Marcelo dos Santos Cipriano
Encyclopedia
Marcelo dos Santos Cipriano (born 11 October 1969), simply Marcelo, is a retired Brazil
ian-born Portuguese
footballer who played as a striker.
He played professionally in Portugal
(most notably one season for S.L. Benfica), England
(appearing for three Football League Championship
squads) and Spain
.
, Rio de Janeiro
to Portuguese
parents, Marcelo returned to their homeland still in his teens, entering the youth system of Associação Académica de Coimbra, which loaned him to fourth-tier
Sertanense F.C. in the 1989 summer.
After one season apiece with Académica and C.D. Feirense in division two
, Marcelo made his topflight
debuts with Gil Vicente FC, netting three goals for the Barcelos
team. His most successful period in his adopted nation would be lived at lowly F.C. Tirsense, which he helped achieve first division promotion in 1994, subsequently scoring 17 times in 1994–95, as the northern side achieved a best-ever eight-place in the competition.
Marcelo's exploits earned him a transfer to national giants S.L. Benfica, finishing his sole season as the Reds topscorer in the league behind João Vieira Pinto
, but the club did not win any silverware. Subsequently, in played one year in the Spanish second division
with Deportivo Alavés
, going scoreless in nearly 25 league appearances.
In the following five years, Marcelo played in England
, starting in 1997 with Sheffield United
, which signed the player for a fee of £
400,000. In the FA Cup
tournament during his first year, he helped take the team to the semifinals, after netting against Coventry City
at Highfield Road
to set up the (eventually victorious) replay.
Birmingham City
acquired Marcelo's services in 1999 for a fee of £500,000. He played on the losing side in the 2001 Football League Cup Final
, coming on as a second-half substitute and scoring in the penalty shootout. He ended his career in the country at Walsall
, for whom he played nine times and scored once, against Burnley
.
At nearly 33, Marcelo returned to Portugal and first professional team Académica, amassing a further 30 first division matches in two seasons, after which he retired from the game.
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-born Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
footballer who played as a striker.
He played professionally in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
(most notably one season for S.L. Benfica), England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
(appearing for three Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
squads) and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Football career
Born in NiteróiNiterói
Niterói is a municipality in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeast region of Brazil. It has an estimated population of 487,327 inhabitants and an area of ², being the sixth most populous city in the state and the highest Human Development Index. Integrates the Metropolitan Region of Rio de...
, Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
to Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
parents, Marcelo returned to their homeland still in his teens, entering the youth system of Associação Académica de Coimbra, which loaned him to fourth-tier
Portuguese Third Division
The Terceira Divisão Portuguesa is the fourth level of the Portuguese football league system. The Third Division was initially the third level of the Portuguese pyramid but with the creation of the Liga de Honra in 1990–91, it became the fourth level...
Sertanense F.C. in the 1989 summer.
After one season apiece with Académica and C.D. Feirense in division two
Liga de Honra
The Liga de Honra , known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Orangina, is the Portuguese second level football league. It was formerly called Segunda Divisão and Segunda Divisão de Honra . When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide levels, it was renamed Segunda Liga, before renaming it...
, Marcelo made his topflight
Portuguese Liga
The Primeira Liga , formerly called Primeira Divisão, currently named Liga ZON Sagres after their main sponsors, is the top professional association football division of the Portuguese football league system...
debuts with Gil Vicente FC, netting three goals for the Barcelos
Barcelos, Portugal
Barcelos is a city in Barcelos Municipality in Braga District. The city has a population of 20,625.-History:Originally a Roman settlement, it expanded and became the seat of the First Duke of Bragança in the 15th century...
team. His most successful period in his adopted nation would be lived at lowly F.C. Tirsense, which he helped achieve first division promotion in 1994, subsequently scoring 17 times in 1994–95, as the northern side achieved a best-ever eight-place in the competition.
Marcelo's exploits earned him a transfer to national giants S.L. Benfica, finishing his sole season as the Reds topscorer in the league behind João Vieira Pinto
João Vieira Pinto
João Manuel Vieira Pinto is a retired Portuguese footballer who played mostly as a forward.Blessed with formidable skills and scoring ability, he made his name mostly at a domestic level and as a key figure in the Portuguese national team's "Golden Generation", collecting 138 caps and scoring 35...
, but the club did not win any silverware. Subsequently, in played one year in the Spanish second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
with Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza....
, going scoreless in nearly 25 league appearances.
In the following five years, Marcelo played in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, starting in 1997 with Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
, which signed the player for a fee of £
Pound sign
The pound sign is the symbol for the pound sterling—the currency of the United Kingdom . The same symbol is used for similarly named currencies in some other countries and territories, such as the Irish pound, Gibraltar pound, Australian pound and the Italian lira...
400,000. In the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
tournament during his first year, he helped take the team to the semifinals, after netting against Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
at Highfield Road
Highfield Road
The Highfield Road Stadium was a football stadium in the city of Coventry, England. It was the home ground for Coventry City F.C. until the club moved to the new Ricoh Arena after the 2005-06 season...
to set up the (eventually victorious) replay.
Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
acquired Marcelo's services in 1999 for a fee of £500,000. He played on the losing side in the 2001 Football League Cup Final
2001 Football League Cup Final
The 2001 Worthington Cup Final was a football match played between Liverpool and Birmingham City at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Sunday 25 February 2001...
, coming on as a second-half substitute and scoring in the penalty shootout. He ended his career in the country at Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, for whom he played nine times and scored once, against Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
.
At nearly 33, Marcelo returned to Portugal and first professional team Académica, amassing a further 30 first division matches in two seasons, after which he retired from the game.