Alexsandro de Souza

Alex

Personal information
Full name	Alexsandro de Souza
Date of birth	(1977-09-14) 14 September 1977 (age 34)
Place of birth	Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position	Attacking Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Fenerbahçe
Number	10
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1995–1997	Coritiba	17	(1)
1997–2002	Palmeiras	141	(74)
2000	→ Flamengo (loan)	10	(1)
2001	→ Cruzeiro (loan)	13	(2)
2002	→ Parma (loan)	5	(2)
2002–2004	Cruzeiro	55	(16)
2004–	Fenerbahçe	240	(136)
National team
1996–2005	Brazil	49	(12)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Alexsandro de Souza, (born 14 September 1977 in Curitiba) is a Brazilian footballer and the captain of Turkish club Fenerbahçe. He is a former captain of the Brazilian national team, he has also played for Coritiba, Palmeiras, Flamengo and Cruzeiro in Brazil and Parma in Serie A. Alex first played professionally for Coritiba, a Brazilian football club from the state of Paraná, where he stayed from 1995-97, when he was sold to Palmeiras, from São Paulo. When he was playing for Palmeiras where he became a national star, in Brazil. He conquered for the Parque Antárctica club a Libertadores da América cup title, in 1999, a Rio-São Paulo cup title in 2000 and a Copa do Brasil title and a Mercosul cup title in 1998. He left Palmeiras and signed with Flamengo, of Rio de Janeiro in 2000. His performance for the Gávea team, however, was disappointing. He scored three times in twelve games and had his contract terminated.

In 2000, he returned to Palmeiras for a few months and then signed with Cruzeiro, where he stayed until 2002, when he returned to Palmeiras. After another great season, Alex was sold to Parma, of Italy. There he had a hard time with coach Cesare Prandelli, and eventually returned to Cruzeiro, after playing only five times for the Italian team. At Cruzeiro Alex had the best performance in his career. Made team captain and wearing jersey number 10, he led his team (which also had other remarkable players, such as Deivid, Edu Dracena, Luisão, Maicon, Aristizábal, Zinho, Felipe Melo, Gomes and Cris) to winning the Brazilian triple crown (that is the State Championship, the Brasileirão and the Brazilian Cup). Cruzeiro won the Brazilian League (Brasileirão) with a record breaking 100 points, 13 ahead of the second place, Santos, with more than 100 goals scored in 46 games.

Club career

Early years

Alex first played professionally for Coritiba, a Brazilian football club from the state of Paraná, where he stayed from 1995-97, when he was sold to Palmeiras, from São Paulo. When he was playing for Palmeiras where he became a national star, in Brazil. He conquered for the Parque Antárctica club a Libertadores da América cup title, in 1999, a Rio-São Paulo cup title in 2000 and a Copa do Brasil title and a Mercosul cup title in 1998. He left Palmeiras and signed with Flamengo, of Rio de Janeiro in 2000. His performance for the Gávea team, however, was disappointing. He scored three times in twelve games and had his contract terminated. In 2000, he returned to Palmeiras for a few months and then signed with Cruzeiro, where he stayed until 2002, when he returned to Palmeiras. After another great season, Alex was sold to Parma, of Italy. There he had a hard time with coach Cesare Prandelli, and eventually returned to Cruzeiro, after playing only five times for the Italian team. At Cruzeiro Alex had the best performance in his career. Made team captain and wearing jersey number 10, he led his team (which also had other remarkable players, such as Deivid, Edu Dracena, Luisão, Maicon, Aristizábal, Zinho, Felipe Melo, Gomes and Cris) to winning the Brazilian triple crown (that is the State Championship, the Brasileirão and the Brazilian Cup). Cruzeiro won the Brazilian League (Brasileirão) with a record breaking 100 points, 13 ahead of the second place, Santos, with more than 100 goals scored in 46 games.

Fenerbahçe

Alex was then sold by Cruzeiro in 2003 for 5 million pounds to Fenerbahçe.^[1] He became Fenerbahçe captain after the team's captain Ümit Özat's transfer to Köln and vice-captains Tuncay Şanlı's transfer to Middlesbrough and Rüştü Reçber's transfer to rival Beşiktaş.^[2] Alex scored his 100th goal in the Süper Lig for Fenerbahçe in 13 November 2010 against Gaziantepspor when they lost 2–1.^[3] At 33 years of age Alex scored a hat-trick against Bucaspor in the first 35 minutes of the game. Fenerbahçe won the match 5–2.^[4] Alex plans to retire after the 2012-13 season. His first goal on this game was Fenerbahçe's 3000th goal in the Süper Lig, so his kit and shoes used in the Bucaspor match are now shown in the club's museum.^[5] On 9 February 2011, he signed another two years contract with Fenerbahçe.^[6][7] On 15 May 2011, he scored five goals, including three penalties and a free-kick, in a 6–0 win against Ankaragücü.^[8] After Fenerbahçe's league title for the year 2010-11, Alex won the golden boot award with 28 goals for the season, nine more than second place Burak Yılmaz.^[9] He made his 900th career appearance on 12 September 2011 in the opening match of the Super Lig season, a 1–0 victory against Orduspor.^[10]

Honours

Player honours

Palmeiras

• Copa do Brasil: 1998
• Copa Mercosur: 1998
• Copa Libertadores: 1999
• Torneio Rio-São Paulo: 2000
• Copa dos Campeões: 2000

Flamengo

• Campeonato Carioca: 2000
• Taça Rio: 2000

Cruzeiro

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2003
• Copa do Brasil: 2003
• Mineiro Championship: 2003. 2004
• Copa Sul-Minas: 2001, 2002

Fenerbahçe

• Süper Lig: 2004-05, 2006-07, 2010–11
• Süper Kupa: 2007, 2009
• Türkiye Kupası: 2011-12

Brazil U-17

• South American Youth Championship: 1992, 1995
• South American Under-17 Football Championship: 1995, 1997

Brazil Olympic

• Olympics Games: 2000

Brazil

• Copa América: 1999, 2001, 2004
• Confederations Cup: 1999, 2003

Awards and achievements

• Best young player of the Campeonato Paranaense: 1995
• Revelation of the Campeonato Paranaense: 1995
• Best of the Campeonato Paranaense: 1996
• Best midfielder of the Campeonato Paranaense: 1997
• Top of the Copa Mercosur: 1998
• IFFHS 3st best striker in the world: 1999
• Best Midfielder of South America (jornal El País): 1999
• Troféu Telê Santana (best midfielder in Minas Gerais): 2002
• Troféu Telê Santana (star of the year in Minas Gerais): 2003
• Best Midfielder of South America (jornal El País): 2003
• Bola de Ouro: 2003
• Top Scorer of the Türkiye Kupası: 2005
• Footballer of the year in Turkey: 2005, 2010
• Top Scorer of the Süper Lig: 2006–07 (19 Goals), 2010–11 (28 Goals)
• Assists Leader of UEFA Champions League: 2007–08 (6 assists)

Career statistics

Player

^[11][12][13]

International

^[14]

International goals

^[15]

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	3 July 1999	Oddone Sarubbi, Ciudad del Este	Mexico	2–0	2–1	1999 Copa América
2.	24 July 1999	Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara	Germany	3–0	4–0	1999 FIFA Confederations Cup
3.	24 July 1999	Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara	Germany	4–0	4–0	1999 FIFA Confederations Cup
5.	1 August 1999	Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara	Saudi Arabia	4–2	8–2	1999 FIFA Confederations Cup
6.	1 August 1999	Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara	Saudi Arabia	7–2	8–2	1999 FIFA Confederations Cup
7.	26 July 2000	Morumbi, São Paulo	Argentina	1–0	3–1	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
8.	14 September 2000	The Gabba, Brisbane	Slovakia	3–1	3–1	2000 Summer Olympics
9.	20 September 2000	The Gabba, Brisbane	Japan	1–0	1–0	2000 Summer Olympics
10.	18 July 2000	Pascual Guerrero , Colombia	Paraguay	1–1	3–1	2001 Copa América
11.	23 June 2003	Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne	Turkey	2–2	2–2	2003 FIFA Confederations Cup
12.	18 July 2004	Miguel Grau, Piura	Mexico	1–0	4–0	2004 Copa América

Personal life

He married Daianne in 2000.^[16] The couple have two daughters and one son: Maria Eduarda, born in 2004, Antonia, born in 2006 and Felipe born in 2010.^[17] A devout Evangelical Christian, Alex is a member of the organisation Atletas de Cristo (English: "Athletes of Christ")^[18] amongst Brazilian stars Kaká and Ronaldo.^[19] He features prominently in Puma advertising and also has a modeling contract with Armani.^[20]

Notes

1. ^ Includes Türkiye Kupası, Süper Kupa
2. ^ Includes UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League

References

External links

• Alexsandro de Souza on Playerhistory.com

Brazil squads v t e Brazil squad – 1999 Copa América Winners (6th Title) 1 Dida 2 Cafu 3 Odvan 4 Antônio Carlos 5 Emerson 6 Roberto Carlos 7 Amoroso 8 Vampeta 9 Ronaldo 10 Rivaldo 11 Alex 12 Marcos 13 Evanílson 14 César Belli 15 João Carlos 16 Serginho 17 Marcos Paulo 18 Flávio Conceição 19 Beto 20 Christian 21 Ronaldinho 22 Zé Roberto Coach: Luxemburgo v t e Brazil squad – 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup Runners-up 1 Dida 2 Evanílson 3 Odvan 4 João Carlos 5 F. Conceição 6 Serginho 7 Ronaldinho 8 Émerson 9 Christian 10 Alex 11 Zé Roberto 12 Marcos 13 César 14 Luiz Alberto 15 Marcos Paulo 16 Athirson 17 Beto 18 Roni 19 Warley 20 Vampeta Coach: Luxemburgo v t e Brazil squad – 2000 Olympics 1 Helton 2 Baiano 3 Bilica 4 Álvaro 5 Marcos Paulo 6 Fábio Aurélio 7 Ronaldinho 8 Fabiano 9 Edu 10 Alex 11 Geovanni 12 Roger 13 André Luís 14 Lúcio 15 Mozart 16 Athirson 17 Lucas 18 Fábio Costa Coach: Luxemburgo v t e Brazil squad – 2001 Copa América 1 Marcos 2 Belletti 3 Cris 4 Roque Júnior 5 Eduardo Costa 6 Roger 7 Geovanni 8 Emerson (c) 9 Guilherme 10 Juninho Paulista 11 Denílson 12 Dida 13 Alessandro 14 Luisão 15 Juan 16 Júnior 17 Juninho Pernambucano 18 Rochemback 19 Fernando 20 Alex 21 Ewerthon 22 Jardel Coach: Scolari v t e Brazil squad – 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup 1 Dida 2 Belletti 3 Lúcio 4 Juan 5 Emerson (c) 6 Gilberto 7 Ronaldinho 8 Kléberson 9 Adriano 10 Ricardinho 11 Gil 12 Júlio César 13 Maurinho 14 Fábio Luciano 15 Edu Dracena 16 Kléber 17 Eduardo Costa 18 Dudu Cearense 19 Adriano Gabiru 20 Alex 21 Ilan 22 Luís Fabiano 23 Fábio Coach: Parreira v t e Brazil squad – 2004 Copa América Winners (7th Title) 1 Júlio César 2 Mancini 3 Luisão 4 Juan 5 Renato 6 Gustavo Nery 7 Adriano 8 Kléberson 9 Luís Fabiano 10 Alex (c) 11 Edu 12 Fábio 13 Maicon 14 Bordon 15 Cris 16 Dudu Cearense 17 Adriano Correia 18 Júlio Baptista 19 Diego 20 Felipe 21 Oliveira 22 Vágner Love Coach: Parreira