Deco
Deco playing for Fluminense in 2013
Personal information
Full name Anderson Luís de Souza[1]
Date of birth (1977-08-27) 27 August 1977[2]
Place of birth São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil[3]
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1995–1996 Nacional (SP)
1996–1997 Corinthians
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1997 Corinthians 2 (1)
1997 CSA 0 (0)
1997–1998 Benfica 0 (0)
1997–1998 → Alverca (loan) 32 (20)
1998–1999 Salgueiros 12 (4)
1999–2004 Porto 148 (57)
2004–2008 Barcelona 113 (31)
2008–2010 Chelsea 43 (5)
2010–2013 Fluminense 56 (9)
Total 406 (133)
International career
2003–2010 Portugal 75 (19)
Managerial career
2023– Barcelona (Director of Football)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Portugal
UEFA European Championship
Runner-up2004 Portugal
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Anderson Luís de Souza OIH (born 27 August 1977), also known as Deco (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈdɛku]), is a former professional football player who primarily played as an attacking or central midfielder.[4] Born and raised in Brazil, he acquired Portuguese citizenship and played for Portugal. He is regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation. He currently works as sporting director in Barcelona.

Deco is one of the few players to have won the UEFA Champions League with two clubs, with Porto in 2004 and Barcelona in 2006. He was named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year and UEFA Best Midfielder in Porto's Champions League-winning season and was named Man of the Match in the 2004 UEFA Champions League Final. Deco was the first player to win the UEFA Best Midfielder Award with two clubs, Porto and Barcelona. He was awarded the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball and the Man of the Match award in the final despite losing to Internacional.

Deco received Portuguese citizenship in 2002 having completed five years of Portuguese residence, and subsequently opted to play internationally for the Portugal national team. He earned 75 caps for them, playing at two UEFA European Championships and two FIFA World Cups, reaching the final of Euro 2004, and achieving a fourth-place finish at the 2006 World Cup.

Club career

Early career

Born in São Bernardo do Campo, Deco spent time at Corinthians as a youngster, competing in the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior for them. In the 1997 edition, Benfica sent Toni to scout the tournament, and he soon noticed Deco, recommending his signing.[5] In June 1997, Benfica purchased his rights from CSA and immediately sent him on loan (along with fellow Brazilian Caju) to their farm team, Alverca.[5][6] After helping them win promotion to the top tier in 1997–98 season by scoring 13 goals in 32 appearances, he returned to Benfica in July 1998. However, he left for Salgueiros in exchange for Nandinho, who went in the opposite direction.[5] When asked by Nuno Gomes in an interview for FourFourTwo why he did not stay and become a legend at Benfica, Deco said, "Benfica decided, it wasn't my decision. They didn't want me. The coach was Graeme Souness at the time. I was young and Benfica needed some players."[7]

At Salgueiros, Deco was plagued by injuries and only made a few appearances, until Porto purchased him in March 1999, in time to win the league title.[8] His release from Benfica and subsequent success with Porto was considered by António Simões as an "historical mistake", while Toni stated he saw in Deco, a successor for Rui Costa the club needed since his departure.[5]

Porto

In his first season with Porto, Deco scored a goal after just 30.08 seconds in a 1–0 away win against Molde in the 1999–2000 UEFA Champions League.[9]

Under the guidance of manager José Mourinho in the 2002–03 season, Deco scored 10 goals in 30 matches and received 17 yellow cards and 1 red card. He was one of the key players in Porto's UEFA Cup final 3–2 win over Celtic that year. In the 2003–04 season, Deco helped Porto recapture the national title and led the team to the 2004 UEFA Champions League Final, in which Porto won 3–0 over Monaco, scoring the second goal of the match. He was the UEFA Champions League's top assist provider and also suffered the most fouls in the Champions League that season. That season, Deco also won the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year as well as the award for the best midfielder in the competition.

Barcelona

Deco playing for Barcelona in the 2006–07 season

A deal was achieved between Porto and Barcelona the day after the Euro 2004 final. Barcelona agreed on a €15 million fee in cash, plus the complete rights of Ricardo Quaresma to Porto, which tagged Quaresma for €6 million.[10]

On 14 May 2005, Deco played in the draw against Levante, which gave Barcelona their 17th La Liga title. He also was named Barcelona's player of the season in the 2005–06 season.

Deco scored twice in the 2006 Supercopa de España, which Barça won.[11] Deco won the UEFA Best Midfielder Award yet again for his performance in Barça's UEFA Champions League-winning season, enabling him to join the exclusive group of players that have won the same award more than once with different teams, having won the Champions League previously with Porto. He was also awarded the Golden Ball at the FIFA Club World Cup and the Man of the Match award, despite losing the final to Internacional.[12]

Chelsea

Deco taking a penalty kick for Chelsea in 2008

On 30 June 2008, Chelsea signed Deco from Barcelona on a three-year contract for €10 million (£8 million).[13][14] He was the first signing of new Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who was formerly the head coach of the Portugal national team.

Deco scored on his Chelsea debut and his Premier League debut with a 30-yard goal in a 4–0 victory over Portsmouth. Deco followed up his performance by scoring in his second game for Chelsea, a curling free-kick against Wigan Athletic. These performances led to him winning the Premier League Player of the Month award for August. Deco made his UEFA Champions League debut for Chelsea on 16 September. Deco injured himself during a training session, but he returned from the thigh injury on 19 October and came on as a substitute against Middlesbrough. He was sent off in the 3–1 defeat by Roma on 4 November 2008. He then scored a bicycle kick against Bolton Wanderers on 6 December.

Deco eventually lost his place in the 2008–09 starting line up, due in part to some poor performances, but also to the sacking of Scolari. In a June interview, Deco said, "I do not want to stay. I have not liked my experience at Chelsea." This was soon followed by Inter Milan, managed by former Chelsea manager José Mourinho, declaring Inter was attempting to sign Deco along with fellow countryman Ricardo Carvalho, who had also declared his desire to leave and, like Deco, desired to link-up with Mourinho again. Both players previously played under Mourinho at Porto.[15] However, Inter club president Massimo Moratti ruled out signing either of the Portuguese internationals on the basis of their age, telling Gazzetta dello Sport, "Deco and Carvalho? They are two champions but at this time I don't feel there's a need to buy them."[16]

Fluminense

On 6 August 2010, Deco signed a two-year contract with Brazilian club Fluminense on a free transfer,[17] joining former Chelsea and Barcelona teammate Juliano Belletti.[18] Playing for Fluminense, Deco won the Campeonato Brasileiro in 2010 and 2012.

On 26 August 2013, Deco retired, ending a 17-year career. The decision came on the day before his 36th birthday. His final match was four days prior, against Goiás.[19]

International career

Deco playing for Portugal against Denmark in 2008

Deco was never called up to the Brazil national team, as the Brazil squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup included other attacking midfielders such as Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Juninho. After completing six years of residence in Portugal, he was able to gain Portuguese citizenship and play for their national team. As none of his great-grandparents, grandparents or parents were Portuguese, under FIFA's player eligibility rules his citizenship was the only factor to allow him to play for Portugal. He was subsequently mentioned several times in the media as an option for the Portugal national team.

After many months of public discussion which split Portuguese public opinion, and despite the opposition of a large number of Porto rivals' supporters, he was called up for his first international, coincidentally against Brazil. He came on as a substitute for Sérgio Conceição and scored the free-kick which won the match 2–1.[20] This was Portugal's first win over Brazil since the 1966 FIFA World Cup. Since that match, he became a regular in the national team. Before UEFA Euro 2004, Luís Figo criticised Deco's inclusion[21] and said, "Se você nasceu chinês, bem, você tem que jogar pela China." (English: "If you're born Chinese, well, you have to play for China.") Deco responded, "Eu nasci no Brasil e seria uma mentira dizer que sou português agora e não brasileiro. Mas amo Portugal e adoro jogar pela seleção." (English:"I was born in Brazil and it would be a lie to say that I'm Portuguese now and not Brazilian. But I love Portugal and I love playing for the national team.")

Despite the early criticism, Deco was one of the highlights of the Portugal national team. He scored 5 goals in 75 caps for Portugal by June 2010, when his international career ended after the second-round defeat to Spain at the 2010 World Cup.

2006 World Cup

In the 2006 World Cup, Deco scored the first goal in Portugal's second Group D match against Iran in the 63rd minute prior to Cristiano Ronaldo's 80th-minute penalty. During the first knockout stage of the competition, Deco received two yellow cards in the match against the Netherlands with the first given for a rash tackle on John Heitinga, suspending him from the quarter-final win against England, as he had already picked up a caution in the match with Iran. The win against England in the quarter-final stage led to Portugal's defeat in the semi-final, which Deco was able to participate in.

Euro 2008

On 11 June, Deco scored the opening goal in Portugal's second match of Euro 2008, a Group A clash with the Czech Republic. The match ended 3–1 to Portugal, with Deco aiding his team in their passage to the quarter-finals where Portugal's campaign came to an end against Germany, the eventual runners-up of the tournament.

In February 2010, Deco announced he would be retiring from international football after the 2010 World Cup.[22]

2010 World Cup

Deco played for Portugal in their opening game against the Ivory Coast. During the match, he was injured and was ruled out of the remaining two group matches, against North Korea and Brazil. He was fit again for the round of 16 match against Spain, but Portugal head coach Carlos Queiroz chose Tiago over him.

Deco retired from international football with 75 caps and 5 goals.

Style of play

As a player, Deco was a versatile, tactically intelligent and creative midfielder with excellent vision and technical ability.[23][24] A generous and hard-working team-player capable of playing in several midfield positions. He was initially deployed as a central midfielder under manager José Mourinho during his time with Porto, although he was also capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, as a deep-lying playmaker or as a winger on either flank.[25] While he lacked in pace as well as physical, defensive and athletic attributes,[25][26] he made up for in stamina, as well as excellent ball control, dribbling skills, passing range and crossing ability, which allowed him to beat players, find space and create chances for teammates.[27][28][29] Deco was an excellent visionary of the ball, who opened up spaces for his teammates through finding passing lanes that no one else saw, and also had a notable ability to switch the tempo of play in rapid style.

A diminutive midfielder,[30] in later years, as he lost his acceleration, agility and mobility, he also went through a physical development, which, along with his balance, allowed him to protect the ball against larger opponents. He also contributed offensively with occasional goals due to his accurate mid-range shooting ability,[31] and his adeptness at free-kicks.[32] Despite his talent, Deco was also known to be injury-prone and inconsistent at times, and was also accused of drifting in and out of matches. Furthermore, his work-rate and fitness were often brought into question in his later career.[26][30][33] Deco was also well known for his tendency to commit tactical fouls,[28] and he was accused of diving throughout his career.[29]

Post-retirement

Deco in 2018

On 16 August 2023, it was announced that Deco would become the sporting director of his former club FC Barcelona by signing a three-year contract.[34]

Personal life

Deco is the brother-in-law of fellow former footballers Alecsandro and Richarlyson. Deco is an ambassador for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. He also has a charitable organisation, the Deco Institute, based in the Brazilian city of Indaiatuba, near São Paulo, where he grew up.[35]

After retiring, Deco set up D20 Sports Management, a sports agency registered in Dublin, Ireland. The agency, whose clients include Brazil international Fabinho and Burkina Faso international Edmond Tapsoba, recorded €300,000 profit in 2017.[36]

Media

Deco features in EA Sports' FIFA football video game series. He was included in the Ultimate Team Legends in FIFA 16.[37]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition.[38][39]

Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Corinthians 1996 Série A 2000———20
CSA 1997 Série C 0010———10
Alverca (loan) 1997–98 Segunda Divisão 321211———3313
Salgueiros 1998–99 Primeira Divisão 12210———132
Porto 1998–99 Primeira Divisão 6000———60
1999–2000 Primeira Liga 23143—11[lower-alpha 3]3—387
2000–01 Primeira Liga 31640—10[lower-alpha 4]02[lower-alpha 5]0476
2001–02 Primeira Liga 301320—15[lower-alpha 3]61[lower-alpha 5]04819
2002–03 Primeira Liga 301031—12[lower-alpha 4]1—4512
2003–04 Primeira Liga 28230—12[lower-alpha 3]22[lower-alpha 6]0454
Total 14832164—60125022948
Barcelona 2004–05 La Liga 35700—7[lower-alpha 3]2—429
2005–06 La Liga 29210—11[lower-alpha 3]22[lower-alpha 7]0434
2006–07 La Liga 31130—8[lower-alpha 3]25[lower-alpha 8]3476
2007–08 La Liga 18150—6[lower-alpha 3]0—291
Total 1131190—3267316120
Chelsea 2008–09 Premier League 24310104[lower-alpha 3]0—303
2009–10 Premier League 19220214[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 9]0283
Total 43530318010586
Fluminense 2010 Série A 161————161
2011 Série A 18000—2[lower-alpha 10]15[lower-alpha 11]0251
2012 Série A 17100—8[lower-alpha 10]111[lower-alpha 11]3365
2013 Série A 5010—3[lower-alpha 10]05[lower-alpha 11]0140
Total 56210—132213917
Career total 40664325311132033658896
  1. ↑ Includes the Copa do Brasil, Taça de Portugal, Copa del Rey and FA Cup
  2. ↑ Includes the Football League Cup
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Cup
  5. 1 2 Appearance(s) in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
  6. ↑ One appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira and one appearance in UEFA Super Cup
  7. ↑ Appearances in Supercopa de España
  8. ↑ Two appearances and one goal in FIFA Club World Cup, one appearance in UEFA Super Cup, two appearances and two goals in Supercopa de España
  9. ↑ Appearance in FA Community Shield
  10. 1 2 3 Appearances in Copa Libertadores
  11. 1 2 3 Appearances in Campeonato Carioca

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[40][41]

National team YearAppsGoals
Portugal 200391
2004151
200580
2006111
200780
200892
2009110
201040
Total755

International goals

Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first.[40][41]

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.29 March 2003Estádio das Antas, Porto, Portugal Brazil2–12–1Friendly
2.13 October 2004Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal Russia3–07–12006 FIFA World Cup qualifying
3.17 June 2006Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany Iran1–02–02006 FIFA World Cup
4.11 June 2008Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland Czech Republic1–03–1UEFA Euro 2008
5.10 September 2008Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal Denmark2–12–32010 FIFA World Cup qualifying

Honours

Porto[42]

Barcelona[42]

Chelsea

Fluminense

Individual

Orders

References

  1. ↑ "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Portugal" (PDF). FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2019.
  2. ↑ "Fluminense Football Club | Futebol | Deco". Fluminense.com.br. 27 August 1977. Archived from the original on 22 May 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Deco" (in Catalan). FC Barcelona. Archived from the original on 22 August 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  4. ↑ "AN ODE TO DECO". footballtimes. 27 May 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Toni descobriu Deco: "Erro histórico do Benfica"" [Toni, who discovered Deco: "Historical mistake from Benfica"]. Maisfutebol (in Portuguese). 26 August 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "Caju reforça FC Porto por troca com Duda" [Caju joins FC Porto in exchange for Duda]. Record (in Portuguese). 1 February 2000. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Deco: 'At Chelsea, the players spoke directly to the directors over Scolari. That wasn't good'". FourFourTwo. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  8. ↑ "Deco: "Contestam as nossas vitórias porque têm muita inveja"" [Deco: "They dispute our wins because they are jealous"]. Record (in Portuguese). 25 June 1999. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "Molde 0–1 Porto". UEFA. 15 September 1999.
  10. ↑ "FACTO RELEVANTE" (PDF). FC Porto. 6 July 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  11. ↑ Gillen, Sean (18 December 2006). "Manuel Jose leads Al-Ahly to historic third place finish". portugoal.net. Archived from the original on 11 December 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  12. ↑ Pereira, Marco (21 August 2006). "Deco blasts brace as Barcelona win Spanish Supercopa". portugoal.net. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "Deco goes to Chelsea". FC Barcelona. 30 June 2008. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  14. ↑ "CHELSEA SIGN DECO". Chelsea FC. 30 June 2008. Archived from the original on 28 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "Deco seeks Blues exit". Sky Sports.
  16. ↑ "Inter rule out Chelsea duo". Sky Sports. 6 July 2009.
  17. ↑ "OFFICIAL: Fluminense Sign Deco On Two-Year Contract". Goal.com. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  18. ↑ "Juliano Belletti heads for Fluminense from Chelsea and Deco may follow". The Guardian. London. 18 July 2010.
  19. ↑ uefa.com (26 August 2013). "Member associations - News – UEFA.com".
  20. ↑ "Portugal vs. Brazil - Football Match Report - March 29, 2003 - ESPN". ESPNFC.com.
  21. ↑ "Figo re-ignites Deco row". BBC News. 10 June 2004.
  22. ↑ "Chelsea's Deco to quit Portugal". BBC News. 4 February 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  23. ↑ Boldrini, Stefano (4 July 2006). "È Deco l' oro di Scolari". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  24. ↑ Licari, Fabio (12 October 2004). "Deco in pole per i premi "Ma ho paura di Sheva"". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  25. 1 2 Hytner, David (20 June 2008). "Deco's art dazzles but Germany prevail after Schweinsteiger's masterpiece". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  26. 1 2 "Deco: Understated Genius". FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  27. ↑ De Sà, Manuel Martins (22 January 2000). "Deco, il valore aggiunto". gazzetta.it (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  28. 1 2 "Anderson Luis de Souza 'Deco'". FC Barcelona. Archived from the original on 27 January 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  29. 1 2 "Deco: The master behind the magic of Barça". The Independent. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  30. 1 2 "Penpix of Portugal's squad". Reuters. 21 May 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  31. ↑ Galavotti, Giancarlo (15 September 2004). "Deco-Giuly-Larsson Barça scatenato Il Celtic k.o in casa". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  32. ↑ Galavotti, Giancarlo (25 August 2008). "La classe di Deco fa volare il Chelsea". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  33. ↑ "Deco struggles to shine in Blues' rough diamond". The Independent. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  34. ↑ "Barcelona appoints former playmaker Deco as its new sporting director". AP News. 16 August 2023.
  35. ↑ Szczepanik, Nick (9 March 2009). "I will show Chelsea the real Deco". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  36. ↑ "D20 Sports Management posts profit of about €300,000 for 2017". The Irish Times. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  37. ↑ "FIFA 16 Player Ratings - New Legends". EA Sports. 5 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  38. ↑ "Deco". ForaDeJogo. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  39. ↑ "Deco". BDFutbol. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  40. 1 2 3 4 5 "Anderson Luis de Souza "Deco" - International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  41. 1 2 "National football team player - Deco". eu.football.info. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  42. 1 2 3 "Former Portugal midfielder Deco retires". UEFA.com. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  43. 1 2 "Deco: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  44. ↑ McNulty, Phil (9 August 2009). "Chelsea 2–2 Man Utd". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  45. 1 2 "FIFA World Cup - Deco – UEFA.com". UEFA. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  46. ↑ Karel Stokkermans (14 March 2007). "ESM Season XI". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  47. ↑ "2006 FIFA Club World Cup awards". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  48. 1 2 "PREMIAÇÃO DO CAMPEONATO CARIOCA 2012 TEVE SETE NOVAS CATEGORIAS". rj.gov.br. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  49. ↑ "Wall of Fame". Globe Soccer.com. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  50. ↑ "LEGENDS – GoldenFoot". Golden Foot. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
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