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Alex (footballer, born 1977)

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Alex
Alex playing for Fenerbahçe in 2011
Personal information
Full name Alexsandro de Souza
Date of birth (1977-09-14) 14 September 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Antalyaspor (manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1997 Coritiba 24 (4)
1997–2000 Palmeiras 37 (9)
2000–2002 Parma 8 (0)
2000 → Flamengo (loan) 12 (1)
2001 → Palmeiras (loan) 13 (0)
2001 → Cruzeiro (loan) 29 (2)
2002 → Palmeiras (loan) 16 (2)
2002–2004 Cruzeiro 55 (27)
2004–2012 Fenerbahçe 245 (136)
2013–2014 Coritiba 55 (18)
Total 499 (221)
International career
1999–2000 Brazil U20 15 (3)
1998–2005 Brazil 49 (12)
Managerial career
2021–2022 São Paulo U20
2023 Avaí
2024– Antalyaspor
Medal record
Representing  Brazil
Men's football
Copa América
Winner 1999 Paraguay
Winner 2004 Peru
FIFA Confederations Cup
Runner-up 1999 Mexico
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alexsandro de Souza (born 14 September 1977), commonly known as Alex, is a Brazilian football manager, pundit and retired footballer, who played as an attacking midfielder.

Alex 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. Alex is most prominent for his time at Fenerbahçe where he became the highest-scoring foreign player of all time in the Süper Lig.

Internationally, Alex earned 48 caps and scored 12 goals for Brazil from 1998 to 2005. He was part of their squads at three Copa América tournaments, winning in 1999 and 2004, the latter as captain. He additionally went to the 2000 Olympics and two FIFA Confederations Cups, but never was chosen for the FIFA World Cup.[1]

Club career

[edit]

Early years

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Born in Curitiba, Alex first played professionally for his hometown club Coritiba, where he stayed from 1995 until 97, when he was sold to Palmeiras, from São Paulo. 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. Alex was sold to Parma of Italy. He returned to Cruzeiro, after playing only friendly matches for the Italian team. Made team captain and wearing jersey number 10, he led his team 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.

Fenerbahçe

[edit]
Statue of Alex at Kadıköy Yoğurtçu Park

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 6–0 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 1–0 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

[edit]

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.

International career

[edit]

Alex made his senior international debut for Brazil on 23 September 1998 in a 1–1 friendly draw with FR Yugoslavia in São Luís, Maranhão, as an 82nd-minute substitute for Denílson in Brazil's first match since defeat in the 1998 FIFA World Cup.[27] He scored his first goal in his third appearance, opening a 3–0 win over Latvia in his hometown the following 26 June.[28]

At the 1999 Copa América in Paraguay, Alex scored the decisive goal in a 2–1 group win over Mexico with a 25-yard strike.[29] Brazil won the tournament under manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo, with Alex and Ronaldinho being young replacements for Edílson and Leonardo who were dropped for disciplinary reasons.[30] Days later at the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup in Mexico, he scored twice in a 4–0 opening win over Germany and twice again in an 8–2 semi-final rout of Saudi Arabia,[31][32] though his team lost the final to the hosts.[33]

Alex also went with the Brazilian Olympic team to the 2000 tournament in Australia, concluding a 3–1 opening win over Slovakia and scoring the only goal of a group win against Japan; quarter-final defeat to Cameroon led to Luxemburgo's resignation.[34][35] At the 2001 Copa América in Colombia, Alex equalised in a 3–1 group win over Paraguay[36] as the team were again eliminated in a quarter-final shock, this time to Honduras.[37] In qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he scored once to open a 3–1 home win over rivals Argentina.[38] He was not chosen for the final tournament because of fitness issues, which Brazil won under manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, and confessed in his autobiography that he drank heavily to distract himself from the event, while his wife miscarried upon hearing that Ricardinho had been called up as a replacement for the injured Emerson and not her husband.[39]

Alex scored an added-time equaliser at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup in France as Brazil drew 2–2 with Turkey in their final group game in Saint-Étienne, but were eliminated nonetheless.[40] Brazil won the 2004 Copa América in Peru, in which captain Alex scored in a 4–0 quarter-final win against Mexico; he was then overlooked for the 2006 FIFA World Cup as well.[1]

Style of play

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A talented and creative playmaker, with an eye for goal, Alex usually played in a free role as an attacking midfielder. Although he lacked significant pace and physical power, and was not particularly hard-working defensively, he was known for his passing, technical skills, control, low centre of gravity, vision, reading of the game, and ability to provide many assists for his teammates, in addition to being capable of scoring himself, in particular from set pieces. In addition to his usual role as a number ten, he was also deployed as a second striker on occasion throughout his career, or even on the left flank.[41][42][43][44]

Managerial career

[edit]

On 5 April 2021, Alex joined São Paulo after being appointed the head coach of the under-20 team.[45] On 28 October 2022, he left the club.[46]

On 16 November 2022, Alex was appointed head coach of Avaí, freshly relegated from the top tier.[47] He was dismissed the following 3 May.[48]

On 18 May 2024, Alex was appointed Head coach of Antalyaspor, years after, coming back to Türkiye.

Personal life

[edit]

Alex married Daianne in 2000.[49] The couple have two daughters and one son: Maria Eduarda, born in 2004, Antonia, born in 2006, and Felipe, born in 2010.[50] He features prominently in Puma advertising and also has a modeling contract with Armani.[51] Alex's father-in-law is the former president of Coritiba.[52] After his retirement, Alex started to work on ESPN Brasil as a pundit and presenter for interview show Papo Cabeça.[53][54]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[55][56][57]
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cruzeiro 2002 Série A 13 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 2
2003 38 23 14 6 1[b] 0 0 0 53 29
2004 5 2 0 0 7[c] 3 0 0 12 5
Total 55 27 14 6 8 3 0 0 77 36
Fenerbahçe 2004–05 Süper Lig 31 24 5 4 8[d] 1 – 44 29
2005–06 31 15 8 2 4[e] 3 – 43 20
2006–07 32 19 3 0 12[f] 1 – 47 20
2007–08 28 14 2 0 12[e] 4 1[g] 0 43 18
2008–09 26 11 5 4 9[e] 2 – 40 17
2009–10 26 11 8 5 8[h] 3 1[g] 2 43 21
2010–11 33 28 1 0 4[i] 0 – 38 28
2011–12 33 14 3 3 – – 36 17
2012–13 5 0 0 0 4[j] 1 1[g] 1 10 2
Total 245 136 35 18 61 15 3 3 344 172
Coritiba 2013 Série A 29 12 17 15 1 0 0 0 47 27
2014 26 6 12 5 0 0 0 0 38 11
Total 55 18 29 20 1 0 0 0 85 38
Career total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
  1. ^ Includes Copa do Brasil, Turkish Cup
  2. ^ Appearance in Copa Sudamericana
  3. ^ Appearances in Copa Libertadores
  4. ^ Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances and one goal in UEFA Cup
  5. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  6. ^ Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and one goal in UEFA Cup
  7. ^ a b c Appearance in Turkish Super Cup
  8. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  9. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  10. ^ Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, one appearance and one goal in UEFA Europa League

International

[edit]
Appearances and goals by national team and year[57]
National team Year Apps Goals
Brazil 1998 2 0
1999 11 6
2000 7 1
2001 5 2
2002 1 0
2003 6 1
2004 13 1
2005 3 1
Total 48 12

Manager

[edit]
As of 7 December 2024
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat. From To Record Ref.
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Avaí Brazil 16 November 2022 3 May 2023 18 6 4 8 22 25 −3 033.33 [48]
Antalyaspor Turkey 18 May 2024 present 15 6 3 6 22 27 −5 040.00
Total 33 12 7 14 44 52 −8 036.36 —

Honours

[edit]

Palmeiras

Flamengo[59][60]

Cruzeiro

Fenerbahçe

Coritiba

Brazil U20

Brazil U23

Brazil[58]

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Strini, Antônio (8 December 2014). "Ídolo em 3 clubes e 'Deus' na Turquia mesmo sem ir a uma Copa: o que o futebol perde sem Alex" [Idol in 3 clubs and 'God' in Turkey even without going to a World Cup: what football loses without Alex] (in Portuguese). ESPN. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  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. ^ Arruda, Gustavo (21 March 2015). "Relembre os jogos da Seleção Brasileira em São Luís" [Remember the Brazil national team's matches in São Luís] (in Portuguese). Imirante. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  28. ^ "Brasil joga bem e vence Letônia por 3 a 0" [Brazil play well and beat Latvia 3-0]. Folha de Londrina (in Portuguese). 25 June 1999. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  29. ^ "Brazil Reaches Quarterfinals With 2-1 Victory Over Mexico". The Washington Post. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  30. ^ "Brazil's victory eases the pressure on Luxemburgo". The Irish Times. 20 July 1999. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  31. ^ Victor, Fábio (25 July 1999). "Brasil vence Alemanha com goleada histórica" [Brazil defeat Germany with historic thrashing]. Folha de S. Paulo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  32. ^ "Taça das Confederações : Brasil e México na final" [Confederations Cup: Brazil and Mexico in the final]. Record (in Portuguese). 2 August 1999. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  33. ^ Iwata Lima, Diego (1 July 2018). "O dia em que o México, com Rafa Márquez, venceu o Brasil na 'final mais importante de todas'" [The day that Mexico, with Rafa Márquez, beat Brazil in the 'most important final of all'] (in Portuguese). ESPN. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  34. ^ "Brasil supera crise do técnico e pressão para vencer a Eslováquia" [Brazil overcome management crisis and pressure to defeat Slovakia]. Folha de S. Paulo (in Portuguese). 14 September 2000. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  35. ^ "Há 15 anos, maior vexame do Brasil no futebol olímpico derrubava Luxemburgo" [15 years ago, Brazil's greatest shame in Olympic football brought down Luxemburgo] (in Portuguese). UOL. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  36. ^ "Soccer: Brazil reach Copa America quarter-finals". Irish Examiner. 19 July 2001. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  37. ^ "Honduras stun Brazil". BBC Sport. 23 July 2001. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  38. ^ "SOCCER: ROUNDUP -- WORLD CUP QUALIFYING; Brazil Hands Argentina a Loss". The New York Times. 27 July 2000. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  39. ^ "Alex: "Vi borracho el Mundial de Corea y Japón de 2002"" [Alex: "I watched the Korea and Japan 2002 World Cup while drunk"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 10 November 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  40. ^ "Turkey see off Brazil". BBC Sport. 23 June 2002. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  41. ^ "Fenerbahçe great Alex calls time on career". UEFA.com. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  42. ^ Thomas, Blake (13 July 2011). "Copa America 2011: Is Alex De Souza the Player That Brazil Is Missing?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  43. ^ Kelly, James (29 September 2017). "Alex: the magical Brazilian who became one of Turkish football's greatest imports". These Football Times. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  44. ^ Hawkey, Ian (10 January 2024). "Alexsandro de Souza ready to make life hell for Chelsea". The Times. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  45. ^ "Alex é o novo técnico da equipe Sub-20 do São Paulo" [Alex is the new manager of the under-20 team of São Paulo] (in Brazilian Portuguese). São Paulo FC. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  46. ^ "Alex deixa o comando da categoria Sub-20" [Alex leaves the under-20 category] (in Brazilian Portuguese). São Paulo FC. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  47. ^ "Alex de Souza é o novo técnico do Avaí" [Alex de Souza is the new manager of Avaí] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Avaí FC. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  48. ^ a b "Fim da linha! Avaí anuncia saída do técnico Alex após 18 jogos" [End of the line! Avaí announce the departure of head coach Alex after 18 matches] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  49. ^ "Personal history on alex10.com.br". Tr.alex10.com.br. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  50. ^ "Alex's second daughter born". Milliyet.com.tr. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  51. ^ "Alex signed sponsorship". Tumgazeteler.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  52. ^ ERCANLAR, Ahmet (9 May 2017). "Türkiye'nin konuştuğu kadın". www.hurriyet.com.tr.
  53. ^ "Ex-jogador Alex é o novo comentarista da ESPN Brasil". Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  54. ^ "UOL Esporte - Perto de estrear programa na ESPN, Alex pede responsabilidade à imprensa". uolesportevetv.blogosfera.uol.com.br.
  55. ^ Alex's Statistics Archived 13 December 2004 at archive.today Alex10.com.br Retrieved 10 February 2007.
  56. ^ "Mackolik". Mackolik. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  57. ^ a b Alex at National-Football-Teams.com
  58. ^ a b c d e f "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.
  59. ^ "RSSSF – Championship of Rio de Janeiro 2000". Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  60. ^ "Futebolnacional.com.br – Championship of Rio de Janeiro 2000". Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  61. ^ Ricardo Pontes (18 March 2002). "Copa Sul-Minas 2001". RSSSF. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  62. ^ Ricardo Pontes (18 May 2002). "Liga Sul-Minas 2002". RSSSF. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  63. ^ a b Fenerbahçe win Ziraat Turkish Cup Turkish Football Federation, accessed 6 June 2012 (2012-06-06)
  64. ^ "South American Team of the Year". 16 January 2009. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  65. ^ "Conheça os ganhadores de de 2003" (in Portuguese). ESPN. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  66. ^ "2005'in unutulmazları".
  67. ^ Milliyet Yılın Sporcusu ödülleri sahiplerini buldu [permanent dead link‍]
  68. ^ "Turkey – List of Topscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  69. ^ "Ligin Gol Kralları". tff.org (in Turkish). Turkish Football Federation. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
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Media related to Alexsandro de Souza at Wikimedia Commons

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