Alexandre Gonçalves
Encyclopedia
Alexandre Henrique Gonçalves de Freitas (born 27 August 1991 in Funchal
), known as Alex or Alexi is a Portuguese
footballer. He currently plays for C.D. Santa Clara
of Portugal
, mainly as an Attacking midfielder. He can also play as a Winger and a Second striker.
, Madeira Island
. Funchal has provided Portugal with great players in the past, none more so than the 2008 FIFA Player of the Year and Real Madrid
star, Cristiano Ronaldo
. With Alex the newest possible star from Madeira Island
, and coupled with the fact that he also began his youth career with Nacional, there have been many comparisons drawn between the two players. While Cristiano Ronaldo went to Lisbon
to begin his career, Alex went to Porto
of Portugal
in 2005. Before signing a youth contract with the club, he trailed at several other major clubs in Portugal and Spain. Real Madrid
invited the player at age 13 to trial at the club, however the young player could not make the trial and therefore signed with the Portugese giants, FC Porto.
outfit Futebol Clube do Porto in 2005. He finally made his debut for the side during the 2009–10 Portuguese Liga
, when he came on for the Dragons in a 4-0 cup win. After slowing rising through the ranks at Porto, and drawing many comparisons to former and current great players, he made the bench for a 2009-10 Champions League match involving Porto. Alex did not make the field during the game however, and did not make another European appearance that season.
Before the start of the 2010-11 season, he has been more utilised in the senior team, and is expected to play a more major role in the team for the 2010 and 2011 season.
at many levels. He has played for the Under 16, 17 and 19 teams since 2005. In 2009 was part of the Portugal side that failed to make the 2009 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
. In the elite round of the qualifying Portugal were beaten by Turkey and dropped from the competition. Over that year however he improved and scored four goals in six qualifying matches in preparation for the 2010 edition of the tournament. He was selected in the 18-man squad for the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
.
Funchal
Funchal is the largest city, the municipal seat and the capital of Portugal's Autonomous Region of Madeira. The city has a population of 112,015 and has been the capital of Madeira for more than five centuries.-Etymology:...
), known as Alex or Alexi is a 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. He currently plays for C.D. Santa Clara
C.D. Santa Clara
Clube Desportivo Santa Clara is a Portuguese football club from Ponta Delgada, Azores. They are the most successful football team from the Azores islands. To date, it is the only club from the Azores islands to have competed in the top division of the Portuguese Liga, although they currently...
of 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...
, mainly as an Attacking midfielder. He can also play as a Winger and a Second striker.
Early life
Freitas was born in FunchalFunchal
Funchal is the largest city, the municipal seat and the capital of Portugal's Autonomous Region of Madeira. The city has a population of 112,015 and has been the capital of Madeira for more than five centuries.-Etymology:...
, Madeira Island
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
. Funchal has provided Portugal with great players in the past, none more so than the 2008 FIFA Player of the Year and Real Madrid
Real 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...
star, Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, OIH, , commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and is the captain of the Portuguese national team...
. With Alex the newest possible star from Madeira Island
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
, and coupled with the fact that he also began his youth career with Nacional, there have been many comparisons drawn between the two players. While Cristiano Ronaldo went to Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
to begin his career, Alex went to Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
of 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...
in 2005. Before signing a youth contract with the club, he trailed at several other major clubs in Portugal and Spain. Real Madrid
Real 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...
invited the player at age 13 to trial at the club, however the young player could not make the trial and therefore signed with the Portugese giants, FC Porto.
Football career
After spending two seasons with Nacional on his home island, Alex joined Portuguese LeaguePortuguese 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...
outfit Futebol Clube do Porto in 2005. He finally made his debut for the side during the 2009–10 Portuguese Liga
2009–10 Portuguese Liga
The 2009–10 Portuguese Liga season, officially known as the Liga Sagres due to sponsorship reasons, was the 76th season of top-tier football in Portugal. It began on 16 August 2009 and ended on 9 May 2010...
, when he came on for the Dragons in a 4-0 cup win. After slowing rising through the ranks at Porto, and drawing many comparisons to former and current great players, he made the bench for a 2009-10 Champions League match involving Porto. Alex did not make the field during the game however, and did not make another European appearance that season.
Before the start of the 2010-11 season, he has been more utilised in the senior team, and is expected to play a more major role in the team for the 2010 and 2011 season.
International
Alex has represented his nation of PortugalPortugal
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...
at many levels. He has played for the Under 16, 17 and 19 teams since 2005. In 2009 was part of the Portugal side that failed to make the 2009 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
2009 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
-Group B:---------------------Bracket:-Semi-finals:---------Final:-Top goalscorers:4 goals Nathan Delfouneso3 goals Henri Lansbury Danijel Aleksić Denys Harmash-External links:*...
. In the elite round of the qualifying Portugal were beaten by Turkey and dropped from the competition. Over that year however he improved and scored four goals in six qualifying matches in preparation for the 2010 edition of the tournament. He was selected in the 18-man squad for the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
2010 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
-Group B:---------------------Bracket:-Semi-finals:-----Final:-Goalscorers:4 goals Daniel Pacheco3 goals Zvonko Pamić Cédric Bakambu Alexandre Lacazette...
.