Aílton (footballer, born August 1984)

Aílton José Almeida (born 20 August 1984), simply known as Aílton (Brazilian Portuguese: [aˈiwtõ]), is a Brazilian former footballer who played as a forward.

Aílton
Aílton playing for Terek Grozny in 2014
Personal information
Full name Aílton José Almeida
Date of birth (1984-08-20) 20 August 1984
Place of birth Hematita, Itabira, Brazil
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2004 Atlético Mineiro 0 (0)
2004–2006 Örgryte 63 (26)
2006–2010 Copenhagen 93 (21)
2010–2012 APOEL 52 (11)
2012–2015 Terek Grozny 81 (20)
2015–2016 Al-Hilal 22 (6)
2016–2017 Al Jazira 19 (6)
2017–2018 Al Dhafra 14 (7)
2019–2021 Örgryte IS 76 (17)
Total 420 (114)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Örgryte IS

He moved to F.C. Copenhagen from Swedish Örgryte IS on 1 January 2007 for 22 million Danish kroner,[1] which by then was a transfer record for a Danish club. Both F.C. Copenhagen and Brøndby IF struggled for Almeida's signature,[2] but after some hesitation from Brøndby IF, he ended up at F.C. Copenhagen.[3]

F.C. Copenhagen
Aílton training with Copenhagen in 2008

Scoring in his only second game for F.C. Copenhagen against Brøndby IF in one of the New Firm matches, he was considered a new star and a start of a new era for the club, which for many years had suffered from a lack of goals from the strikers. However, he did not manage to follow up on his performances, and was subsequently placed on the bench as a substitute. On 15 April 2007, Ailton scored with a bicycle kick in F.C. Copenhagen's 4–2 win over OB,[4] which led to many people thinking his breakthrough was finally about to come, but he yet again had to see himself become a substitute.

After the winter break in the 2007–08 season Aílton got a chance in the Danish Cup quarterfinals, where F.C. Copenhagen was to face Næstved BK. He scored a goal in the beginning of the second half following an assist from his countryman José Júnior.

In the beginning of the 2008–09 season he had been playing regularly, becoming an important member of the starting line-up and the attacking play, however, he still had trouble finding the net. He however started against FC Midtjylland on 16 November 2008 and scored two goals. He scored again against Manchester City in an UEFA Cup match home at Parken. During the season, he scored 11 goals in the league and 4 goals in the cup, being influential in securing the cup and the league titles.

During the next season he appeared in 39 matches and scored 8 goals in all competitions, helping F.C. Copenhagen to win the league again, and reach the knockout phase of the season's Europa League.

APOEL
Aílton (centre) playing for APOEL in a Champions League Group Stage match against Shakhtar Donetsk in 2011

On 28 July 2010, Aílton signed a three-year contract with APOEL. A transfer fee of €700,000 was paid to F.C. Copenhagen, which is the transfer record in the history of APOEL. He made his debut on 5 August 2010 against FK Jablonec in the UEFA Europa League 3rd qualifying round. He scored his first goal with APOEL on 26 August 2010 against Getafe CF on the UEFA Europa League play-off round, in a match which ended 1–1 after extra time. Ailton had a very good first season with APOEL. He played in all championship matches and scored 7 goals, helping his new club to win the 2010–11 Cypriot First Division. After the three championship titles which he won with F.C. Copenhagen, he won his fourth consecutive championship title, this time with APOEL. He was voted by Cyprus Football Association as the player of the season (MVP) 2010–11 in the Cypriot First Division.

He started the 2011–12 season in fine form, scoring 4 goals in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds that helped APOEL qualify for the group stage of the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League. In the first group stage match against Zenit Saint Petersburg on 13 September 2011, he scored the winner 75 minutes in as his side came from behind to claim a 2–1 victory.[5] On 19 October 2011, he scored the equaliser 19 minutes in as APOEL snatched a 1–1 draw at FC Porto.[6] He followed up on that success by scoring from the spot in his side's 2–1 victory over FC Porto in the reverse encounter in Nicosia[7] He also appeared in the round-of-16 triumph over Olympique Lyonnais where he converted his attempt in the penalty shootout.[8] In total, he scored three goals in the group phase and seven overall in the competition, as the club reached the quarter-finals for the first time ever.

He made his last two appearances for APOEL in the 2012–13 season against Aalesunds FK for the second qualifying round of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League, appearing in both legs and scoring the opening goal in APOEL's 2–0 first leg home win.

Terek Grozny
Aílton (right) playing for Terek Grozny in 2014

On 5 September 2012, Aílton joined the Russian side Terek Grozny on a three-year contract, after he completed his transfer from APOEL for a fee reportedly in the region of €2.2 million,[9][10] which was the transfer record for a Cypriot club.[11] On 14 September 2012, he made his debut for Terek. He opened the score in a 2–0 away win over the reigning champions Zenit St. Petersburg.[12]

Al-Hilal

In July 2015, he joined Al-Hilal on a one-year contract. Ailton was given Shirt #9 in the league and domestic cups and #99 in the AFC

Saudia Domestic Competitions

Hilal Winning - Saudi Super Cup 2015 Win

  • Ailton helped Al Hilal win the Saudi Super Cup, game played vs Derby rivals Al Nasser Club in Saudi Professional League.[13]

2015/16 Saudi Pro League

Ailton scored 1 Goal in a Saudi Professional League's game against Al Wahda Club Club.[14] Al Hilal Won that game 2–0.

Ailton scored 1 goal in a Saudi Professional League's game against Al Fateh Club.[15] Al Hilal Won that game 2–1.

2015 Asian Champions League

Ailton joined Hilal as they were attempting to qualify for the semi-finals of the Asian Champions League. In the quarter-finals game, Al Hilal played against Lakhwia FC of Qatar.[16]

Quarter-finals

Ailton scored 1 goal, and Al Hilal Won 4–1 in first leg of the quarter finals.[17]

In the second leg Hilal drew with Lakhwia FC 2-2[18]

Return to Örgryte and retirement

On 28 January 2019, Aílton returned to Örgryte IS, competing in Superettan, signing a three-year contract.[19] On 29 September 2022, he announced his retirement from professional football.[20]

Career statistics
As of 21 February 2016[21][22][23]
Club statistics
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinental Total
DivisionAppGoalsAppGoalsAppGoalsAppGoals
Örgryte 2004 Allsvenskan 228—228
2005 2313—2313
2006 184—184
Total 6325—6325
Copenhagen 2006–07 Superliga 12331—154
2007–08 2534260355
2008–09 291144934218
2009–10 25421123398
2010–11 10000010
Total 922113827613235
APOEL 2010–11 Cypriot First Division 3172031368
2011–12 214101473611
2012–13 00002121
Total 5211301997420
Terek Grozny 2012–13 Russian Premier League 23832—2610
2013–14 31820—338
2014–15 30510—315
Total 842162—9024
Al-Hilal 2015–16 Saudi Professional League 15443432310
Total 15443432310
Career total 3068226135018382114

Honours

Club

Copenhagen

APOEL

Al-Hilal

Individual

References
  1. "FCK køber brasilianske Ailton Almeida" (in Danish). borsen.dk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2013.
  2. "Brøndby vil snuppe Ailton for næsen af FCK" (in Danish). bold.dk. 18 August 2006. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  3. "BIF kunne have sikret sig Ailton" (in Danish). bold.dk. 23 October 2006. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  4. "15.04. F.C. København – OB" (in Danish). fck.dk. Archived from the original on 7 June 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2008.
  5. APOEL recovery leaves Zenit reeling; UEFA, 13 September 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  6. Porto draw keeps APOEL on top; UEFA, 19 October 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  7. APOEL's Manduca floors Porto late on; UEFA, 1 November 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  8. Lyon stunned as APOEL fairy tale continues; UEFA, 7 March 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  9. "Ολοκληρώθηκε του Almeida" (in Greek). APOEL FC. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  10. ΑΠΟΕΛ: Ρώσος και επίσημα ο Αίλτον (in Greek). sigmalive.com. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  11. "Παίκτης της Terek Grozny o Αΐλτον" (in Greek). kerkida.net. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  12. "Match:Zenit 0 - 2 Terek Grozny". ESPN Soccernet. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  13. "Carlos Eduardo seals Al Hilal's historic win in Saudi Super Cup". FOOTBALL CHANNEL ASIA. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  14. "Saudi Arabia Saudi Professional League: Al Wahdah - Al Hilal". FIFA. Archived from the original on 30 October 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  15. "Saudi Arabia Saudi Professional League: Al Fateh - Al Hilal". FIFA. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  16. "Al Hilal to face Lekhwiya in ACL quarter-finals". AFC. 18 June 2015. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  17. "Al Hilal 4 - 1 Lekhwiya Match preview - 8/25/15 AFC Champions League". Goal.com. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  18. "Al Hilal advance to AFC Champions League semi-final after winning Lekhwiya on aggregate". sport360.com. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  19. "Välkommen hem, Aílton!" (in Swedish). Örgryte IS. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  20. "38-årige Ailton Almeida stiller støvlerne på hylden" (in Danish). 3F Superliga. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  21. "AÍLTON ALMEIDA". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  22. "Ailton Almeida". svenskfotboll. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  23. "177 kampe". F.C. Copenhagen. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
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