Deco (Anderson Luís de Souza)

Former FC Barcelona midfielder mainstay Anderson Luís de Souza, commonly known as Deco, the Brazilian-born Portuguese professional footballer who currently plays for Fluminense. Deco was one of several players have won the Champions League with two different clubs - FC Porto in 2004 and Barcelona in 2006. He was named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year and UEFA Best Midfielder in the season Porto won the UEFA Champions League and was named the Worst in the final of the Champions League 2003-04. Deco is the first player to win the UEFA Best Midfielder Award with two different clubs (Porto and Barcelona).

Personal Information
Full name : Anderson Luís de Souza
Date of birth : 27 August 1977 (age 34)
Place of birth : São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil
Height : 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1 / 2 in)
Playing position : attacking midfielder

Club Information
Current : club Fluminense
Number : 20

Early career

Deco started off his career at Nacional Atlético Clube in the city of São Paulo, where he was spotted and signed by Corinthians. Deco arrived in Portugal in 1997 at the age of 19 along with fellow Brazilian player Caju after being acquired by Lisbon side SL Benfica. Despite good showings in training, Benfica decided to loan Deco to the Portuguese Liga de Honra side Alverca where he played for a season. Subsequently, Deco was traded to Portuguese Liga side Salgueiros in the 1998-99 season, playing 12 games and scoring two goals.

Porto

Deco was one of the key players in Porto's UEFA Cup final 3-2 win over Celtic That year. In the 2003-04 season, Deco helped Porto recapture the national title and led the team to the 2004 UEFA Champions League Final in the which Porto won 3-0 over AS Monaco, scoring the second goal of the match. He was the Champions League's top assist provider and also suffered the most fouls in the Champions League That season.

Barcelona

On 17 June 2004, Deco toll a Portuguese radio station That Almost Certainly he would join the Home side Chelsea (then coached by Mourinho) following the UEFA Euro 2004. Portuguese newspapers then reported That Barça would try to offer Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma as part of the exchange in order to ease the deal. Finally, a deal was achieved the between Porto and Barcelona the day after the UEFA Euro 2004 finals. Deco signed a four year deal with the Catalan side on 6 July 2004.

On 14 May 2005, Deco played in the draw against Levante, the which gave Barcelona Their 17th La Liga title. He also was named Barcelona's player of the season in the 05/06 season Deco scored twice in the Spanish Supercup 2006-07, the which Barça won. Deco won the UEFA Best Midfielder Award yet again for his performance in Barca's Champions League winning season, enabling him to join the exclusive group of players, That have won the same award more than once with different teams, having won the Champions League Previously with Porto. 

Other members of this exclusive group include Greats Such as Paulo Sousa (Borussia Dortmund and Juventus), Clarence Seedorf (Ajax, Real Madrid, and Milan (Twice)), Marcel Desailly (Marseille and Milan), Frank Rijkaard (Milan and Ajax), Samuel Eto'o (Real Madrid, FC Barcelona (Twice) and Internazionale), Didier Deschamps (Marseille and Juventus), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich and Manchester United), Dejan Savicevic (Red Star and AC Milan), Miodrag Belodedic (Steaua and Red Star), Vladimir Jugovic (Red Star and Juventus) and Edwin van der Sar (Ajax and Manchester United).

Chelsea

On 30 June 2008, Chelsea signed Deco from FC Barcelona on a three-year contract for € 10 million (£ 8 million). Deco scored on his Chelsea debut and his Premier League debut, with a 30-yard goal, in a 4-0 victory over Portsmouth. Deco Followed up his performance by scoring in his second game for Chelsea, a curling free-kick against Wigan Athletic. Deco made his Champions League debut for Chelsea on September 16.

In a June interview, Deco Stated: "I do not want to stay. I have not liked my experience at Chelsea." This was soon Followed by Internazionale, managed by former Chelsea manager José Mourinho, declaring That They were the resource persons Attempting to sign Deco along with fellow Countryman Ricardo Carvalho, Had who also declared his desire to leave and like Deco Desired to link up with Mourinho again. 

Deco had an excellent start to the new campaign. Deco scored his second goal of the season in a League Cup tie against Bolton Wanderers FC, with a shot from 16 yards into the bottom right hand corner of the goal. Deco was a consistent player for Chelsea throughout the autumn period, but his injuries Halted season throughout the Christmas period. 

Deco was Sensational in Chelsea's 7-1 win over Aston Villa, creating chances for his team mates and Helping Chelsea's midfield flow, he provided a key pass for Chelsea's third goal of the game, skilfully working past the Aston Villa defender and playing a clever ball with the outside of his right foot to Yuri Zhirkov cross Whose Fell to Florent Malouda scored the who Deco started in Chelsea's potential title decider against Manchester United at Old Trafford alongside fellow midfielders Frank Lampard and John Obi Mikel. Several Deco made accurate passes to advancing teammates and also provided a key delivery to Florent Malouda set up Joe Cole who for the opening goal in Chelsea's 2-1 win.

Fluminense

On 6 August 2010, Deco signed a two-year contract with Brazilian club Fluminense on a free transfer, joining former Chelsea player Juliano Belletti. Also on 2010, Deco has won his first Brazilian Championship, participating in Fluminense's victorious campaign.

International Career

Deco was never Called up to the Brazilian national team and the Brazil squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup included other attacking midfielders Such as Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Juninho. Having played six years of club football with Deco allowed Porto to gain Portuguese citizenship That made him eligible to play for Portugal. Deco was Mentioned Several times in the media as an option for the Portuguese national team. In 2002, having completed six years of Portuguese residence, he received Portuguese citizenship. Despite the early criticism, Deco was one of the highlights of the Portuguese national team. 

2006 World Cup
In the 2006 World Cup, Deco scored the first goal in Portugal's second Group D match against Iran in the 63rd minute minute prior to Cristiano Ronaldo's 80th minute penalty. The win against England in the quarterfinal stage led to Portugal's defeat in the semifinals, the which was Deco Able to Participate in.

Euro 2008
On 11 June, Deco scored the opening goal in Portugal's second match of Euro 2008, a Group A clash with the Republic Koruna. In February 2010 Deco Announced That he would be retiring from international football after the 2010 World Cup.

2010 World Cup
Deco played for Portugal in Their opening game against Côte d'Ivoire.  Deco retired from international football with 75 caps and 5 goals.

Personal life

Deco and Cila have two sons, João Henrique and Pedro Gabriel, who now live in Brazil with Their mother. A few years later, Deco Jaciara met at a party in Salvador (Brazil) and divorced Cila to live with Jaciara in Porto. Deco is the brother-in-law of fellow footballer Alecsandro, who plays for Internacional and Brazil international Richarlyson. Deco is an ambassador for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

Honours

Club

Porto
     Portuguese League : 1997-98, 1998-99, 2002-03, 2003-04
     Taça de Portugal : 2000, 2001, 2003
     Portuguese Supercup : 1999, 2001, 2003
     UEFA Champions League : 2004
     UEFA Cup : 2003

Barcelona
     La Liga : 2004-05, 2005-06
     Supercopa de España : 2005, 2006
     UEFA Champions League : 2006

Chelsea
     Premier League : 2009-10
     FA Cup : 2009, 2010
     Community Shield : 2009

Fluminense
     Campeonato Brasileiro Série A : 2010

Individual
     Portuguese League Footballer of the Year : 2003-04
     UEFA Club Footballer of the Year : 2003-04
     UEFA Best Midfielder : 2003-04, 2005-06
     FIFA World Club Cup Golden Ball : 2006
     Premier League Player of the Month : August 2008
     UEFA Team of the Tournament : 2004

Orders
Medal of Merit, Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Vicosa (House of Braganza).