Ariza Makukula

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Ariza Makukula
Personal information
Full name Ariza Makukula
Date of birth March 4, 1981 (1981-03-04) (age 27)
Place of birth    Kinshasa, Zaire
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 3+12 in)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current club SL Benfica
Number 38
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1999–2000
2000
2001
2001–2002
2002–2004
2003–2004
2004–2008
2006–2007
2007-2008
2008–
Vitória Guimarães
UD Salamanca
CD Leganés
UD Salamanca
FC Nantes
Valladolid (loan)
Sevilla FC
Gimnàstic (loan)
Marítimo (loan)
SL Benfica

02 0(0)
13 0(4)
39 (21)
18 0(1)
19 0(8)
13 0(1)
13 0(1)
13 0(7)
16 (7)   
National team2
2007- Portugal 4 (1)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 17 October 2007.
* Appearances (Goals)

Ariza Makukula (born March 4, 1981 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo) is a Portuguese international football player of (DR) Congolese descent. He is the son of a Portuguese mother and a Congolese father.

He was on loan to Portuguese side C.S. Marítimo, in the BWINLIGA, from Spanish team Sevilla but after scoring 7 goals in 13 games, Makukula transferred to SL Benfica for 3,5 million Euros for 4 and a half years.[1] He plays as a striker. He scored in the 1-0 victory against 1.FC Nürnberg on February 15, 2008, in the UEFA Cup.

[edit] International career

He played for the Portuguese U-21s and took part in the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.

He decided to represent DR Congo, but a FIFA amended rule regarding international careers came out in 2005, stating that change in nationality representation must occur before a player's 21st birthday and if they have not yet gained their first full cap, so Makukula cannot play for any national team other than Portugal (was 23 at time of rule).[2] On 17 October 2007, Makukula was called up for the first time in his career to represent Portugal (against Kazakhstan) at senior level, due to his fine form at club level with Marítimo and an unfortunate injury to striker Nuno Gomes, scoring an 84th minute opener, in a 2-1 victory, to celebrate his debut in style.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Makukula makes Benfica switch. UEFA.com (2008-01-30). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ Makukula ineligible for DRC (26 March 2005).

[edit] Honours