Thiago Alcântara

Thiago
Personal information
Full name Thiago Alcântara do Nascimento
Date of birth 11 April 1991 (1991-04-11) (age 20)
Place of birth San Pietro Vernotico, Italy
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) [1]
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Barcelona
Number 11
Youth career
1995–1996 Flamengo
1996–2001 Ureca
2001–2005 Flamengo
2005–2008 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2011 Barcelona B 59 (3)
2009– Barcelona 27 (4)
National team
2007 Spain U16 1 (0)
2007–2008 Spain U17 8 (5)
2009 Spain U18 1 (1)
2009–2010 Spain U19 11 (4)
2010– Spain U21 14 (2)
2011– Spain 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 November 2011.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2011

Thiago Alcântara do Nascimento (born 11 April 1991) is a Spanish football player. He currently plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club FC Barcelona.

Contents

Club career

Early years

Thiago was born in San Pietro Vernotico, Italy and grew up in Spain. His father is former Brazilian World Cup winner Mazinho.[2] He started at the lower levels of Flamengo and at the age of five, he moved to Spain with his father and his cousin Patrick Gude, and started playing with Galician team Ureca in Nigrán. He returned to Flamengo aged 10 and, in 2005, once again moved back to Spain, signing with FC Barcelona, where his cousin Patrick was also playing for Barça.[3]

FC Barcelona

Early career

On 17 May 2009, aged 18 years old, Thiago made his debut with the first team when he came on as a substitute for Eiður Guðjohnsen in the 63rd minute against RCD Mallorca. On 20 February 2010, after coming on as a subtitute for Yaya Touré in the 76th minute, Thiago scored his first goal for Barcelona's first team in a 4–0 win against Racing de Santander at the Camp Nou.[4][5] His second goal came in a game against UD Almería on 9 April 2011, to make the score 2–1. He scored his third goal against Real Sociedad in a start. He ended the 2010–11 season with 17 games, three goals, and three assists under his belt.

Promotion

On 29 June 2011, Thiago signed a contract renewal keeping him at Barcelona until 30 June 2015, with a buyout clause of €90 million.

International career

Youth team

He participated in the 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship with Spain, helping his country to eventual victory in the tournament. He was also called up for the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship in France by Spain and played a major role in Spain reaching the final. Thiago was ever-present during Spain's victorious 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship campaign, scoring the second goal of a 2–0 victory with a 40-yard free kick in the final against Switzerland.[6] He was awarded the man of the match of the final as well as player of the tournament due to his dazzling performances throughout the competition.

Senior team

He made his first appearance for Spain's senior squad in a friendly against Italy on 10 August 2011, while his first competitive match was on 6 September 2011, in a Euro 2012 qualifying match 6-0 win against Liechtenstein.

Football career statistics

As of 4 January 2012[7]

Club Season League Cup Europe Other [8] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Barcelona B 2007–08 5 0 5 0
2008–09 25 0 25 0
2009–10 18 3 18 3
2010–11 11 0 11 0
Total 59 3 59 3
Barcelona 2008–09 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2009–10 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1
2010–11 12 2 3 1 1 0 1 0 17 3
2011–12 13 1 2 2 4 0 3 0 22 3
Total 27 4 6 3 5 0 4 0 42 7
Career totals 86 7 6 3 5 0 4 0 101 10

Personal

He is the son of the former Brazilian footballer and 1994 World Cup winner Mazinho. His mother, Valéria Alcântara, was a former volleyball player.[9][10] His younger brother, Rafinha, is currently a member of FC Barcelona B.[11]

Honours

Barcelona Atlètic

2007-08

Barcelona

2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
2010, 2011
2010–11
2011
2011

Spain

2008
2011

References

  1. ^ Thiago Alcántara do Nascimiento Profile. Fcbarcelona.com. Retrieved on 2011-07-03.
  2. ^ "Youth:Thiago Alcántara .". fcbtransfers.blogspot.com. 2010-02-19. http://fcbtransfers.blogspot.com/2008/05/youth-thiago-alcntara.html. Retrieved 2010-02-19. 
  3. ^ O melhor da Barra na web ::. PortalBARRA. Retrieved on 2011-07-03.
  4. ^ "FC Barcelona vs Racing de Santander". Goal.com. 2010-02-19. http://www.goal.com/en/match/36845/barcelona-vs-racing/lineup-stats. Retrieved 2010-02-19. 
  5. ^ "Racing de Santander vs FC Barcelona". fcbarcelona.com. 2010-02-19. http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/futbol/temporada_09-10/arxiu_partits/lliga/jornada23/Barcelona_Racing/partit.html. Retrieved 2010-02-19. 
  6. ^ "Spain win tournament with victory over Switzerland". Daily Telegraph. 27 June 2011. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/spain/8599346/European-Under-21-Championship-Spain-win-tournament-with-victory-over-Switzerland.html. Retrieved 27 June 2011. 
  7. ^ Transfermarkt player statistics. Transfermarkt.co.uk. Retrieved on 2011-07-03.
  8. ^ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup.
  9. ^ "Thiago y Jonathan, ADN fútbol". MundoDeportivo.com. 2009-08-21. http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/gen/20090821/53768988596/noticia/thiago-y-jonathan-adn-futbol.html. Retrieved 2009-08-21. 
  10. ^ "Youth:Thiago Alcântara". fcbtransfers.blogspot.com. 2010-02-19. http://fcbtransfers.blogspot.com/2008/05/youth-thiago-alcntara.html. Retrieved 2010-02-19. 
  11. ^ FC Barcelona Youth A 2009/10. Fcbarcelona.com. Retrieved on 2011-07-03.

External links