Denílson de Oliveira Araújo
Encyclopedia
Denílson de Oliveira Araújo (born 24 August 1977 in Diadema), commonly known as Denílson, is a Brazilian former footballer, who played mostly as a left winger. He played the 1998
and the 2002
FIFA World Cup
s with Brazil
, finishing in second place and as a champion respectively in them.
Denílson began his career at São Paulo FC, before becoming the world's most expensive footballer when he moved to Real Betis
for £21.5.million in 1998. After being sold by Betis in 2005, he has played for numerous clubs worldwide.
He has been capped 68 times for the Brazilian national team, scoring ten goals. His most recent international match was in 2003.
Currently, Denílson is a football commentator
for Rede Bandeirantes
.
paid São Paulo FC £21.5 million for his services. Denílson had been with São Paulo since 1995. Real Betis had been impressed by Denílson's performance at the Copa América 1997
.
In 1999—2000, after Real Betis
had remarkably been relegated to the Segunda División
, Denílson went on a brief loan to Flamengo
. After Denílson became a World Cup
winner in 2002, Real Betis sold the Brazilian in 2005 to French club Girondins de Bordeaux
for an undisclosed amount, four seasons before his contract was due to expire. His performance for the Seville club had been disappointing and most fans considered him a liability at this stage. At the time of the transfer, he was no longer included in the Betis squad.
Despite a slow start at Bordeaux, Denílson managed to find his form in the second part of the season, but his excessively high wage demands prevented the French club from extending his contract. His contract expired in 2006, and he had been linked with free transfers to Tottenham Hotspur
, Manisaspor and Celtic
. Even with UEFA
Champions League
football next season, Bordeaux
struggled to match the winger's wage demands, and he left to sign for Saudi Arabia
's Al-Nasr
. After making only 15 appearances with the club, Denílson negotiated a move to FC Dallas
of Major League Soccer
, becoming FC Dallas' designated player.
On 1 September, Denílson made his MLS debut, entering in the 55th minute against D.C. United
. On 8 September, Denílson made his first MLS start as FC Dallas hosted Toronto FC
at Pizza Hut Park
. Denílson scored his first MLS goal from the penalty spot in the 36th minute of the match; that goal stood up to be the winner as FC Dallas defeated TFC by a 2—0 score line.
After scoring only one goal with no assists in 7 matches, Denílson was excluded from Dallas' squad for their appearance in the final of the US Open Cup, raising questions of whether he would remain with the club following the season (even though Open Cup regulations allow no more than five foreign players on the game-day roster). Further fueling speculation, head coach Steve Morrow
said Denílson would need to earn a spot in the starting lineup like everybody else. Dallas goalkeeper Darío Sala
said the team was having problems adjusting to a change in scheme to accommodate Denílson.
Following the MLS season, FC Dallas decided not to pick up its option on Denílson for the 2008 season, but stated their desire to resign the winger at a lower salary. In February 2008, Denílson signed a 1-year performance-based contract with Palmeiras
, hoping the club structure and experienced coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo
would help him recover his best football as well as win titles. He was unable to make the starting squad, spending most of the season as a bench option. However, Denílson helped Palmeiras to win the São Paulo State Championship and take a Libertadores Cup seat by finishing 4th in the Brazilian Série A.
On 6 January 2009, Denílson was taken on trial by English Premier League side Bolton Wanderers
with a chance to sign a contract until the end of the season. According to Bolton Wanderers manager Gary Megson
, Denílson's arrival has drawn attention from football clubs around the world, who have been alerted to his status as a free agent, however Bolton have now said they are not interested in signing him. Denílson has recently admitted: "I want to play in Europe, but I am not in a rush. I have received proposals from England, Greece, Turkey
, and Germany. And I am studying them. I understand that this is the time to return to European football, but if I am not convinced by any offer I hope to continue in Brazil, where there are also clubs interested in me."
After terminating his contract with Palmeiras, the 31-year-old forward has signed a three month deal with Itumbiara
. He was then linked to the Australian A-League
, with Perth Glory.
On 2 June 2009, Denilson signed a six month contract with Vietnamese club Xi Măng Hải Phòng earning $5.5m, a deal that made the Brazilian the V-League's highest paid player in its history. After much speculation about Denílson's anticipated debut for Xi Măng Hải Phòng, on 21 June 2009, he finally played his first game and scored from a free-kick just two minutes into the game against Hoàng Anh Gia Lai
. After only three weeks at the club he quit, playing just half a match and scoring one goal for the club, due to injury.
On January 2010, Denilson signed a two-year contract with the Greek club AO Kavala. Kavala released him from his contract in April, after just three months and no matches for the team.
and as of 2005, Denílson has been capped
61 times for Brazil
, scoring nine goals. Denilson as a member of Seleção
, won the 1997 Copa América and the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
. After a second place finish at the 1998 World Cup
, he made five substitute appearances en route to become a World Cup winner after Brazil won the tournament in Japan and South Korea in 2002
. However, he fell out of favour when Carlos Alberto Parreira
became the Brazil coach in 2003 and was not included in the 2006 squad.
Brazil
Real Betis
Palmeiras
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 the 2002
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
s with Brazil
Brazil 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...
, finishing in second place and as a champion respectively in them.
Denílson began his career at São Paulo FC, before becoming the world's most expensive footballer when he moved to Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
for £21.5.million in 1998. After being sold by Betis in 2005, he has played for numerous clubs worldwide.
He has been capped 68 times for the Brazilian national team, scoring ten goals. His most recent international match was in 2003.
Currently, Denílson is a football commentator
Sports commentator
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
for Rede Bandeirantes
Rede Bandeirantes
Rede Bandeirantes , officially nicknamed Band or Band Network, is a television network from Brazil, based in São Paulo. Part of the Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação , it aired for the first time in 1967...
.
Club career
Denílson broke the world record transfer fee when Real BetisReal Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
paid São Paulo FC £21.5 million for his services. Denílson had been with São Paulo since 1995. Real Betis had been impressed by Denílson's performance at the Copa América 1997
Copa América 1997
Bolivia hosted the Copa América for the second time in its 38th edition. It was held from June 11 to June 29, 1997. It was organised by CONMEBOL, South America's football governing body.There is no qualifying for the final tournament...
.
In 1999—2000, after Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
had remarkably been relegated to the Segunda División
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:...
, Denílson went on a brief loan to 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...
. After Denílson became a World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
winner in 2002, Real Betis sold the Brazilian in 2005 to French club Girondins de Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
for an undisclosed amount, four seasons before his contract was due to expire. His performance for the Seville club had been disappointing and most fans considered him a liability at this stage. At the time of the transfer, he was no longer included in the Betis squad.
Despite a slow start at Bordeaux, Denílson managed to find his form in the second part of the season, but his excessively high wage demands prevented the French club from extending his contract. His contract expired in 2006, and he had been linked with free transfers to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, Manisaspor and Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. Even with UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
football next season, Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
struggled to match the winger's wage demands, and he left to sign for Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
's Al-Nasr
Al-Nasr
Al Nassr FC is a Saudi Arabian football club based in Riyadh. Formed in 1955 the club plays its home games at King Fahd Stadium and Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium. Its home colours are yellow and blue.-History:...
. After making only 15 appearances with the club, Denílson negotiated a move to FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, becoming FC Dallas' designated player.
On 1 September, Denílson made his MLS debut, entering in the 55th minute against D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
. On 8 September, Denílson made his first MLS start as FC Dallas hosted Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
at Pizza Hut Park
Pizza Hut Park
Pizza Hut Park is a soccer-specific stadium with a 21,193-seat capacity, built and owned by the city of Frisco, Texas. Its primary tenant is Major League Soccer team FC Dallas, which relocated from the Cotton Bowl in central Dallas to the fast-growing suburb...
. Denílson scored his first MLS goal from the penalty spot in the 36th minute of the match; that goal stood up to be the winner as FC Dallas defeated TFC by a 2—0 score line.
After scoring only one goal with no assists in 7 matches, Denílson was excluded from Dallas' squad for their appearance in the final of the US Open Cup, raising questions of whether he would remain with the club following the season (even though Open Cup regulations allow no more than five foreign players on the game-day roster). Further fueling speculation, head coach Steve Morrow
Steve Morrow
Stephen Joseph "Steve" Morrow is a Northern Irish former football player. He is currently International Partnerships Performance Supervisor at Arsenal Football Club, where he also played for much of the 1990s.-Playing career:...
said Denílson would need to earn a spot in the starting lineup like everybody else. Dallas goalkeeper Darío Sala
Darío Sala
Darío Sala is a retired Argentine footballer now working as a player agent.-Early life:Sala was born into a working-class family in Córdoba. He aspired to be a soldier and attended a top military prep school at age 11. On weekends, Sala returned to his home to sell churros with his family outside...
said the team was having problems adjusting to a change in scheme to accommodate Denílson.
Following the MLS season, FC Dallas decided not to pick up its option on Denílson for the 2008 season, but stated their desire to resign the winger at a lower salary. In February 2008, Denílson signed a 1-year performance-based contract with Palmeiras
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras is a Brazilian football club from São Paulo. The club was founded on August 26, 1914, as Palestra Italia but changed to the current name on September 14, 1942...
, hoping the club structure and experienced coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo
Vanderlei Luxemburgo
Vanderlei Luxemburgo da Silva , better known as Vanderlei Luxemburgo, is a Brazilian football manager and former football player. He holds the distinction of being the most successful manager in the history of Brazil's Série A, with 5 league titles...
would help him recover his best football as well as win titles. He was unable to make the starting squad, spending most of the season as a bench option. However, Denílson helped Palmeiras to win the São Paulo State Championship and take a Libertadores Cup seat by finishing 4th in the Brazilian Série A.
On 6 January 2009, Denílson was taken on trial by English Premier League side Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
with a chance to sign a contract until the end of the season. According to Bolton Wanderers manager Gary Megson
Gary Megson
Gary John Megson is an English former football player and is currently manager of Sheffield Wednesday.He has previously managed Norwich City, Blackpool, Stockport County, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City and Bolton Wanderers...
, Denílson's arrival has drawn attention from football clubs around the world, who have been alerted to his status as a free agent, however Bolton have now said they are not interested in signing him. Denílson has recently admitted: "I want to play in Europe, but I am not in a rush. I have received proposals from England, Greece, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, and Germany. And I am studying them. I understand that this is the time to return to European football, but if I am not convinced by any offer I hope to continue in Brazil, where there are also clubs interested in me."
After terminating his contract with Palmeiras, the 31-year-old forward has signed a three month deal with Itumbiara
Itumbiara Esporte Clube
Itumbiara Esporte Clube, usually known simply as Itumbiara is a Brazilian football club from Itumbiara, Goiás state. The club competed in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A in 1979 and won the state championship in 2008.-History:...
. He was then linked to the Australian A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
, with Perth Glory.
On 2 June 2009, Denilson signed a six month contract with Vietnamese club Xi Măng Hải Phòng earning $5.5m, a deal that made the Brazilian the V-League's highest paid player in its history. After much speculation about Denílson's anticipated debut for Xi Măng Hải Phòng, on 21 June 2009, he finally played his first game and scored from a free-kick just two minutes into the game against Hoàng Anh Gia Lai
Hoang Anh Gia Lai
Hoàng Anh Gia Lai is a Vietnamese soccer club based in Pleiku. They play in the top division in Vietnamese soccer. Their home stadium is Pleiku Stadium.The team signed an agreement with Arsenal F.C...
. After only three weeks at the club he quit, playing just half a match and scoring one goal for the club, due to injury.
On January 2010, Denilson signed a two-year contract with the Greek club AO Kavala. Kavala released him from his contract in April, after just three months and no matches for the team.
International level
Since his debut in November 1996 against CameroonCameroon national football team
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...
and as of 2005, Denílson has been capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
61 times for Brazil
Brazil 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...
, scoring nine goals. Denilson as a member of Seleção
Brazil 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...
, won the 1997 Copa América and the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
-Group B:---------------------Knockout stage:-Semi-finals:-----Third place play-off:-Final:-Awards:-Top scorers:7 goals Romário5 goals Vladimír Šmicer4 goals Ronaldo-References:...
. After a second place finish at the 1998 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...
, he made five substitute appearances en route to become a World Cup winner after Brazil won the tournament in Japan and South Korea in 2002
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
. However, he fell out of favour when Carlos Alberto Parreira
Carlos Alberto Parreira
Carlos Alberto Gomes Parreira is a Brazilian former football manager. He managed Brazil to championships at the 1994 World Cup, the 2004 Copa América, and the 2005 Confederations Cup...
became the Brazil coach in 2003 and was not included in the 2006 squad.
Honours
São Paulo- Copa ConmebolCopa CONMEBOLThe Copa CONMEBOL was an annual football cup competition organized by CONMEBOL between 1992 and 1999 for eligible South American football clubs. During its time of existence, it was the third most prestigious South American club football contest after the Copa Libertadores and Supercopa...
: 1994 - São Paulo State Championship: 1998
Brazil
Brazil 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...
- Copa AméricaCopa 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 - FIFA Confederations CupFIFA Confederations CupThe FIFA Confederations Cup is an association football tournament for national teams, currently held every four years by FIFA. It is contested by the winners of each of the six FIFA confederation championships , along with the FIFA World Cup winner and the host nation, to bring the number of teams...
: 1997 - FIFA World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
: 2002
Real Betis
- Ramón de Carranza TrophyRamón de Carranza TrophyThe Ramón de Carranza Trophy is a pre-season football tournament organised by Cádiz CF, in memory of its former president, Ramón de Carranza - after whom their stadium is named as well....
: 1999 e 2001 - Copa del ReyCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 2005
Palmeiras
- São Paulo State Championship: 2008Campeonato Paulista 2008The 2008 Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Profissional da Primeira Divisão - Série A1 is the 107th season of São Paulo's top-flight professional football league. The season began on January 16 and ended on May 4.-Format:...