Ricardo Oliveira

For another footballer, see Ricardo Lopes de Oliveira.

Ricardo Oliveira

Oliveira during pre-match training session with Milan
Personal information
Date of birth	May 6, 1980 (1980-05-06)
Place of birth	São Paulo, Brazil
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Al-Jazira
Number	99
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2002	Portuguesa	46	(23)
2003	Santos	14	(4)
2003–2004	Valencia	21	(8)
2004–2006	Betis	46	(26)
2006	→ São Paulo (loan)	8	(5)
2006–2008	Milan	26	(3)
2007–2008	→ Zaragoza (loan)	37	(18)
2008–2009	Zaragoza	17	(8)
2009	Betis	16	(6)
2009–	Al-Jazira	27	(25)
2010	→ São Paulo (loan)	15	(7)
National team‡
2004–	Brazil	11	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 June 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 June 2011

Ricardo Oliveira (born 6 May 1980) is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Al Jazira Club in the United Arab Emirates, as a striker.

He represented São Paulo in two different spells, but also played in Spain, amassing La Liga totals of 120 games and 58 goals for three teams.

A Brazilian international in the 2000s, Oliveira helped the national team win one Copa América and one Confederations Cup.

Club career

Early career

Born in São Paulo, Oliveira began his career at Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, where he scored 23 goals over the course of three seasons in the Série A, before moving on to Santos FC.

During his brief stint, he netted an overall total of 22 goals in 34 games, many of which came in the season's Libertadores Cup, with his team losing in the final against Boca Juniors.

Valencia

On 31 July 2003, Oliveira moved to Spain and joined Valencia CF, signing a five-year contract with Santos retaining part-ownership.

Under the guidance of Rafael Benítez, he scored eight La Liga goals in 21 games, including a fantastic long-range effort against FC Barcelona in a 1–0 away win in October, netting a hat-trick the following month, at RCD Mallorca (5–0 win). The Che were eventually crowned national champions, adding the season's UEFA Cup.

Betis

However, after only one season, Oliveira joined Real Betis for a reported fee of €4 million. He scored 22 league goals in 37 appearances as the Andalusians reached the UEFA Champions League for the first time ever after finishing fourth, and also won the season's Copa del Rey against CA Osasuna, with the player netting the first goal in a 2–1 extra time win.

Oliveira scored his first official Champions League goal against R.S.C. Anderlecht, following two goals, including a solo effort, against AS Monaco FC in the third qualifying round. Due to knee ligament damage sustained against Chelsea on 1 November 2005, he only played nine times in the league, although he scored four goals.

Oliveira moved on loan to São Paulo FC in early 2006, in a bid to gain a place in Brazil's 2006 World Cup squad. Prolonged recovery time meant Oliveira never made it but he did continue to compete for São Paulo in all the fronts until 10 August 2006.

Following his loan spell, Oliveira returned to Betis on 21 August, nine days later than he was requested which caused controversy among the club's faithful and its board. The delay was caused by an unplanned schedule change made by CONMEBOL, which postponed the Libertadores final match in one week, and his contract was due on the day after the previous final match date. Oliveira wanted to play on the decisive match and tried to reach an agreement with Betis, even with a special allowance from FIFA, but the Spanish team would not cooperate and he was not able to play the match.

Oliveira was fined by Betis on two occasions (his late arrival in August notwithstanding), first for the breach of his contract, then for having a medical test with A.C. Milan without authorization.

Milan

The Serie A giants had just lost Andriy Shevchenko after the 2006 Italian football scandal, and signed Oliveira as his replacement on 31 August 2006, to a five-year contract. Midfielder Johann Vogel moving in the opposite position as part of the deal, after the two clubs negotiated nearly a week over the transfer fee, which reportedly reached €17.5 million.

Oliveira made his debut in the second half of Milan's 2006–07 opening-day match against S.S. Lazio, heading past goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi from the goalline in a 2–1 home win. However, he netted only twice more after that for the Rossoneri in the league, adding two more in the season's Italian Cup; he spent most of the season under the stress of the October 2006 kidnapping of his sister, Maria Lourdes, who was released unharmed on 12 March 2007.

Zaragoza

On 14 July 2007, Oliveira moved back to Spain and joined Real Zaragoza on loan, forming an impressive striker partnership with Argentine Diego Milito, as the two scored 33 of the side's 50 goals during the season, which nonetheless ended in relegation. The Aragonese would have an option to purchase him for an agreed price when the loan period finished.

On 25 May 2008, Zaragoza bought Oliveira from Milan for reported €10 million.

Betis return

However, in late January 2009, Oliveira re-joined Betis on a fee of €8.9 million with commission, signing until June 2013. he scored in the 83rd minute of his Betis comeback, netting the second goal in the derby against Sevilla FC, on 7 February, a 2–1 win at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.

Betis would be eventually relegated, as both Oliveira (who struck in the last match, a 1–1 home draw against Real Valladolid) and former Zaragoza teammate Sergio García met the same fate for the second consecutive year.

Al-Jazira

In mid-July 2009, Oliveira, already immerse in pre-season with Betis, left for Al Jazira Club, in a lucrative deal of about €14 million. In January of the following year, he returned to his country and São Paulo, on loan.

International career

Oliveira made his debut for the Brazil national team against the Catalan XI on 25 May 2004, scoring in the match as Brazil won 5–1. However, that match was not considered an official friendly match by FIFA.

He was subsequently included in Brazil's squad for the 2004 Copa América, winning his first cap on 8 July 2004, against Paraguay. During the event, he also scored his first international goal, in the quarterfinal match against Mexico on the 18th, as Brazil went on to win the cup.

Subsequently, Oliveira became a regular in the Brazil setup as a cover for Ronaldo, Adriano and Robinho. He was also included in the squad for the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, only missing out on the 2006 FIFA World Cup due to injury with Betis - he recovered earlier than expected, but failed to win a place on the squad.

After a one-year absence from the national team, Brazil's new coach Dunga recalled Oliveira for a friendly match with Switzerland, on 15 November 2006.

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			Cup2			Asia1			Total
		Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists
Al-Jazira	2009–10	11	8	8	5	5	2	0	0	0	16	13	10
	2010–11	11	10	-	4	4	-	3	1	-	18	15	-
Career Totals		22	18	8	9	9	2	3	1	0	34	28	10

¹Continental competitions include the AFC Champions League
²Other tournaments include the UAE President Cup and Etisalat Emirates Cup,

Honours

Club

• Valencia:
  • Spanish League: 2003–04
  • UEFA Cup: 2003–04

• Betis:
  • Spanish Cup: 2004–05

• Milan:
  • UEFA Champions League: 2006–07

• Al Jazira:
  • Pro-League: 2010–11
  • Etisalat Cup: 2009–10
  • President's Cup: 2010–11

Country

• Copa América: 2004
• FIFA Confederations Cup: 2005

Individual

• Libertadores Cup: Top scorer 2003

External links

• BDFutbol profile
• Ricardo Oliveira at National-Football-Teams.com
• FootballDatabase profile and stats
• Chat with Betis star Oliveira; UEFA.com, 15 September 2006