Deco

Profile Football Stars | Deco | Deco arrived in Portugal in 1997 at the age of 19 along with fellow Brazilian player Caju after being acquired by Benfica of Lisbon. Despite good showings in training, Benfica decided to loan Deco to the Liga de Honra Alverca club, where he played for a season. Deco is one of the few players to have won the UEFA Champions League with two different clubs - FC Porto in 2004 and FC Barcelona in 2006. Deco was the first player to win the UEFA Best Midfielder Award with two different clubs, Porto and Barcelona. Deco received Portuguese citizenship in 2002, having completed six years of Portuguese residence, opting to play Subsequently internationally for the Portugal national football team. Subsequently, Deco what Salgueiros transferred in the season 1998-99, playing games and scoring 12 two goals.

A key figure in the season 2002-03, he scored 10 goals in 30 games, but nevertheless received 17 yellow cards and one red card. Deco was one of the key players in Porto's UEFA Cup final 3-2 win over Celtic that year. In the 2003-04 season, Deco helped Porto recapture the national title and led the team to the 2004 UEFA Champions League Final, in which Porto won 3-0 over Monaco, scoring the second goal of the match. That season, Deco won the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year as well as the award for the best midfielder in the competition.

On 17 June 2004, Deco told a Portuguese radio station that he would almost certainly join English side Chelsea (then coached by Jose Mourinho) following UEFA Euro 2004. Deco scored twice in the Spanish Super cup 2006-07, Barca won Which. Deco won the UEFA Best Midfielder Award yet again for his performance in Barca's Champions League-winning season, enabling him to join the exclusive group of players that have won the same award more than once with different teams, having won the Champions League previously with Porto.

Deco scored on his Chelsea debut and his Premier League debut, with a 30-yard goal in a 4-0 victory over Portsmouth. Deco followed up his performance by scoring in his second game for Chelsea, a curling free kick against Wigan Athletic. Deco made his Champions League debut for Chelsea on 16 September. Deco was Chelsea's 7-1 win in sensational over Aston Villa, creating chances for his teammates and helping Chelsea's midfield flow. On 6 August 2010, Deco signed a two-year contract with Brazilian club Fluminense on a free transfer, joining former Chelsea and FC Barcelona player Juliano Belletti. Also in 2010, Deco has won his first Brazilian Championship, participating Fluminense's victorious campaign in.

Having played six years of club football with Porto Deco allowed to gain Portuguese citizenship that made him eligible to play for Portugal. None of Deco's great grandparents, grandparents or parents were Portuguese and FIFA's player eligibility Therefore under Portuguese citizenship rules required to be Considered eligible. Deco was mentioned several times in the media as an option for the Portuguese national team. Despite the early criticism, Deco was one of the highlights of the Portuguese national team. Deco played for Portugal in their opening game against Côte d'Ivoire.

Personal information
Full name Anderson Luis de Souza
Date of Birth 27 August 1977 (age 34)
Place of birth São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1/2 in)
Playing position Attacking midfielder

Club information
Current club Fluminense
Number 20

Youth career
1995-1996 National-SP

Senior career
years team
1996-1997 Corinthians 2 (0)
1997-1999 Benfica 0 (0)
1997-1998 Alverca (loan) 32 (13)
Salgueiros 1998-1999 (loan) 12 (2)
Porto 1999-2004 154 (32)
Barcelona 2004-2008 113 (11)
2008-2010 Chelsea 42 (5)
2010-Fluminense 53 (5)

National team
2003-2010 Portugal 75 (5)

Honours

Club
postage
     Portuguese League: 1997-98, 1998-99, 2002-03, 2003-04
     Taça de Portugal: 2000, 2001, 2003
     Portuguese Super Cup: 1999, 2001, 2003
     UEFA Champions League: 2004
     UEFA Cup: 2003

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

Chelsea
     Premier League: 2009-10
     FA Cup: 2009, 2010
     Community Shield: 2009

Fluminense
     Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2010
     Taça Guanabara: 2012
     Rio de Janeiro State League: 2012

Individual
     Portuguese League Footballer of the Year: 2003-04
     UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2003-04
     UEFA Best Midfielder: 2003-04, 2005-06
     FIFA World Club Cup Golden Ball: 2006
     Premier League Player of the Month: August 2008
     UEFA Team of the Tournament: 2004

Orders
     Medal of Merit, Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa
    (House of Braganza)