Dedé
Encyclopedia
Leonardo de Deus Santos (born 18 April 1978), nicknamed Dedê, is a Brazilian
-German footballer
, who plays for Turkish club Eskişehirspor
. He has played a single match for the Brazil national team
. Dedê is the brother of footballers Cacá
and Leandro
.
Born in the Brazilian industrial town of Belo Horizonte
as the second of six brothers, Dedê was introduced to football at an early age, playing three-a-side matches with his brothers in his parents' apartment. "Our living room was the biggest room and also our playing field, with the doors to the kitchen and the bedroom as our goals. Well, you can imagine, we always broke things in the living room." On club level, Dedê first played for the local club of Atlético Mineiro
, both as a junior and senior.
In 1997 he was awarded with a Bola de Prata
, a Silver Ball, by the authoritative magazine Placar
as the best player on his position in the Brazilian league
. That year he also signed for Borussia Dortmund, where the left-back soon won the fans' hearts with his committed, spectacular performances. He not only became a regular starter for BVB, he was also one of the key players in the club's championship winning season of 2001–02. After a brief stint with the Olympic team, cut short by a knee injury, Dedê finally made his debut for the Seleção
in Brazil's 4–1 win over Hungary in April 2004. The -year-old is now Dortmund's longest serving player, and has established himself as one of the most valuable players at the club. In the past he has also always been a great help by integrating his Brazilian compatriots into the team.
On 27 July 2011, he signed for Turkish club Eskişehirspor
.
Brazilian
Brazilian may refer to anything of or relating to Brazil and may also refer directly to:* Brazilian barbecue, known as churrasco* Brazilian football—see Football in Brazil* Brazilian football clubs—see List of football clubs in Brazil...
-German footballer
Football in Germany
Association football is the most popular sport in Germany. The German Football Association is the sport's national governing body, with 6.6 million members organized in over 26,000 football clubs. There is a league system, with the 1. and 2. Bundesliga on top, and the winner of the first...
, who plays for Turkish club Eskişehirspor
Eskisehirspor
Eskişehirspor is a football club in Eskişehir, Turkey. Also known as Kırmızı Şimşekler or The Star of Anatolia. The club was founded in 1965 and started a football revolution in Anatolia. Eskişehirspor started a long term stay in the first league in Turkey when they were founded. This term lasted...
. He has played a single match for the Brazil national team
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
. Dedê is the brother of footballers Cacá
Lucas de Deus Santos
Lucas de Deus Santos , nicknamed Cacá, is a Brazilian professional football midfielder who currently plays for Primeira Liga side U.D...
and Leandro
Leandro de Deus Santos
Leandro de Deus Santos or simply Leandro or Léo de Deus is a Brazilian football player. As of February 2009, he is a free agent. He is the older brother of Dedê and Cacá. He spent 2 seasons in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund.-External links:...
.
Born in the Brazilian industrial town of Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is the capital of and largest city in the state of Minas Gerais, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. It is the third largest metropolitan area in the country...
as the second of six brothers, Dedê was introduced to football at an early age, playing three-a-side matches with his brothers in his parents' apartment. "Our living room was the biggest room and also our playing field, with the doors to the kitchen and the bedroom as our goals. Well, you can imagine, we always broke things in the living room." On club level, Dedê first played for the local club of Atlético Mineiro
Clube Atlético Mineiro
Clube Atlético Mineiro , are a Brazilian football club based in Belo Horizonte, the oldest in the city. Founded in 1908, they play in the Campeonato Mineiro and Campeonato Brasileiro Série A or Brasileirão. Atlético Mineiro have been Brazilian champions once, state winners a record 40 times and...
, both as a junior and senior.
In 1997 he was awarded with a Bola de Prata
Bola de Ouro
The Bola de Ouro is an award given each year, since 1973, by the authoritative Brazilian magazine Placar to the best player in the Brazilian National Championship. It is practically the equivalent to a Footballer of the Year award...
, a Silver Ball, by the authoritative magazine Placar
Placar
Placar is a monthly Brazilian sports magazine. Its first edition was issued on March 20, 1970, and since then the it has become the most successful sports publication in Brazil, even though it focuses fully on football . It is published by Grupo Abril....
as the best player on his position in the Brazilian league
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
The Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...
. That year he also signed for Borussia Dortmund, where the left-back soon won the fans' hearts with his committed, spectacular performances. He not only became a regular starter for BVB, he was also one of the key players in the club's championship winning season of 2001–02. After a brief stint with the Olympic team, cut short by a knee injury, Dedê finally made his debut for the Seleção
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
in Brazil's 4–1 win over Hungary in April 2004. The -year-old is now Dortmund's longest serving player, and has established himself as one of the most valuable players at the club. In the past he has also always been a great help by integrating his Brazilian compatriots into the team.
On 27 July 2011, he signed for Turkish club Eskişehirspor
Eskisehirspor
Eskişehirspor is a football club in Eskişehir, Turkey. Also known as Kırmızı Şimşekler or The Star of Anatolia. The club was founded in 1965 and started a football revolution in Anatolia. Eskişehirspor started a long term stay in the first league in Turkey when they were founded. This term lasted...
.
Honours
- Copa ConmebolCopa CONMEBOLThe Copa CONMEBOL was an annual football cup competition organized by CONMEBOL between 1992 and 1999 for eligible South American football clubs. During its time of existence, it was the third most prestigious South American club football contest after the Copa Libertadores and Supercopa...
: 19971997 Copa CONMEBOLThe 1997 Copa CONMEBOL was the sixth edition of CONMEBOL's annual club tournament. Teams that failed to qualify for the Copa Libertadores played in this tournament. Eighteen teams from the ten South American football confederations qualified for this tournament. A preliminary round was played to... - UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
finalist: 2001–02 - BundesligaFußball-BundesligaThe Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
champion: 2001–02, 2010–11 - DFB-PokalDFB-PokalThe DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
finalist: 2007–08 - DFB-LigapokalDFB-LigapokalThe DFB-Ligapokal, or German League Cup, was a German football competition that took place before the start of the Bundesliga season, featuring the top five teams of the previous Fußball-Bundesliga season and the winners of the DFB-Pokal in Germany...
finalist: 2003