Muriqui (footballer)

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Muriqui
Personal information
Full nameLuiz Guilherme da Conceição Silva
Date of birth (1986-06-16) 16 June 1986
Place of birthMangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height1.71 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionSecond Striker, Winger
Club information
Current clubGuangzhou Evergrande
Number11
Youth career
2001–2003Madureira
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2004–2008Madureira
2004–2005→ Vasco da Gama (loan)15(3)
2006→ Paysandu (loan)12(1)
2006→ Iraty (loan)
2007→ Avaí (loan)20(5)
2008–2010Desportivo Brasil0(0)
2008→ Vitória (loan)12(0)
2009→ Ituano (loan)0(0)
2009→ Avaí (loan)31(9)
2010→ Atlético Mineiro (loan)7(4)
2010–Guangzhou Evergrande86(50)
National team
2004Brazil U-20[1]
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 November 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).

Luiz Guilherme da Conceição Silva (born 16 June 1986), commonly known as Muriqui, is a Brazilian football player who is currently playing for Guangzhou Evergrande in the Chinese Super League.

Club career

Early career

Muriqui started his senior career in 2004 with Madureira. Considered as a talented player, he was loaned to several higher level Brazilian clubs including Vasco da Gama, Avaí and transferred to Desportivo Brasil in 2008. Muriqui was called up for Brazil U-20 while he was playing for Vasco da Gama.

On 14 April 2009, Muriqui was loaned to Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Avaí again. In season 2009, he was considered as one of best players in the club, with 139 fouls suffered throughout the season, which was the highest in the league.[2]

At the end of 2009, it was reported that Muriqui decided to leave from the club.[3] He joined Atlético Mineiro on 13 January 2010.[4]

Guangzhou Evergrande

2010 season

On 30 June 2010, China League One club Guangzhou Evergrande confirmed that they had signed Muriqui on a four-year deal from Atlético Mineiro with a club record fee (as well as the domestic record fee) of US$3.5 million.[5][6] He made his League One debut for Guangzhou against Nanjing Yoyo on 21 July and scored four goals in the match. In season 2010, Muriqui scored 13 goals in 14 appearances as Guangzhou finished first place in the League One and won promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt.

2011 season

Although Guangzhou signed a few strong players to strengthened the team's attacking power including Argentinian Darío Conca and Brazilian Cléo in the 2011 league season, Muriqui was still the most important part of the club. He scored his first two CSL goals in a 2–2 home draw against Beijing Guoan on 17 April 2011. On 4 May, Muriqui scored a hat-trick in a 2011 Chinese FA Cup match which Guangzhou Evergrande beat China League One side Guizhou Zhicheng at Yuexiushan Stadium. He became Guangzhou's first player to score a hat-trick in the Chinese FA Cup.

On 12 August 2011, a conflict near the end of first half in the match while Guangzhou played away against Liaoning Whowin became the center of attention. In a hearing hold by Chinese Football Association 4 days later, the CFA believed that Muriqui struck Zhao Junzhe in the conflict, which resulted in a ban of 5 matches (including reserve league) and him being fined ¥25,000.[7] Muriqui expressed his disappointment about the ban which he believed to be unfair in his Weibo and said he would leave China at the end of the season.[8] However, after several talks with the club, Muriqui changed his mind and said he would happy to stay in China and fulfil his contract. Although missing 4 matches of the league, Muriqui scored 16 goals in 26 appearances in the season which made him the top goal scorer of the league. Guangzhou successfully achieved Super League champion for the first time in the club's history. Muriqui won the CFA Footballer of the Year award in December 2011.[9][10]

2012 season

At the start of the 2012 season, Muriqui helped Guangzhou win the 2012 Chinese FA Super Cup by beating Tianjin Teda 2–1 on 25 February. He scored his first AFC Champions League goal in a 2012 AFC Champions League group stage match, the club's first AFC Champions League match, as Guangzhou defeated K-League champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 5–1 away on 7 March.[11] He scored twice in another Champions League match which Guangzhou beat J. League Division 1 champions Kashiwa Reysol 3–1 at home on 17 April.[12] His three goals in the group stage ensured Guangzhou Evergrande to reach the knockout phase of the AFC Champions League. Muriqui scored his first hat-trick in the Super League, in a 5–1 home victory against Jiangsu Sainty on 17 June. On 3 July, Muriqui signed a new contract with Guangzhou Evergrande, keeping him at the club until 30 June 2016.[13] On 19 September, Muriqui was injured after being tackled heavily by Osama Al-Muwallad during a Champions League match against Al-Ittihad at Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium. The injury prevented Muriqui from playing for Guangzhou Evergrande for the rest of Super League and Champions League match and they won the league narrowly but was knocked out of their first Champions League journey by Al-Ittihad in the quarter-finals. Muriqui made his return from injury in the second leg of 2012 Chinese FA Cup final as Guangzhou won their first FA Cup title by defeating Guizhou Renhe 5–3 on aggregate.

2013 season

Muriqui started the 2013 season well by making a goal and an assist in the first round of 2013 AFC Champions League group stage match, a 3–0 home victory over J. League side Urawa Red Diamonds.[14] The goal he scored in this match made him the top scorer of Guangzhou's professional history, overtaking Luis Ramírez's previous club record of 48 goals.[15] He continued his excellent form in the Champions League, scoring six goals in the first five group stage match including one goal in the 3–0 home victory against Urawa Red Diamonds, one goal in the 1–1 away draw against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors,[16] one goal in the 4–0 home victory against Muangthong United,[17] two goals in the 4–1 away victory against Muangthong United[18] and one goal in the 3–2 away defeat against Urawa Red Diamonds.[19] Muriqui scored his seventh and eighth Champions League goals in the both legs of round of 16 against Australia's A-League side Central Coast Mariners while Guangzhou won 5–1 on aggregate.[20][21] On 18 September 2013, he scored his ninth goal in the second leg of quarter-finals against Qatar's Lekhwiya in a 4–1 away win.[22] On 25 September 2013, he scored twice in the first leg of semi-finals during a 4–1 away win against Kashiwa Reysol.[23] He hit a brace in the second leg at Tianhe Stadium in a 4–0 home victory against Kashiwa Reysol on 2 October, bringing his tally to 13 goals in 12 Champions League games.[24] It was also the highest number of goals ever scored by one player at a single AFC Champions League tournament, breaking Brazilian striker Ricardo Oliveira's record of 12 goals in the 2012 AFC Champions League.[25] Although Muriqui didn't score in the both legs of 2013 AFC Champions League Final against K-League side FC Seoul, he provided a crucial assist in the second leg on 9 November 2013 which Elkeson converted into the goal.[26] Guangzhou Evergrande secured the title on the away goals rule and became the first Chinese club to be crowned Asian club champions since 1990. Muriqui won the top goalscorer and Most Valuable Player award of the competition.[27] On November 26, he was named AFC Foreign Player of the Year at the AFC Annual Awards ceremony.[28] Muriqui played all three matches for Guangzhou Evergrande in the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup. On 21 December 2013, he scored a goal in the third place match against his former team Atlético Mineiro.[29]

Career statistics

As of 22 December 2013
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Others Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brazil League Copa do Brasil State League South America Others Total
2008VitóriaSérie A120----120
2009ItuanoSérie A1--162--162
2009AvaíSérie A319----319
2010Atlético Mineiro747110--155
China PR League FA Cup CSL Cup Asia Others1 Total
2010Guangzhou EvergrandeLeague One1413----1413
2011Super League261624---2820
2012201220-83103115
201326932-1413414725
Total Brazil 501371172--7416
China PR 865076-22165112073
Career total 1366314717222165119489

1Other tournaments include Chinese FA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup

Honours

Club

Atlético Mineiro
Guangzhou Evergrande

Individual

Personal life

Muriqui married Aline Pimenta on 6 December 2010. On 18 April 2013, their son, Gabriel, was born in Guangzhou, China.[30]

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ ClicRBS – Avaí tem o atleta mais caçado e o segundo mais faltoso do Brasileiro(Portuguese)
  3. ↑ ClicRBS – Muriqui, ex-Avaí, espera definição com o Palmeiras até quarta(Portuguese)
  4. ↑ ClicRBS – Muriqui vai trocar o Avaí pelo Atlético-MG em 2010(Portuguese)
  5. ↑ 恒大引援再放超级卫星 350万美元天价签巴西猎豹(Chinese)
  6. ↑ Chinese football club sign Brazilian striker Muriqui
  7. ↑ 关于对广州恒大足球俱乐部运动员违规违纪的处罚决定(Chinese)
  8. ↑ 穆里奇微博透露将离开中国 向恒大申请赛季后转会(Chinese)
  9. ↑ 2011中超颁奖揭晓:穆里奇双料先生 马林最佳教练(Chinese)
  10. ↑ Muriqui claims awards double in China
  11. ↑ Jeonbuk Motors 1–5 Guangzhou Evergrande
  12. ↑ Guangzhou Evergrande 3–1 Kashiwa Reysol
  13. ↑ Muriqui renova contrato com Guangzhou Evergrande até 2016(Portuguese)
  14. ↑ Guangzhou Evergrande 3–0 Urawa Reds
  15. ↑ 恒大真神创广州队20年新纪录 穆里尼奥都想说说他(Chinese)
  16. ↑ Jeonbuk Motors 1-1 Guangzhou Evergrande
  17. ↑ Guangzhou Evergrande 4-0 Muangthong United
  18. ↑ Muangthong United 1-4 Guangzhou Evergrande
  19. ↑ Urawa Reds 3-2 Guangzhou Evergrande
  20. ↑ ACL RD16 (1st leg) Central Coast 1-2 Guangzhou
  21. ↑ ACL RD16 (2nd leg): Guangzhou 3-0 Central Coast (5-1 agg)
  22. ↑ ACL QF (2nd leg): Lekhwiya 1-4 Guangzhou E. (1-6 agg.)
  23. ↑ ACL SF (1st leg): Kashiwa Reysol 1-4 Guangzhou Evergrande
  24. ↑ ACL SF (2nd Leg): Guangzhou 4-0 Kashiwa Reysol
  25. ↑ AFC Champions League: Guangzhou 4 Kashiwa 0
  26. ↑ Guangzhou win 2013 AFC Champions League
  27. ↑ Triple delight for Muriqui
  28. ↑ "AFC Foreign Player of the Year: Muriqui". Asian Football Confederation. 2013-11-26. 
  29. ↑ "Guangzhou Evergrande 2-3 Clube Atlético Mineiro". FIFA. 2013-12-21. 
  30. ↑ 穆里奇昨日喜得爱子(Chinese)

External links

Guangzhou Evergrande F.C. – current squad
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