Eduardo César Gaspar

Edu

Personal information
Full name	Eduardo César Daude Gaspar
Date of birth	15 May 1978 (1978-05-15)
Place of birth	São Paulo, Brazil
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Central midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1998–2001	Corinthians	23	(0)
2001–2005	Arsenal	100	(7)
2005–2009	Valencia	50	(1)
2009–2010	Corinthians	11	(0)
National team‡
2004–2005	Brazil	15	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:28, 25 December 2009 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15:28, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

Eduardo César Daude Gaspar (born 15 May 1978), commonly known as Edu, is a retired Brazilian footballer who is currently director of football at his former club Corinthians.

Club career

Early career

Edu started his career in the Campeonato Brasileiro with one of the nation's most storied teams, Corinthians. While at Corinthians, Edu won the 1998 and 1999 Brasileiro championships, and the 2000 World Club Championship.

Arsenal

After initially planning to join Arsenal in 2000, his transfer was put on hold after it was realized that he was in possession of a fake Portuguese passport. Months later, after qualifying for an European Union (EU) passport (aided by Italian lineage on his father's side), he signed for Arsenal on 16 January 2001 for £6 million. He had a turbulent time early on as his sister was killed in a car accident.

His Arsenal debut came in 2001 in a goalless draw tarnished by an injury after 15 minutes against Leicester City. He had replaced Freddie Ljungberg at half time only for himself to be replaced by Dennis Bergkamp minutes later. It was an unfortunate start and he only managed to play in four more matches for the club during that season, one of which was a 0-3 defeat at home to Middlesbrough in which he contributed an own goal. His first goal for the club came against Grimsby in the League Cup on 27 November 2001.

Many people believe that he was unlucky because, a year later, he was not selected to play for Brazil's 2002 FIFA World Cup-winning squad, but during the overlapping 2001–02 and 2002–03 seasons, he aided Arsenal to great heights.

Seen as his finest season so far in football, his 2003–04 season in midfield for Arsenal was capped by one of five goals against Italian Serie A side Internazionale in a 5–1 Arsenal victory.

Edu then put forward plans to play for England in the World Cup (as he had gained British citizenship) were Brazil not willing to accept his placement. This was cancelled by April as he was handed a match against Chile and subsequently named to play in the Copa América in 2004.

He made his 100th appearance for Arsenal during the 2003–04 season and, having once looked like a permanent member of the club, it became increasingly clear he would leave no later than the end of the 2004–05 season, when his contract ran out.

Edu enjoyed mixed fortunes in the 2004–05 season. He missed the start of the season because he was away with Brazil at the Copa América. This was followed by speculation over his future at the club as he was in the last year of his contract with Arsenal. Talks with Valencia of Spain in January 2005 failed as the Mestalla outfit were not able to pay the fee Arsenal demanded.

Edu only scored two goals for Arsenal in 2004–05 – one was a fine chip in the 2–0 away win at West Bromwich Albion in May 2005, and the other a penalty kick in a 7–0 demolition of Everton in 2005.

Valencia

In May 2005, it was confirmed that he would leave Arsenal in the summer on a Bosman ruling free transfer. Valencia, Juventus, Internazionale, and Barcelona were hot favorites to secure the signature of Edu, and on 30 May, Valencia announced it had signed him to a five-year deal. Shortly after signing, Edu suffered a pre-season injury that ruled him out of first-team action until 4 April 2006, when he made his debut in the 5–3 victory over Cádiz. On 3 July 2009, the Brazilian midfielder left Valencia through contractual termination.

Corinthians

After being released in Spain, Edu signed a contract with his former club Corinthians on 6 August 2009, to last until 31 December 2011. After playing just four matches during the 2010 season, his contract was terminated by mutual consent, and Edu announced his retirement from professional football.

International career

Edu initially considered playing for the English national team after he gained a British passport as he did not think he would be picked for Brazil. He finally got a call-up to the Brazilian national team in 2004 and made his debut on 28 April 2004 in a friendly match against Hungary. He also played for them in the Copa América 2004, which Brazil won. The following year, he also played in 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, which Brazil also won.

Post-playing career

On 17 March 2011, Corinthians announced that Edu would take over from William Machado as the club's director of football.

Personal life

Edu's parents are of Lebanese descent. He lives with wife Paula and their two young children – a son named Luigi and a daughter named Eduarda.

Honours

Corinthians

• Campeonato Brasileiro: 1998, 1999
• FIFA Club World Championship: 2000

Arsenal

• FA Premier League: 2001–02, 2003–04
• FA Cup: 2002, 2003, 2005
• FA Community Shield: 2002, 2004

Valencia

• Copa del Rey: 2008

International

• Copa América: 2004
• FIFA Confederations Cup: 2005

Personal

• Premier League Player of the Month: February 2004, joint award with Dennis Bergkamp (also of Arsenal)

External links

• Edu career stats at Soccerbase
• Edu at Valencia FC official website