| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paulo Assunção da Silva | ||
| Date of birth | 25 January 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Várzea Grande, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Atlético Madrid | ||
| Number | 12 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2000 | Palmeiras | 0 | (0) |
| 2000–2001 | Porto B | 36 | (4) |
| 2001–2002 | Palmeiras | 24 | (0) |
| 2002–2004 | Nacional | 50 | (2) |
| 2004–2008 | Porto | 73 | (0) |
| 2004–2005 | → AEK Athens (loan) | 24 | (0) |
| 2008– | Atlético Madrid | 91 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 November 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Paulo Assunção da Silva (born 25 January 1980 in Várzea Grande, Mato Grosso), known as Assunção, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid in La Liga, as a defensive midfielder.
He is best known for his positioning and tackling, and also holds a Portuguese passport, due to the many years in spent in the country.[1]
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After first appearing professionally for Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras, Assunção emigrated to Portugal, having a short stint with F.C. Porto's B side, returning shortly after returning to Palmeiras. In 2002–03, he joined Madeira's C.D. Nacional, and made his Portuguese first division debut on 26 January 2003, in a 0–0 home tie against Vitória de Guimarães.
After two highly successful individual seasons, Assunção was snapped again by Porto, but would be loaned for the 2004–05 season to AEK Athens FC, then managed by former Porto manager Fernando Santos. In July 2005, he returned to Porto, going on to be an instrumental element in the side's midfield (alongside Raul Meireles and Lucho González),[2] as it eventually achieved three consecutive league championships.
In early July 2008, after buying out the remainder of his contract, Assunção joined Atlético Madrid.[3] He adjusted quickly with the capital side, playing in all league matches safe four and helping it repeat the fourth-place finish, with a subsequent UEFA Champions League qualification.
Defensive-minded Assunção scored his first goal for the Colchoneros on 17 January 2010, during the side's 3–2 home win against Sporting de Gijón.[4] whilst continuing as the undisputed first-choice at holding midfielder. He lost that position midway through 2010–11, to newly signed Mario Suárez.
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