Kléber de Carvalho Corrêa

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Kléber de Carvalho Corrêa or simply Kléber (born April 1, 1980 in São Paulo, is a Brazilian left-wingback. He currently plays for Santos Futebol Clube. Kléber is regarded one of the best left wingbacks in Brazil . He has pace, top dribbling skills and a very precise left foot, capable of superb crosses and dangerous long-range kicks. He also possesses extremely accurate passing ability.

[edit] Club career

Kléber bloomed in Corinthians as an exciting new value. He was already a regular team when Corinthians won Brazilian Championship twice on 1998/1999, FIFA Club World Championship in 2000, São Paulo State Championship in 2001 and Brazil Cup. However, he fell in disgrace with the crowd in Libertadores Cup 2003, when playing on Monumental de Nuñez against River Plate, he was sent off because of a vicious kick on Andrés D'Alessandro and his side, winning 1-0, ended up losing 2-1, both goals by Fernando Cavenaghi. Corinthians then lost the second leg in São Paulo by the same score. An interesting coincidence is that Roger, Kléber's substitute, went on to be sent off too on this second game.

The defender began to receive hostilizations and threats from the crowd, and pushed the dirigents to allow him to be transferred, and in the middle-2003, he moved to Hannover 96. He failed to established himself on the German club and went on loan to the Swiss FC Basel. Kléber became a regular at the Swiss club, who exercised its purchase option in the 04-05 summer window. Despite another good season on the Brazilian side, he felt like the club didn't have enough European visibility in order for him to return to national team, and so he sought for a bigger European move or a return to Brazil.

Brazil was the way followed as he established a 1-year loan contract with Santos FC on middle-2005. His first semester at Santos was not so bright: they were nowhere near fighting for the National League and the group was cracked and unhappy with coaches Alexandre Gallo and Nelsinho Baptista.

In 2006 Kléber, along with Vanderlei Luxemburgo, was an important part of the team that won São Paulo State Championship and, after Santos definitely purchased his contract, finished fourth on Brazilian League. Santos won the state title once again in 2007, with Kléber delivering the cross to the winning 2-0 goal against São Caetano.

On May 12, 2008, there was some talks for Kleber on a possible move to Portuguese 3-Time champions, FC Porto. Kleber said he is waiting for an offer from Porto.

[edit] National team

Made debut for Brazil on January 31 2002, in 6-0 win over Bolivia in Goiana.

[edit] Titles

• Brazilian League - (1998, 1999)
• São Paulo State League - (1999, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007)
• FIFA Club World Championship - (2000)
• Tournament Rio - São Paulo - (2002)
• Brazilian Cup - (2002)
• Swiss Super League - (2005)
• Copa América - (2007)

[edit] Personal Honours

• Brazilian Bola de Prata (Placar): 2006, 2007

[edit] Contract

• 1st July 2006 to 31st July 2010

[edit] External links

• Video of game Santos-Goiás 2-1 in Campeonato Brasileiro 2006 with goal by Kléber

v • d • e Brazil squad - Copa América 2007 Winners (8th Title) 1 Helton • 2 Maicon • 3 Alex • 4 Juan • 5 Mineiro • 6 Gilberto • 7 Elano • 8 Gilberto Silva • 9 Vágner Love • 10 Diego • 11 Robinho • 12 Doni • 13 Daniel Alves • 14 Alex Silva • 15 Naldo • 16 Kléber • 17 Josué • 18 Fernando • 19 Júlio Baptista • 20 Anderson • 21 Afonso Alves • 22 Fred • Coach: Dunga