Charles Dias de Oliveira

This name uses Portuguese naming customs. The first or maternal family name is Dias and the second or paternal family name is Oliveira.
Charles

Charles playing for Pontevedra
Personal information
Full nameCharles Dias de Oliveira
Date of birth4 April 1984
Place of birthBelém, Brazil
Height1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
Celta
Number9
Youth career
1988–1998Santos
1998–2001Tuna Luso
2001–2002Feirense
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2002–2004Feirense50(11)
2004–2010Pontevedra188(56)
2007→ 2 de Mayo (loan)13(1)
2010–2012Córdoba68(22)
2012–2013Almería44(32)
2013–Celta47(14)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 February 2015.
† Appearances (Goals).

Charles Dias de Oliveira (born 4 April 1984), simply known as Charles, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Celta de Vigo as a striker.

He played most of his career in Spain, mainly in Segunda División and Segunda División B.

Football career

Born in Belém, Pará, Charles started playing football with Santos FC where he arrived at the age of four, then completed his formation with Tuna Luso Brasileira still in his country and C.D. Feirense in Portugal. He started his senior career with the latter, competing in both the second and third divisions.

In the 2004 summer Charles moved to Spain, signing with Pontevedra CF in Segunda División. He made his league debut on 28 August in a 0–1 home loss against Polideportivo Ejido, being sent off after only three minutes on the pitch.

Charles spent the following five seasons with the Galicians in Segunda División B.[1][2] In his last he led the side to the promotion playoffs after scoring 15 goals in the regular season,[3] but it eventually fell short.

In early July 2010, Charles signed as a free agent for Córdoba CF in the second level.[4] He again netted 15 times in his first campaign, notably grabbing braces in wins against Xerez CD (3–1 away) and Albacete Balompié (5–1, home).[5]

Charles joined fellow league side UD Almería – also in Andalusia – for the 2012–13 season,[6] after engaging in extensive and fruitless conversations with Córdoba to renew his contract.[7][8] On 2 December 2012 he scored a hat-trick past Racing de Santander in a 4–3 away win[9] and, already fully reconverted as a striker after having started his career as a winger, was crowned the competition's Pichichi Trophy at 27 goals (plus five in the playoffs) to help his team back to La Liga after two years.[10]

On 27 June 2013 Charles penned a four-year contract with top-divisioner Celta de Vigo, as a replacement for Liverpool-bound Iago Aspas.[11] He scored in his top flight debut at the age of 29, helping to a 2–2 home draw against RCD Espanyol.[12]

Charles was the author of the first-ever goal at the new San Mamés Stadium on 16 September 2013, but in a 2–3 loss to Athletic Bilbao.[13][14] He took his league tally to seven on 11 January of the following year, netting a brace to help the hosts come from behind and defeat Valencia CF 2–1.[15]

Charles scored both goals in a 2–0 home win over Real Madrid on 11 May 2014, which ended his opponents chances of winning the league.[16]

Honours

Club

Feirense

Individual

Personal life

Charles is cousin to two other footballers, Igor de Souza and Yuri de Souza. They too are forwards and also spent several seasons in Portugal and Spain, also representing Pontevedra.[17][18]

References

  1. ↑ "Iván Carril y Charles lideran al Pontevedra en Sestao y lo meten en las posiciones de ascenso" [Iván Carril and Charles lead Pontevedra in Sestao and place team in promotion zone] (in Spanish). La Voz de Galicia. 14 March 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  2. ↑ "Charles y Paulino se han pedido disculpas, según el Pontevedra" [Charles and Paulino have apologized to each other, according to Pontevedra] (in Spanish). El Correo Gallego. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  3. ↑ "El Pontevedra, a por el ascenso" [Pontevedra, hunting promotion] (in Spanish). Faro de Vigo. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "Charles, refuerzo para la delantera" [Charles, signing for offensive end] (in Spanish). El Día de Córdoba. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "El Córdoba da un gran paso hacia la salvación" [Córdoba takes major step towards salvation] (in Spanish). Marca. 14 May 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "Charles, otro elemento para la causa en una UD Almería que 'huele' bastante bien" [Charles, another member for the cause in UD Almería that 'smells' pretty good] (in Spanish). Ideal. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  7. ↑ "Juan Luna Eslava: "Charles está hecho un mar de dudas"" [Juan Luna Eslava: "Charles is a sea of doubts"] (in Spanish). Diario Córdoba. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Charles, amenaza con cifras de récord" [Charles, threat at record pace] (in Spanish). El Día de Córdoba. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "(Crónica) El Almería se pone a un punto del líder y deja al Racing hundido" [(Report) Almería one point behind leader and sinks Racing] (in Spanish). Te Interesa. 2 December 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "Los goles del "pichichi" Charles llevan al Almería a primera división" [Goals from "pichichi" Charles take Almería to first division] (in Spanish). Ideal. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "Charles ficha por el Celta para las próxima cuatro temporadas" [Charles signs with Celta for next four seasons] (in Spanish). Goal.com. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "Charles makes instant Celta impact". ESPN FC. 19 August 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  13. ↑ "Athletic open stadium with win". ESPN FC. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  14. ↑ ""Seremos recordados", dice Mikel San José, autor del primer gol en el nuevo San Mamés" ["We shall be remembered", says Mikel San José, author of first goal in the new San Mamés]. Canal Athletic. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  15. ↑ "Charles acaba con el efecto Pizzi" [Charles ends Pizzi effect] (in Spanish). Marca. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  16. ↑ "Celta de Vigo 2–0 Real Madrid". BBC Sport. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  17. ↑ "Yuri, "orgulloso" de liderar el Pichichi con su primo Charles" [Yuri, "proud" to top Pichichi with his cousin Charles] (in Spanish). Marca. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  18. ↑ "La ‘familia Gol’" [The ‘Goal family’] (in Spanish). El País. 15 December 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2013.

External links