Aílton José Almeida

Aílton
Personal information
Full name Aílton José Almeida
Date of birth (1984-08-20) 20 August 1984
Place of birth Hematita, Itabira, Brazil
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Al-Hilal
Number 9
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2000–2004 Atlético Mineiro 0 (0)
2004–2006 Örgryte 63 (26)
2007–2010 Copenhagen 93 (21)
2010–2012 APOEL 52 (11)
2012–2015 FC Terek Grozny 81 (20)
2015– Al-Hilal 11 (6)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 September 2015.

† Appearances (goals)

Aílton José Almeida (born 20 August 1984 in Hematita, Santa Maria de Itabira, Minas Gerais), simply known as Aílton (Brazilian Portuguese: [a.ˈiwtõⁿ]), is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays for Al-Hilal in the Saudi Professional League.

Club career

Örgryte IS

He moved to F.C. Copenhagen from Swedish Örgryte IS on 1 January 2007 for 22 million Danish kroner,[1] which by then was transfer record for a Danish club. Both F.C. Copenhagen and Brøndby IF struggled for Almeida's signature,[2] but after some hesitation from Brøndby IF, he ended up at F.C. Copenhagen.[3]

F.C. Copenhagen

Aílton José Almeida taking a kick whilst in training.

Scoring in his only second game for F.C. Copenhagen against Brøndby IF in one of the New Firm matches, he was considered a new star and a start of a new era for the club, which for many years had suffered from the lack of goals from the strikers, however, he did not manage to follow up his performance, and was subsequently placed on the bench as a substitute. On 15 April 2007, Ailton scored on a bicycle kick in F.C. Copenhagen's 4–2 win over OB,[4] which led to many people thinking he's breakthrough finally was about to come, but yet again, and had to see himself become a substitute.

After the winter break in the 2007–08 season Aílton got a chance in the Danish Cup quarterfinals, where F.C. Copenhagen was to face Næstved BK. He scored a goal in the beginning of the second half following an assist from his countryman José Júnior.

In the beginning of the 2008–09 season he has been playing regularly, becoming an important member of the starting line-up and the attacking play, however, he still has trouble finding the net. He however started against FC Midtjylland on 16 November 2008 and scored two goals. And he scored again against Manchester City in an UEFA Cup match home at Parken. During the season he scored 11 goals in the league and 4 goals in the cup, being influential in securing the cup and the league titles.

The next season he appeared in 39 matches and scored 8 goals in all competitions, helping F.C. Copenhagen to win the league again, and reach the knockout phase of the season's Europa League.

APOEL

Aílton José Almeida in APOEL's Champions League Group Stage match against Shakhtar Donetsk.

On 28 July 2010, Aílton signed a three-year contract with APOEL. A transfer fee of €700,000 was paid to F.C. Copenhagen, which is the transfer record in the history of APOEL. He made his debut on 5 August 2010 against FK Jablonec for the UEFA Europa League 3rd qualifying round. He scored his first goal with APOEL on 26 August 2010 against Getafe CF for the UEFA Europa League play-off round, in a match which ended 1–1 after extra time. Ailton had a very good first season with APOEL. He played in all championship matches and scored 7 goals, helping his new club to win the 2010–11 Cypriot First Division. So, after the three championship titles which he won with F.C. Copenhagen, he won his fourth consecutive championship title, this time with APOEL. He was voted by Cyprus Football Association as the player of the season (MVP) 2010–11 in the Cypriot First Division.

He started 2011-12 season in fine form, scoring 4 goals in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds that helped APOEL to qualify for the group stage of the 2011-12 UEFA Champions League. In the first group stage match against Zenit Saint Petersburg on 13 September 2011, he scored the winner on 75 minutes as his side came from behind to claim a 2–1 victory.[5] On 19 October 2011, he scored the equaliser on 19 minutes as APOEL snatched a 1–1 draw at FC Porto.[6] He followed up that success by scoring from the spot in his side's 2–1 victory over FC Porto in the reverse encounter in Nicosia[7] He also appeared in the round-of-16 triumph over Olympique Lyonnais where he converted his attempt in the penalty shootout.[8] In total, he scored three goals in the group phase and seven overall in the competition, as the club reached the quarter-finals for the first time ever.

He made his last two appearances for APOEL in the 2012–13 season against Aalesunds FK for the second qualifying round of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League, appearing in both legs and scoring the opening goal in APOEL's 2–0 first leg home win.

Terek Grozny

On 5 September 2012, Aílton joined the Russian side Terek Grozny on a three-year contract, after he completed his transfer from APOEL for a fee reportedly in the region of €2.2 million,[9][10] which is the transfer record for a Cypriot club.[11] On 14 September 2012, he made his debut for Terek. He opened the score in a 2–0 away win over the reigning champions Zenit St. Petersburg.[12]

Al-Hilal

In July 2015, he joined Al-Hilal on a one-year contract. Ailton was given Shirt #9 in the league and domestic cups and #99 in the AFC

Saudia Domestic Competetions

Hilal Winning - Saudi Super Cup 2015 Win

2015/16 Saudi Pro League

Ailton Almeida scored 1 Goal in Saudi Professional League's game against Al Wahda Club Club.[14] Al Hilal Won that game 2-0

Ailton scored 1 goal in Saudi Professional League's game against Al Fateh Club.[15] Al Hilal Won that game 2-1

2015 Asian Champions League

Ailton played joined Hilal as they were attempting to qualify for the Semi Finals of the Asian Champion's League glory. In the quarter finals game Al Hilal played against Lakhwia FC of Qatar.[16]

Quarter Finals

Ailton scored 1 goals, and Al Hilal Won 4-1 in first leg of quarter final.[17]

In the second leg Hilal drew with Lakhwia FC 2-2 [18]

Career statistics

As of 20 September 2015[19][20][21]
Club statistics
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Örgryte 2004 Allsvenskan 228 —228
2005 2313 —2313
2006 184 —184
Total 6325 —6325
Copenhagen 2006-07 Superliga 12331—154
2007-08 2534260355
2008-09 291144934218
2009-10 25421123398
2010-11 10000010
Total 922113827613235
APOEL 2010–11 Cypriot First Division 3172031368
2011–12 214101473611
2012–13 00002121
Total 5211301997420
Terek Grozny 2012–13 Russian Premier League 23832—2610
2013–14 31820—338
2014–15 30510—315
Total 842162—9024
Al-Hilal FC 2015–16 Saudi Professional League 32102163
Total 32102163
Career total 2948023104816365107

Honours

Denmark F.C. Copenhagen
2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10
2008–09
Cyprus APOEL
2010–11
2011
Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal FC
2015 Saudi Super Cup
Individual
2009
2010–11

References

  1. ↑ "FCK køber brasilianske Ailton Almeida" (in Danish). borsen.dk.
  2. ↑ "Brøndby vil snuppe Ailton for næsen af FCK" (in Danish). bold.dk.
  3. ↑ "BIF kunne have sikret sig Ailton" (in Danish). bold.dk.
  4. ↑ "15.04. F.C. København – OB" (in Danish). fck.dk.
  5. ↑ APOEL recovery leaves Zenit reeling; UEFA.com, 13 September 2011
  6. ↑ Porto draw keeps APOEL on top; UEFA.com, 19 October 2011
  7. ↑ APOEL's Manduca floors Porto late on; UEFA.com, 1 November 2011
  8. ↑ Lyon stunned as APOEL fairy tale continues; UEFA.com, 7 March 2012
  9. ↑ "Ολοκληρώθηκε του Almeida" (in Greek). APOEL FC. 5 September 2012.
  10. ↑ ΑΠΟΕΛ: Ρώσος και επίσημα ο Αίλτον (in Greek). sigmalive.com. 5 September 2012.
  11. ↑ "Παίκτης της Terek Grozny o Αΐλτον" (in Greek). kerkida.net. 5 September 2012.
  12. ↑ "Match:Zenit 0 - 2 Terek Grozny". ESPN Soccernet. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  13. ↑ "Carlos Eduardo seals Al Hilal's historic win in Saudi Super Cup". FOOTBALL CHANNEL ASIA. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  14. ↑ FIFA.com. "Saudi Arabia Saudi Professional League: Al Wahdah - Al Hilal - FIFA.com". FIFA.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  15. ↑ FIFA.com. "Saudi Arabia Saudi Professional League: Al Fateh - Al Hilal - FIFA.com". FIFA.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  16. ↑ "Al Hilal to face Lekhwiya in ACL quarter-finals | AFC". www.the-afc.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  17. ↑ "Al Hilal 4 - 1 Lekhwiya Match preview - 8/25/15 AFC Champions League - Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  18. ↑ "Al Hilal advance to AFC Champions League semi-final after winning Lekhwiya on aggregate". sport360.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  19. ↑ "AÍLTON ALMEIDA". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  20. ↑ "Ailton Almeida". svenskfotboll. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  21. ↑ "177 kampe". F.C. Copenhagen. Retrieved 24 March 2014.

External links

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