Denílson (footballer, born 1988) facts for kids
Denilson playing for Arsenal in 2007
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Denílson Pereira Neves | ||
| Date of birth | 16 February 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | São Paulo, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1998–2005 | São Paulo | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2006 | São Paulo | 12 | (0) |
| 2006–2013 | Arsenal | 96 | (7) |
| 2011–2013 | → São Paulo (loan) | 48 | (1) |
| 2013–2015 | São Paulo | 59 | (0) |
| 2015–2017 | Al-Wahda | 29 | (2) |
| 2016 | → Cruzeiro (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2019 | Botafogo-SP | 1 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | Sliema Wanderers | 14 | (0) |
| 2021 | Brasil de Pelotas | 8 | (0) |
| Total | 272 | (10) | |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2005 | Brazil U17 | 6 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 08:32, 2 February 2021 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:00, 6 July 2011 (UTC) |
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Denílson Pereira Neves (born February 16, 1988), known simply as Denílson, is a former professional footballer from Brazil. He mainly played as a central midfielder, helping his team control the middle of the field. Sometimes, he also played as a defensive midfielder, protecting the defense. Denílson was also a youth captain for the Brazilian national team.
Contents
Early Life and Challenges
Denílson was born in São Paulo, Brazil. He is the second of four sons. His father, José Neves, used to be a midfielder for a football club in Brazil. However, he had to stop playing to support his family. Denílson and his family faced tough times growing up in São Paulo. Many of his childhood friends sadly passed away due to problems in their neighborhood.
Club Career Highlights
Starting at São Paulo
Denílson began his football journey at São Paulo, a famous Brazilian club. He was part of the team that won two big tournaments in 2005: the Copa Libertadores and the FIFA Club World Cup. Even though he was part of these winning teams, he didn't play much in matches, only appearing twelve times.
Joining Arsenal in England
First Seasons (2006–2008)
On August 31, 2006, Denílson moved to the English club Arsenal. Many people were surprised by this move because he didn't have much experience playing for a senior club. Arsenal's manager, Arsène Wenger, described him as a mix between two other Arsenal players, Tomáš Rosický and Gilberto Silva.
Denílson made his first team debut for Arsenal in a League Cup match on October 24, 2006. He played regularly in Arsenal's League Cup games that season. His first Premier League game was on December 30, 2006, where he came on as a substitute.
His first goal for Arsenal came in a League Cup match against Newcastle United on September 25, 2007. This goal helped Arsenal win 2–0. After showing good performances, he signed a new contract with the club in October 2007. He scored another impressive long-range goal in a League Cup game against Sheffield United. Denílson started his first league game on November 24, 2007, against Wigan Athletic, and played very well.
Becoming a Regular (2008–2010)
In the 2008–09 season, many experienced players left Arsenal. This gave Denílson more chances to play. He often played alongside Cesc Fàbregas in the center of midfield. He scored his first Premier League goal on August 30, 2008, in a 3–0 win against Newcastle United. He continued to play regularly and scored more goals, including one against Bolton Wanderers. When Fàbregas was injured, Denílson stepped up and played an important role for the team. He also scored a penalty in a Champions League shootout against Roma, helping Arsenal win.
Denílson started the 2009–10 season with a powerful goal from far away against Everton, helping Arsenal win 6–1. A month later, he signed a new five-year contract with Arsenal. However, he then got a back injury that kept him out of action for two months. When he returned, he scored his 100th goal for the club against Standard Liège. He scored six goals that season, mostly from long-range shots. He played in 28 league games, helping Arsenal finish third in the Premier League.
Final Season at Arsenal (2010–2011)
In the 2010–11 season, Denílson played less often. This was partly because a young player named Jack Wilshere was playing very well, and Denílson also had some injuries. He mostly came on as a substitute. In May 2011, Denílson announced that he would be leaving Arsenal to return to Brazil.
Returning to São Paulo (Loan and Permanent)
Denílson went back to his old club, São Paulo, on loan for the 2011–12 season. During this time, he faced some challenges with fan reactions after a few incidents on the field. However, he helped São Paulo reach the final of the 2012 Copa Sudamericana. São Paulo won the trophy, and Denílson earned a winner's medal.
In June 2013, Denílson and Arsenal agreed to end his contract. Soon after, he signed a four-year contract to play for São Paulo permanently.
Later Career Moves
After his second spell at São Paulo, Denílson moved to Al Wahda in 2015, a club in the United Arab Emirates. He won the UAE League Cup with them in 2016. He then had a short loan spell at Cruzeiro in Brazil in 2016. After recovering from knee surgeries, he played briefly for Botafogo-SP in 2019. In August 2020, Denílson returned to Europe, signing a one-year contract with Sliema Wanderers in Malta.
International Career
Denílson played for and was captain of Brazil's youth teams at different age levels, starting from the under-15 squad. He led the Brazil U17 team to a second-place finish at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship. In November 2006, he was called up to the senior Brazilian national team for a friendly match, but he did not play in the game.
Personal Life
Denílson is known for being a quiet and polite person. Many people compared him to Gilberto Silva, his former teammate at Arsenal. Denílson often says that Gilberto Silva was like a "father" to him when he first moved from Brazil to London.
He enjoys Brazilian music and samba dancing. You can even find videos of him singing and dancing with his former Brazilian Arsenal teammates. When he scores a goal, he often celebrates by dancing the samba in front of the fans.
Denílson is married and has a son. He is also a big fan of Arsenal.
Honours
São Paulo
- Copa Libertadores: 2005
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2005
- Copa Sudamericana: 2012
Arsenal
- Football League Cup runner-up: 2006–07, 2010–11
Al Wahda
- UAE League Cup: 2015–16
Brazil U17
- South American U-17 Championship: 2005
- FIFA U-17 World Championship: runner-up 2005
See also
In Spanish: Denílson Pereira Neves para niños
