Giovanni Silva de Oliveira

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Giovanni
Personal information
Full name Giovanni Silva de Oliveira
Date of birth February 4, 1972 (age 35)
Place of birth    Flag of Brazil Belém, Brazil
Height 190 cm (6.2 ft)
Nickname Gio or Magos("magician")
Position Attacking Midfielder / Forward
Club information
Current club Flag of Greece Ethnikos Piraeus
Number 10
Youth clubs
1989-1991 Flag of Brazil Tuna Luso
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1990-1991
1991-1992
1993-1993
1994-1994
1994-1994
1994-1996
1996-1999
1999-2005
2005-2006
2006
2006-
Flag of Brazil Taça Luz
Flag of Brazil Tuna Luso
Flag of Brazil Clube do Remo
Flag of Brazil Paysandu Sport Club
Flag of Brazil Sãocarlense
Flag of Brazil Santos Futebol Clube
Flag of Spain FC Barcelona
Flag of Greece Olympiakos CFP
Flag of Brazil Santos Futebol Clube
Flag of Saudi Arabia Al Hilal
Flag of Greece Ethnikos Piraeus
{{{caps(goals)}}}   
National team2
1993-2003 Flag of Brazil Brazil 20 (6)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of {{{pcupdate}}}.
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of {{{ntupdate}}}.
* Appearances (Goals)

Giovanni Silva de Oliveira (born February 4, 1972), better known as Giovanni, is a football player from Brazil. He plays forward for Ethnikos Pireaus -A.O. Manis in the Greek National B Division and he was also capped for the Brazilian national team, Born in Abaetetuba, Giovanni started his career in 1991 at Tuna Luso. In 1993, he scored 24 goals, before joining Remo and Sãocarlense before moving to Brazilian top club Santos in 1995. Pele himself paid for his transfer, and proclaimed him as the "new Pele". In his first season he scored in half of the games he played, while in his second he claimed 25 goals in 19 games. After Santos FC, he moved to Spanish FC Barcelona in 1996. He was a first team regular for two seasons and scored 18 goals overall. Barcelona fans still remember him for his ability to score game winning goals against Real Madrid.

He moved to Olympiacos in the summer of 1999 and soon established himself as one of the best players in the history of the Greek league.

A flamboyant striker, he was known for his great dribbling and his ability to hang the goalkeeper and pass the ball through defender's legs. His technique and the variety of fascinating moves made Olympiakos' fans think of him as the most talented player passed from their team and loved him as a gifted hero. His skills earned him the nickname "magos"(wizard) in Greece.

He was the leading goalscorer in Greece in the 2003-2004 season with 21 goals. After six seasons he left the Piraeus club in 2005 to return to São Paulo and Santos FC.

In the beginning of 2006, he signed a one year contract with Saudi Arabia leading team Al Hilal Club in what was thought to be the last stop of his career. However, on August 15, 2006, Giovanni signed a one-year contract with 2nd division Greek club Ethnikos Piraeus for 400,000 Euros, deciding to end his career in the city primarily known as the Olympiacos home

[edit] National team

Giovanni has 20 caps with the Brazilian national team (6 goals).

He played during the Football World Cup 1998.

[edit] Honours



Flag of Brazil Brazil squad - 1998 FIFA World Cup Runners-up Flag of Brazil

1 Taffarel | 2 Cafu | 3 Aldair | 4 Júnior Baiano | 5 César Sampaio | 6 Roberto Carlos | 7 Giovanni | 8 Dunga | 9 Ronaldo | 10 Rivaldo | 11 Emerson | 12 Carlos Germano | 13 Zé Carlos | 14 Gonçalves | 15 André Cruz | 16 Zé Roberto | 17 Doriva | 18 Leonardo | 19 Denílson | 20 Bebeto | 21 Edmundo | 22 Dida | Coach: Zagallo

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