Luís Eduardo Schmidt

Edu

Edu as a Betis player in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Luís Eduardo Schmidt
Date of birth	(1979-01-10) 10 January 1979 (age 33)
Place of birth	Jaú, Brazil
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Forward / Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Colorado Rapids
Number	37
Youth career
1996–1997	XV Jaú
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1997–2000	São Paulo	11	(0)
2000–2004	Celta	117	(28)
2004–2009	Betis	136	(41)
2009–2010	Internacional	25	(3)
2011	Vitória	5	(1)
2012–	Colorado Rapids	1	(0)
National team
1999–2000	Brazil U23	14	(6)
2000	Brazil	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 April 2012. † Appearances (Goals).

Luís Eduardo Schmidt, aka Edu (born 10 January 1979 in Jaú, São Paulo), is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.

A versatile midfielder and forward, he played most of his professional career in Spain - helping both Celta and Betis to their first-ever UEFA Champions League participation, amassing La Liga totals of 253 matches and 63 goals in nine years - and also holds an Italian passport.

Club career

Edu made 11 appearances for São Paulo Futebol Clube from 1997–2000, then transferring to Real Club Celta de Vigo for 2000–01. Even though he only scored three times during that season, he went on to become one of the Galician side's most important elements in the subsequent La Liga seasons.

Hindered by injuries throughout 2003–04, Edu also played a small part in Celta's UEFA Champions League campaign, netting once against Arsenal in a round-of-16 home defeat (2–3). Upon the club's relegation, he moved to Real Betis, spending the first two seasons on loan.

Edu made a huge impression during his debut season with Betis, as his partnership with countryman Ricardo Oliveira featured strongly in the success of the Andalusia club, who qualified to its first Champions League; he finished the campaign with 11 goals in 32 league appearances, with the team also winning the season's Spanish Cup.

In his second year, Edu only netted in three league matches, but started it by scoring a last-minute goal against AS Monaco FC in the Champions League third qualifying round, as Betis went on to win 3–2 on aggregate.

After two seasons, Edu was officially signed for €2,000,000 in 2006.^{[citation needed]} On the final day of the 2006–07 season, he scored two goals in the final ten minutes in a 2–0 win at Racing de Santander, which proved instrumental in avoiding relegation to the second division.^[1] In the following, as Betis again battled relegation, he finished as the club's top scorer, at 12; two of those came on 29 March 2008 as he netted the first and the last for his team in a 3–2 home win against FC Barcelona, who led 2–0 at half-time.^[2]

In 2008–09, Edu appeared very rarely due to injuries, and Betis was relegated, with the played being released subsequently. Shortly after, he returned to Brazil after a nine-year absence, and signed a two-year contract with Sport Club Internacional.^[3]

On 2 June 2011, aged 32, Edu joined Esporte Clube Vitória on a free transfer. On 26 April of the following year, he signed for Colorado Rapids in the United States.^[4]

International career

Edu made his Brazil debut against Thailand, on 23 February 2000. It would be his only appearance for the full national side.

Late in the summer, Edu scored twice at the 2000 Summer Olympics, as Brazil were ousted in the quarterfinals.^[5]

Honours

• Betis:
  • Copa del Rey: 2004–05

References

External links

• Betis profile (Spanish)
• Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional (Spanish)
• BDFutbol profile
• Edu at National-Football-Teams.com

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