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! National team !! Club !! Season !! Apps !! Goals
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| rowspan="7"|[[Brazil national football team|Brazil]]
| rowspan="8"|[[Brazil national football team|Brazil]]
| rowspan="2"|[[Santos FC|Santos]]
| rowspan="2"|[[Santos FC|Santos]]
| 2003 || 5 || 0
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| 2008–2011 || 0 || 0
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| rowspan="1"|[[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|PSG]]
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! colspan="3" | Total !! 17 !! 0
! colspan="3" | Total !! 17 !! 0

Revision as of 15:44, 27 January 2012

For other uses, see Alex (disambiguation).
Alex
File:Alex Middlesbrough v. Chelsea 1.png
Personal information
Full name Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa
Date of birth (1982-06-17) 17 June 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth Niterói, Brazil
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2+1⁄2 in)[1][2]
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
 PSG
Number 33
Youth career
2000 CA Juventus
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2004 Santos 57 (12)
2004–2012 Chelsea 87 (7)
2004–2007 → PSV (loan) 84 (12)
2012– PSG 0 (0)
International career‡
2004 Brazil U-23 8 (2)
2004– Brazil 18 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:15, 25 November 2011 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:00, 11 June 2011 (UTC)

Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa, better known as Alex (pronounced [aˈlɛks]; born 17 June 1982 in Niterói), is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Paris Saint-Germain F.C. and the Brazil national team.

Having been bought by the Premier League club Chelsea in 2004, he was loaned to Dutch team PSV and he won 3 Eredivisie titles with them. Alex finally joined the Chelsea squad in the summer of 2007 after three years on loan to PSV in the Netherlands.[3].

Club career

Santos

Alex began his career with Santos of Brazil, making his first team debut in 2002. He, Diego, Elano, and Robinho were known as the famous group that played for Santos[citation needed]. He was signed by English club Chelsea in 2004 on the recommendation of famed PSV and Chelsea scout Piet de Visser, but because of potential problems in attaining a work permit, he was loaned out to Dutch club PSV.[4]

PSV (loan)

Alex with Phillip Cocu (behind) at PSV.

The joint contract of Chelsea and PSV loaned Alex to PSV for three years, with Chelsea having a €1 buy-out clause. Alex eventually played three years at PSV, donning the number 4 jersey for the Dutch club. While playing for PSV, he earned himself the nickname "The Tank" due to his cannonball-like free kicks and his strong physical stature.[5]

He formally joined PSV in the 2004–05 season, helping the club win a domestic double of both the Dutch Eredivisie championship and Dutch Cup that year. In the UEFA Champions League 2004-05, Alex played a key role in the PSV team that was eliminated in the semi-finals against Milan on away goals (PSV won their home game 3–1 but had previously lost 0–2 in San Siro). The team eliminated Monaco and Lyon on their way to the semis.

Alex won a second straight Dutch league championship in the 2005–06 season with PSV. Chelsea did not recall Alex, even though Abramovich adviser Piet de Visser and Chelsea head of scouting Frank Arnesen recommended that Alex be brought over from PSV to solve the club's defensive problems.[6] Instead, Chelsea manager José Mourinho insisted on the signing of Khalid Boulahrouz instead.[6] Therefore, Alex stayed a third season at PSV on loan in 2006–07. He won a third straight Eredivisie title with PSV, after a dramatic final-day finish to the season in which PSV sensationally trumped both Ajax and AZ. Alex scored in a UEFA Champions League first knockout round against Arsenal for both teams in the second half, turning in an own goal past his own goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, but compensating for it with a storming headed goal with eight minutes left to play to redeem himself and in the process ensure PSV a place in the quarter finals.[7] However, he was later injured and played no part in PSV's UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool, which PSV lost 4–0 on aggregate.

Chelsea

2007–08

Alex with Chelsea teammate Florent Malouda.

In an interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Alex confirmed that Chelsea were in the process of getting him a work permit and that the possibilities of him joining Chelsea next season were very high.[8] Alex later confirmed that Chelsea had almost completed the process of acquiring him a work permit and that he would start the season as a Chelsea player.

Alex was granted a work permit on 2 August 2007, and completed his transfer to Chelsea after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical and signing a three year deal.

On 14 August 2007, Alex was presented to the English media, in a press conference with manager José Mourinho, and was given shirt number 33. He made his debut on 19 August 2007 when he came on as a substitute for Florent Malouda against Liverpool in the 85th minute, with the teams tied at 1–1. He also played in the 2–0 defeat away at Aston Villa and the 4–0 victory over Hull City in the Carling Cup.[9]

Alex scored his first goal for Chelsea on 20 October 2007, a 30 yard free kick against Middlesbrough. He scored from another free kick on 28 November 2007 in a Champions League game against Rosenborg.[10] He then scored in Chelsea's 4–4 draw with Aston Villa, scoring his first goal at Stamford Bridge from an Andriy Shevchenko pass, taking his tally for the season to 3 goals.

2008–09

Alex enjoyed his longest spell in the first team during the 2008–09 season. He was given his chance due to Ricardo Carvalho being injured for long periods of the campaign. He scored Chelsea's 1000th Premier League goal against Sunderland on 1 November 2008. Alex started every game for Chelsea under Guus Hiddink, who managed Alex at PSV and also scored in an FA Cup quarter-final tie against Coventry City.

Alex playing for Chelsea F.C.

In the 2009 Champions League quarter-finals second leg at Stamford Bridge against Liverpool, Alex scored a sensational swerving blooter from 30 yards to level the score to 2–2. The game eventually ended 4–4 and Chelsea won 7–5 on aggregate.[11] Chelsea gained a semi-final tie against Barcelona. The first-leg at the Nou Camp ended goalless and in the second leg at Stamford Bridge, Alex played the full match. Chelsea were leading 1–0 up until the 93rd minute when Barcelona scored a dramatic, last-minute goal to draw the game 1–1 and Chelsea went out on away-goals.[12] On 10 May, Alex scored a header in Chelsea's 4–1 Premier League win over Arsenal in the from a Didier Drogba free-kick.[13] The goal was his second against the Gunners in his career.

2009–10

Alex played his first pre-season match against AC Milan in the World Football Challenge.[14]

On 13 October 2009, Alex signed a new four-year contract with Chelsea, keeping him at Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2013.[15]

Alex missed the start of the season, having sustained a groin injury on 15 August 2009.[16] He started his first game of the season in a Carling Cup match against Bolton Wanderers on 28 October 2009, playing the full 90 minutes. He made his first Premier League start of the season against Portsmouth on 16 December 2009.[17]

On 13 March 2010, he scored his first goal of the season at Stamford Bridge giving Chelsea the lead in a 4–1 league win over West Ham United.[18]

2010–11

In light of Ricardo Carvalho's departure to Real Madrid, Alex started the 2010/11 season as first choice centre back for Chelsea, alongside John Terry. On 3 October 2010, he scored a 25 yard freekick in a 2-0 victory over Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. On 5 October, he was ruled out for up to three weeks after picking up a thigh injury in the final stages of Sunday's 2-0 win over Arsenal, and subsequently withdrew from the Brazil squad for the friendly matches against Iran, and Ukraine.[19] After he recovered from the injury, it took a goal-costing mistake from David Luiz against Manchester United in the season-deciding match for Alex to break back into the starting line-up, getting substituted on at half time that match, and then starting and playing the full 90 minutes the following match against Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on 15 May 2011, where he scored a headed goal in the 82nd minute in a 2-2 draw. In the last league game of the season against Everton, Alex started the match alongside John Terry but was substituted on 70 minutes for Paulo Ferreira in their 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park. At the end of the campaign, Alex made 20 appearances and scored 2 goals in all competitions. Alex was criticized for allegedly stating in an interview that he was a boyhood Liverpool supporter.

2011–12

In the summer transfer window, Alex was the subject of a bid from Premiership rivals Arsenal. On 20 August 2011, in a home game against West Bromwich Albion, a defensive mistake from Alex allowed Shane Long through to score four minutes into the game. In the end, Chelsea won 2–1.

On 3 December 2011, Alex submitted a transfer request, which was accepted. [20] Alex was told, along with Nicolas Anelka, that he would be assigned different training times from the first-team and train with the reserves. He has been the subject of a bid from Queens Park Rangers in the first transfer activity under their new manager Mark Hughes.

On 27 January 2012, Alex joined Paris Saint-Germain to reunite with his former manager Carlo Ancelotti.

International career

Alex made his debut for Brazil on 17 July 2003 against Mexico in 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Although he played under Brazil U-23 team at the tournament, the tournament was a full international tournament, hence the international cap gained was fully recognized by FIFA.[21]

He was overlooked for the 2006 FIFA World Cup squad. However, after the World Cup, he earned regular call-ups with the new head coach, Dunga. He was a member of the Brazil squad that won the Copa América 2007 with a 3–0 victory over arch-rivals Argentina in the final. He was dropped from Brazilian squad to 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup due to injuries.

On 11 May, he was called up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup squad as one of the seven backup players.[22]


Career statistics

Club career statistics

Club Country League Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other[23] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Santos  Brazil Campeonato Brasileiro 2002 19 3 — — — — — — — — 19 3
Santos  Brazil Campeonato Brasileiro 2003 34 9 — — — — — — — — 34 9
Santos  Brazil Campeonato Brasileiro 2004 4 0 — — — — — — — — 4 0
PSV  Netherlands Eredivisie 2004–05 27 3 — — — — 13 2 — — 40 5
PSV  Netherlands Eredivisie 2005–06 28 2 — — — — 7 0 — — 35 2
PSV  Netherlands Eredivisie 2006–07 29 6 — — 2 1 8 2 — — 39 9
Chelsea  England Premier League 2007–08 28 2 1 0 3 0 6 1 0 0 39 3
Chelsea  England Premier League 2008–09 24 2 6 1 2 0 9 1 0 0 41 4
Chelsea  England Premier League 2009–10 16 1 6 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 26 1
Chelsea  England Premier League 2010–11 16 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 19 2
Chelsea  England Premier League 2011–12 3 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 8 0
PSG  France Ligue 1 2011–12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

International career

As of 1 April 2009.[24][25][26][27][28][29]

Honours

Santos

PSV

Chelsea

Brazil

References

  1. ^ "Alex". chelseafc.com. Chelsea FC. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  2. ^ "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  3. ^ "Chelsea target Alex earns permit". BBC Football. 2 August 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2007.
  4. ^ "Piet De Visser – Internationaal Voetbalscout". PSVZone. Archived from the original on 2006-06-30. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  5. ^ "De Tank rolt naar Chelsea" (in Dutch). DePers.nl. 2007-07-16. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  6. ^ a b Matt Hughes (2007-01-15). "'Special One' has suffered a power cut". London: The Times. Archived from the original on 2007-01-15. Retrieved 2007-01-17.
  7. ^ "Arsenal 1–1 PSV (agg 1–2)". BBC Football. 7 March 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2007.
  8. ^ "Alex set on Chelsea move". Sky Sports. Retrieved 5 June 2007.
  9. ^ "Liverpool 1–1 Chelsea". BBC SPORT. 19 August 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2007.
  10. ^ "Rosenborg 0–4 Chelsea". BBC News. 28 November 2007. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  11. ^ "Chelsea 4–4 Liverpool (agg: 7–5)". BBC News. 14 April 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  12. ^ "Chelsea 1–1 Barcelona (agg 1–1)". BBC News. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  13. ^ "Arsenal 1–4 Chelsea". BBC News. 10 May 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  14. ^ "Brazil - Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa - Profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  15. ^ "Alex Signs New Chelsea Contract". BBC Sport. 13 October 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
  16. ^ "Premier League Preview: Fulham - Chelsea". Goal.com. 2010-08-22. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  17. ^ "Chelsea 2-1 Portsmouth: Frank Lampard Late Penalty Denies Pompey". Goal.com. 2009-12-16. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  18. ^ "Chelsea 4–1 West Ham". BBC News. 13 March 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  19. ^ Phil McNulty (3 October 2010). "Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  20. ^ http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2536197,00.html
  21. ^ "Futebol – The Foreign Legion". ofutebol.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 20 August 2007.
  22. ^ "Comissão técnica da Seleção Brasileira divulga a lista complementar enviada à FIFA". CBF.com.br (in Portuguese). 2010-05-11. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  23. ^ FA Community Shield.
  24. ^ Seleção Brasileira (Brazilian National Team) 2002–2003
  25. ^ Seleção Brasileira (Brazilian National Team) 2004–2005
  26. ^ Seleção Brasileira (Brazilian National Team) 2006–2007
  27. ^ Seleção Brasileira (Brazilian National Team) 2008–2009
  28. ^ Seleção Brasileira Restritiva (Brazilian National Restrictive Team) 2000–2003
  29. ^ Seleção Brasileira Restritiva (Brazilian National Restrictive Team) 2004–2008

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa.

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