Guzman added. “This is what my education has been. This is what I’m going to apply on the other side.

“The reason you fail is to succeed. At some point we will succeed. I don’t mind being that solider that went to battle for his country.”

klarson@postmedia.com

THE DE GUZMAN FILE

Julian de Guzman

Age: 35

Hometown: Toronto

Position: Midfielder

Professional Club Career

2001-02 — FC Saarbrücken

2002-05 — Hannover 96

2005-06 — Deportivo La Coruna

2009-2012 — Toronto FC

2012 — FC Dallas

2013 — Jahn Regensburg

2013-14 — Skoda Xanthi

2015-16 — Ottawa Fury

International Career

2002-16 — Canada