Profile Football Stars: Mar 14, 2012

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Ronaldinho

Profile Football Stars | Ronaldinho | Ronaldinho, the term of endearment and diminutive for "Ronaldo," is accompanied in Brazilian usage by the nickname "Gaucho," in order to distinguish him from fellow footballer Ronaldo and Countryman, who was known as "Ronaldinho" in Brazil beforehand. Ronaldo simply went by his first name upon his move to Europe, thereby allowing Ronaldinho to drop the "Gaucho" and go by the name Ronaldinho abroad.

Ronaldinho's career began with the Gremio youth squad. In 2001, Ronaldinho signed a five-year contract with French side Paris Saint-Germain in a € 5 million transfer. Ronaldinho made his league debut for the club on 4 August 2001 Appearing as a substitute in a 1-1 draw with Auxerre. Ronaldinho spent the majority of the 2001 portion of the season alternated Between the bench and starter's role.

Ronaldinho and Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi each captained a team of international stars in an anti-racism exhibition match in Venezuela on 28 June, the which ended in a 7-7 draw. Ronaldinho finished with a pair of goals and two assists in what would be his last match as a Barcelona player. Ronaldinho ended the season scoring two goals against Juventus, Luca Antonini Milan opened the scoring and went on to win 3-0.

After being linked with a move Heavily back to his childhood club Gremio, Ronaldinho joined Flamengo on 11 January 2011 with a contract ending in 2014. On 27 February Ronaldinho converted a second-half free kick for Flamengo to beat Boavista 1-0 and win his first piece of Silverware with the team, the Taça Guanabara. The goal gave Flamengo Taça Guanabara its 19th title, the which earned the Campeonato Carioca title two months later, as the team also won the Taça Rio. On 27 July 2011, Ronaldinho scored a hat-trick in Flamengo's 4-5 away win against rivals Santos, after being 3-0 down inside the first 30 minutes.

Ronaldinho is one of few Brazilian players to have played at every international age level. Ronaldinho finished with two goals and was awarded the Bronze Ball award as Brazil scored a total of twenty-one goals while only conceding two. Brazil went on to win the match with a goal from Marcelo.

Personal information
Full name Ronaldo de Assis Moreira
Date of birth 21 March 1980 (age 31)
Place of birth Porto Alegre, Brazil
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1/2 in)
Playing position Attacking midfielder / Forward

Club information
Current club Flamengo
Number 10

Youth career
Gremio 1987-1998

Senior career
years Team
Gremio 1998-2001 52 (21)
2001-2003 Paris Saint-Germain 55 (17)
Barcelona 2003-2008 145 (70)
2008-2011 Milan 76 (20)
2011-Flamengo 31 (14)

National team
1996 Brazil U17 6 (2)
Brazil U20 1999 5 (3)
2000-2008 Brazil U23 10 (3)
1999-Brazil 94 (33)

Honours

Club
Gremio
     South Cup (1): 1999
     Rio Grande do Sul State Championship (1): 1999

Paris Saint-Germain
     UEFA Intertoto Cup (1): 2001

Barcelona
     La Liga (2): 2004-05, 2005-06
     Supercopa de España (2): 2005, 2006
     UEFA Champions League (1): 2005-06

AC Milan
     Serie A (1): 2010-11

Flamengo
     Taça Guanabara (1): 2011
     Taça Rio (1): 2011
     Campeonato Carioca (1): 2011

Brazil
     Copa América (1): 1999
     FIFA World Cup (1): 2002
     FIFA Confederations Cup (1): 2005
     Superclásico de las Américas (1): 2011

Individual
     FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Ball: 1999
     FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Shoe: 1999
     Rio Grande do Sul State Championship top scorer: 1999
     FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2002
     FIFA 100
     Don Balon Award (2): 2003-04, 2005-06
     La Liga Ibero-American Player of the Year (1): 2004
     FIFA World Player of the Year (2): 2004, 2005
     Ballon d'Or (1): 2005
     FIFPro World Player of the Year (2): 2005, 2006
     UEFA Club Best Forward (1): 2004-05
     UEFA Club Footballer of the Year (1): 2005-06
     UEFA Team of the Year (3): 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06
     FIFPro World XI (3): 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07
     Golden Foot (1): 2009

Givanildo Vieira de Souza ( Hulk )

Profile Football Stars | Givanildo Vieira de Souza ( Hulk ) | Hulk was born in Campina Grande, Paraíba. After settling rarely as a youth, he started playing professionally with Esporte Clube Vitória in Salvador, Bahia, then emigrated on loan to Japan to play for Kawasaki Frontale. In 2007, the Hulk was loaned again to a second division team, Tokyo Verdy, where he was even more effective, scoring 37 goals in 42 matches and being the top goalscorer of the season.

Givanildo Vieira de Souza, Brazilian footballer is a who plays for FC Porto in Portugal. As his nickname Suggests, Hulk's strength and stocky build are Considered his foremost attributes, along with speed, acceleration, and a powerful shot.

Hulk started the 2010-11 season in impressive fashion, scoring sixteen sixteen times in his first official matches, Including a hat-trick against KRC Genk for the UEFA Europa League's play-off stage, on 26 August 2010 (4-2 home win, 7-2 on aggregate). From September to January he won the Portuguese Championship Player of the Year, making him the only player to have won the award six times; on 7 November 2010, he scored the last two goals as Benfica Porto trounced 5-0 at home, creating a 10-point difference Between the two teams, with the northerners leading the league, and eventually winning it, with the player leading the goalscoring charts. On 27 October 2009, the Hulk was called up for the first time to the Brazilian national team, for friendly matches against England and Oman.

Personal information
Full name Givanildo Vieira de Souza
Date of birth 25 July 1986 (age 25)
Place of birth Campina Grande, Brazil
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Striker / Winger

Club information
Current club Porto
Number 12

Youth career
2001-2002 Vilanovense
2002 São Paulo
Vitória 2003-2004

Senior career
years Team
2004-2005 Vitória 1 (0)
2005 Kawasaki Frontale (loan) 9 (1)
2006-2008 Kawasaki Frontale 2 (0)
2006 Consadole (loan) 38 (25)
Tokyo Verdy 2007 (loan) 42 (37)
Tokyo Verdy 2008 11 (7)
2008 - Porto 89 (45)

National team
2009 - Brazil 9 (2)

Honours

Club
Porto
     Primeira League (2): 2008-09, 2010-11
     Taça de Portugal (3): 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11
     Supertaça Candido de Oliveira (3): 2009, 2010, 2011
     UEFA Europa League (1): 2010-11

Individual
     J. League Division 2 Top scorer (1): 2007
     Peace Cup Golden Shoe (1): 2009
     Peace Cup Silver Ball (1): 2009
     Primeira League Top scorer (1): 2010-11
     Primeira Liga Breakthrough Player (1): 2008-09
     Portuguese League Player of the Month (5): February 2009,
     September 2010, October 2010, December      2010, January 2011 (record)
     Primeira League Player of the Year (1): 2010-11

Lukas Podolski

Profile Football Stars | Lukas Podolski | Podolski began playing football at the age of six in the youth team of FC Bergheim, where he played until he joined 1. FC Köln in 1995. It was there where Podolski's talents were first noticed. In 2003, at the age of 18, Podolski was still part of the club's youth side. Josef Lukas Podolski, is a German footballer plays as a striker who or winger. for the German national team. After three years with mixed success in Munich, Podolski returned to Cologne.

Though his call up to the German Euro 2004 squad along Brought Several interest from top clubs, Podolski stayed at Köln to help the club gain promotion in the 2004-05 season. With 24 goals, Podolski advanced to Become the league's best scorer. Somewhat unusually, Podolski remained part of the Germany squad, even though he did not play in the national top-tier league. After Köln were Promoted, the pressure was on Podolski to keep the club in the Bundesliga Practically singlehandedly. Podolski managed to score 12 goals in the 2005-06 season, but eventually, Köln were relegated again.

FC Köln through 2007. On 1 June 2006, Podolski Announced That a transfer agreement had been reached with Bayern Munich, allowing him to join the Bavarian side for the 2006-07 season. On 14 October 2006, with his first Bundesliga goal for Bayern, Podolski helped to secure the club's 4-2 win over Hertha Berlin. Podolski missed more than five match weeks. After a rather unhappy season at Bayern, he returned to former club Cologne on 1 July 2009.

In late 2003, after Several impressive performances in his first few Bundesliga games, Polish media suggested then-Polish national team coach Paweł Janas should check Podolski out, as he was still eligible to play for Poland. " By That time Podolski was still interested in representing Poland, but as the season progressed German media increasingly highlighted his performances to suggest he should be called up to the German national team. Even though the Germans played with 10-men throughout the rest of the game, Podolski had Numerous chances on goal. In the quarter final against Argentina, Klose to Podolski assisted a goal, Bringing the score to 2-0. The Germans won the match 4-0. During qualification, Podolski Provided assists for three goals and scored three times, Helping Germany to win all 10 matches of Their qualification campaign.

Personal information
Full name Josef Lukas Podolski
Date of birth 4 June 1985 (age 26)
Place of birth Gliwice, Poland
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1/2 in)
Playing position Striker / Winger

Club information
Current club 1. FC Köln
Number 10

Youth career
1991-1995 FC Jugend 07 Bergheim
1995-2002 1. FC Köln

Senior career
years Team
2002-2004 1. FC Köln II 2 (0)
2003-2006 1. FC Köln 81 (46)
Bayern Munich 2006-2009 71 (15)
2007-2008 Bayern Munich II 2 (0)
2009-1. FC Köln 79 (31)

National team
2004 Germany U-21 5 (0)
2004-Germany 95 (43)

Honours

Club
FC Köln
Bundesliga: 2004-05

FC Bayern Munich
     Bundesliga: 2007-08
     DFB-Pokal: 2008
     DFB-Ligapokal: 2007

Individual
     FIFA World Cup Best Young Player: 2006
     UEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament

     UEFA Euro 2008 Silver Boot
     Silbernes Lorbeerblatt (2): 2006, 2010
     Second Bundesliga Top Goalscorer (24 goals): 2005

National team
     FIFA World Cup Third Place: 2006, 2010
     UEFA European Football Championship Runner-up: 2008

Dirk Kuyt

Profile Football Stars | Dirk Kuyt | Booy played Kuyt as a striker / attacking midfielder (behind the striker) for the entire season, and Kuyt repaid him with 20 league goals. FC Utrecht also reached the Dutch Cup final, where They met Feyenoord. Although They were the underdogs Utrecht comfortably won the cup 4-1, with Kuyt scoring one and being given the man-of-the-match award.

At Feyenoord, Kuyt Immediately Became a fans' favorite with his continued goal scoring success. His first season saw him net another 20 league goals. The opening game of the 2004-05 season marked Kuyt's first-ever hat-trick against De Graafschap. In 2005 Kuyt was handed the Feyenoord club captaincy and went on to have a Successful third season with the club, scoring 25 goals in all competitions. Over the summer of 2006 Kuyt was again linked with moves to many top English clubs, Liverpool and most Notably Newcastle United. Kuyt completed a move to Liverpool on 18 August for an undisclosed fee. Kuyt missed only five games over seven seasons from 1999 until 2006, making 233 appearances. Between March 2001 and April 2006 he played 179 consecutive matches.

Upon joining Liverpool, Kuyt Stated "I only wanted to leave Feyenoord for a really big club, and that 'is what Liverpool are. In his third start for the club on 20 September 2006 Kuyt scored his first goal against Newcastle United in a Premier League game at Anfield, and Followed up with another against Tottenham Hotspur in the next game. He scored his third goal for Liverpool with his father watching the game at Anfield, contributing to Liverpool's 3-1 win over Aston Villa. On 21 September 2011, Dirk Kuyt scored his first goal of the season in a 2-1 win against Brighton in the 83rd minute in the third round of the Carling Cup. After coming on as a substitute, Kuyt scored Liverpool's second goal in the Carling Cup final against Cardiff City on February 26th; the game finished 2-2 after extra-time, with Liverpool winning on Penalties-Kuyt scoring one of them.

On 2 September 2010, Kuyt scored a penalty as Holland began Their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with a 5-0 away win against San Marino. On 25 March 2011 Hollands Kuyt scored third goal in a 4-0 win against Hungary for the Euro 2012 qualifiers. On 8 June 2011, Kuyt scored a 90th minute equalizer for Holland against Uruguay, leveling the match to 1-1, with Liverpool teammate Luis Suarez netting the opening goal of the match. Kuyt scored the fourth goal in Holland's record 11-0 win over San Marino. Kuyt headed in his seventh international goal of 2011 in a 3-2 loss against Sweden.

Personal information
Full name Dirk Kuyt
Date of birth 22 July 1980 (age 31)
Place of birth Katwijk aan Zee, Netherlands
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Forward / Winger

Club information
Current club Liverpool
Number 18

Youth career
Quick Boys

Senior career
years Team
Utrecht 1998-2003 160 (51)
Feyenoord 2003-2006 101 (71)
2006 - Liverpool's 200th (50)

National team
2004 - The Netherlands 85 (24)

Honours

Club
Utrecht
     KNVB Cup: 2002-03

Liverpool
     Football League Cup: 2011-12

Netherlands
World Cup Runner-Up 2010

Individual
     Eredivisie top scorer: 2005
     Dutch Golden Shoe: 2003, 2006
     Malta Supporters Club Player of the Season: 2012

Klaas Jan Huntelaar

Profile Football Stars | Klaas Jan Huntelaar | Huntelaar went on to score eight goals in 20 appearances (13 starts and 7 sub appearances) in just half a season at Real Madrid. On 14 August 2009, Huntelaar made his debut for Milan during the TIM Trophy tournament friendly. Huntelaar was Unable to play any part in Milan's opening league game of the season due to a suspension he had Incurred whilst playing for Real Madrid. Previously Huntelaar played for PSV, De Graafschap, AGOVV Apeldoorn, Heerenveen, Ajax, Real Madrid, and Milan, before joining Schalke in August 2010. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, nicknamed The Hunter, is a Dutch footballer plays as a striker who for Schalke 04 and the Dutch national football team.

In his first season at PSV, Huntelaar Quickly established Himself as a Prolific goalscorer for A1 Their youth teams under coach Willy van der Kuijlen, scoring 26 goals in 23 games to Become the top scorer in the youth leagues. In his second season at PSV, Huntelaar was added to the senior squad under coach Guus Hiddink. Huntelaar scored 26 goals in 35 league appearances and finished the season as the division's top goalscorer as well as being named the Jupiler League's Player of the Season. Huntelaar started the 2004-05 season by scoring on his debut Eredivisie with Heerenveen against AZ and took his scoring tally to 10 goals in 17 games at the winter break. At the end of the season Huntelaar had scored a total of 17 goals in 31 matches, Helping Heerenveen qualify for the UEFA Cup.

In January 2006 Huntelaar signed for AFC Ajax, the club he had supported as a child. Huntelaar made his Ajax debut after the winter break and scored his first goal for the team on 5 February 2006, against his former club SC Heerenveen in a KNVB Cup tie. During February, Huntelaar scored nine goals in seven matches for Ajax, Including Serie A club Internazionale against on his UEFA Champions League debut. Huntelaar ended the season as top scorer for Ajax with 16 league goals in 16 appearances Despite only joining in January, and also finished up as the Eredivise's top scorer with 33 league goals. He scored a total of 44 goals in 47 Appearances in all club competitions. At the start of the 2008-09, Marco van Basten was appointed as Ajax coach and named Huntelaar as a permanent first team captain. Huntelaar scored nine goals in 15 appearances in all competitions before torn ankle ligaments Suffering on 9 November 2008 in a league match against Sparta Rotterdam.

Huntelaar played in the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship for the Netherlands under coach Louis van Gaal. Huntelaar was named as one of two strikers in the UEFA Team of the Tournament. In the aftermath, Huntelaar was Promoted from the under-21 squad where he Remains the Netherlands all-time top goalscorer with 18 goals in 22 matches. Huntelaar added further goals to his tally, with a double in a 4-1 win against Sweden on 12 October 2010. After scoring the first goal in the 3-2 defeat against Sweden, Huntelaar's Oranje 30 goal total is only 10 goals away from Patrick Kluivert's all-time record of 40 goals for Oranje.

Personal information
Date of birth: August 12, 1983 (age 28)
Place of birth Voor-Drempt, Achterhoek, Netherlands
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club Schalke 04
Number 25

Youth career
1988-1994 VV H. en K.
1994-2000 De Graafschap
PSV 2000-2002

Senior career
years Team
2002-2004 PSV 1 (0)
2003 De Graafschap (loan) 9 (0)
AGOVV 2003-2004 (loan) 35 (26)
Heerenveen 2004-2006 46 (33)
Ajax 2006-2009 92 (76)
2009 Real Madrid 20 (8)
2009-2010 Milan 25 (7)
2010 - Schalke 04 46 (26)

National team
2004-2006 Netherlands U-21 20 (18)
2006 - The Netherlands 50 (31)

Honours

Club
     Ajax
         KNVB Cup: 2005-06, 2006-07
         Johan Cruyff Shield: 2006, 2007

     Schalke 04
         DFB-Pokal: 2010-11
         DFL-Supercup: 2011

International
     UEFA U-21 Championship 2006
     2010 FIFA World Cup Runner-up: 2010

Individual
     Jupiler League top scorer: 2003-04
     Jupiler League Player of the Year: 2003-04
     Eredivisie top scorer: 2005-06, 2007-08
     Eredivisie Talent of the Year: 2005-06
     UEFA U-21 Championship top scorer: 2006
     UEFA U-21 Championship Golden Player: 2006
     UEFA Euro Qualifying Top scorer: 2012
     Dutch Under-21 All-Time Top scorer
     FC Schalke 04 Record Goalscorer in UEFA Competitions: 13 goals

Keisuke Honda

Profile Football Stars | Keisuke Honda | Keisuke Honda, is a Japanese footballer currently plays for CSKA who Moscow and the Japan national football team. Honda was born in Settsu, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. He started playing football for the local club; Settsu FC, he started there when he was in second grade at primary school. He Entered Seiryo High School in Ishikawa Prefecture and chose to play for the school. He was one of the best players in the team and the school team advanced to the semi-finals of the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament.

On January 16, 2008, Honda signed a two and half year deal with Eredivisie side VVV-Venlo. In the 08-09 season, he scored 16 goals in 36 league appearances to help the team to be Promoted to the Eredivisie for the 09-10 season.

At the end of December 2009, Honda transferred to Russian club CSKA Moscow. Honda signed a four year contract. Honda made his debut for CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Champions League match against Sevilla. In the second leg in Seville, he scored the winning goal through a direct free kick for CSKA after having set up the first goal for Tomáš Necid. Honda scored his first league goal on 12 March 2010, in the home match against Amkar Perm. With the goal, he secured the win for CSKA Moscow.

He was a member of the Japan team for 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and played for U-23 national team, that qualified for 2008 Summer Olympics football tournament finals. On 14 July 2008, he was formally named as one of the midfielders of the Japanese U-23 national football team for the Beijing Olympics football competition. He scored his first goal for the senior national team on 27 May 2009 in a friendly match against Chile at Nagai Stadium in Osaka. Honda was included in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup by coach Alberto Zaccheroni. In the game against Syria he scored a penalty kick making the score 2-1 for Japan. He earned player of the match for that game. Again, he earned player of the match.

Personal information
Full name Keisuke Honda
Date of birth 13 June 1986 (age 25)
Place of birth Osaka, Japan
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Attacking Midfielder

Club information
Current club PFC CSKA Moscow
Number 7

Youth career
Settsu FC
1999-2001 Gamba Osaka
2002-2004 High School Seiryō

Senior career
years Team
2005-2007 Nagoya Grampus 90 (11)
VVV-Venlo 2008-2009 68 (24)
2010-CSKA Moscow 49 (13)

National team
2005 Japan U-20 1 (0)
2006-2008 Japan U-23 18 (5)
2008-Japan 31 (8)

Honours

Japan
     AFC Asian Cup: 1
         2011

Club
VVV-Venlo
     Jupiler: 1
         2008-09
CSKA Moscow
     Russian Cup: 1
         2010-11

Individual
     AFC Asian Cup Most Valuable Player: 1
         2011
     Japanese Footballer of the Year: 1
         2010