Alessandro Santos facts for kids
Santos in 2019
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Alessandro dos Santos | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 20 July 1977 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Maringá, Paraná, Brazil | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1996 | Meitoku Gijuku High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–2003 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 198 | (56) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2009 | Urawa Reds | 100 | (11) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | → Red Bull Salzburg (loan) | 20 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2012 | Nagoya Grampus | 55 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Tochigi SC | 25 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | FC Gifu | 18 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Maringá | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Grêmio Maringá | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | PSTC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 416 | (72) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2006 | Japan | 82 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alessandro Santos (三都主 アレサンドロ, Santosu Aresandoro, formerly Alessandro dos Santos; born 20 July 1977), often called Alex, is a former professional football player. He played as a midfielder. Alex was born in Brazil. He later became a Japanese citizen. He played 82 games for the Japan national team.
Contents
Alex's Football Journey
Starting in Japan
Alex was born in Maringá, Brazil. He moved to Japan in 1994 when he was 16 years old. He went to Meitoku Gijuku High School. There, he played football for the school team. After finishing school, he joined the J1 League team Shimizu S-Pulse in 1997.
Success with Shimizu S-Pulse
In 1999, his team, Shimizu S-Pulse, finished second in the J.League. Alex was named the J.League Player of the Year. This is a big award for the best player! His club also won the 1999–2000 Asian Cup Winners' Cup. They also got third place in the 2000–01 Asian Cup Winners' Cup.
Moving to Urawa Reds
In 2004, Alex left Shimizu S-Pulse. He joined another J1 League team, the Urawa Reds. With Urawa Reds, he helped them finish second in the J1 League in both 2004 and 2005. Then, in 2006, they won the J1 League title!
Playing for Other Clubs
In 2007, Alex played for Red Bull Salzburg in Austria for a short time. He returned to Urawa Reds in 2008. Later, in 2009, he moved to Nagoya Grampus. He played 55 games for them. After that, he joined J2 League teams Tochigi SC in 2013 and FC Gifu in 2014.
Playing for Japan
Becoming a Japanese Citizen
In 2001, Alex became a Japanese citizen. This meant he could play for the Japan national football team. He played his first game for Japan on March 21, 2002, against Ukraine.
World Cup Appearances
Alex was chosen to play for Japan in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He was only the second player born outside Japan to play for the country in a World Cup. He also played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In a game against his home country, Brazil, he helped Japan score a goal.
Asian Cup Champion
Alex played in all six matches of the 2004 AFC Asian Cup. Japan won this important tournament! He played 82 games for Japan and scored 7 goals in total.
Beyond Playing Football
In 2020, Alex started his own football team called Aruko Sports Brasil. This team plays in a league in Brazil called the Campeonato Paranaense.
Awards and Achievements
Club Honours
- Shimizu S-Pulse
- Asian Cup Winners' Cup: 1999–2000
- Emperor's Cup: 2001
- Japanese Super Cup: 2002
- Urawa Red Diamonds
- J1 League: 2006
- Emperor's Cup: 2005, 2006
- Japanese Super Cup: 2002, 2006
- Red Bull Salzburg
- Austrian Bundesliga: 2006–07
- Nagoya Grampus
- J1 League: 2010
International Honours
- Japan
- AFC Asian Cup: 2004
Individual Awards
- J.League MVP: 1999
- J1 League Best Eleven: 1999
See also
In Spanish: Alessandro Santos para niños
