Edu as a Betis player in 2008 |
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luís Eduardo Schmidt | ||
| Date of birth | 10 January 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Jaú, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Playing position | Forward / Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Free agent | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1996–1997 | XV Jaú | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1997–2000 | São Paulo | 11 | (0) |
| 2000–2004 | Celta | 117 | (28) |
| 2004–2009 | Betis | 136 | (41) |
| 2009–2010 | Internacional | 25 | (3) |
| 2011 | Vitória | 5 | (1) |
| National team | |||
| 1999–2000 | Brazil U23 | 14 | (6) |
| 2000 | Brazil | 1 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 July 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Luís Eduardo Schmidt, aka Edu (born 10 January 1979 in Jaú, São Paulo), is a Brazilian footballer.
A versatile midfielder and forward, he played most of his professional career in Spain - helping both Celta and Betis to their first-ever UEFA Champions League participation, amassing La Liga totals of 253 matches and 63 goals in nine years - and also holds an Italian passport.
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Edu made 11 appearances for São Paulo Futebol Clube from 1997–2000, then transferring to Real Club Celta de Vigo for 2000–01. Even though he only scored three times during that season, he went on to become one of the Galician side's most important elements in the subsequent La Liga seasons.
Hindered by injuries throughout 2003–04, Edu also played a small part in Celta's UEFA Champions League campaign, netting once against Arsenal in a round of 16 home defeat (2–3). Upon the club's relegation, he moved to Real Betis, spending the first two seasons on loan.
Edu made a huge impression during his debut season with Betis, as his partnership with countryman Ricardo Oliveira featured strongly in the success of the Andalusia club, who qualified to its first Champions League; he finished the campaign with 11 goals in 32 league appearances, with the team also winning the season's Spanish Cup.
In his second year, Edu only netted in three league matches, but started it by scoring a last-minute goal against AS Monaco FC in the Champions League third qualifying round, as Betis went on to win 3–2 on aggregate.
After two seasons, Edu was officially signed for €2,000,000 in 2006. On the final day of the 2006–07 season, he scored two goals in the final ten minutes in a 2–0 win at Racing de Santander, which proved instrumental in avoiding relegation to the second division. In the following, as Betis again battled relegation, he finished as the club's top scorer, at 12; two of those came on 29 March 2008, as he netted the first and the last for his team in a 3–2 home win against FC Barcelona, who won 2–0 at half-time.[1]
In 2008–09, Edu appeared very rarely due to injuries, and Betis was relegated, with the played being released subsequently. Shortly after, he returned to Brazil after a nine-year absence, and signed a two-year contract with Sport Club Internacional.[2]
On 2 June 2011, aged 32, Edu joined Esporte Clube Vitória on a free transfer.
Edu made his Brazil debut against Thailand, on 23 February 2000. It would be his only appearance for the full national side.
Late in the summer, Edu scored twice at the 2000 Summer Olympics, as Brazil were ousted in the quarterfinals.[3]
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