Life can take many unexpected turns, but Spanish footballer Jordi Amat’s life journey went to extremes. This 30-year-old was a low-key player for clubs in La Liga and Swansea City for most of his career. But when he went to play in Malaysia last year, he reconnected with his Asian heritage. Not only is his grandmother Indonesian, but is a member of the Indonesian royal family. That’s why Jordi is now the prince of the Kingdom of Siau, one of the Indonesian islands.Estreno 🦅🇮🇩#KitaGaruda #TimnasDay pic.twitter.com/NEPuH21K7C— PSSI (@PSSI) December 23, 2022 While Jordi was waiting to oficially become a citizen of Indonesia, he’d already been called up to their national team’s training sessions – to get to know his future teammates. He made his international bow for his new country in November 2022 and spoke about his pride of representing Team Garuda. And even though he’s playing club football for Johor Darul Ta’zim F.C., a team in the Malaysian top division, he’s been knighted and named prince of Siau. Now, his full name is His Royal Highness Prince Jordi Amat Maas. The footballer is also recognized as the grandson of King MD Kansil from the Kingdom of Siau, North Sulawesi. This noble privilege is passed down hereditarily.”When I was little, my grandmother told me the story that I was the crown prince of a region of Indonesia and now we are waiting for them to give me the document to be able to certify the title.”##NAJAVA_MECA_7083878##Now prince Jordi has become one of seventy rajahs of Indonesia, the largest archipelago in the world with more than 250 million inhabitants. Amat’s idea is to combine his title to help Siau’s people with football. “My mission is to help people and make financial contributions because there are many things to do on the island of Siau. Still, the title won’t change my life much. I will work to make a career in Asia. I am very young, feel physically and mentally good, and I really want this challenge.”Good gym sessions with the team! @PSSI #bandung pic.twitter.com/n8eWhZTkJF— Jordi Amat (@JordiAmat5) May 31, 2022 Prince Jordi declared that he was happy and proud to become an Indonesian citizen. He is learning Bahasa, the Indonesian language, to be able to communicate easier with his people.Footballers get all sorts of nicknames: King, Emperor, Golden Boy, and Argentinean striker Diego Milito was nicknamed El Principe (Prince). But Jordi Amat doesn’t need a nickname. He really is a prince.
