_-_Alex.jpg) Alex in 2020 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1982-06-17)17 June 1982 (age 43)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Niterói, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2001 | Juventus (SP) | ||
| 2002 | Santos | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2004 | Santos | 78 | (14) |
| 2004–2012 | Chelsea | 86 | (7) |
| 2004–2007 | →PSV (loan) | 84 | (11) |
| 2012–2014 | Paris Saint-Germain | 70 | (6) |
| 2014–2016 | AC Milan | 46 | (4) |
| Total | 364 | (42) | |
| International career | |||
| 2004 | Brazil U23 | 8 | (2) |
| 2003–2008 | Brazil | 18 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa (Brazilian Portuguese:[aˈlɛksʁoˈdɾiɡuˈdʒiazdɐˈkɔstɐ]; born 17 June 1982), known asAlex, is a Brazilian former professionalfootballer who played as acentre-back. He was known for his physical strength and the power of his shot, which has gained him the nicknames of "The Tank"[3] andCanhão da Vila ("Cannon of Vila Belmiro").[4]
Having been bought by thePremier League clubChelsea in 2004, Alex was loaned to Dutch teamPSV and he won 3Eredivisie titles with them. Alex finally joined the Chelsea squad in the summer of 2007 after three years in the Netherlands.[5] In his time at Chelsea, he won theFA Cup in 2009 and aleague and FA Cup "double" in 2010, as well as reaching the2008 UEFA Champions League Final. He joinedParis Saint-Germain for £4.2 million in January 2012 and wonLigue 1 twice with the club, moving toAC Milan on the expiration of his contract in 2014 and retiring two years later.
Alex earned 18 caps forBrazil between 2003 and 2008, winning the2007 Copa América and finishing as runner-up at the2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Alex began his career withSantos of Brazil, making his first team debut in 2002 before later becoming part of the club's central pillars. Alex made his professional league debut in the 1–1 draw againstFluminense. Less than a month after his debut, Alex scored his first goal for the club in a match againstVasco da Gama on 18 September 2002. After multiple impressive performances, Alex secured his place in the team's regular starting lineup. In his first season playing, in2002, Santos won theSérie A title, their first since 1968.[citation needed]
In the 2003 season, Alex participated in 34 matches and, despite playing defense, managed to score nine goals. Also in 2003, Alex helped Santos reach thefinal of theCopa Libertadores, where Santos lost 5–1 on aggregate against Argentine sideBoca Juniors. In the second leg of Copa Libertadores Finals, Alex scored the only goal for Santos in a 3–1 loss.[citation needed]
Alex was signed by EnglishPremier League clubChelsea in 2004 on the recommendation of famedPSV and Chelsea scoutPiet de Visser, but because of potential problems in attaining awork permit, he wasloaned out to DutchEredivisie club PSV.[6]
The joint contract of Chelsea and PSV loaned Alex to the latter, with Chelsea having a €1 million buy-out clause. Alex eventually played three years at PSV, donning the number 4 jersey for theEindhoven club. While playing for PSV, he earned himself the nickname "The Tank" due to his cannonball-like free kicks and his strong physical stature.[3]
He formally joined PSV in the2004–05 season, helping the club win a domestic double of both theEredivisie championship andDutch Cup that year. In theChampions League, Alex played a key role in the PSV team that was eliminated in the semi-finals againstA.C. Milan on away goals (PSV won their home game 3–1 but had previously lost 0–2 at theSan Siro). The team eliminatedAS Monaco andOlympique Lyonnais on their way to the semi-finals.[citation needed]
Alex won a second straight Dutch league championship in the2005–06 season with PSV. Chelsea did not recall Alex, even thoughPiet de Visser and Chelsea Head of ScoutingFrank Arnesen recommended that Alex be brought over to solve the club's defensive problems.[7] Instead, Chelsea managerJosé Mourinho insisted on the signing ofKhalid Boulahrouz in place of Alex.[7] Therefore, Alex stayed a third season at PSV on loan in2006–07. He won a third straight Eredivisie title with PSV, after a dramatic final-day finish to the season in which PSV sensationally trumped bothAFC Ajax andAZ. Alex scored in aUEFA Champions League first knockout round againstArsenal for both teams in the second half, turning in anown goal past his own goalkeeperHeurelho Gomes, but compensating for it with a storming headed goal with eight minutes left to play to redeem himself and in the process ensure PSV a place in the quarter-finals.[8] He was later injured, however, and played no part in PSV'sUEFA Champions League quarter-final againstLiverpool, which PSV lost 4–0 on aggregate.[9]
In an interview with Dutch newspaperDe Telegraaf, Alex confirmed that Chelsea were in the process of getting him a work permit and that the possibilities of him joining Chelsea next season were very high.[10] Alex later confirmed that Chelsea had almost completed the process of acquiring him a work permit and that he would start the season as a Chelsea player.[11]
Alex was granted a work permit on 2 August 2007,[12][13] and completed his transfer to Chelsea after agreeing to personal terms and passing a medical, where he then signed a three-year deal with the London club on 10 August.[14][15]
On 14 August 2007, Alex was presented to the English media in a press conference with managerJosé Mourinho, where he was given shirt number 33. He made his debut on 19 August when he came on as a substitute forFlorent Malouda againstLiverpool in the 85th minute, with the teams tied at 1–1. He also played in the 0–2 defeat away atAston Villa and the 4–0 victory overHull City in theLeague Cup.[16]
Alex scored his first goal for Chelsea on 20 October 2007, a 30-yard free kick againstMiddlesbrough.[17] He scored from another free kick on 28 November in a Champions League game againstRosenborg BK.[18] He then scored in Chelsea's 4–4 draw withAston Villa, scoring his first goal atStamford Bridge from anAndriy Shevchenko pass, taking his tally for the season to three goals.[19]
Alex enjoyed his longest spell in the first team during the2008–09 season. He was given his chance due to regular starterRicardo Carvalho being injured for long periods of the campaign. He scored Chelsea's 1,000th Premier League goal againstSunderland on 1 November 2008.[20] Alex started every game for Chelsea underGuus Hiddink, who managed Alex atPSV, and also scored in anFA Cup quarter-final victory away toCoventry City.[21]
In the Champions League quarter-finals second leg at Stamford Bridge againstLiverpool, Alex scored a free-kick from 30 yards out to level the score at 2–2. The game eventually ended 4–4 and Chelsea won 7–5 on aggregate,[22] but Chelsea were infamously eliminated byBarcelona in the semi-finals.[23] On 10 May, Alex scored a header in Chelsea's 4–1Premier League win over Arsenal from aDidier Drogba free-kick.[24]
Alex played his first pre-season match against Milan in theWorld Football Challenge.[25]
On 13 October 2009, Alex signed a new four-year contract withChelsea, keeping him atStamford Bridge until the summer of 2013.[26]
Alex missed the start of the season, having sustained a groin injury on 15 August 2009.[27] He started his first game of the season in a League Cup match againstBolton Wanderers on 28 October 2009, playing the full 90 minutes. He made his firstPremier League start of the season againstPortsmouth on 16 December 2009.[28]
On 13 March 2010, he scored his first goal of the season at Stamford Bridge giving Chelsea the lead in a 4–1 league win overWest Ham United.[29]
In light of Ricardo Carvalho's departure toReal Madrid, Alex started the 2010–11 season as first-choice centre-back for Chelsea, alongsideJohn Terry. On 3 October 2010, he scored a 25-yard freekick in a 2–0 victory overArsenal atStamford Bridge. On 5 October, he was ruled out for up to three weeks after picking up a thigh injury in the final stages of Sunday's 2–0 win over Arsenal, and subsequently withdrew from the Brazil squad for the friendly matches againstIran, andUkraine.[30] Alex made his return for Chelsea where he made his return on 30 October 2010 and played 90 minutes againstBlackburn Rovers in a 2–1 win. On 1 December 2010, Alex suffered a knee injury and was out of action about three months. While rehabilitation on his injury, ManagerCarlo Ancelotti would consider signing a new defender if Alex fails to recover from knee surgery before the end of January but Alex failed to do so and Chelsea went on to signDavid Luiz from Benfica.[31] By mid March 2011, Alex made his return to training with the first-team squad.[32]
After he recovered from the injury, Alex made his return on 9 April 2011 in a match againstWigan Athletic in a 1–0 win, where he came on forPaulo Ferreira in the 75th minute. On 8 May 2011, it took a goal-costing mistake from David Luiz againstManchester United in the season-deciding match for Alex to break back into the starting line-up, getting substituted on at half time that match, and then starting and playing the full 90 minutes the following match againstNewcastle United at Stamford Bridge on 15 May 2011, where he scored a headed goal in the 82nd minute in a 2–2 draw. In the last league game of the season againstEverton, Alex started the match alongsideJohn Terry but was substituted on 70 minutes for Ferreira in their 1–0 defeat atGoodison Park. At the end of the campaign, Alex made 20 appearances and scored 2 goals in all competitions.[citation needed]
In the summer transfer window, Alex was the subject of a bid fromlocal rivalsArsenal.[33] On 20 August 2011, in a home game againstWest Bromwich Albion, a defensive mistake from Alex allowed strikerShane Long through to score four minutes into the game. In the end, however, Chelsea won 2–1. On 21 September 2011, in a League Cup tie againstFulham, Alex received a straight red card in the 49th minute after a foul onKerim Frei, which also resulted a penalty.Pajtim Kasami, however, missed Fulham's penalty after his kick was saved by back-up goalkeeperRoss Turnbull. In the end, Chelsea later won 4–3 on penalties to progress to the next round.[34] In November 2011, Alex made his last Chelsea appearance in a League Cup in a quarter-final againstLiverpool, which Chelsea lost 2–0. He started the match but committed a handball in the penalty area, which Turnbull again saved fromAndy Carroll.[citation needed]
On 3 December 2011, Alex submitted a transfer request, which was accepted.[35] He had been the subject of a bid fromQueens Park Rangers in the first transfer activity under their new managerMark Hughes. The move, however, broke down after both parties reportedly failed to agree personal terms; QPR could not match his wage demands and Alex stated he did not want to stay in England.[36][37]
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On 27 January 2012, Alex joinedParis Saint-Germain for £4.2 million[38] to reunite with his former manager Carlo Ancelotti. On his move, he publicly stated that the reason for it was thatChelsea managerAndré Villas-Boas had not given him enough playing time at the club.[39] He was given the number 13 shirt, free since the departure ofSammy Traoré.[citation needed]
On 12 February 2012, Alex made his debut for PSG in a 0–0 draw againstNice, where he made his first start before coming off forChristophe Jallet at half-time. The following week, on 19 February 2012, Alex scored a 30-yard goal from a lay-off free kick, his first goal for PSG, against Montpellier on a free-kick combination with compatriotNenê, which the result was 2–2. On 8 April 2012, Alex scored the winning goal in the 61st minute in a 2–1 win overOlympique de Marseille. On 6 November 2012, in a Champions League match againstDinamo Zagreb, Alex scored the first goal of the match, a half-volley that evaded the reach of Dinamo goalkeeperIvan Kelava after 16 minutes.[citation needed]
On 3 August 2013, Alex scored the game-winning goal with the last kick of the game in PSG's 2–1 defeat ofBordeaux in theTrophée des Champions at theStade d'Angondjé inLibreville,Gabon.[40]
On 5 June 2014, Alex signed for Milan on free transfer when his contract with PSG expired.[41] He made his competitive debut on 31 August in their first match of the newSerie A season, a 3–1 home win overLazio in which he deflectedAntonio Candreva's shot into his own net.[42] Alex scored his first Milan goal in a 3–2 loss toSassuolo on 17 May 2015. On 31 January 2016, Alex scored a diving header in theDerby della Madonnina.[43]
On 25 May 2016, club ownerSilvio Berlusconi announced his departure, along with those ofPhillippe Mexes,Kevin-Prince Boateng andMario Balotelli.[44]
In December 2016, Alex announced his retirement as a player.[45]
Alex made his debut forBrazil on 17 July 2003 againstMexico in2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Although he played underBrazil U-23 team at the tournament, the tournament was a full international tournament, hence the international cap gained was fully recognized byFIFA.[46]
He was overlooked for the2006 FIFA World Cup squad. However, after the World Cup, he earned regular call-ups with the new head coach,Dunga. He was a member of the Brazil squad that won the2007 Copa América with a 3–0 victory over arch-rivalsArgentina in the final. He was dropped from the Brazilian squad for the2009 FIFA Confederations Cup due to injuries.[citation needed]
On 11 May, he was called up to the2010 FIFA World Cup squad as one of the seven back-up players.[47]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Santos | 2002[48] | Série A | 25 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 3 | ||||
| 2003[48] | Série A | 34 | 9 | — | — | 19[a] | 5 | 6[b] | 1 | 59 | 15 | |||
| 2004[48] | Série A | 4 | 0 | — | — | 5[c] | 1 | 9[b] | 1 | 18 | 2 | |||
| Total | 63 | 12 | — | — | 24 | 6 | 15 | 2 | 102 | 20 | ||||
| PSV (loan) | 2004–05[48] | Eredivisie | 27 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | 13[d] | 2 | — | 44 | 5 | ||
| 2005–06[48] | Eredivisie | 28 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 7[d] | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 38 | 2 | ||
| 2006–07[48] | Eredivisie | 29 | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | 8[d] | 2 | 1[e] | 0 | 41 | 8 | ||
| Total | 84 | 11 | 9 | 0 | — | 28 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 123 | 15 | |||
| Chelsea | 2007–08[49] | Premier League | 28 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6[d] | 1 | — | 39 | 3 | |
| 2008–09[50] | Premier League | 24 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9[d] | 1 | — | 41 | 4 | ||
| 2009–10[51] | Premier League | 16 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[d] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 | |
| 2010–11[52] | Premier League | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[d] | 0 | — | 20 | 2 | ||
| 2011–12[53] | Premier League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3[d] | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 86 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 134 | 10 | ||
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2011–12[54] | Ligue 1 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 2 | ||
| 2012–13[54] | Ligue 1 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9[d] | 2 | — | 34 | 4 | ||
| 2013–14[54] | Ligue 1 | 31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7[d] | 0 | 1[f] | 1 | 42 | 3 | |
| Total | 70 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 92 | 9 | ||
| AC Milan | 2014–15[54] | Serie A | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 23 | 1 | |||
| 2015–16[54] | Serie A | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 25 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 46 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 48 | 4 | |||||
| Career total | 349 | 40 | 28 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 92 | 15 | 18 | 3 | 499 | 58 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 2003 | 5 | 0 |
| 2006 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 18 | 0 | |
Santos
PSV
Chelsea
Paris Saint-Germain
Brazil
Individual
Brazil squads | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
