Alex (footballer, born 1977)

Alexsandro de Souza, commonly known as Alex (born 14 September 1977), is a Brazilian football manager, pundit and retired footballer, who played as an attacking midfielder. He is a former captain of the Brazil national team and Turkish club Fenerbahçe; throughout his career, he also played for Coritiba, Palmeiras, Flamengo and Cruzeiro in Brazil, and Parma in the Italian Serie A. Currently, Alex is in charge of the São Paulo under-20 team.

Alex
Alex playing for Fenerbahçe in 2011
Personal information
Full name Alexsandro de Souza
Date of birth (1977-09-14) 14 September 1977
Place of birth Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
São Paulo U20 (manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1997 Coritiba 24 (4)
1997–2000 Palmeiras 37 (9)
2000–2002 Parma 8 (0)
2000Flamengo (loan) 12 (1)
2001Palmeiras (loan) 13 (0)
2001Cruzeiro (loan) 29 (2)
2002Palmeiras (loan) 16 (2)
2002–2004 Cruzeiro 55 (27)
2004–2012 Fenerbahçe 245 (136)
2013–2014 Coritiba 55 (18)
Total 499 (221)
National team
1999–2000 Brazil U20 15 (3)
1998–2005 Brazil 48 (12)
Teams managed
2021– São Paulo U20
Honours
Representing  Brazil
Men's football
Copa América
Winner1999 Paraguay
Winner2004 Peru
FIFA Confederations Cup
Runner-up1999 Mexico
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alex first played professionally for Coritiba, a Brazilian football club from the state of Paraná, where he stayed from 1995 to 1997, when he was sold to Palmeiras, from São Paulo. When he was playing for Palmeiras where he became a national star, in Brazil. He conquered for the Estádio Palestra Itália club a Copa Libertadores title, in 1999, a Rio-São Paulo cup title in 2000 and a Copa do Brasil title and a Copa Mercosur title in 1998. He left Palmeiras and signed with Flamengo, of Rio de Janeiro in 2000.

In 2000, he returned to Palmeiras for a few months and then signed with Cruzeiro, where he stayed until 2002, when he returned to Palmeiras. After another great season, Alex was sold to Parma, of Italy. There he had a hard time with coach Cesare Prandelli, and eventually returned to Cruzeiro, after playing only friendly matches for the Italian team. At Cruzeiro Alex had the best performance in his career. Made team captain and wearing jersey number 10, he led his team (which also had other remarkable players, such as Deivid, Edu Dracena, Luisão, Maicon, Aristizábal, Zinho, Felipe Melo, Gomes and Cris) to winning the Brazilian triple crown (that is the State Championship, the Brasileirão and the Brazilian Cup). Cruzeiro won the Brazilian League (Brasileirão) with a record-breaking 100 points, 13 ahead of the second place, Santos, with more than 100 goals scored in 46 games. He was eventually transferred to Fenerbahçe SK where he played for 8 years and ended up a club legend. A statue in his honor was erected in Kadıköy, İstanbul.

Over the course of his career, Alex scored 421 goals in 1030 matches and produced a total of 363 assists.[1]

Club career

Early years

Born in Curitiba, Alex first played professionally for Coritiba, a Brazilian football club from the state of Paraná, where he stayed from 1995- 97, when he was sold to Palmeiras, from São Paulo. When he was playing for Palmeiras where he became a national star, in Brazil. He conquered for the Parque Antárctica club a Libertadores da América cup title, in 1999, a Rio-São Paulo cup title in 2000 and a Copa do Brasil title and a Mercosul cup title in 1998. He left Palmeiras and signed with Flamengo, of Rio de Janeiro in 2000.

In 2000, he returned to Palmeiras for a few months and then signed with Cruzeiro, where he stayed until 2002, when he returned to Palmeiras. After another great season, Alex was sold to Parma, of Italy. There he had a hard time with coach Cesare Prandelli, and eventually returned to Cruzeiro, after playing only friendly matches for the Italian team. Made team captain and wearing jersey number 10, he led his team (which also had other remarkable players, such as Deivid, Edu Dracena, Luisão, Maicon, Aristizábal, Zinho, Felipe Melo, Gomes and Cris) to winning the Brazilian triple crown (that is the State Championship, the Brasileirão and the Brazilian Cup). Cruzeiro won the Brazilian League (Brasileirão) with a record-breaking 100 points, 13 ahead of the second place, Santos, with more than 100 goals scored in 48 games.

Fenerbahçe

Alex was then sold by Cruzeiro in 2004 for 5 million euro to Fenerbahçe.[2] He became Fenerbahçe captain after the team's captain Ümit Özat's transfer to Köln and vice-captains Tuncay's transfer to Middlesbrough and Rüştü Reçber's transfer to rival Beşiktaş.[3] Alex scored his 100th goal in the Süper Lig for Fenerbahçe on 13 November 2010 against Gaziantepspor when they lost 2–1.[4] At 33 years of age Alex scored a hat-trick against Bucaspor in the first 35 minutes of the game. Fenerbahçe won the match 5–2.[5] His first goal in this game was Fenerbahçe's 3000th goal in the Süper Lig, so his kit and shoes used in the Bucaspor match are now shown in the club's museum.[6] On 9 February 2011, he signed another two-year contract with Fenerbahçe.[7][8]

On 15 May 2011, he scored five goals, including three penalties and a free-kick, in a 60 win against Ankaragücü.[9]

After Fenerbahçe's league title for the year 2010–11, Alex won the golden boot award with 28 goals for the season, nine more than second place Burak Yılmaz.[10] He made his 900th career appearance on 12 September 2011 in the opening match of the Super Lig season, a 10 victory against Orduspor.[11] In the Turkish Cup final on 16 May 2012 against Bursaspor, Alex netted Fenerbahçe's fourth and final goal of a 4–0 victory and was named the game's "Man of the Match".[12]

On 15 September 2012, while Alex was still under contract with Fenerbahçe, a fan-funded statue of the player was unveiled in Kadıköy Yoğurtçu park.[13] Alex's last goal for Fenerbahçe came on 20 September in the Europa League, scoring Fenerbahçe's second goal in a 2–2 draw with Marseille.[14] Alex's last appearance for the club came on 29 September, playing the first half of a 2–0 defeat to Kasımpaşa in the Süper Lig.[15] After a rift with coach Aykut Kocaman over the team's system, his contract with Fenerbahçe was terminated on 1 October.[16][17] With Fenerbahçe he has concluded his impressive career in Turkey with 136 assists and 171 goals in 341 games. He left just five goals shy of matching the club record for league goals with 136 goals, held by former striker Aykut Kocaman.[18]

Coritiba

After he rarely featured for Fenerbahçe throughout the early part of the 2012–13 campaign, managing just five league appearances through October, Alex joined Brazilian side Coritiba on 18 October 2012 for an undisclosed fee.[19] He made his debut for his boyhood club on 31 January 2013, playing the full ninety in a 1–0 defeat of J. Malucelli in Campeonato Paranaense play.[20] His first goal for his new club came on 9 February in a 1–1 draw with Arapongas, scoring the equalizing goal three minutes after Wellington Indio's opener in the 47th minute.[21] Alex scored the solitary goal of the game against Londrina on 3 March,[22] starting a run of nine straight matches where the player scored, netting 12 goals.[23] Included in this goal-scoring run was a brace in a 6–0 defeat of Rio Branco on 13 April.[24] Alex finished the Campeonato Paranaense campaign by scoring a brace in Coritiba's 3–1 defeat of Atlético Paranaense on 12 May, securing a 5–3 aggregate win in the final as Coritiba claimed a record 37th state title.[25] In October 2014, Alex announced his retirement from football.[26] His last game was a 3–2 win against Bahia, on 7 December 2014.

Personal life

Alex married Daianne in 2000.[27] The couple have two daughters and one son: Maria Eduarda, born in 2004, Antonia, born in 2006 and Felipe born in 2010.[28] He features prominently in Puma advertising and also has a modeling contract with Armani.[29] Alex's father-in-law is the former president of Coritiba.[30] After his retirement, Alex started to work on ESPN Brasil as a pundit and presenter for interview show Papo Cabeça.[31][32]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[33][34][35]
Club Season League Cup[nb 1] Continental[nb 2] Total
AppsGoalsAsstsAppsGoalsAsstsAppsGoalsAsstsAppsGoalsAssts
Cruzeiro 2002 13200000001320
2003 3823000000038230
2004 520000000520
Total 5527000000055270
Fenerbahçe 2004–05 312416542812442920
2005–06 311524821432432027
2006–07 3219123021217472021
2007–08 2814123011246431819
2008–09 261112540920401712
2009–10 261111971832432114
2010–11 332813100400382813
2011–12 33147334000361711
2012–13 5001104121022
Total 245136107382111611521344172139
Coritiba 2013 291241715010047274
2014 2667125000038117
Total 55181129200100853811

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[35]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Brazil 199820
1999116
200071
200152
200210
200361
2004131
200531
Total4812

Manager

As of match played 12 September 2021
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
São Paulo U-20 5 April 2021 Present 15 9 3 3 29 17 +12 060.00
Total 15 9 3 3 29 17 +12 060.00

Honours

Palmeiras

  • Copa do Brasil: 1998
  • Copa Mercosur: 1998
  • Copa Libertadores: 1999[36]
  • Torneio Rio-São Paulo: 2000
  • Copa dos Campeões: 2000

Flamengo[37][38]

  • Campeonato Carioca: 2000
  • Taça Rio: 2000

Cruzeiro

Fenerbahçe

Coritiba

  • Campeonato Paranaense: 2013

Brazil[36]

Brazil U23

  • CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament: 2000

Brazil U20

  • South American Youth Championship: 1992, 1995

Individual

  • Campeonato Paranaense Revelation: 1995
  • Campeonato Paranaense Best Player: 1996
  • Campeonato Paranaense Best Midfielder: 1997
  • Copa Mercosur Best Player: 1998
  • IFFHS World's Top Goal Scorer: 1999 (3rd place)
  • Troféu Telê Santana Best Midfielder: 2002
  • Troféu Telê Santana Star of the Year: 2003
  • Bola de Ouro: 2003[42]
  • Bola de Prata: 2003
  • Copa América Team of the Tournament: 2004
  • Türkiye Kupası top scorer: 2004–05
  • Footballer of the year in Turkey: 2005,[43] 2010[44]
  • Süper Lig Gol Kralı: 2006–07 (19 goals), 2010–11 (28 goals)[45][46]
  • UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2007–08 (6 assists)
  • Türkiye Kupası Best Player: 2011–12[41]

References

  1. "Fenerbahce legend Alex retires from football". AA. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  2. Alex De Souza profile Fenerbahçe Official Web Site Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  3. "Captains decleaned"". Archived from the original on 26 June 2007.
  4. Alex scored the 1000th goal for Fenerbahçe against Bucaspor by also scoring a hat-trick.
  5. Derinev.com. "Alex scored 3000'th goal in club history". Fenerbahçe.org. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  6. Derinev.com. "Alex's equipments in the Museum". Fenerbahçe.org. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  7. Derinev.com. "Alex is signing". Fenerbahçe.org. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  8. Derinev.com. "Alex signed". Fenerbahçe.org. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  9. Fenerbahce 6 – 0 Ankaragucu Archived 16 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine Fenerbahçe Official Web Site Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  10. "Summary – Süper Lig – Turkey – Results, fixtures, tables and news". Soccerway. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  11. "Alex 1000'e adım adım". Sporx.com. 8 July 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  12. "50. Ziraat Türkiye Kupası Fenerbahçe'nin" (in Turkish). TFF. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  13. Yılmaz, Çetin Cem (16 September 2012). "Alex statue a beautiful gesture to the Fener captain". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  14. "Dramatic Marseille comeback foils Fenerbahçe". UEFA. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  15. "KASIMPAŞA VS. FENERBAHÇE 2 – 0". UK SOCCERWAY. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  16. "Özel Durum Açıklaması (Genel)" (in Turkish). KAP. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  17. "BİLGİLENDİRME" (in Turkish). Fenerbahçe official website. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  18. "Iconic player Alex leaves Fenerbahçe". Hurriyet Daily News. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  19. "Alex de Souza". Goal. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  20. "CORITIBA VS. J.MALUCELLI 1 – 0". UK SOCCERWAY. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  21. "ARAPONGAS VS. CORITIBA 1 – 1". UK SOCCERWAY. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  22. "LONDRINA VS. CORITIBA 0 – 1". UK SOCCERWAY. 3 March 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  23. "ALEX – Matches". UK SOCCERWAY. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  24. "CORITIBA VS. RIO BRANCO PR 6 – 0". UK SOCCERWAY. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  25. "Alex garante o tetracampeonato paranaense ao Coritiba" (in Portuguese). Gazeta Do Povo. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  26. GoebelCuritiba, Por Ana Helena. "Mesmo com proposta dos EUA, Alex decide que se aposenta no fim do ano". globoesporte.com.
  27. "Personal history on alex10.com.br". Tr.alex10.com.br. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  28. "Alex's second daughter born". Milliyet.com.tr. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  29. "Alex signed sponsorship". Tumgazeteler.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  30. ERCANLAR, Ahmet. "Türkiye'nin konuştuğu kadın". www.hurriyet.com.tr.
  31. "Ex-jogador Alex é o novo comentarista da ESPN Brasil". Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  32. "UOL Esporte - Perto de estrear programa na ESPN, Alex pede responsabilidade à imprensa". uolesportevetv.blogosfera.uol.com.br.
  33. Alex's Statistics Archived 13 December 2004 at archive.today Alex10.com.br Retrieved 10 February 2007.
  34. "Mackolik". Mackolik. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  35. Alex at National-Football-Teams.com
  36. "The Golden Boy's final act: Alex gets emotional send-off as he brings career to a close in Brazil". Daily Mirror. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  37. "RSSSF – Championship of Rio de Janeiro 2000". Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  38. "Futebolnacional.com.br – Championship of Rio de Janeiro 2000". Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  39. Ricardo Pontes (18 March 2002). "Copa Sul-Minas 2001". RSSSF. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  40. Ricardo Pontes (18 May 2002). "Liga Sul-Minas 2002". RSSSF. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  41. Fenerbahçe win Ziraat Turkish Cup Turkish Football Federation, accessed 6 June 2012 (2012-06-06)
  42. "Conheça os ganhadores de de 2003" (in Portuguese). ESPN. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  43. "2005'in unutulmazları".
  44. Milliyet Yılın Sporcusu ödülleri sahiplerini buldu
  45. "Turkey – List of Topscorers". rsssf.com. RSSSF. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  46. "Ligin Gol Kralları". tff.org (in Turkish). Turkish Football Federation. Retrieved 23 February 2019.

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