Márcio dos Santos Gaia
Encyclopedia
Márcio dos Santos Gaia, commonly known as Santos Gaia, (born 8 September 1978) is a Brazilian footballer
from São Mateus
who plays for Truro City
as a defender
.
to play in England. He signed for English side Exeter City
in August 2002. He made 33 League Two
appearances during his first season, which saw Exeter relegated from the Football League, however he remained with the club despite the exodus of many other first team members. The 2004–05 season saw him among the club's top scorers, unusually for a defender, with nine goals, all of which were scored in the first half of the season.
On 26 June 2006, Gaia signed a two year contract with Conference
side Stevenage Borough
where he was a first-team regular. During his time at Broadhall Way
, he was part of the side that defeated Kidderminster Harriers
in the 2007 FA Trophy
final. He had previously scored an important goal in the semi final against future club Grays Athletic to put his club through to the final. He scored one other goal for Stevenage in a 4–2 defeat to Forest Green Rovers on 25 September 2007.
Santos Gaia signed for Grays Athletic
on loan on 22 November 2007 until 1 January 2008, when the deal was made permanent for £10,000.
He signed for Halifax Town
on loan until the end of the 2007–08 season, where he made a total of nine Conference National
appearances. The defender was released from Grays Athletic
at the end of the season along with Nicky Eyre, Danny Knowles, Cameron Mawer and Charley Hearn
.
On 20 May 2008, Gaia signed for Weymouth
alongside Pierre Joseph-Dubois.
On 26 February 2009, Gaia joined Crawley Town
, signing until the end of the season. He scored his first goal for Crawley on 8 March 2009, ironically against former club Weymouth. In June 2009, Gaia turned down a sizeable offer from Rushden & Diamonds
and joined Cornish
side Truro City
instead.
Football in Brazil
Football is the most popular sport in Brazil. The Brazilian national football team has won the FIFA World Cup tournament a record 5 times, in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002, and is the only team to succeed in qualifying for every World Cup competition ever held. It is among the favourites to win...
from São Mateus
São Mateus, Espírito Santo
São Mateus is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo. Its population was 101,051 and its area is 2,343.25 km². São Mateus is located at 36 meters above sea level.-References:...
who plays for Truro City
Truro City F.C.
Truro City F.C. are an English professional football club based in Truro, Cornwall. They currently play in the Conference South following five promotions in six seasons. They were founding members of the South Western League in 1951 and won the title five times in their history...
as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Career
Gaia, a defender, holds a Spanish passport (gained through marriage), which means he does not require a work permitWork permit
Work permit is a generic term for a legal authorization which allows a person to take employment.It is most often used in reference to instances where a person is given permission to work in a country where one does not hold citizenship, but is also used in reference to minors, who in some...
to play in England. He signed for English side Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
in August 2002. He made 33 League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
appearances during his first season, which saw Exeter relegated from the Football League, however he remained with the club despite the exodus of many other first team members. The 2004–05 season saw him among the club's top scorers, unusually for a defender, with nine goals, all of which were scored in the first half of the season.
On 26 June 2006, Gaia signed a two year contract with Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
side Stevenage Borough
Stevenage Borough F.C.
Stevenage Football Club is an English football club based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The club currently participate in League One, the third tier of English football, having won promotion from League Two in the 2010–11 season...
where he was a first-team regular. During his time at Broadhall Way
Broadhall Way
Broadhall Way, known as The Lamex Stadium for sponsorship purposes, is an association football stadium in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. It has been the home ground of Stevenage since 1980, and has a capacity of 7,100 people, including 3,142 seats.-History:The club plays at Broadhall Way, previously...
, he was part of the side that defeated Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
in the 2007 FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
final. He had previously scored an important goal in the semi final against future club Grays Athletic to put his club through to the final. He scored one other goal for Stevenage in a 4–2 defeat to Forest Green Rovers on 25 September 2007.
Santos Gaia signed for Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
on loan on 22 November 2007 until 1 January 2008, when the deal was made permanent for £10,000.
He signed for Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
on loan until the end of the 2007–08 season, where he made a total of nine Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
appearances. The defender was released from Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
at the end of the season along with Nicky Eyre, Danny Knowles, Cameron Mawer and Charley Hearn
Charley Hearn
Charley Hearn is a footballer, currently playing for Kent Premier League club Beckenham Town.-Career:Hearn started his career at Millwall as a trainee, making 18 League appearances....
.
On 20 May 2008, Gaia signed for Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
alongside Pierre Joseph-Dubois.
On 26 February 2009, Gaia joined Crawley Town
Crawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
, signing until the end of the season. He scored his first goal for Crawley on 8 March 2009, ironically against former club Weymouth. In June 2009, Gaia turned down a sizeable offer from Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
and joined Cornish
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
side Truro City
Truro City F.C.
Truro City F.C. are an English professional football club based in Truro, Cornwall. They currently play in the Conference South following five promotions in six seasons. They were founding members of the South Western League in 1951 and won the title five times in their history...
instead.