_2008.jpg) Edu as aBetis player in 2008 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luís Eduardo Schmidt[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1979-01-10)10 January 1979 (age 46)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Jaú,Brazil[1] | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Forward /Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1996–1997 | XV Jaú | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–2000 | São Paulo | 11 | (0) |
| 2000–2004 | Celta | 117 | (27) |
| 2004–2009 | Betis | 136 | (36) |
| 2009–2010 | Internacional | 25 | (3) |
| 2011 | Vitória | 5 | (1) |
| 2012 | Colorado Rapids | 9 | (0) |
| Total | 303 | (67) | |
| International career | |||
| 1999–2000 | Brazil U23 | 14 | (8) |
| 2000 | Brazil | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Luís Eduardo Schmidt (born 10 January 1979), commonly known asEdu, is a Brazilian retiredfootballer.
A versatilemidfielder andforward, he played most of his professional career in Spain – helping bothCelta andBetis to their first-everChampions League participation – amassingLa Liga totals of 253 matches and 63 goals in nine years.
He started his career withSão Paulo.
Born inJaú,São Paulo, Edu made only 11Série A appearances forSão Paulo FC over the course of three seasons, then transferred toSpain'sRC Celta de Vigo for2000–01. Even though he only scored three goals during his first year, he went on to become one of theGalician side's most important elements in the subsequentLa Liga campaigns.[2]
Hindered by injuries throughout2003–04, Edu also played a small part in Celta'srun in theUEFA Champions League, netting once againstArsenal in around-of-16 home defeat (2–3). Upon the club's relegation he moved toReal Betis, spending the first two seasons on loan.[3]
Edu made a huge impression duringhis first year inAndalusia, as his partnership with countrymanRicardo Oliveira featured strongly in the success of the club, whoqualified to its first Champions League. He finished the campaign with 11 goals in 32 league appearances, with the team alsowinning theCopa del Rey.
In his second year, Edu only scored in three league matches, but started it by scoring alast-minute goal againstAS Monaco FC in the Champions League third qualifying round, as theVerdiblancos went on to win 3–2 on aggregate.[4][5]
After two seasons, Edu was officially signed for€2,000,000 in 2006. On the final day of2006–07 he scored twice in the final ten minutes in a 2–0 win atRacing de Santander, which proved instrumental in avoiding relegation to thesecond division.[6] Inthe following season, as Betis again battled relegation, he finished as the club's top scorer at 12; two of those came on 29 March 2008 as he netted the first and the last for his team in a 3–2 home win againstFC Barcelona, who led 2–0 athalf-time.[7]
Edu appeared very rarely in the2008–09 campaign due to injuries and Betis were relegated, with the played being released subsequently. Shortly after, he returned to Brazil after a nine-year absence and signed a two-year contract withSport Club Internacional.[8]
On 2 June 2011, aged 32, Edu joinedEsporte Clube Vitória on afree transfer. On 26 April of the following year he signed forColorado Rapids in the United States,[9] being released by theMajor League Soccer club on 16 November.[10]
Edu made hisBrazil debut againstThailand, on 23 February 2000. It would be his onlycap for the full side.[11]
Late in the summer, Edu scored twice at the2000 Summer Olympics, asthe country wasousted in the quarter-finals.[12]
Betis
Brazil U23
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