Kerlon facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kerlon Moura Souza | ||
| Date of birth | 27 January 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Ipatinga, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001–2005 | Cruzeiro | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2008 | Cruzeiro | 16 | (0) |
| 2008–2012 | Inter Milan | 0 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | → Chievo (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | → Ajax (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2011 | → Paraná (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | → Nacional-NS (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2012–2014 | Fujieda MYFC | 22 | (9) |
| 2015 | Miami Dade FC | 5 | (3) |
| 2015 | Sliema Wanderers | 8 | (2) |
| 2016 | Villa Nova | 3 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Spartak Trnava | 4 | (0) |
| 2017 | Spartak Trnava II | 1 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2004–2005 | Brazil U17 | 7 | (8) |
| 2006 | Brazil U20 | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Kerlon Moura Souza (born on January 27, 1988) is a former professional football player from Brazil. He played as an attacking midfielder, which means he helped create goals for his team. After he stopped playing football, he became a coach in the United States.
Kerlon first became famous for his amazing skills at the Under-17 World Cup in 2005. He scored eight goals in seven games, helping Brazil win the championship. While playing for the club Cruzeiro, he became even more well-known for his special "seal dribble" technique. After a great season in 2007, people started calling him "the next Ronaldinho." This caught the attention of big European clubs like Inter Milan, who signed him in 2008.
However, Kerlon faced many knee injuries during his career. These injuries stopped him from playing as much as he wanted. He only made a few appearances before he retired in 2017. Because of his injuries, he was never able to reach his full potential as a player.
Contents
Kerlon's Football Journey
Starting in Brazil
Kerlon began his professional football career with Cruzeiro in May 2005. His first game was a Copa do Brasil match. He scored his first professional goal on February 25, 2007, helping Cruzeiro win 4–1 against Ituiutaba.
While playing for Cruzeiro, Kerlon became famous for his unique skill called the "drible da foquinha," or seal dribble. This move involves bouncing the football continuously on his forehead while running with it. Opposing players often tried to stop him by fouling him. For example, in September 2007, a player from Atletico Mineiro hit Kerlon with his elbow and was suspended for five matches.
Playing in Europe
In 2008, Kerlon was signed by Chievo in Italy. He later moved to Inter Milan in July 2009. However, he continued to suffer from knee injuries during his time in Europe. These injuries meant he could not play many games.
On August 31, 2009, Kerlon was loaned to Ajax in the Netherlands. He mostly played for their reserve team, Jong Ajax, instead of the main team. He returned to Inter Milan in 2010 but got injured again before the season started. This kept him out of football for a long time.
Returning to Brazil
On January 26, 2011, Kerlon joined Paraná Clube on loan. He played three games for them. Later, on July 21, 2011, he moved to Nacional de Nova Serrana on a one-year loan. He only played one game for this team. His injuries continued to limit his playing time.
Time in Japan
In August 2012, Kerlon moved to Japan and joined Japan Football League team Fujieda MYFC. He made his first appearance for the club on September 16, 2012. In his next game, he scored his first goal for the team, helping them win 3–0. During his first season in Japan, he scored three goals and helped with seven assists in eight games.
In his second season, Kerlon played 14 matches and scored 6 goals. However, his knee problems returned. He had to go back to Brazil for knee surgery, which kept him from playing until February 2014. He left the club on January 20, 2014.
Playing in the United States
In September 2014, Kerlon trained with Atlanta Silverbacks in the United States. He had always wanted to play in the U.S. because he liked the country and it was closer to Brazil. On March 17, 2015, Kerlon officially signed with Miami Dade FC.
Playing in Malta
In September 2015, Kerlon went to Malta for a trial with Birkirkara. Instead, he signed with Sliema Wanderers. On September 19, he scored his first goal for the club, which was the winning goal in a 2–1 match.
Playing in Slovakia
After playing a few games back in Brazil for Villa Nova, Kerlon signed a contract with Slovak Super Liga team FC Spartak Trnava. He played only four games before his contract ended at the end of the season.
Retirement from Football
On October 20, 2017, Kerlon announced that he was retiring from professional football. He had spent three months without a club before making this decision.
International Career Highlights
Kerlon played for Brazil's national youth teams. He was the top scorer and named the Best Player at the 2005 South American Under 17 Football Championship. He scored eight goals in seven matches and helped Brazil win the tournament.
Awards and Achievements
Cruzeiro
- Campeonato Mineiro: 2006
Brazil U17
- South American Under 17 Football Championship: 2005
Individual Awards
- South American U-17 Football Championship top scorer: 2005
- South American U-17 Football Championship Best Player: 2005
See also
In Spanish: Kerlon Moura para niños
