Renato (footballer, born 1979) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Renato

Renato with Santos in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Renato Dirnei Florêncio Santos
Date of birth	(1979-05-15) 15 May 1979 (age 46)
Place of birth	Santa Mercedes, Brazil
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
	Guarani
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1996–2000	Guarani	89	(8)
2000–2004	Santos	161	(19)
2004–2011	Sevilla	204	(26)
2011–2014	Botafogo	102	(5)
2014–2018	Santos	162	(6)
Total		718	(64)
International career
2003–2005	Brazil	28	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Renato Dirnei Florêncio Santos (born on May 15, 1979), known simply as Renato, is a former professional football player from Brazil. He was a talented central midfielder known for his good heading skills, even though he wasn't very tall.

Renato spent most of his career playing in Spain for Sevilla. He played in 286 official games for the club and scored 39 goals. He also played for the Brazilian national team for two years. During this time, he helped Brazil win the Copa América in 2004 and the Confederations Cup in 2005.

Renato's Football Journey: Club Career Highlights

Renato started his football journey in Brazil before moving to Europe. He played for several important clubs, showing his skills as a midfielder.

Starting Out: Guarani Football Club

Renato was born in Santa Mercedes, a town in São Paulo, Brazil. When he was young, people called him Renatinho. He grew up playing in the youth teams of Guarani FC. He played his first professional game on April 17, 1996, in a match against São Paulo FC.

His first goal as a professional player came on September 6, 1998, in a 2–0 win against Sport Club Internacional.

Playing for Santos FC: Early Success

In June 2000, Renato joined another big Brazilian club, Santos FC. He made his first appearance for Santos on August 2, helping them win 2–0 against Esporte Clube Vitória.

He scored his first goal for Santos on February 7, 2001, in a 3–0 victory against CR Vasco da Gama. In 2003, Renato had a fantastic year, scoring nine goals in the Brazilian league. He also played a key role for Santos in their Copa Libertadores matches, which is a big South American club tournament.

Time in Spain: Sevilla FC Achievements

Renato training with Sevilla

On July 7, 2004, when he was 25 years old, Renato signed a five-year contract with Sevilla FC in Spain. He quickly became an important player for Sevilla, helping them become a strong team in La Liga, Spain's top football league. In his very first game on August 29, he scored the only goal just one minute after coming onto the field!

Between 2005 and 2007, Renato played in 16 UEFA Cup games. Sevilla won this important European tournament two years in a row! Renato scored a crucial goal in the semi-finals of the 2006–07 tournament against CA Osasuna, which helped Sevilla reach the final. He also played in both of those winning finals.

In the 2008–09 season, Renato scored eight goals in 32 matches, helping Sevilla finish third in the league. He scored four of these goals between December 2008 and January 2009, including one against Real Madrid. On October 4, 2009, he scored another header in a 2–1 home win against Real Madrid.

He played 33 games and scored four goals in the 2009–10 season, helping Sevilla finish fourth and qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Back to Brazil: Botafogo and Santos Return

On May 26, 2011, Renato left Sevilla and returned to Brazil, signing a three-year contract with Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas. He was a regular player for his first two years there, playing alongside famous international players like Clarence Seedorf.

Renato playing for Santos in 2017

On May 13, 2014, Renato left Botafogo and went back to his former club, Santos FC. He signed a contract until the end of the year. After dealing with some injuries, he mostly played as a defensive midfielder.

Even though he only played 14 matches after his return, Santos renewed his contract for another year on January 13, 2015. On March 1, 2015, he scored his first goal since returning to Santos in a 4–2 win. He played regularly during the 2015 season, making 53 appearances and scoring two goals.

On April 13, 2016, at 36 years old, Renato extended his contract with Santos until the end of 2017. He continued to be an important player, and on January 27, 2017, he renewed his contract again until December 2018.

On September 18, 2018, Renato was announced as the new director of football for Santos. He continued to play until his contract ended. He officially retired on November 24, playing his last game for Santos in a 3–2 win against Atlético Mineiro. He played a total of 425 matches for Santos, scoring 33 goals and winning four titles with the club.

International Career: Playing for Brazil

Renato played for the Brazilian national team starting in 2003. He was chosen for the squads that played in the 2004 Copa América and the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup. In the Copa América, he played in all six matches. In the Confederations Cup, he came on as a substitute five times. Brazil won both of these major tournaments with Renato on the team!

Renato's Football Trophies and Awards

Renato won many important titles during his career with both his clubs and the national team.

Club Honours

Santos

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A:
  • 2002
  • 2004
• Campeonato Paulista:
  • 2015
  • 2016

Sevilla

• Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup):
  • 2006–07
  • 2009–10
• Supercopa de España (Spanish Super Cup):
  • 2007
• UEFA Cup:
  • 2005–06
  • 2006–07
• UEFA Super Cup:
  • 2006

Botafogo

• Campeonato Carioca:
  • 2013

International Honours

Brazil

• Copa América:
  • 2004
• FIFA Confederations Cup:
  • 2005

Individual Awards

• Bola de Prata: 2003 (This award recognizes one of the best players in the Brazilian league.)

Images for kids

• 

  Renato with Santos in 2017

• 

  Renato training with Sevilla

• 

  Renato playing for Santos in 2017

See also

In Spanish: Renato Dirnei para niños