Cleiton Xavier

Cleiton Xavier
Personal information
Full nameCleiton Ribeiro Xavier
Date of birth23 March 1983
Place of birthSão José da Tapera, Brazil
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing positionAttacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
Palmeiras
Number8
Youth career
CSA
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2001–2002CSA8(2)
2002–2008Internacional68(5)
2005→ Sport Recife (loan)4(0)
2005→ Brasiliense (loan)5(1)
2006→ Gama (loan)6(0)
2006→ Marília (loan)2(0)
2007–2008→ Figueirense (loan)61(12)
2009–2010Palmeiras88(17)
2010–2015Metalist Kharkiv104(40)
2015–Palmeiras3(0)
National team
2003Brazil U205(0)
2009Brazil0(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12 September 2014.
† Appearances (Goals).

Cleiton Ribeiro Xavier (born 23 March 1983) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Palmeiras. He is known by his powerful and accurate free kicks, dribbling skills and passes.

Club career

In his early career, Cleiton Xavier played for CSA and Internacional, and was loaned out various times.

Palmeiras

In early 2009, Palmeiras signed Cleiton from the relegated Figueirense. Cleiton Xavier proved he had good talent in Palmeiras's first matches in the Libertadores Cup and in the São Paulo State Championship. On 29 April 2009 Cleiton Xavier scored an 87th minute away-goal against Colo-Colo in the Libertadores Cup that secured Palmeiras' progression to the knockout stages of the tournament, it was a very long-range shot inside the goalkeeper's left angle.[1]

Later in the Série A alongside teammate Diego Souza, Cleiton Xavier made an outstanding season with Palmeiras, leading the competition for 19 rounds, however Palmeiras finished 5th due to losses in the final matches and did not qualify for the Libertadores Cup. Cleiton Xavier was elected the 3rd best player of the season, even though he had an injury. In 2010, Cleiton Xavier remained with Palmeiras and also started well the year. He participated in Palmeiras's first ten goals in the São Paulo State Championship.

Metalist Kharkiv

On 14 July 2010, Cleiton Xavier transferred to FC Metalist Kharkiv for €4.5 million.[2] In 2013, he became popular for scoring a fastest equalizing goal from the starting line after the restart of the match against local league rival, Chornomorets. He then inspired them to a 3 – 1 victory which boosted their chances to qualify for next season Champions League campaign in which the victory lift them above another local rival who competing for the same spot, Dynamo Kyiv.[3]

Club Statistics

As of 13 April 2012
Club Season League Cup Continental State League Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Internacional 2002 20300--00203
2003 25100--00251
2004 23100--00231
Total 685000000685
Brasiliense 2005 1000--0010
Total 1000000010
Figueirense 2007 28000--00280
2008 331200--003312
Total 61120000006112
Palmeiras 2009 323--123173619
2010 7141--165277
Total 394411233388816
Metalist Kharkiv 2010–11 266--93--359
2011–12 2510--122--3712
2012–13 2915--95--3820
2013–14 81--00--81
Total 8832--3010--11842
Career Total 2575341421333833675

Honours

Internacional
Figueirense

References

  1. ↑ Golazo – Cleiton Xavier vs Colo=Colo
  2. ↑ Cleiton Xavier é negociado com time da Ucrânia. (in Portuguese). Palmeiras official site. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2010 .
  3. ↑ http://metro.co.uk/2013/04/25/quick-thinking-kharkiv-catch-keeper-off-guard-3666375/

External links