Jorge Valdivia
Encyclopedia
Jorge Luis Valdivia Toro (born 19 October 1983) is a Chile
an professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for the Brazilian Série A club Palmeiras
and the Chilean national team
.
Valdivia's career began when he signed a professional contract with Colo-Colo
, but for indiscipline problems, he was loaned to Universidad de Concepción, making his first-team debut in 2003 aged 20. Shortly after, Valdivia had a brief pass for Europe and then returned to Colo-Colo in 2005, devoting in the next season. He left his club Colo-Colo to sign for Palmeiras in 2006, where he remained for two seasons, clinching the Paulista championship in his final season with the club. In August 2008, it was announced that Valdivia would leave Palmeiras for the United Arab Emirates
club Al Ain, signing a four-year contract with them on 8 August 2008. After the 2010 FIFA World Cup
, he announced that he was to return to the Paulista club.
In international football, Valdivia made his Chile debut in 2004, at the age of 21. Because of his good performances in 2007, Valdivia was nominated for the Copa América
of this year, shortly after protagonizated a scandal at the Concentración hotel in Puerto Ordaz
with other teammates, being banned for 20 games by the ANFP. After his return to the national team, he was an undisputed starter in the squad of national coach Marcelo Bielsa
, playing all games in the last part of the World Cup qualification and also the 2010 FIFA World Cup
.
Valdivia has one brother called Claudio, who was an integrant of the reality TV show Año 0 (Year 0) and is married with Chilean model Daniela Aránguiz, with whom he has two children: Agustina and Jorge Ignacio.
, Venezuela
, Valdivia moved to his native country Chile
at a young age, settling in the capital of Santiago
. There, he would develop his football skills in the youth teams of Colo-Colo
in 1990, aged 7. He was promoted to the first adult team in June 2002, but was loaned to Universidad de Concepción to get some first team experience and also for disciplinary problems.
Valdivia made his professional debut with U. de Concepción against his own club Colo-Colo, in a 1–1 draw. He immediately impressed in the club because of his skills, being a starter for the whole 2003 Apertura. He helped the club qualify for the Copa Sudamericana
for first time in the team's history. After his good season with the Concepción club, also in the Clausura tournament, it was rumoured that he would return to Colo-Colo, but was loaned to the Spanish club Rayo Vallecano
and then to Servette
of the Axpo Super League.
, Valdivia returned to Colo-Colo in 2005. In January of the same year, Boca Juniors
pre-registered the player for a transfer fee of $1.5 million, but shortly after Colo-Colo decided to keep the player. On 13 March 2005, Valdivia made his official debut against Cobreloa
in a 2–0 victory at Estadio Monumental David Arellano
. He scored his first competitive goal for the club in a 3–2 away win over Unión San Felipe
, scoring the victory goal at 89th minute. After a lack of opportunities during the Apertura tournament, for the Clausura, he was a high-profile player of Colo-Colo, being the club's top goalscorer with 9 goals in 16 appearances.
In the next season, with the arrival of Claudio Borghi
as the coach, Valdivia was established as the playmaker
of the club, having more continuity in the club. He was the key player for the club, making up a dynamic trio in the midfield with Matías Fernández
and Gonzalo Fierro
. On 16 April 2006, during the derby lost 3–2 against Universidad Católica, Jorge was a protagonist in a scandal during the game, because of controversies with the referee Rubén Marcos Selman. Finally, after 4 years, Valdivia and his skills helped Colo-Colo win the Chilean Primera División.
for the move of Valdívia in a transfer fee of $3.5 million, the highest fee that the club had ever paid for a foreign player. He signed a three-year contract with the “Verdão”, earning $400,000 per year.
Valdivia made his unofficial debut in a pre-season friendly against Santo André
that Palmeiras won 2–0. After the match, the club’s coach Tite
affirmed that: “I have no doubt that Valdivia will have success in Brazil”. He played his first official match against Botafogo
in a 3–1 Palmeira's victory at Estadio do Maracana
. He had an irregular season with the club playing only 15 official matches, 1 unofficial match and not scoring any goals.
With the arrival of the coach Caio Júnior, Valdivia cemented his place in the starting line-up and he was given the number 10 shirt. On 16 January 2007, Valdívia scored his first goal against Rio Branco
in a 2−1 victory. Against Corinthians
in a 3−0 victory, he played a notable match providing three assists to Edmundo. After the match Caio Júnior said that: “Valdivia is the new star of Brazilian football after Tévez
”. On 20 May 2007, he scored two consecutive goals against Figueirense
in a Palmeira's victory 2–1. His notable performances for the club meant that he was called-up to the Copa América 2007
and played in the starting lineup during the Brasileirão.
On 3 December 2007, as the best player of the Brasileirão elections, Valdivia received the Craque do Brasileirão trophy. In the same month, Valdivia was selected in South América's best team and he was considered the best midfielder in South América according to the Uruguayan newspaper El País. On 21 January 2008, he received two more trophies for his participation in the Campeonato Brasilerão 2007. At elections for Mesa Redonda trophy, organized by TV Gazeta, he was selected the best midfielder of Brazilian football.
With the departure of Caio Júnior, Palmeiras hired Vanderlei Luxemburgo
as the coach. Vanderlei signed players such as Henrique
and Diego Souza
, putting together a good team for the Campeonato Paulista 2008
. The new coach wanted Valdivia to show more maturity, because of his indiscipline. On 16 February 2008, Valdivia scored his first goal in the Paulistão against Juventus
in a 4–0 victory. Valdivia gave an excellent performance during the Campeonato Paulista, where his team were proclaimed champion of the tournament. He was the second top-scorer of the club with 9 goals behind Alex Pereira. After the title was obtained, Valdivia had many offers from Europe.
During the dispute of the Brasilerão 2008, he scored a goal against Cruzeiro
in a 5–2 victory, which he dedicated to his wife, to celebrate St. Valentine's day in Brazil. On 3 August 2008, Valdivia scored 2 goals in the 2–1 victory against Ipatinga
. Valdívia played his last match for Palmeiras against Botafogo
for the Brasileirao. Following the rumours of his transfer to clubs such as Werder Bremen, Hertha BSC and Espanyol, he negotiated his move to Al Ain.
announced that Valdívia had come to verbal agreements with Al Ain S.C.C. of the UAE Football League for a €8 million deal. He put pen to paper on a four-year deal until 2012, receiving a salary of €1.7 million per year. Shortly after, on 21 August, he joined the club in a pre-season match against Frankfurt
, Germany
.
Valdívia's first official game for Al Ain was against Al-Sharjah in a 4−2 victory. In the same match he scored his first official UAE League goal from a free kick. With this good performances for the club, he became a very loved player by the fans of Al Ain. On 1 December 2008, Valdivia was named the 14th most popular player in the world according to the IFFHS.
On 3 July 2009, Al Ain defeated the club's rival Al Wahda in a 1−0 victory, Valdivia won his first title with the club, the Etisalat Emirates Cup
. Before this game, Valdivia had been recovering from an ankle injury, but in this match he returned to the field and gave an assist to Ahmed to score the winning goal in the 28th minute. On 9 July 2009, Valdivia had the possibility of playing for Manchester City, but the move never eventuated. He won his second title with the club, the President's Cup after winning in the final against Al Shabab in a 1−0 victory, with a penalty from André Dias
.
In less than a year, Valdivia became the top idol of the club and was also the club's best seller of merchandise. In a survey on the club's web page, he was named the best player in the club's history. For this, the president of the club Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
offered the player a lifetime contract, but Valdívia refused to sign. On 15 September 2009, Valdivia was elected as the best player of the UAE Football League.
On 23 September 2009, the club won the UAE Super Cup
, after winning on penalties to Al-Ahli Dubai 5−4, this title was the third for Valdivia at the club. In the season 2010, he was promoted to captain of the club. After the FIFA World Cup 2010, Valdivia negotiated his release from the club.
, being greeted by 15.000 fans after a game against Atletico Paranaense.
On 22 August 2010, Valdivia made his second debut for the club against Guaraní
in a 0–0 draw as a half-time substitute. After the match played against Guaraní, he was heavily criticized because of his irregular performances on the field, but he was still acclaimed by the fans. On 12 September, played his 100th match for Palmeiras in a 0–0 draw with Vasco da Gama, receiving an honour shortly after. On 5 September, in a match that he played against Cruzeiro
, he was substituted in the 65th minute, he wasn't happy and he complained to his coach Luiz Felipe Scolari
. On the substitutes bench, Valdivia threw a water bottle on the ground, showing his discontent with the coach's decision. After a game played against Vitória
, he said that his attitude against Cruzeiro would not be repeated again, he formerly apologized to the Scolari. On 7 October, Valdivia scored two goals in Palmeira's victory 4–1 over Avaí
at Pacaembu.
On 24 October 2010, Valdivia suffered an injury in a match against Corinthians
that left him without playing during the last part of the season. In December, he refused to sign a "be careful" letter for holidays, when all players of the team accepted this letter. Valdivia before described this as a lack of respect for pressing it on their holidays and the directive of Palmeiras said that their criticisms were inappropriate and they don't want unhappy players at the club. During the summer of 2011, he received an offer from Fluminense
to play in the Copa Libertadores, but he stayed despite this offer.
On 9 March 2011, Valdivia played a brilliant match against Noroeste
for the Paulistão, scoring a free kick and then providing an assist for the club's victory goal to young player Vinicius
in the 85th minute. During March, there were rumours of the possible sale of Valdívia to another club at the end of the season, but this rumour was denied on the 24th day of the month by Palmeiras's president Arnaldo Tirone. On 14 April he was caught urinating on the pitch in the Copa do Brasil
quarterfinals first leg game against Santo André
. In the second leg of the cup game that Palmeiras won 1−0, Valdivia played a notable game, being compared to Neymar according to the club's coach Felipão Scolari.
during the Campeonato Brasilerão 2007 made that he was selected in Chile's Copa América 2007
squad. He played in Chile's first game against Ecuador
in a 3−2 victory. In Chile's third goal, an Ecuadorian player made him a foul to Valdivia and Carlos Villanueva
scored the free kick win goal. In the second game of Chile against Brazil
, he was injured by Elano and before he had a strong discussion with Robinho
during the match. Because the injury, Valdivia missed the match against Mexico
, but Chile qualificated to the quarter-finals once against Brazil. On 7 July 2007, celebrating the pass to quarter-finals, Valdivia, Reinaldo Navia
, Álvaro Ormeño
, Jorge Vargas
, Rodrigo Tello
and Pablo Contreras
celebrating the qualification to the Quarter-finals, them staged a scandal in a hotel of Puerto Ordaz
, abusing sexually to two waitresses according to Canal 13
. After of this incident, he and the players that participated in the scandal was sancionated by the ANFP with 20 games, but shortly after the sanction was reducted to 10 games. However, Chile was eliminated by Brazil in a 6−1 loss.
confirmed that Valdivia returned officially to the national team for play a frendly match against Turkey
. In this game, he come off the bench in the second half, however Chile was defeated by 1−0 with a goal of Hamit Altıntop
. On 7 September 2008, he played his first game for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
against Brazil
, during the match he received a red card in the 63rd minute, immediately he was acclaimed for the Brazilian fans, calling him: "Valdivia is brazilian." On 10 October 2009, in the 4−2 away win to Colombia
for the qualifiers, Valdivia played an important rol during the match, scoring the third goal of the national team and give the assistance in the fourth goal to Fabián Orellana
, of this form Chile qualified to the FIFA World Cup 2010, after 12 years without appearances in this international tournament, being an historic fact in the history of the Chilean football.
During the preparatory games prior to the World Cup, Valdivia was a frequently in the eleven of the coach Marcelo Bielsa
, on 26 May 2010, in match against Zambia national team
that Chile won 3−0, he played a fundamental game, giving an assistance to Alexis Sánchez
in Chile's third goal and scoring the third goal of his national team in the game. Valdívia was nominated to the 23-man roster that Chile represent in the Group H of the World Cup
. On 16 June, Valdivia made his World Cup debut as Striker
, because the injury of Humberto Suazo
, in a 1−0 win over Honduras
with a goal of Jean Beausejour
. During the second half of game, he received a strong kick of a Honduran player, leaving him doubtful for next match against Switzerland
.
took over the charge in the national team.
Palmeiras
Al Ain
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for the Brazilian Série A club Palmeiras
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras is a Brazilian football club from São Paulo. The club was founded on August 26, 1914, as Palestra Italia but changed to the current name on September 14, 1942...
and the Chilean national team
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
.
Valdivia's career began when he signed a professional contract with Colo-Colo
Colo-Colo
Club Social y Deportivo Colo-Colo is a Chilean football club based in the commune of Macul, Santiago. It competes in the Primera División, the top-flight football league in the country, from which they have never been relegated. Their home ground is the Estadio Monumental David Arellano.Colo-Colo...
, but for indiscipline problems, he was loaned to Universidad de Concepción, making his first-team debut in 2003 aged 20. Shortly after, Valdivia had a brief pass for Europe and then returned to Colo-Colo in 2005, devoting in the next season. He left his club Colo-Colo to sign for Palmeiras in 2006, where he remained for two seasons, clinching the Paulista championship in his final season with the club. In August 2008, it was announced that Valdivia would leave Palmeiras for the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
club Al Ain, signing a four-year contract with them on 8 August 2008. After the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, he announced that he was to return to the Paulista club.
In international football, Valdivia made his Chile debut in 2004, at the age of 21. Because of his good performances in 2007, Valdivia was nominated for the Copa América
Copa América
The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
of this year, shortly after protagonizated a scandal at the Concentración hotel in Puerto Ordaz
Puerto Ordaz
Puerto Ordaz is a planned city which, together with the older settlement of San Felix, forms Ciudad Guayana in Bolívar State, eastern Venezuela. Puerto Ordaz is located at the confluence of the Caroní and Orinoco Rivers and is the site of the Llovizna Falls. There are bridges across the Caroni and...
with other teammates, being banned for 20 games by the ANFP. After his return to the national team, he was an undisputed starter in the squad of national coach Marcelo Bielsa
Marcelo Bielsa
Marcelo Alberto Bielsa Caldera is an Argentine association football coach and former defender, born in Rosario, Santa Fe...
, playing all games in the last part of the World Cup qualification and also the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
.
Valdivia has one brother called Claudio, who was an integrant of the reality TV show Año 0 (Year 0) and is married with Chilean model Daniela Aránguiz, with whom he has two children: Agustina and Jorge Ignacio.
Early career
Born to Chilean parents in MaracaiboMaracaibo
Maracaibo is a city and municipality located in northwestern Venezuela off the western coast of the Lake Maracaibo. It is the second-largest city in the country after the national capital Caracas and the capital of Zulia state...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, Valdivia moved to his native country Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
at a young age, settling in the capital of Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
. There, he would develop his football skills in the youth teams of Colo-Colo
Colo-Colo
Club Social y Deportivo Colo-Colo is a Chilean football club based in the commune of Macul, Santiago. It competes in the Primera División, the top-flight football league in the country, from which they have never been relegated. Their home ground is the Estadio Monumental David Arellano.Colo-Colo...
in 1990, aged 7. He was promoted to the first adult team in June 2002, but was loaned to Universidad de Concepción to get some first team experience and also for disciplinary problems.
Valdivia made his professional debut with U. de Concepción against his own club Colo-Colo, in a 1–1 draw. He immediately impressed in the club because of his skills, being a starter for the whole 2003 Apertura. He helped the club qualify for the Copa Sudamericana
Copa Sudamericana
The Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana de Clubes , known simply as the Copa Sudamericana , is an annual international club football competition organized by the CONMEBOL since 2002. It is the second most prestigious club competition in South American football. CONCACAF clubs were invited between 2004...
for first time in the team's history. After his good season with the Concepción club, also in the Clausura tournament, it was rumoured that he would return to Colo-Colo, but was loaned to the Spanish club Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas...
and then to Servette
Servette FC
Servette FC is a Swiss football club, based in Geneva currently playing in the Swiss Super League. They were playing in the Swiss Challenge League, the second highest tier of Swiss football having been relegated from the Swiss Super League at the end of 2004/05 season...
of the Axpo Super League.
Colo-Colo
After two seasons in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Valdivia returned to Colo-Colo in 2005. In January of the same year, Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
pre-registered the player for a transfer fee of $1.5 million, but shortly after Colo-Colo decided to keep the player. On 13 March 2005, Valdivia made his official debut against Cobreloa
Cobreloa
Club de Deportes Cobreloa is a Chilean football club from the Atacama Desert mining city of Calama which has established itself as one of the country's most competitive clubs. The club was founded on January 7, 1977 and play in the Chilean top flight, the Primera División, where they have played...
in a 2–0 victory at Estadio Monumental David Arellano
Estadio Monumental David Arellano
Estadio Monumental is a football stadium in Santiago, Chile. Completed in 1989, the stadium has a current spectator capacity of 45,000. Originally, the stadium could hold up to 65,000 spectators but that was dramatically reduced for security reasons...
. He scored his first competitive goal for the club in a 3–2 away win over Unión San Felipe
Unión San Felipe
Unión San Felipe is a Chilean Football club, their hometown is San Felipe in the V Región of Valparaíso. They are playing in top level of the Chilean football league, the Primera División....
, scoring the victory goal at 89th minute. After a lack of opportunities during the Apertura tournament, for the Clausura, he was a high-profile player of Colo-Colo, being the club's top goalscorer with 9 goals in 16 appearances.
In the next season, with the arrival of Claudio Borghi
Claudio Borghi
Claudio Daniel Borghi Bidos, , nicknamed Bichi, is an Argentine former footballer and current football manager of Chile.-Club:Borghi started his career as an Attacking midfielder for Argentinos Juniors in the early 1980s...
as the coach, Valdivia was established as the playmaker
Playmaker
In association football, a playmaker is a player who controls the flow of the team's offensive play, and is often involved in passing moves which lead to goals....
of the club, having more continuity in the club. He was the key player for the club, making up a dynamic trio in the midfield with Matías Fernández
Matías Fernández
Matías Ariel Fernández Fernández is a Chilean footballer who plays for Sporting Clube de Portugal in Portugal.An attacking midfielder with playmaking and dribbling skills, also being a free-kick specialist, he is known by several nicknames: Mati, El Pelusa and Matigol.Fernández was elected South...
and Gonzalo Fierro
Gonzalo Fierro
Gonzalo Antonio Fierro Caniullán is a Chilean footballer. He currently plays as a right winger for the Brazilian club Flamengo. Previously, he had played for Chile's major club Colo-Colo for almost seven seasons...
. On 16 April 2006, during the derby lost 3–2 against Universidad Católica, Jorge was a protagonist in a scandal during the game, because of controversies with the referee Rubén Marcos Selman. Finally, after 4 years, Valdivia and his skills helped Colo-Colo win the Chilean Primera División.
First spell at Palmeiras
On 5 August 2006, it was announced that Colo-Colo had a deal with PalmeirasSociedade Esportiva Palmeiras
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras is a Brazilian football club from São Paulo. The club was founded on August 26, 1914, as Palestra Italia but changed to the current name on September 14, 1942...
for the move of Valdívia in a transfer fee of $3.5 million, the highest fee that the club had ever paid for a foreign player. He signed a three-year contract with the “Verdão”, earning $400,000 per year.
Valdivia made his unofficial debut in a pre-season friendly against Santo André
Esporte Clube Santo André
Esporte Clube Santo André, also known as Santo André, is a Brazilian football team from Santo André, São Paulo state.Santo André greatest rival is São Caetano, the other team in ABC region. The club's mascot name is Ramalhão after the bandeirante João Ramalho...
that Palmeiras won 2–0. After the match, the club’s coach Tite
Adenor Leonardo Bacchi
Adenor Leonardo Bacchi, known as Tite is a Brazilian football manager. He has played for and managed a number of clubs. Tite is currently coaching Corinthians.-As a player:...
affirmed that: “I have no doubt that Valdivia will have success in Brazil”. He played his first official match against Botafogo
Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas
Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas , also known as Botafogo and familiarly as Estrela Solitária, is a Brazilian sports club based in Botafogo, neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, best known for its football team. They play in the Campeonato Carioca, Rio de Janeiro's state league, and the Campeonato...
in a 3–1 Palmeira's victory at Estadio do Maracana
Estádio do Maracanã
The Estádio do Maracanã , officially Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, is an open-air stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Owned by the Rio de Janeiro State Government, it is named after the Maracanã neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro. It was opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup, and in the final...
. He had an irregular season with the club playing only 15 official matches, 1 unofficial match and not scoring any goals.
With the arrival of the coach Caio Júnior, Valdivia cemented his place in the starting line-up and he was given the number 10 shirt. On 16 January 2007, Valdívia scored his first goal against Rio Branco
Rio Branco Esporte Clube
Rio Branco Esporte Clube, usually known simply as Rio Branco or Rio Branco-SP, is a Brazilian football club based in the city of Americana in the São Paulo state of Brazil. It plays in the Série A2, the second division, of the Campeonato Paulista.-History:On August 4, 1913, the club was founded as...
in a 2−1 victory. Against Corinthians
Corinthians F.C.
The Corinthian Football Club was a football team based in London playing at various venues including Crystal Palace and Queen's Club. The team was founded in 1882 by N...
in a 3−0 victory, he played a notable match providing three assists to Edmundo. After the match Caio Júnior said that: “Valdivia is the new star of Brazilian football after Tévez
Carlos Tévez
Carlos Alberto Tévez is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester City...
”. On 20 May 2007, he scored two consecutive goals against Figueirense
Figueirense Futebol Clube
Figueirense Futebol Clube, also known as Figueirense, is a Brazilian football team in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina.-History:In 1921, the club was founded as Figueirense Foot-ball Club. The club is named Figueirense after the neighborhood where it is located, in Centro neighborhood). Figueirense...
in a Palmeira's victory 2–1. His notable performances for the club meant that he was called-up to the Copa América 2007
Copa América 2007
The 2007 Campeonato Sudamericano Copa América, known simply as the 2007 Copa América or 2007 Copa América Venezuela, was the 42nd edition of the Copa América, the South-American championship for international association football teams...
and played in the starting lineup during the Brasileirão.
On 3 December 2007, as the best player of the Brasileirão elections, Valdivia received the Craque do Brasileirão trophy. In the same month, Valdivia was selected in South América's best team and he was considered the best midfielder in South América according to the Uruguayan newspaper El País. On 21 January 2008, he received two more trophies for his participation in the Campeonato Brasilerão 2007. At elections for Mesa Redonda trophy, organized by TV Gazeta, he was selected the best midfielder of Brazilian football.
With the departure of Caio Júnior, Palmeiras hired Vanderlei Luxemburgo
Vanderlei Luxemburgo
Vanderlei Luxemburgo da Silva , better known as Vanderlei Luxemburgo, is a Brazilian football manager and former football player. He holds the distinction of being the most successful manager in the history of Brazil's Série A, with 5 league titles...
as the coach. Vanderlei signed players such as Henrique
Henrique Adriano Buss
Henrique Adriano Buss , more commonly known as Henrique, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Palmeiras on loan from FC Barcelona as a central defender and for the Brazil national team, having been capped once during early 2008....
and Diego Souza
Diego Souza
Diego de Souza Andrade or simply Diego Souza is a Brazilian midfielder. He currently plays for Vasco da Gama.-Fluminense:...
, putting together a good team for the Campeonato Paulista 2008
Campeonato Paulista 2008
The 2008 Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Profissional da Primeira Divisão - Série A1 is the 107th season of São Paulo's top-flight professional football league. The season began on January 16 and ended on May 4.-Format:...
. The new coach wanted Valdivia to show more maturity, because of his indiscipline. On 16 February 2008, Valdivia scored his first goal in the Paulistão against Juventus
Clube Atlético Juventus
The Clube Atlético Juventus , usually known simply as Juventus, is a Brazilian football club based in Mooca, a São Paulo neighborhood...
in a 4–0 victory. Valdivia gave an excellent performance during the Campeonato Paulista, where his team were proclaimed champion of the tournament. He was the second top-scorer of the club with 9 goals behind Alex Pereira. After the title was obtained, Valdivia had many offers from Europe.
During the dispute of the Brasilerão 2008, he scored a goal against Cruzeiro
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube is a Brazilian football team, from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Internacional. Founded on January 2, 1921, they are only one of three clubs to have participated in...
in a 5–2 victory, which he dedicated to his wife, to celebrate St. Valentine's day in Brazil. On 3 August 2008, Valdivia scored 2 goals in the 2–1 victory against Ipatinga
Ipatinga Futebol Clube
Ipatinga Futebol Clube, commonly known as Ipatinga, is a Brazilian football club, based in Ipatinga, Minas Gerais. They were founded on May 21, 1998.-History:...
. Valdívia played his last match for Palmeiras against Botafogo
Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas
Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas , also known as Botafogo and familiarly as Estrela Solitária, is a Brazilian sports club based in Botafogo, neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, best known for its football team. They play in the Campeonato Carioca, Rio de Janeiro's state league, and the Campeonato...
for the Brasileirao. Following the rumours of his transfer to clubs such as Werder Bremen, Hertha BSC and Espanyol, he negotiated his move to Al Ain.
Al Ain
On 15 August 2008, PalmeirasSociedade Esportiva Palmeiras
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras is a Brazilian football club from São Paulo. The club was founded on August 26, 1914, as Palestra Italia but changed to the current name on September 14, 1942...
announced that Valdívia had come to verbal agreements with Al Ain S.C.C. of the UAE Football League for a €8 million deal. He put pen to paper on a four-year deal until 2012, receiving a salary of €1.7 million per year. Shortly after, on 21 August, he joined the club in a pre-season match against Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Valdívia's first official game for Al Ain was against Al-Sharjah in a 4−2 victory. In the same match he scored his first official UAE League goal from a free kick. With this good performances for the club, he became a very loved player by the fans of Al Ain. On 1 December 2008, Valdivia was named the 14th most popular player in the world according to the IFFHS.
On 3 July 2009, Al Ain defeated the club's rival Al Wahda in a 1−0 victory, Valdivia won his first title with the club, the Etisalat Emirates Cup
Etisalat Emirates Cup
The UAE Etisalat Emirates Cup, commonly known as the Etisalat Cup, is a knockout tournament of the United Arab Emirates football.The first edition of the tournament was played in the 2008-2009 season.-Winners and Results:*2009: Al Ain 1 - 0 Al Wahda...
. Before this game, Valdivia had been recovering from an ankle injury, but in this match he returned to the field and gave an assist to Ahmed to score the winning goal in the 28th minute. On 9 July 2009, Valdivia had the possibility of playing for Manchester City, but the move never eventuated. He won his second title with the club, the President's Cup after winning in the final against Al Shabab in a 1−0 victory, with a penalty from André Dias
André Felippe Seixas Dias
André Felippe Seixas Dias or simply André Dias , is a striker. He currently plays for Villa Nova Atlético Clube.-Honours:*Brazilian League: 2002*South American U-20 Championship 2001*Russian cup 2003 Al Ain FC...
.
In less than a year, Valdivia became the top idol of the club and was also the club's best seller of merchandise. In a survey on the club's web page, he was named the best player in the club's history. For this, the president of the club Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Hazza bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
HH Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan is a United Arab Emirati banker. In 2006, he was elected as Chairman of First Gulf Bank, while his brother Tahnoon was elected as vice-chairman. Sheikh Hazza himself is the son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late emir of Abu Dhabi emirate, and the...
offered the player a lifetime contract, but Valdívia refused to sign. On 15 September 2009, Valdivia was elected as the best player of the UAE Football League.
On 23 September 2009, the club won the UAE Super Cup
UAE Super Cup
The UAE Super Cup, commonly known as the Etisalat Super Cup, is the curtain raiser of the of the United Arab Emirates football season. It is played between the previous season's Pro-League winners and President's Cup Winners. The first edition has been played on 14 September 2008.-Winners:-Titles...
, after winning on penalties to Al-Ahli Dubai 5−4, this title was the third for Valdivia at the club. In the season 2010, he was promoted to captain of the club. After the FIFA World Cup 2010, Valdivia negotiated his release from the club.
Return to Palmeiras
During the FIFA World Cup 2010, there were persistent reports of the possible return of Valdivia to Palmeiras, but he said that only a call was needed for him to return to the club. On 26 July, the club's president Luiz Gonzaga Belluzo confirmed Valdivia's return to the club, acquiring 100% of player rights in a five-years contract for a €16 million deal. On 14 August, Valdivia was presented at Estádio do PacaembuEstádio do Pacaembu
Estádio do Pacaembu , as it is usually called, is a football stadium in São Paulo, located on Praça Charles Miller, no nº - in Pacaembu neighborhood. Its official name is Estádio Municipal Paulo Machado de Carvalho and it is owned by the Municipal Prefecture of São Paulo...
, being greeted by 15.000 fans after a game against Atletico Paranaense.
On 22 August 2010, Valdivia made his second debut for the club against Guaraní
Guarani Futebol Clube
Guarani Futebol Clube is a Brazilian football club located in Campinas, São Paulo. Guarani is also known as Bugre, a popular term for an Indigenous Brazilian...
in a 0–0 draw as a half-time substitute. After the match played against Guaraní, he was heavily criticized because of his irregular performances on the field, but he was still acclaimed by the fans. On 12 September, played his 100th match for Palmeiras in a 0–0 draw with Vasco da Gama, receiving an honour shortly after. On 5 September, in a match that he played against Cruzeiro
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube is a Brazilian football team, from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Internacional. Founded on January 2, 1921, they are only one of three clubs to have participated in...
, he was substituted in the 65th minute, he wasn't happy and he complained to his coach Luiz Felipe Scolari
Luiz Felipe Scolari
Luiz Felipe Scolari , ComIH , also known as Felipão in Brazil and Phil Scolari in the United Kingdom, is a World Cup-winning Brazilian football manager. He is currently the manager of Palmeiras. He served as the manager of the Portuguese national team from July 12, 2003 to June 30, 2008...
. On the substitutes bench, Valdivia threw a water bottle on the ground, showing his discontent with the coach's decision. After a game played against Vitória
Esporte Clube Vitória
Esporte Clube Vitória, usually known simply as Vitória, is a Brazilian football team from Salvador in Bahia, founded on May 13, 1899.Vitória's home games are played at the club's own stadium . They play in red and black horizontal striped shirts, black shorts and black socks...
, he said that his attitude against Cruzeiro would not be repeated again, he formerly apologized to the Scolari. On 7 October, Valdivia scored two goals in Palmeira's victory 4–1 over Avaí
Avaí Futebol Clube
Avaí Futebol Clube is a Brazilian football team from Florianópolis in Santa Catarina, founded on September 1, 1923. Their best known supporter is tennis player Gustavo Kuerten.Their home stadium is the Ressacada stadium, with a capacity 17,800...
at Pacaembu.
On 24 October 2010, Valdivia suffered an injury in a match against Corinthians
Sport Club Corinthians
Sport Club Corinthians can refer to the following association football clubs:*Sport Club Corinthians Alagoano, from Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil*Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, from São Paulo, São Paulo state, Brazil...
that left him without playing during the last part of the season. In December, he refused to sign a "be careful" letter for holidays, when all players of the team accepted this letter. Valdivia before described this as a lack of respect for pressing it on their holidays and the directive of Palmeiras said that their criticisms were inappropriate and they don't want unhappy players at the club. During the summer of 2011, he received an offer from Fluminense
Fluminense Football Club
Fluminense Football Club is a sports club based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Founded in the beginning of the 20th century as a single-sport institution, Fluminense is today an umbrella organization for several teams in more than 16 different sport activities. The most popular endeavor of Fluminense,...
to play in the Copa Libertadores, but he stayed despite this offer.
On 9 March 2011, Valdivia played a brilliant match against Noroeste
Esporte Clube Noroeste
Esporte Clube Noroeste, usually known simply as Noroeste, is a Brazilian football club based in Bauru. Named after a now-defunct railway, Noroeste is a very traditional team within São Paulo state...
for the Paulistão, scoring a free kick and then providing an assist for the club's victory goal to young player Vinicius
Vinícius Santos Silva
Vinícius Santos Silva or simply Vinícius , is a Brazilian football Striker. He currently plays for Palmeiras.-External links:...
in the 85th minute. During March, there were rumours of the possible sale of Valdívia to another club at the end of the season, but this rumour was denied on the 24th day of the month by Palmeiras's president Arnaldo Tirone. On 14 April he was caught urinating on the pitch in the Copa do Brasil
Copa do Brasil
The Copa Kia do Brasil, commonly known as Copa do Brasil , is a knockout competition played by 64 association football teams, representing all 26 Brazilian states plus the Federal District...
quarterfinals first leg game against Santo André
Esporte Clube Santo André
Esporte Clube Santo André, also known as Santo André, is a Brazilian football team from Santo André, São Paulo state.Santo André greatest rival is São Caetano, the other team in ABC region. The club's mascot name is Ramalhão after the bandeirante João Ramalho...
. In the second leg of the cup game that Palmeiras won 1−0, Valdivia played a notable game, being compared to Neymar according to the club's coach Felipão Scolari.
First years with Acosta
His good performance on PalmeirasSociedade Esportiva Palmeiras
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras is a Brazilian football club from São Paulo. The club was founded on August 26, 1914, as Palestra Italia but changed to the current name on September 14, 1942...
during the Campeonato Brasilerão 2007 made that he was selected in Chile's Copa América 2007
Copa América 2007
The 2007 Campeonato Sudamericano Copa América, known simply as the 2007 Copa América or 2007 Copa América Venezuela, was the 42nd edition of the Copa América, the South-American championship for international association football teams...
squad. He played in Chile's first game against Ecuador
Ecuador national football team
The Ecuadorian national football team represents Ecuador in international football competitions and is controlled by the Ecuadorian Football Federation. They generally play official home matches at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, but often play friendlies in other stadiums around the country...
in a 3−2 victory. In Chile's third goal, an Ecuadorian player made him a foul to Valdivia and Carlos Villanueva
Carlos Villanueva (footballer)
Carlos Andrés Villanueva Roland is a Chilean football player who is currently playing for Al Shabab.-Audax Italiano:In the Copa Libertadores 2007, the left-footed playmaker was the hub of Audax Italiano...
scored the free kick win goal. In the second game of Chile against Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
, he was injured by Elano and before he had a strong discussion with Robinho
Robinho
Robson de Souza , more commonly known as Robinho, is a Brazilian professional footballer who currently plays as second striker and winger for Serie A club AC Milan...
during the match. Because the injury, Valdivia missed the match against Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
, but Chile qualificated to the quarter-finals once against Brazil. On 7 July 2007, celebrating the pass to quarter-finals, Valdivia, Reinaldo Navia
Reinaldo Navia
Reinaldo Marcelino Navia Amador is a Chilean footballer, who currently plays for the Chilean Primera División side Ñublense as Striker....
, Álvaro Ormeño
Álvaro Ormeño
Alvaro Andrés Ormeño Salazar is a Chilean football midfielder, who is currently playing for the prominent Chilean side Colo Colo. He debuted in Chile's second division with club Ñublense and later he played for Ovalle. In 2002 he made his debut in Chile's first division with club Santiago Morning...
, Jorge Vargas
Jorge Francisco Vargas
Jorge Vargas is a Chilean football defender. He currently plays for San Luis Quillota.-Club career:...
, Rodrigo Tello
Rodrigo Tello
Rodrigo Álvaro Tello Valenzuela is a Chilean footballer who plays with Eskişehirspor in Turkey.Left-footed, he usually operates as a left midfielder, but can also appear in the middle, and as an offensive left back...
and Pablo Contreras
Pablo Contreras
Pablo Andrés Contreras Fica is a Chilean footballer who plays for PAOK F.C. in Greece. Primarily a central defender, he can also operate as a right back....
celebrating the qualification to the Quarter-finals, them staged a scandal in a hotel of Puerto Ordaz
Puerto Ordaz
Puerto Ordaz is a planned city which, together with the older settlement of San Felix, forms Ciudad Guayana in Bolívar State, eastern Venezuela. Puerto Ordaz is located at the confluence of the Caroní and Orinoco Rivers and is the site of the Llovizna Falls. There are bridges across the Caroni and...
, abusing sexually to two waitresses according to Canal 13
Canal 13 (Chile)
Canal 13 , is the second oldest television station in Chile. It is owned by Luksic Group associated with the Papal Catholic University of Chile. Its inaugural transmission took place on August 21, 1959...
. After of this incident, he and the players that participated in the scandal was sancionated by the ANFP with 20 games, but shortly after the sanction was reducted to 10 games. However, Chile was eliminated by Brazil in a 6−1 loss.
Glorious return with Bielsa
On 5 August 2008, the coach Marcelo BielsaMarcelo Bielsa
Marcelo Alberto Bielsa Caldera is an Argentine association football coach and former defender, born in Rosario, Santa Fe...
confirmed that Valdivia returned officially to the national team for play a frendly match against Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
. In this game, he come off the bench in the second half, however Chile was defeated by 1−0 with a goal of Hamit Altıntop
Hamit Altintop
Hamit Altıntop is a German-born Turkish professional footballer who plays for Real Madrid in La Liga. He is a versatile midfielder who can play either in a defending or attacking role and on both flanks. He is well known for his flair of long-shot ability, as shown when he played for Schalke 04...
. On 7 September 2008, he played his first game for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)
The South American zone of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification saw 10 teams competing for places in the finals which were held in South Africa. The format is identical to that used for the previous three World Cup qualification tournaments held by CONMEBOL...
against Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
, during the match he received a red card in the 63rd minute, immediately he was acclaimed for the Brazilian fans, calling him: "Valdivia is brazilian." On 10 October 2009, in the 4−2 away win to Colombia
Colombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
for the qualifiers, Valdivia played an important rol during the match, scoring the third goal of the national team and give the assistance in the fourth goal to Fabián Orellana
Fabián Orellana
Fabián Ariel Orellana Valenzuela is a Chilean footballer who plays for Celta de Vigo on loan from Granada CF in Spain, as a forward.-Club career:Orellana began his career in Colo-Colo, and moved in 2000 to Audax Italiano...
, of this form Chile qualified to the FIFA World Cup 2010, after 12 years without appearances in this international tournament, being an historic fact in the history of the Chilean football.
During the preparatory games prior to the World Cup, Valdivia was a frequently in the eleven of the coach Marcelo Bielsa
Marcelo Bielsa
Marcelo Alberto Bielsa Caldera is an Argentine association football coach and former defender, born in Rosario, Santa Fe...
, on 26 May 2010, in match against Zambia national team
Zambia national football team
The Zambia national football team represents the country of Zambia in the sport of association football and is governed by the Football Association of Zambia. Before independence they were known as the Northern Rhodesia national football team. The side is nicknamed Chipolopolo as copper is one of...
that Chile won 3−0, he played a fundamental game, giving an assistance to Alexis Sánchez
Alexis Sánchez
Alexis Alejandro Sánchez Sánchez , is a Chilean footballer who plays as a forward for FC Barcelona and for the Chilean national team. He is well known for his excellent dribbling ability, great speed and his unusual strength for a fast winger....
in Chile's third goal and scoring the third goal of his national team in the game. Valdívia was nominated to the 23-man roster that Chile represent in the Group H of the World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup Group H
Group H of the 2010 FIFA World Cup began on 16 June and ended on 25 June 2010. The group consisted of reigning European champions Spain, Switzerland, Honduras and Chile....
. On 16 June, Valdivia made his World Cup debut as Striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, because the injury of Humberto Suazo
Humberto Suazo
Humberto Andrés Suazo Pontivo , nicknamed Chupete, is a Chilean football player, who currently plays as a striker in Monterrey. In 2006 he was awarded by IFFHS as the world's top goal scorer of the year....
, in a 1−0 win over Honduras
Honduras national football team
The Honduran national football team, nicknamed Los Catrachos, La Bicolor or La H, is the national team of Honduras and is controlled by the Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol de Honduras...
with a goal of Jean Beausejour
Jean Beausejour
Jean André Emanuel Beausejour Coliqueo , nicknamed Palmatoria or Francés, is a Chilean footballer who plays for English club Birmingham City...
. During the second half of game, he received a strong kick of a Honduran player, leaving him doubtful for next match against Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
.
Controversial status with Borghi
After an abrupt departure of Marcelo Bielsa, the coach Claudio BorghiClaudio Borghi
Claudio Daniel Borghi Bidos, , nicknamed Bichi, is an Argentine former footballer and current football manager of Chile.-Club:Borghi started his career as an Attacking midfielder for Argentinos Juniors in the early 1980s...
took over the charge in the national team.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 16 November 2006 | Estadio Sausalito Estadio Sausalito Estadio Sausalito is a multi-purpose stadium in Viña del Mar, Chile. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of CD Everton. The stadium holds 18,037 people and was built in 1929... , Viña del Mar Viña del Mar Viña del Mar , is a city and commune on central Chile's Pacific coast. Its long stretches of white sandy beaches are a major attraction for national and international tourists. The city is Chile's main tourist attraction. Known as "La Ciudad Jardín" , Viña del Mar is a Chilean Municipality located... |
3–2 | Win | Friendly match | |
| 2. | 11 February 2009 | Peter Mokaba Stadium Peter Mokaba Stadium The Peter Mokaba Stadium is a football stadium in Polokwane , South Africa, that was used for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It has a capacity of 41,733. and was named after Peter Mokaba, a former leader of the ANC Youth League... , Polokwane Polokwane Polokwane, meaning "Place of Safety",is a city in the Polokwane Local Municipality and the capital of the Limpopo province, South Africa. It is also often referred to by its former name, Pietersburg. Polokwane is a major urban centre, the biggest and most important north of Gauteng. The population... |
2–0 | Win | Friendly match | |
| 3. | 10 October 2009 | Estadio Atanasio Girardot Estadio Atanasio Girardot Estadio Atanasio Girardot is a multi-purpose stadium in Medellín, Colombia. It is currently used mostly for football matches by two local teams, Atlético Nacional and Independiente Medellín. It is part of the Unidad Deportiva Atanasio Girardot, which also contains other sports facilities... , Medellin Medellín Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million... |
4–2 | Win | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL) The South American zone of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification saw 10 teams competing for places in the finals which were held in South Africa. The format is identical to that used for the previous three World Cup qualification tournaments held by CONMEBOL... |
|
| 4. | 26 May 2010 | Estadio Municipal de Calama Estadio Municipal de Calama Estadio Municipal de Calama is a multi-use stadium in Calama, Chile. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Cobreloa. The stadium holds 13,000 people and was built in 1952.... , Calama Calama, Chile Calama is a city and commune in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. It is the capital of El Loa Province, part of the Antofagasta Region. Calama is one of the driest cities in the world with average annual precipitation of just . The River Loa, Chile's longest, flows through the city... |
3–0 | Win | Friendly match |
Club
Colo-Colo- Chilean Primera División: 2006 Apertura
Palmeiras
- Campeonato PaulistaCampeonato PaulistaThe Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Profissional da Primeira Divisão - Série A1, simply known as the Campeonato Paulista, is the top-flight professional football league in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. The league is contested between 20 clubs and typically lasts from January to April...
: 2008Campeonato Paulista 2008The 2008 Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Profissional da Primeira Divisão - Série A1 is the 107th season of São Paulo's top-flight professional football league. The season began on January 16 and ended on May 4.-Format:...
Al Ain
- Etisalat Emirates CupEtisalat Emirates CupThe UAE Etisalat Emirates Cup, commonly known as the Etisalat Cup, is a knockout tournament of the United Arab Emirates football.The first edition of the tournament was played in the 2008-2009 season.-Winners and Results:*2009: Al Ain 1 - 0 Al Wahda...
: 2008Etisalat Emirates Cup 2008The 2008–09 Etisalat Emirates Cup was the 1st staging of the Etisalat Emirates Cup, started on October 10, 2008 and finished on April 3, 2009. The competition was won by Al Ain defeating Al Wahda in the final 1-0. 12 clubs were drawn into 3 groups of 4 teams... - UAE President CupUAE President CupThe UAE President's Cup is the top association football knockout tournament of the United Arab Emirates.- Winners :- Top-performing clubs:-References:...
: 2008-09 - UAE Super CupUAE Super CupThe UAE Super Cup, commonly known as the Etisalat Super Cup, is the curtain raiser of the of the United Arab Emirates football season. It is played between the previous season's Pro-League winners and President's Cup Winners. The first edition has been played on 14 September 2008.-Winners:-Titles...
: 2009UAE Super CupThe UAE Super Cup, commonly known as the Etisalat Super Cup, is the curtain raiser of the of the United Arab Emirates football season. It is played between the previous season's Pro-League winners and President's Cup Winners. The first edition has been played on 14 September 2008.-Winners:-Titles...
Individual
- Prêmio Craque do BrasileirãoPrêmio Craque do BrasileirãoThe Prêmio Craque do Brasileirão is an award given by the Brazilian Football Confederation and Rede Globo for the best players, head coaches, and referees of the Série A.-2005:The 2005 winners were:*Best Player: Carlos Tévez...
: 2007 - Bola de OuroBola de OuroThe Bola de Ouro is an award given each year, since 1973, by the authoritative Brazilian magazine Placar to the best player in the Brazilian National Championship. It is practically the equivalent to a Footballer of the Year award...
: 2007 - Troféu Mesa Redonda: 2007
- Campeonato Paulista Most Valuable PlayerCampeonato PaulistaThe Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Profissional da Primeira Divisão - Série A1, simply known as the Campeonato Paulista, is the top-flight professional football league in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. The league is contested between 20 clubs and typically lasts from January to April...
: 2007, 2008 - UFL Most Valuable PlayerUFL Most Valuable PlayerThe UAE Football League Player of the Year is awarded by the Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Football Season Award.- Best Emarati Player :- Best Foreign Player :- Wins By Club :-References:...
: 2009 - UFL Most Valuable Foreign PlayerUFL Most Valuable PlayerThe UAE Football League Player of the Year is awarded by the Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Football Season Award.- Best Emarati Player :- Best Foreign Player :- Wins By Club :-References:...
: 2009