Alessandro Santos (三都主 アレサンドロ,Santosu Aresandoro; formerlyAlessandro dos Santos; born 20 July 1977), often known asAlex, is a former professionalfootballer who played as amidfielder. Born in Brazil, he became a Japanese citizen and made 82 appearances for theJapan national team.
Santos was born inMaringá inParaná and moved to Japan in 1994 at the age of sixteen. He enrolled in Meitoku Gijuku High School inKōchi and played football for the school club. After graduating from the school, he joined theJ1 League teamShimizu S-Pulse in 1997. In 1999, the club won the second place and he received the J.League Player of the Year.[1] In Asia, the club won the champions1999–2000 Asian Cup Winners' Cup and third place2000–01 Asian Cup Winners' Cup.
In August 2002, Santos agreed to join EnglishPremier League clubCharlton Athletic. But he was denied a work permit by theHome Office because he had not made the minimum number of national team appearances required for players from outside theEuropean Union and returned to Shimizu for the remainder of the season.[2] In January 2004, he left Shimizu to join theUrawa Reds. They would come in second place atJ1 League for two consecutive seasons in (2004,2005). The club won the2006 J1 League title.
In January 2007, Santos was loaned out toRed Bull Salzburg.[3] He went back to Urawa in January 2008. He received a serious injury in a test match and had only one appearance in this season. In July 2009, he agreed to move toNagoya Grampus.[4] He made 55 appearances for the club, before joiningJ2 League sideTochigi SC for the 2013 season. He made 25 appearances there, scoring twice. In January 2014, he joined fellow J2 League teamFC Gifu.
AfterZico took over as the national team manager, Santos was used on the left side of the Japanese lineup, as a full-back in a4-4-2 formation or a midfielder in a3-5-2 formation. He played in all 6 matches of the2004 Asian Cup; Japan won. In May 2006 he was selected in the Japan squad for the2006 World Cup, providing an assist forKeiji Tamada in a group stage match against his former countryBrazil. Until 1982, he played 82 games and scored 7 goals for Japan.[5]
