Paulo Assunção

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Paulo Assunção

Assunção in action for Atlético Madrid
Personal information
Full namePaulo Assunção da Silva
Date of birth (1980-01-25) 25 January 1980
Place of birthVárzea Grande, Brazil
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing positionDefensive midfielder
Club information
Current clubLevadiakos
NumberTBA
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2000Palmeiras0(0)
2000–2001Porto B36(4)
2001–2002Palmeiras24(0)
2002–2004Nacional50(2)
2004–2008Porto73(0)
2004–2005→ AEK Athens (loan)24(0)
2008–2012Atlético Madrid97(1)
2012São Paulo11(0)
2013Deportivo La Coruña9(0)
2014–Levadiakos0(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 April 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).

Paulo Assunção da Silva (born 25 January 1980), known as Assunção, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Levadiakos F.C. in the Superleague Greece, 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] mainly at the service of Porto. He also played four years in La Liga with Atlético Madrid, winning two UEFA Europa League trophies.

Football career

Early years / Porto

Assunção was born in Várzea Grande, Mato Grosso. After first appearing professionally for Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras he emigrated to Portugal, having a short stint with F.C. Porto's B-side and returning shortly 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 purchased again by Porto, but would be loaned for the 2004–05 season to AEK Athens FC, managed by former Porto coach 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.

Atlético Madrid

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.

In the 2011–12 season, Assunção was only fourth-choice in his position, after Suárez, Gabi and Tiago. He did contribute with six games (four starts) as Atlético reached and won the UEFA Europa League final.

São Paulo / Deportivo

After more than one decade in European football, Assunção returned to his country to play for São Paulo FC. The deal was confirmed on 21 July 2012[5] but, on 28 December, it was rescinded by mutual consent,[6] with the player returning to Spain and joining Deportivo de La Coruña.[7]

Honours

Porto
Atlético Madrid
São Paulo

References

  1. ↑ "Inscripciones" [Signings] (in Spanish). Liga de Fútbol Profesional. Archived from the original on 31 July 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2010. 
  2. ↑ Paulo Assunção's Porto pride; UEFA.com, 22 November 2005
  3. ↑ Atlético sign Coupet and Paulo Assunção; UEFA.com, 7 July 2008
  4. ↑ Forlan fires Atletico to victory; ESPN Soccernet, 17 January 2010
  5. ↑ São Paulo anuncia a contratação do volante Paulo Assunção (São Paulo announces signing of holding midfielder Paulo Assunção); Gazeta Esportiva, 21 July 2012 (Portuguese)
  6. ↑ Paulo Assunção deixa o São Paulo e deve retornar à Espanha (Paulo Assunção leaves São Paulo and must return to Spain); Blog do Birner, 28 December 2012 (Portuguese)
  7. ↑ Paulo Assunçao ficha por el Deportivo de la Coruña (Paulo Assunçao signs for Deportivo de la Coruña); Goal.com, 8 January 2013 (Spanish)

External links

Levadiakos F.C. – current squad
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