Fernando Alves Santa Clara
Encyclopedia
Fernando Alves Santa Clara or simply Fernandinho (born April 16, 1981 in Ilhéus
), is a Brazil
ian left-back, currently playing for Esporte Clube Vitória
.
in 1999. After impressing with the Brazilian side, he drew the interest of top Portuguese side FC Porto and joined them on loan in 2002. Following a brief stay in Portugal in which Fernandinho played for the FC Porto reserves he returned to Brazil joining Campeonato Brasileiro Série C
side Joinville
and in 2003 played for Caxias
. He than moved up joining Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
Club Paraná
and started demonstrating his offensive prowess, scoring 7 goals in 41 matches. In 2004 he joined Criciúma
which was playing in Série A
and appeared in 14 matches scoring 5 goals playing primarily as a left-sided midfielder. After being relegated with Criciúma
Fernandinho was loaned to top side Vasco da Gama
and appeared in 18 league matches scoring 3 goals. He than returned to Criciúma
now playing in Campeonato Brasileiro Série C
in 2006. Upon joining Criciúma
he began playing exclusively at left-back and was a key offensive player for the side, scoring 12 goals in all competitions. In 2007 for Criciúma
he added another 10 goals in the Campeonato Catarinense
and was selected as the top left-back and top overall player of the Campeonato
being noted for his powerful shot and attacking ability.
This led to renewed interest from top Brazilian clubs and during the 2007 season Fernandinho's contract was purchased by top Brazilian side Cruzeiro
. With Cruzeiro, Fernandinho quickly established himself as the clubs starting left-back and helped them capture the 2008 and 2009 Minas Gerais State League
. He suffered an ACL injury in 2009 which kept him out of action for most of the 2009 season, however upon returning he has drawn interest from top European clubs AC Milan and Fenerbache, which considered him a possible replacement for the departed Roberto Carlos.
In June 2010, Fernandinho was announced as Atlético Mineiro
's new player. He signed the club after being released from Cruzeiro.
He joined Vitória, where he began his professional career, for a second spell on 23 May 2011.
Criciúma
Cruzeiro
Ilhéus
Ilhéus is a major city located in the southern coastal region of Bahia, Brazil, 430 km south of Salvador, the state's capital. The city was originally founded in 1534 as Vila de São Jorge dos Ilhéus and is known as one of the most important tourism centers of the northeast of Brazil.The...
), is a Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian left-back, currently playing for Esporte Clube Vitória
Esporte Clube Vitória
Esporte Clube Vitória, usually known simply as Vitória, is a Brazilian football team from Salvador in Bahia, founded on May 13, 1899.Vitória's home games are played at the club's own stadium . They play in red and black horizontal striped shirts, black shorts and black socks...
.
Club career
Fernando Alves Santa Clara (Fernandinho) began his professional career with VitóriaEsporte Clube Vitória
Esporte Clube Vitória, usually known simply as Vitória, is a Brazilian football team from Salvador in Bahia, founded on May 13, 1899.Vitória's home games are played at the club's own stadium . They play in red and black horizontal striped shirts, black shorts and black socks...
in 1999. After impressing with the Brazilian side, he drew the interest of top Portuguese side FC Porto and joined them on loan in 2002. Following a brief stay in Portugal in which Fernandinho played for the FC Porto reserves he returned to Brazil joining Campeonato Brasileiro Série C
Campeonato Brasileiro Série C
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série C is the third division of Brazilian football.Unlike the first and second divisions, the Série C is not played in a double round robin system, arguably because many participating teams lack the financial conditions to travel long distances...
side Joinville
Joinville Esporte Clube
Joinville Esporte Clube, or simply Joinville as they are usually called, is a Brazilian football team from Joinville in Santa Catarina, founded on January 29, 1976....
and in 2003 played for Caxias
Sociedade Esportiva e Recreativa Caxias do Sul
Sociedade Esportiva e Recreativa Caxias do Sul, also known as Caxias, is a Brazilian football team in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul.Together with Juventude, it is one of the biggest teams of Rio Grande do Sul state, losing only the Internacional and Grêmio.-History:Caxias was founded on April...
. He than moved up joining Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
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...
Club Paraná
Paraná Clube
Paraná Clube is a Brazilian football team. It was established on December 19, 1989, in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Its uniform is composed of a blue/red shirt, white shorts and white socks....
and started demonstrating his offensive prowess, scoring 7 goals in 41 matches. In 2004 he joined Criciúma
Criciúma Esporte Clube
Criciúma Esporte Clube, also known simply as Criciúma, is a Brazilian football club in Criciúma, Santa Catarina. The club won the Copa do Brasil in 1991, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B in 2002, and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C in 2006.-History:...
which was playing in Série A
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...
and appeared in 14 matches scoring 5 goals playing primarily as a left-sided midfielder. After being relegated with Criciúma
Criciúma Esporte Clube
Criciúma Esporte Clube, also known simply as Criciúma, is a Brazilian football club in Criciúma, Santa Catarina. The club won the Copa do Brasil in 1991, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B in 2002, and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C in 2006.-History:...
Fernandinho was loaned to top side Vasco da Gama
Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama
Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama |Rowing Club]]), usually known as Vasco da Gama or simply Vasco, is a famous and traditional Brazilian multisports club from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, founded on August 21, 1898...
and appeared in 18 league matches scoring 3 goals. He than returned to Criciúma
Criciúma Esporte Clube
Criciúma Esporte Clube, also known simply as Criciúma, is a Brazilian football club in Criciúma, Santa Catarina. The club won the Copa do Brasil in 1991, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B in 2002, and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C in 2006.-History:...
now playing in Campeonato Brasileiro Série C
Campeonato Brasileiro Série C
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série C is the third division of Brazilian football.Unlike the first and second divisions, the Série C is not played in a double round robin system, arguably because many participating teams lack the financial conditions to travel long distances...
in 2006. Upon joining Criciúma
Criciúma Esporte Clube
Criciúma Esporte Clube, also known simply as Criciúma, is a Brazilian football club in Criciúma, Santa Catarina. The club won the Copa do Brasil in 1991, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B in 2002, and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C in 2006.-History:...
he began playing exclusively at left-back and was a key offensive player for the side, scoring 12 goals in all competitions. In 2007 for Criciúma
Criciúma Esporte Clube
Criciúma Esporte Clube, also known simply as Criciúma, is a Brazilian football club in Criciúma, Santa Catarina. The club won the Copa do Brasil in 1991, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B in 2002, and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C in 2006.-History:...
he added another 10 goals in the Campeonato Catarinense
Campeonato Catarinense
Campeonato Catarinense is the Brazilian State of Santa Catarina football league.-History:The Campeonato Catarinense top level had several different names since it started. From its first edition, in 1924, to 1985, it was called just Campeonato Catarinense...
and was selected as the top left-back and top overall player of the Campeonato
Campeonato Catarinense
Campeonato Catarinense is the Brazilian State of Santa Catarina football league.-History:The Campeonato Catarinense top level had several different names since it started. From its first edition, in 1924, to 1985, it was called just Campeonato Catarinense...
being noted for his powerful shot and attacking ability.
This led to renewed interest from top Brazilian clubs and during the 2007 season Fernandinho's contract was purchased by top Brazilian side Cruzeiro
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube is a Brazilian football team, from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Internacional. Founded on January 2, 1921, they are only one of three clubs to have participated in...
. With Cruzeiro, Fernandinho quickly established himself as the clubs starting left-back and helped them capture the 2008 and 2009 Minas Gerais State League
Campeonato Mineiro
Campeonato Mineiro is the state football league of the state of Minas Gerais and is controlled by the Minas Gerais Football Federation FMF ....
. He suffered an ACL injury in 2009 which kept him out of action for most of the 2009 season, however upon returning he has drawn interest from top European clubs AC Milan and Fenerbache, which considered him a possible replacement for the departed Roberto Carlos.
In June 2010, Fernandinho was announced as 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...
's new player. He signed the club after being released from Cruzeiro.
He joined Vitória, where he began his professional career, for a second spell on 23 May 2011.
Honours
VitóriaEsporte Clube Vitória
Esporte Clube Vitória, usually known simply as Vitória, is a Brazilian football team from Salvador in Bahia, founded on May 13, 1899.Vitória's home games are played at the club's own stadium . They play in red and black horizontal striped shirts, black shorts and black socks...
- Bahia State LeagueCampeonato BaianoThe Campeonato Baiano is the football league of the state of Bahia, Brazil. The championship has been played since 1905 without interruption.-2008 format:First stage:...
: 1999, 2000 - Northeastern CupCampeonato do NordesteCampeonato do Nordeste , also known as Copa do Nordeste or Copa Nordeste , is a Brazilian football competition contested between Northeastern region teams .From 1997 to 1999, the Campeonato do...
: 1999
Criciúma
Criciúma Esporte Clube
Criciúma Esporte Clube, also known simply as Criciúma, is a Brazilian football club in Criciúma, Santa Catarina. The club won the Copa do Brasil in 1991, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B in 2002, and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C in 2006.-History:...
- Santa Catarina State LeagueCampeonato CatarinenseCampeonato Catarinense is the Brazilian State of Santa Catarina football league.-History:The Campeonato Catarinense top level had several different names since it started. From its first edition, in 1924, to 1985, it was called just Campeonato Catarinense...
: 2005Campeonato Catarinense 2005The 80th season of the Campeonato Catarinense began on January 23, 2005, and ended on April 17, 2005.-Format:Série A1First stage*Teams are divided into two groups of six teams.... - Brazilian League (3rd division)Campeonato Brasileiro Série CThe Campeonato Brasileiro Série C is the third division of Brazilian football.Unlike the first and second divisions, the Série C is not played in a double round robin system, arguably because many participating teams lack the financial conditions to travel long distances...
: 2006Campeonato Brasileiro Série C 2006In 2006, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, the third division of the Brazilian League, was contested by 63 clubs, four of which will eventually qualify to the second division to be contested in 2007...
Cruzeiro
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube is a Brazilian football team, from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Internacional. Founded on January 2, 1921, they are only one of three clubs to have participated in...
- Minas Gerais State LeagueCampeonato MineiroCampeonato Mineiro is the state football league of the state of Minas Gerais and is controlled by the Minas Gerais Football Federation FMF ....
: 2008, 2009