Julio Dos Santos
Encyclopedia
Julio Daniel dos Santos Rodríguez (born 7 May 1983 in Asunción
) is a Paraguayan footballer who currently plays for Brazilian club Atlético Paranaense
.
He plays usually in the hole-position, and sometimes as striker
.
, before eventually moving to FC Bayern Munich
of Germany
, in January 2006. He was elected Paraguayan Footballer of the Year
in 2005 by national newspaper Diario ABC Color
. Upon his arrival in Munich
, he was touted as a long-term successor to Michael Ballack
, but faced stiff competition from Iran
's Ali Karimi
. Eventually, both players struggled to break into the starting lineup.
In the first half of 2006–07, Bayern's leadership publicly stated its impatience with Dos Santos' progress. Club coach Felix Magath
said: "It is clear that Julio's development does not please us, It does not make sense to keep a player at the club who does not create". This led to widespread rumours of his departure from the club; the speculation ended in December 2006, when Bayern announced they had reached a deal to send the player on loan to fellow Bundesliga
side VfL Wolfsburg
for the remainder of the season. Having failed to break into Wolfsburg's first team (mainly due to a major injury), he returned to Bayern in June.
However, after the arrivals of Franck Ribéry
, Hamit Altıntop
, José Ernesto Sosa
and Zé Roberto, it soon became clear that he would again struggle to find a place in the first team. Ottmar Hitzfeld
, who had replaced Magath as Bayern manager by that time, stated that the club sought to sell dos Santos. Therefore, he would split 2007-08 between UD Almería
(with no first-team appearances) and Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense
.
In June 2008, dos Santos signed with Clube Atlético Paranaense
, also from Brazil
.
In June 2009, Julio went back to his original club Cerro Porteño to play the 2009 Clausura and Copa Sudamericana.
since 2004, dos Santos appeared for the nation at the 2006 FIFA World Cup
in two matches, assisting
for the first goal against Trinidad and Tobago
(2-0). He played the 2007 Copa America but has not been called up for the World Cup Qualifiers.
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
) is a Paraguayan footballer who currently plays for Brazilian club Atlético Paranaense
Clube Atlético Paranaense
Clube Atlético Paranaense is a Brazilian football team from Curitiba in Paraná, founded on March 26, 1924. The club won the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A in 2001.-History:...
.
He plays usually in the hole-position, and sometimes 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...
.
Club career
Dos Santos started his professional career with Cerro PorteñoCerro Porteño
Club Cerro Porteño is a professional Paraguayan football club, based in the neighbourhood of Barrio Obrero in Asunción. Founded in 1912, Cerro has won 28 Primera División titles and is one of the most popular football club in Paraguay...
, before eventually moving to FC 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....
of 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...
, in January 2006. He was elected Paraguayan Footballer of the Year
Paraguayan Footballer of the Year
The Paraguayan Footballer of the Year is an award given to the best Paraguayan professional football player every year. The award began officially in 1997 and it is presented by Paraguayan newspaper Diario ABC Color...
in 2005 by national newspaper Diario ABC Color
Diario ABC Color
Diario ABC Color is a major Paraguayan newspaper with offices in the city of Asunción.The editorial that publishes the newspaper was founded August 8, 1967. It is one of the most read daily newspapers in Paraguay. The director of the editorial is Aldo Zuccolillo, the founder of the newspaper...
. Upon his arrival in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, he was touted as a long-term successor to Michael Ballack
Michael Ballack
Michael Ballack is a German professional footballer, who is currently playing for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. He is among the top goal scorers in the history of his international team. Ballack has worn the number 13 shirt for every team he has played for except for Kaiserslautern...
, but faced stiff competition from Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
's Ali Karimi
Ali Karimi
Mohammad Ali Karimi Pashaki better known as Ali Karimi, is an Iranian professional footballer who is currently playing for Persepolis in Iran Pro League. He was awarded the Asian Footballer of the Year in 2004....
. Eventually, both players struggled to break into the starting lineup.
In the first half of 2006–07, Bayern's leadership publicly stated its impatience with Dos Santos' progress. Club coach Felix Magath
Felix Magath
Wolfgang-Felix Magath is a former German football central midfielder and current manager of VfL Wolfsburg.-Playing career:...
said: "It is clear that Julio's development does not please us, It does not make sense to keep a player at the club who does not create". This led to widespread rumours of his departure from the club; the speculation ended in December 2006, when Bayern announced they had reached a deal to send the player on loan to fellow Bundesliga
Fußball-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...
side VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg is a professional German association football club based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, who play in the Bundesliga football competition. Wolfsburg have won the Bundesliga once in their history, in the 2008–09 season, and were DFB-Pokal runners-up in 1995. The current head coach is Felix...
for the remainder of the season. Having failed to break into Wolfsburg's first team (mainly due to a major injury), he returned to Bayern in June.
However, after the arrivals of Franck Ribéry
Franck Ribéry
Franck Ribéry is a French international footballer who currently plays for German club Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. He primarily plays as a winger, preferably on the left side, and is known for "pace, energy, skill and precise passing." Ribéry is described as a player who is "fast, tricky and...
, 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...
, José Ernesto Sosa
José Ernesto Sosa
José Ernesto Sosa is an Argentine football attacking midfielder who plays for Ukrainian club Metalist Kharkiv.- Career :Sosa played for Estudiantes between 2002 and 2007...
and Zé Roberto, it soon became clear that he would again struggle to find a place in the first team. Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld is a German former football player and manager, nicknamed der General ....
, who had replaced Magath as Bayern manager by that time, stated that the club sought to sell dos Santos. Therefore, he would split 2007-08 between UD Almería
UD Almería
Unión Deportiva Almería, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Almería, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1989 as Almería Club de Fútbol, it currently plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos, with a 22,000-seat...
(with no first-team appearances) and Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense
Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense
Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, commonly known as just Grêmio , is a Brazilian professional association football team based in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul founded by English and German immigrants on September 15, 1903. Major titles captured by Grêmio include one Intercontinental Cup, two Copa...
.
In June 2008, dos Santos signed with Clube Atlético Paranaense
Clube Atlético Paranaense
Clube Atlético Paranaense is a Brazilian football team from Curitiba in Paraná, founded on March 26, 1924. The club won the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A in 2001.-History:...
, also from 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...
.
In June 2009, Julio went back to his original club Cerro Porteño to play the 2009 Clausura and Copa Sudamericana.
International career
A Paraguayan internationalParaguay national football team
The Paraguay national football team is controlled by the Paraguayan Football Association and represents Paraguay in men's international football competitions. The team has reached the second round of the World Cup on four occasions . The 2010 trip also featured their first appearance in the...
since 2004, dos Santos appeared for the nation at the 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...
in two matches, assisting
Assist (football)
In association football, an assist is a contribution by a player which helps to score a goal. Statistics for assists made by players may be kept officially by the organisers of a competition, or unofficially by, for example, journalists or organisers of fantasy football competitions...
for the first goal against Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
(2-0). He played the 2007 Copa America but has not been called up for the World Cup Qualifiers.