José Roberto da Silva Júnior
Encyclopedia
José Roberto da Silva Jr. (born 6 July 1974 in Ipiranga
), commonly known as Zé Roberto, is a Brazil
ian footballer who currently plays for Al-Gharafa of the Qatari League as midfielder
.
in São Paulo
, Brazil, where he became known throughout Brazil because of the conquest of vice in the Brasileirão 1996.
for a brief spell where he helped them win La Liga
, before moving back to Brazil to play for Flamengo
.
in 1998 and served in Gávea alongside big names in football like Romário
and Palhinha
. He played in twenty-four league games, but failed to score.
His spell at Flamengo was very short, considering that in that same year 1998, he was eventually negotiated with Bayer Leverkusen, Germany.
runners-up on three occasions and reaching the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final
. In four years at the club Zé Roberto appeared in 113 league matches scoring 16 goals.
In May 2002, he joined Bayern Munich
for a reported €12 million where he claimed the domestic league and Cup double three times between 2002 and 2006. He found his starting spot threatened under coach Felix Magath
. Following the announcement that he would not return to Bayern Munich, he publicly criticized the club's style of play and predicted struggles if changes were not made.
in a brilliant style. The win was his first and only title (to date) in a Brazilian competition. He scored seven goals in the Copa Libertadores 2007
, where Santos reached the semi-finals.
During his time with Santos he appeared in 48 official matches scoring 12 goals, playing for the first time in his career as an attacking midfielder.
. He had completed his medical with the German club a day before and was offered a two-year contract.
He stated, "It was as if I’d never been away," en route to winning a fourth domestic double with the Bavaria
ns. During Bayern's 2007–08 season, he scored five goals and was influential in Bayern's domestic and cup double. The revitalised Zé Roberto demonstrated all his newly-acquired skills by scoring five goals and forming a rock-solid partnership with Mark van Bommel
in his new role in central defensive midfield.
He made a successful start to the 2008–09 season – scoring four goals in his first 11 starts. He would conclude his second spell at the Bavarian
club appearing in 59 league matches scoring nine goals.
officially announced signing Zé Roberto to a two year contract on 2 July 2009. But Der Spiegel
reported Hamburg actually paid €4 million sign-on fees to Zé Roberto's agent Juan Figer
, which Bayern also paid €1 million in 2007. In May 2011, Zé Roberto confirmed that he would not renew his contract with the German team, because he wanted a longer contract than the new one offered by the club.
i club Al-Gharafa.
squad at the 1998 FIFA World Cup
and 2006 FIFA World Cup
. Zé Roberto scored Brazil's third and final goal in a man of the match performance in Brazil's second round match against Ghana
in the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.
Spain
Brazil
Brazil national team
Ipiranga
Ipiranga for "red river") is an historical district located in the subprefecture of the same name of São Paulo, Brazil. The name Ipiranga comes from the river of the same name located in the region, which means "red river" in a Tupí–Guaraní language...
), commonly known as Zé Roberto, is a Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian footballer who currently plays for Al-Gharafa of the Qatari League as midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Portuguesa
Zé Roberto started the youth ranks of the Lecture of São Bernardo, however, was playing in PortuguesaAssociação Portuguesa de Desportos
Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, usually called Portuguesa or Lusa, is a sports club, and a Brazilian football team from São Paulo in São Paulo state, founded on August 14, 1920 by the Portuguese population of the city.-History:...
in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil, where he became known throughout Brazil because of the conquest of vice in the Brasileirão 1996.
Real Madrid
He then joined Real MadridReal Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
for a brief spell where he helped them win La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, before moving back to Brazil to play for Flamengo
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo , also known as Flamengo and familiarly as Mengão, is a Brazilian sports club based in the Flamengo bairro, Zona Sul, Rio de Janeiro, best known for its professional football team...
.
Flamengo
Zé passed by FlamengoClube de Regatas do Flamengo
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo , also known as Flamengo and familiarly as Mengão, is a Brazilian sports club based in the Flamengo bairro, Zona Sul, Rio de Janeiro, best known for its professional football team...
in 1998 and served in Gávea alongside big names in football like Romário
Romário
Romário de Souza Faria , better known simply as Romário , is a former footballer who played striker,manager and current politician where is currently running for a mayor like position in his hometown...
and Palhinha
Palhinha
Jorge Ferreira da Silva, commonly known as Palhinha, born in Carangola on December 14, 1967, is a retired Brazilian football player.-Clubs career:...
. He played in twenty-four league games, but failed to score.
His spell at Flamengo was very short, considering that in that same year 1998, he was eventually negotiated with Bayer Leverkusen, Germany.
Bayer Leverkusen
He joined Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 1998. It was at Leverkusen that he made a real name for himself, fast becoming a popular figure at the club. During his four year stay at the club, Bayer enjoyed its most successful period, being German BundesligaFußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
runners-up on three occasions and reaching the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final
2002 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2002 UEFA Champions League Final was the final match of the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League, Europe's primary club football competition. The show-piece event was contested between Bayer Leverkusen of Germany and Real Madrid of Spain at the Hampden Park in Glasgow, on Wednesday, 15 May 2002, to...
. In four years at the club Zé Roberto appeared in 113 league matches scoring 16 goals.
Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
for a reported €12 million where he claimed the domestic league and Cup double three times between 2002 and 2006. He found his starting spot threatened under coach Felix Magath
Felix Magath
Wolfgang-Felix Magath is a former German football central midfielder and current manager of VfL Wolfsburg.-Playing career:...
. Following the announcement that he would not return to Bayern Munich, he publicly criticized the club's style of play and predicted struggles if changes were not made.
Santos
On 31 August 2006, Zé Roberto signed a one-year deal with Santos and helped the team to win the 2007 Campeonato PaulistaCampeonato Paulista
The 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...
in a brilliant style. The win was his first and only title (to date) in a Brazilian competition. He scored seven goals in the Copa Libertadores 2007
Copa Libertadores 2007
The 2007 Copa Libertadores de América was the 48th edition of the Copa Libertadores. It started on January 24, 2007 and finished on June 20, 2007...
, where Santos reached the semi-finals.
During his time with Santos he appeared in 48 official matches scoring 12 goals, playing for the first time in his career as an attacking midfielder.
Return to Bayern
On 22 June 2007, Bayern Munich officially announced the return of Zé Roberto on a Bosman transferBosman ruling
Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
. He had completed his medical with the German club a day before and was offered a two-year contract.
He stated, "It was as if I’d never been away," en route to winning a fourth domestic double with the Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
ns. During Bayern's 2007–08 season, he scored five goals and was influential in Bayern's domestic and cup double. The revitalised Zé Roberto demonstrated all his newly-acquired skills by scoring five goals and forming a rock-solid partnership with Mark van Bommel
Mark van Bommel
Mark Peter Gertruda Andreas van Bommel is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for Milan and captains the Netherlands national team as a midfielder....
in his new role in central defensive midfield.
He made a successful start to the 2008–09 season – scoring four goals in his first 11 starts. He would conclude his second spell at the Bavarian
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
club appearing in 59 league matches scoring nine goals.
Hamburg
His contract with Bayern ran until 30 June 2009. The club offered him a contract until 2010, though Zé Roberto declined. Bundesliga side Hamburger SVHamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
officially announced signing Zé Roberto to a two year contract on 2 July 2009. But Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe's largest publications of its kind, with a weekly circulation of more than one million.-Overview:...
reported Hamburg actually paid €4 million sign-on fees to Zé Roberto's agent Juan Figer
Juan Figer
Juan Figer Svirski is an Uruguayan-Brazilian football agent. His organisation, MJF Publicidade e Promoções S/C Ltda, represent, amongst others, Brazilian footballers Robinho, Júlio Baptista, Alex, Zé Roberto, and Europeans Luís Figo and Marcos Senna...
, which Bayern also paid €1 million in 2007. In May 2011, Zé Roberto confirmed that he would not renew his contract with the German team, because he wanted a longer contract than the new one offered by the club.
Al-Gharafa
On 10 July 2011, Zé Roberto signed a two-year contract with the QatarQatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
i club Al-Gharafa.
International career
Zé Roberto was part of the BrazilBrazil 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...
squad at the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
and 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
. Zé Roberto scored Brazil's third and final goal in a man of the match performance in Brazil's second round match against Ghana
Ghana national football team
The Ghana national football team, popularly known as the Black Stars, is the national association football team of Ghana and is controlled by the Ghana Football Association...
in the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.
Honours
Germany- Bayern Munich
- Fußball-BundesligaFußball-BundesligaThe Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
: 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008 - DFB-PokalDFB-PokalThe DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
: 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008 - Liga-Pokal: 2004, 2007
- Fußball-Bundesliga
Spain
- Real Madrid
- La LigaLa LigaThe Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
: 1997 - Supercopa de EspañaSupercopa de EspañaThe Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
: 1997
- La Liga
Brazil
- Santos FC
- Paulista Championship: 2007
Brazil national team
- Copa AmericaCopa AméricaThe 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...
: 1997, 1999 - Confederations Cup: 1997, 2005