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 | ||
| Playing position | 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) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2005 | Brazil U17 | 6 | (1) |
† Appearances (Goals). |
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Denílson Pereira Neves (born 16 February 1988), known simply as Denílson, is a Brazilian former footballer. He mostly played as a central midfielder or a defensive midfielder. Denílson was also a youth captain for Brazil's national teams.
Contents
- About Denílson's Early Life
- Denílson's Club Career
- Denílson's International Career
- Denílson's Personal Life
- Career Statistics
- Denílson's Football Honours
- See also
About Denílson's Early Life
Denílson was born in São Paulo, Brazil. He is the second of four sons. His father, José Neves, used to be a midfielder for Botafogo-PB. However, his father had to stop playing football to support his family. Denílson and his family faced tough times growing up in the neighborhoods of São Paulo.
Denílson's Club Career
Starting at São Paulo FC
Denílson began his football journey at São Paulo. He was part of the team that won the Copa Libertadores in 2005. They also won the FIFA Club World Cup that same year. Even with these big wins, he didn't play much for São Paulo FC. He appeared in only twelve games, often coming on as a substitute.
Playing for Arsenal F.C.
On 31 August 2006, Denílson moved to the English club Arsenal. The transfer cost about £3.4 million. Many people were surprised because he didn't have much experience. Arsenal's manager, Arsène Wenger, described him as a mix between two other players, Tomáš Rosický and Gilberto Silva.
First Season: 2006–07
Denílson joined Arsenal's squad for a UEFA Champions League match in October 2006. He was a substitute but didn't play. His first game for the senior team was on 24 October 2006. He started a League Cup match against West Bromwich Albion. He played in every League Cup game for Arsenal that season.
He made his Premier League debut on 30 December 2006. He came on as a substitute in a game against Sheffield United.
Second Season: 2007–08
Denílson scored his first goal for Arsenal on 25 September 2007. It was in a League Cup game against Newcastle United, helping Arsenal win 2–0. His good performance led to a new contract with the club in October 2007. He scored another goal from long range in a League Cup match against Sheffield United.
His first start in the league was on 24 November 2007 against Wigan Athletic. He played well, and Arsenal won 2–0. He received his first red card in a League Cup Quarter-Final against Blackburn Rovers.
Third Season: 2008–09
Many experienced players left Arsenal before this season. This meant Denílson got more chances to play. He often played in central midfield with Cesc Fàbregas. He started all five of Arsenal's games in August 2008. He scored his first Premier League goal on 30 August 2008 in a 3–0 win against Newcastle United.
He continued to play regularly for Arsenal. He scored his second Premier League goal in a 3–1 win against Bolton Wanderers. When Fàbregas was injured, Denílson stepped up and played an important role. He scored another Premier League goal against Aston Villa in a 2–2 draw. On 11 March 2009, he scored a penalty in a shootout against A.S. Roma. This helped Arsenal win 7–6 in the Champions League.
Fourth Season: 2009–10
Denílson started the 2009–10 season with a powerful shot from far away. This goal helped Arsenal win 6–1 against Everton. A month later, he signed a new five-year contract with Arsenal.
He then had a back injury, which kept him out of action for two months. Denílson returned to play against Standard Liège in November. He scored Arsenal's second goal with a long-range shot. This was his 100th game for the club.
He scored more goals that season against Hull City, Everton, Stoke City, and West Ham United. All his goals were from long range, including a free kick against Hull City. He played 28 league games, starting 25 of them. He scored 5 league goals as Arsenal finished third in the Premier League.
Fifth Season: 2010–11
In the 2010–11 season, Denílson played less often. This was partly because a young player named Jack Wilshere was playing well. Denílson mostly came on as a substitute. He started only six Premier League games and played in 16 in total. In all competitions, he made 32 appearances.
On 19 May 2011, Denílson said he would leave Arsenal that summer. He wanted to return to Brazil. Arsenal finished fourth in the league that season.
Loan to São Paulo
Denílson went back to his old club, São Paulo, on loan for the 2011–12 season. His number 15 shirt at Arsenal was given to a new player, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
He had some challenges early in his loan spell. He was sent off twice in his first three games. He also had some disagreements with the referee and some fans. Denílson later clarified his comments, saying he didn't mean to upset all the fans.
On 6 October, he scored his first goal while on loan. It was a long-range shot for São Paulo against Palmeiras. Denílson played a key role in São Paulo reaching the final of the 2012 Copa Sudamericana. São Paulo won the trophy, and Denílson earned a winner's medal.
On 3 June 2013, Denílson and Arsenal agreed to end his contract.
Back at São Paulo
On 14 June 2013, Denílson signed a four-year contract to play for São Paulo permanently. His return was welcomed by the club's coach.
Playing for Al Wahda
He moved to Al Wahda in the summer of 2015. While at Al Wahda, Denílson helped the team win the UAE League Cup in 2016.
Loan to Cruzeiro
On 19 July 2016, Cruzeiro announced they had signed Denílson on loan. He played only five league games during this time. Cruzeiro decided not to buy him permanently.
Return to Al Wahda and Release
After facing injury challenges with his right knee in 2017, Denílson ended his contract with Al Wahda in July of that year.
Time at Botafogo-SP
After more than two years away from professional football and several knee operations, Denílson joined Brazilian Série B club Botafogo-SP for the 2019 season. He played his first game for the club as a substitute. However, he was released in April due to fitness problems, having made no more appearances.
Playing for Sliema Wanderers
In August 2020, Denílson decided to return to Europe. He signed a one-year contract with Sliema Wanderers, a team in the Maltese Premier League.
Denílson's International Career
Denílson played for and was captain of Brazil's youth teams. He led the Under-17 team to a second-place finish at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship. In November 2006, Denílson was called up to the Brazilian national side. This was for a friendly match against Switzerland. He was called to replace his Arsenal teammate Gilberto Silva. However, Denílson did not play in the match.
Denílson's Personal Life
People describe Denílson as a "very quiet and polite" person. He is often compared to Gilberto Silva, his former teammate at Arsenal. Denílson often says that Gilberto Silva helped him a lot. Gilberto acted like a "father" figure when Denílson first moved from Brazil to London.
Denílson enjoys Brazilian music and the samba dance. You can even find videos of him singing and dancing with his former Brazilian Arsenal teammates, Gilberto Silva and Júlio Baptista, on YouTube. When he scores a goal, he often celebrates by dancing the samba in front of the fans. He did this when he scored his first Premier League goal for Arsenal.
Denílson is married and has a son. He is also a big fan of Arsenal.
Career Statistics
| Club | Season | Division | League | State League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| São Paulo | 2005 | Série A | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||||
| 2006 | Série A | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||||
| São Paulo (1st spell) Total | 12 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 21 | 0 | |||||
| Arsenal | 2006–07 | Premier League | 10 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| 2007–08 | Premier League | 13 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 2 | ||
| 2008–09 | Premier League | 37 | 3 | — | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 3 | ||
| 2009–10 | Premier League | 20 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 5 | ||
| 2010–11 | Premier League | 16 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 32 | 0 | ||
| Arsenal Total | 96 | 6 | — | 12 | 1 | 29 | 1 | 16 | 2 | 153 | 10 | |||
| São Paulo (loan) | 2011 | Série A | 14 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2012 | Série A | 31 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | 65 | 1 | ||
| 2013 | Série A | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | — | 24 | 0 | |||
| São Paulo | 2013 | Série A | 14 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | — | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2014 | Série A | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 37 | 0 | ||
| 2015 | Série A | 4 | 0 | 11 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | — | 22 | 0 | |||
| São Paulo (2nd spell) Total | 94 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 38 | 0 | — | 183 | 1 | |||
| Al-Wahda | 2015–16 | Arabian Gulf League | 23 | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | 29 | 2 | |||
| Cruzeiro (loan) | 2016 | Série A | 3 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| Botafogo Futebol Clube (SP) | 2019 | Série B | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Sliema Wanderers | 2020 | Maltese Premier League | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 237 | 9 | 52 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 67 | 1 | 22 | 3 | 401 | 14 | ||
Denílson's Football 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 Wadha
- 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
