Danilo Luís Hélio Pereira
Encyclopedia
Danilo Luís Hélio Pereira (born 9 September 1991 in Bissau
, Guinea-Bissau
), commonly known as Danilo Pereira or Danilo
, is a naturalized Portuguese
footballer currently playing for Parma F.C.
, as a midfielder
. Danilo is most comfortable in a defensive midfield role and has been compared to Patrick Vieira
and is nowadays referred to as the Lusitanians’ midfield cão de guarda (guard dog) or as the portuguese lung. Measuring in at an imposing 1.88m, Danilo’s height certainly comes in handy in his role as a defensive-midfield shield, whatever the tactical variations are.
, as the oldest child of Quinta Djata, a nurse. Life weren't stable so they decided to emigrate to Portugal
at his age of 5. From that day they were able to start a new chapter of their lives. Danilo was raised as a Roman Catholic.
-speaking nation of Guinea-Bissau
, Danilo started his youth career in Portugal at the age of 8 with Arsenal 72. Three years later, he moved up the ladder to Estoril Praia, a side whose senior team had won two promotions in recent years, finding its way to the Primeira Liga just as Pereira was arriving in 2005. Pereira's next stop was to Os Três Grandes
powerhouse Benfica for two years from 2008 to 2010.
At the age of 18, Benfica decided against signing Danilo to a professional contract. Italian
side Parma
signed him on a free transfer, but he is yet to play a game at his new club. For the second half of the 2010–11 season, he was farmed out on loan to Aris FC
, where he made 5 appearances and scored 2 goals.
that enjoyed great success at the 2011 U-20 World Cup
, losing only in the final against Brazil in extra time (2-3). He played in all matches and scored in the semi-final win against France
. From a personal perspective he was undoubtedly one of the most mediatic players during the competition winning the colombian hearts and to be chosen to the mvp
-list and a spot in the best line-up. Pereira helped Portugal under-20s finish second in the 2011 FIFA World Cup held in Colombia, scoring one goal in the semifinal against France - providing assists and receiving the Man of the match award once.
Bissau
Bissau is the capital city of Guinea-Bissau. The city's borders are conterminous with the Bissau Autonomous Sector. In 2007, the city had an estimated population of 407,424 according to the Instituto Nacional de Estatística e Censos...
, Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
), commonly known as Danilo Pereira or Danilo
Danilo
Danilo is a male given name of biblical origin, meaning "God is my judge" in Hebrew. It's a very common given name in Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Serbian, and is used as a widespread name in Ukrainian and Russian.May refer to:...
, is a naturalized Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
footballer currently playing for Parma F.C.
Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...
, as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. Danilo is most comfortable in a defensive midfield role and has been compared to Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira is a retired French footballer of Senegalese descent who is the Football Development Executive at Manchester City....
and is nowadays referred to as the Lusitanians’ midfield cão de guarda (guard dog) or as the portuguese lung. Measuring in at an imposing 1.88m, Danilo’s height certainly comes in handy in his role as a defensive-midfield shield, whatever the tactical variations are.
Early life
Danilo was born in the former Portuguese colony of Guinea-BissauGuinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
, as the oldest child of Quinta Djata, a nurse. Life weren't stable so they decided to emigrate to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
at his age of 5. From that day they were able to start a new chapter of their lives. Danilo was raised as a Roman Catholic.
Club career
Although, Danilo was born in the PortuguesePortuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
-speaking nation of Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
, Danilo started his youth career in Portugal at the age of 8 with Arsenal 72. Three years later, he moved up the ladder to Estoril Praia, a side whose senior team had won two promotions in recent years, finding its way to the Primeira Liga just as Pereira was arriving in 2005. Pereira's next stop was to Os Três Grandes
Big Three (Portugal)
The Big Three is the nickname of the three most successful sports clubs in Portugal. The football teams of Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Futebol Clube do Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal have a great rivalry, and are usually the main contenders for the title. They share all but two of the Portuguese...
powerhouse Benfica for two years from 2008 to 2010.
At the age of 18, Benfica decided against signing Danilo to a professional contract. Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
side Parma
Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...
signed him on a free transfer, but he is yet to play a game at his new club. For the second half of the 2010–11 season, he was farmed out on loan to Aris FC
Aris Thessaloniki F.C.
Aris Football Club , also known as God of war and the Yellows, is a Greek football club based in the city of Thessaloniki, Macedonia. Formed in 1914, the club was a founding member of Macedonian Football Clubs Association as well as the Hellenic Football Federation, they currently compete in...
, where he made 5 appearances and scored 2 goals.
International career
Danilo was part of Portugal's under-20 sidePortugal national under-20 football team
The Portugal national under-20 football team is the national under-20 football team of Portugal and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal....
that enjoyed great success at the 2011 U-20 World Cup
2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup was the eighteenth edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup since its inception in 1977 as the FIFA World Youth Championship. Colombia hosted the tournament between 29 July and 20 August 2011, with matches being played in eight cities...
, losing only in the final against Brazil in extra time (2-3). He played in all matches and scored in the semi-final win against France
France national under-20 football team
The France national under-20 football team is the national under-20 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years and the Toulon Tournament, which is held every May when football league...
. From a personal perspective he was undoubtedly one of the most mediatic players during the competition winning the colombian hearts and to be chosen to the mvp
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
-list and a spot in the best line-up. Pereira helped Portugal under-20s finish second in the 2011 FIFA World Cup held in Colombia, scoring one goal in the semifinal against France - providing assists and receiving the Man of the match award once.