Cléo
 Cléo with Guangzhou Evergrande in 2012 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cléverson Gabriel Córdova | ||
| Date of birth | 9 August 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Guarapuava, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Guangzhou Evergrande | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Batel | |||
| Comercial (PR) | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2004–2005 | Olivais e Moscavide | 13 | (7) |
| 2005–2006 | Atlético Paranaense | 5 | (1) |
| 2005 | → Figueirense (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2006–2009 | Olivais e Moscavide | 61 | (19) |
| 2008–2009 | → Red Star Belgrade (loan) | 20 | (8) |
| 2009–2011 | Partizan | 41 | (22) |
| 2011– | Guangzhou Evergrande | 38 | (17) |
| 2013 | → Kashiwa Reysol (loan) | 27 | (9) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 December 2013. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Cléverson Gabriel Córdova (born 9 August 1985), commonly known as Cléo, is a Brazilian football striker who last played for J. League Division 1 side Kashiwa Reysol, on loan from Guangzhou Evergrande. He also holds Serbian citizenship.
While playing on three different continents, Cléo scored at least once in three of the most prestigious club continental competitions, in the Copa Libertadores for Atlético Paranaense, in the UEFA Champions League for Partizan, and in the AFC Champions League for two clubs, Guangzhou Evergrande and Kashiwa Reysol.
Club career
Early years
Born in Guarapuava, Cléo started playing football with Associação Atlética Batel. After some time of playing with Esporte Clube Comercial, Cléo was spotted by Olivais e Moscavide who brought him to Portugal in 2004. A little more than six months, Cléo returned to Brazil and signed for Atlético Paranaense, playing with them in the 2005 and 2006 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. Meanwhile, he had loan spells at Ferroviária,[1] and Figueirense in 2005. In 2006, Cléo moved back to Olivais e Moscavide,[2] staying there for next two seasons. In August 2008, Cléo joined Red Star Belgrade,[3] on a one-year loan with a view to a permanent move.
Partizan
2009–10 season
On 19 June 2009, Cléo signed a four-year contract with Partizan and thus became the first player in more than 20 years to move from Red Star to Partizan (the last was Goran Milojević in 1988).[4] Cléo scored on his debut for Partizan, on 14 July, against Welsh champions Rhyl for the overall victory of his team by 4–0. Seven days later, in the second leg, Cléo scored a hat-trick of which was particularly nice was the first goal achieved with an bicycle kick.[5] On 28 November, Cléo scored a great goal against his former club to help Partizan 2–1 win over Red Star.[6] Cléo played great in the second part of the 2009–10 Serbian SuperLiga, scoring nine goals, and thus helped Partizan to reach their third consecutive title.
2010–11 season
Cléo opened the season by scoring the third goal in his team's 3–1 victory over Armenian champions Pyunik in the first leg of the second qualifying round of the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League.[7] One week later, second meeting in Yerevan, Cléo scored a fantastic goal from the edge of the penalty area in the fifth minute of injury time in the first half and also led his team to the next round with a total score of 4–1 on aggregate.[8] In the first match of the third qualifying round, Cléo scored in the 90th minute for his team's 3–0 win against Finland's HJK.[9] His fantastic form, Cléo completed by achieving both goals in the second leg.[10] He also scored a goal in the first round of the 2010–11 Serbian SuperLiga against Inđija at home, thus continued his series of goals. On 18 August, in the play-off round first leg against Anderlecht, a game which ended 2–2, he scored his 7th goal in 6 matches.[11] Six days later, on 24 August, Cléo scored twice against Anderlecht in the return tie, bringing his tally to 9 goals in 7 matches in the season. He was also accurate in the penalty shoot-out, and so helped Partizan to reach the Champions League for the first time in 7 years.[12] On 4 September, a day when he filed a request for Serbian citizenship, Cléo scored his 10th goal in the season with an overhead bicycle kick in the match against Hajduk Kula.[13] On 28 September, in the second round of the Champions League group stage, Cléo completed one of two penalties in a 3–1 defeat versus Arsenal.[14] On 8 December 2010, again in a match against Arsenal, Cléo scored an equaliser at Emirates Stadium, however Partizan lost the game 3–1.[15]
Guangzhou Evergrande
2011 season
On 12 February 2011, Cléo completed his move to Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande, signing a four-year deal.[16] At the time, this move set a new record of Chinese football with €3.2 million ($4.5 million) transfer fee.[17] He made his league debut for Guangzhou against Dalian Shide on 2 April and scored the winning goal in the match. Cléo started the season well by scoring 5 goals in his first 5 league appearances. However, Cléo suffered a muscular strain in leg during a FA Cup match against Guizhou Zhicheng on 4 May, ruling him out for two months.[18] On 26 June, after recovering from injury, Cléo entered from the bench at the half and scored a penalty in the 60th minute against Jiangsu Sainty.[19] He scored another four goals in the next four matches, but the recurrence of leg strain on 14 July against Nanchang Hengyuan ruling him out for a further two months.[20] Cléo returned to training in late August but injured again in early September.[21] The lingering injury kept him out of the field for the second half of the year. He managed to score 10 times in 10 appearances during the 2011 league season.
2012 season
After the end of the 2011 season, it was reported that Guangzhou had decided to give up Cléo for his lingering injury.[22] He was linked with France's Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille and another Super League club Guizhou Renhe.[23] However, Cléo eventually stayed in Guangzhou for the 2012 season.
On 25 February 2012, Cléo scored both goals for Guangzhou in the 2012 Chinese FA Super Cup, a 2–1 victory over Tianjin Teda, which ensured Guangzhou win this trophy for the first time in the club's history. He continued his excellent form into the AFC Champions League, when he scored a brace in the first match of the group stage, as Guangzhou trashed K-League champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 5–1 on 7 March.[24] On 15 May, during Guangzhou's last group stage match of the AFC Champions League against Buriram United, Cléo earned a penalty in the 90th minute, which Darío Conca converted into the winning goal. Guangzhou beat Buriram United 2–1 and sealed a place in the knockout phase for the Chinese Super League side.[25] On 30 May, Cléo scored the winning goal during the round of 16 in the AFC Champions League, as Guangzhou beat J-League side FC Tokyo 1–0 and became the first Chinese club to reach the quarter-finals of the competition since 2006.[26] Although scored 4 goals in 7 matches, Cléo was replaced by newcomer Lucas Barrios in the 30-man squad which was submitted for the next stage of the Champions League. On 18 August, in the interview after a league match against Changchun Yatai, which Cléo made a goal and an assist to help Guangzhou win the match 2–1, he said that he felt sad with club's decision to exclude him from the Champions League squad and would seek a transfer at the end of the season.[27] Cléo played as regular starter in the domestic league and helped Guangzhou Evergrande win their second Super League championship and first FA Cup title.
Kashiwa Reysol
On 25 January 2013, Cléo moved to J. League Division 1 side Kashiwa Reysol on a one-year loan deal.[28]
International career
Cléo never played any international game for his home country Brazil, and in August 2010, he said that he would like to play for the Serbian national team and is yet up to Serbian coach to give him a call.[29] On 4 September, Cléo applied for Serbian citizenship after meeting with Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs Ivica Dačić.[30] On 23 September, Cléo became a citizen of Serbia.[31] However, according to FIFA rules for expatriate players, Cléo is ineligible to play for Serbia.[32]
Career statistics
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Super Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Portugal | League | Taça de Portugal | Taça da Liga | Supertaça | Europe | Total | ||||||||
| 2004–05 | Olivais e Moscavide | Second Division | 13 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 |
| Brazil | League | Copa do Brasil | League Cup | Super Cup | South America | Total | ||||||||
| 2005 | Atlético Paranaense | Série A | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 1 | 8 | 2 | ||
| Figueirense | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2006 | Atlético Paranaense | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| Portugal | League | Taça de Portugal | Taça da Liga | Supertaça | Europe | Total | ||||||||
| 2006–07 | Olivais e Moscavide | Liga de Honra | 26 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 4 |
| 2007–08 | Second Division | 35 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 16 | |
| Serbia | League | Serbian Cup | League Cup | Super Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||||
| 2008–09 | Red Star Belgrade | SuperLiga | 20 | 8 | 4 | 4 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 24 | 12 | ||
| 2009–10 | Partizan | 27 | 14 | 4 | 2 | – | – | 9 | 6 | 40 | 22 | |||
| 2010–11 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 2 | – | – | 12 | 10 | 27 | 20 | ||||
| China | League | FA Cup | League Cup | FA Super Cup | Asia | Total | ||||||||
| 2011 | Guangzhou Evergrande | Super League | 10 | 10 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 10 | |
| 2012 | 28 | 7 | 4 | 1 | – | 1 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 40 | 14 | |||
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J. League Cup | Super Cup | Asia | Total | ||||||||
| 2013 | Kashiwa Reysol | Division 1 | 27 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 46 | 14 |
| Total | Portugal | 74 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 27 | |
| Brazil | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 1 | 11 | 2 | ||||
| Serbia | 61 | 30 | 9 | 8 | – | – | 21 | 16 | 91 | 54 | ||||
| China | 38 | 17 | 5 | 1 | – | 1 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 51 | 24 | |||
| Japan | 27 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 46 | 14 | ||
| Career total | 207 | 83 | 21 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 42 | 23 | 277 | 121 | ||
Honours
Club
- Partizan
- Serbian SuperLiga (1): 2009–10
- Guangzhou Evergrande
- Chinese Super League (2): 2011, 2012
- Chinese FA Cup (1): 2012
- Chinese FA Super Cup (1): 2012
- Kashiwa Reysol
- J. League Cup (1): 2013
Individual
- Serbian Cup Top Scorer (1): 2008–09
- FK Partizan Player of the Year (1): 2010
- Chinese FA Super Cup Most Valuable Player (1): 2012
References
- ↑ "Atlético manda quatro para a Ferroviária" (in Portuguese). furacao.com. 18 March 2005. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
- ↑ "Atacante Cléo retorna ao Olivais e Moscavide" (in Portuguese). furacao.com. 16 September 2006. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
- ↑ "Kleo novo pojačanje Zvezde" (in Serbian). b92.net. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ↑ "Kleo u crno-belom" (in Serbian). blic.rs. 19 June 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
- ↑ "Silna pobeda i silan podstrek za ono što sledi!" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 21 July 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
- ↑ "Dijara i Kleo za minus jedan" (in Serbian). b92.net. 28 November 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
- ↑ "Profligate Partizan survive Pyunik test". uefa.com. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ↑ "Cléo completes the job for Partizan". uefa.com. 21 July 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ↑ "Partizan leave HJK on the brink". uefa.com. 28 July 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ↑ "Partizan confirm play-off place". uefa.com. 4 August 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ↑ "Honours even for Partizan and Anderlecht". uefa.com. 18 August 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ↑ "Spot-on Partizan keep their composure". uefa.com. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
- ↑ "Zaseli na mesto koje im pripada" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 4 September 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
- ↑ "Late goals earn Arsenal the points at Partizan". uefa.com. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
- ↑ "Walcott settles Arsenal nerves to seal passage". uefa.com. 8 December 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
- ↑ "Cleo signed". partizan.rs. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
- ↑ "Foreign players, coaches flock to join the CSL". chinadaily.com.cn. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ↑ "克莱奥杨昊伤停缺战深足 欧冠锋霸恢复恐需三周" (in Chinese). sports.163.com. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ↑ "Kleo opet u metu (video)" (in Serbian). srpskifudbal.rs. 26 June 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ↑ "克莱奥回巴西治疗肌肉拉伤 恢复顺利将过招鲁能" (in Chinese). sports.sohu.com. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ↑ "面对强敌克莱奥再次受伤 李章洙称不会轻易换将" (in Chinese). sports.sohu.com. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ↑ "China isn't big enough". chinadaily.com.cn. 6 November 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
- ↑ "Cleo proposé à Marseille" (in French). footransferts.com. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
- ↑ "Jeonbuk Motors 1–5 Guangzhou Evergrande". the-afc.com. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
- ↑ "Buriram United 1–2 Guangzhou Evergrande". the-afc.com. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
- ↑ "Guangzhou Evergrande 1–0 FC Tokyo". the-afc.com. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- ↑ "体坛专访克莱奥：年底转会 未来留中超也可以" (in Chinese). cnsoccer.titan24.com. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ↑ "クレオ選手が期限付き移籍加入" (in Japanese). blog.reysol.co.jp. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
- ↑ "Kleo: Voleo bih da igram za Srbiju!" (in Serbian). reprezentacija.rs. 21 August 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
- ↑ "Kleo kod Dačića, čeka se državljanstvo" (in Serbian). blic.rs. 4 September 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
- ↑ "Kleo dobio državljanstvo Srbije" (in Serbian). blic.rs. 23 September 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
- ↑ "Kleo ne može da igra za Srbiju" (in Serbian). sportal.rs. 2 October 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2012.