Cléber Santana was a Brazilian professional footballer who played from 1981 until 2016.
He played primarily as a central midfielder throughout his career.
Santana began his professional career with Sport Club do Recife in 1999.
Biography
Early Life
Cléber Santana Loureiro was born in Abreu e Lima, Pernambuco, Brazil, where he began his journey in football. He started playing professionally with Sport Club do Recife, marking the beginning of a vibrant career in Brazilian football.
Career Highlights
Santana's career spanned numerous clubs, showcasing his skills primarily as a central midfielder. After his initial stint at Sport Club do Recife, he played for E.C. Vitória and Santos FC, before moving to Japan to join Kashiwa Reysol in 2005. His big break came in July 2007 when he signed with Atlético Madrid for €6 million. During his time with Atlético, he contributed to the team's return to the UEFA Champions League after a 12-year absence, participating in 23 league matches.
In the 2008–09 season, Santana was loaned to RCD Mallorca, where he made a significant impact by scoring five goals, including a memorable winner against FC Barcelona. After returning to Atlético, he had a brief period before moving back to Brazil to play for São Paulo FC. His later career included stints at Flamengo, Avaí, and Chapecoense, where he continued to demonstrate his midfield prowess until his untimely passing in 2016.
Legacy
Cléber Santana's legacy is marked by his contributions to various clubs and his honors, including the Copa Nordeste and Campeonato Paulista titles. He was also part of the Atlético Madrid squad that won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2007. His posthumous recognition includes the Copa Sudamericana title with Chapecoense in 2016, highlighting his lasting impact on Brazilian football.
Collected from open sources (3) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Career & Clubs
Born in Abreu e Lima, Pernambuco, Santana started playing professionally with Sport Club do Recife. He then went on to represent in Brazil Esporte Clube Vitória and Santos FC, punctuated by a stint with J1 League's Kashiwa Reysol in 2005. In July 2007, Santana was signed from Santos by Atlético Madrid, on a three-year contract worth €6 million. Although not an undisputed starter, he still contributed with 23 league matches as the Colchoneros returned to the UEFA Champions League after a 12-year hiatus, being played mostly after Maniche's loan departure to Inter Milan in January 2008. For the 2008–09 season, Santana was loaned to fellow La Liga club RCD Mallorca. On 9 November 2008 he scored his first goal for the Balearic Islands team, in a 3–3 home draw against Athletic Bilbao, and finished the campaign (in which he featured heavily, alongside another player loaned by Atlético, José Manuel Jurado) with five, which also included the 2–1 winner against already crowned champions FC Barcelona on 17 May 2009, and a solo effort the following week, a 3–1 triumph at Real Madrid. Cléber then returned to Atlético, being used sparingly but managing to net in a 2–2 home draw against UD Almería, on 23 September 2009. In late January of the following year, even though he had renewed his contract until June 2012, he returned to his country, signing with São Paulo FC. On 21 September 2012, Santana was announced at Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, claiming the team could "not afford to think…
- Club
- Avaí Futebol Clube (2012–2012)
- Club
- E.C. Vitória (2004–2004)
- Club
- São Paulo FC (2010–2012)
- Club
- Santos F.C. (2006–2007)
- Club
- Clube de Regatas do Flamengo (2012–2012)
- Club
- Kashiwa Reysol (2005–2005)
- Club
- Club Athletico Paranaense (2011–2011)
- Club
- RCD Mallorca (2008–2009)
- Club
- Criciúma Esporte Clube (2014–2015)
- Club
- Clube de Regatas do Flamengo (2013–2013)
- Club
- Avaí Futebol Clube (2013–2014)
- National team
- Brazil
- Club
- Sport Club do Recife (1999–2003)
- Club
- Associação Chapecoense de Futebol (2015–2016)
- Club
- Atlético Madrid (2007–2010)
Legacy
Sport
Copa Nordeste: 2000 Campeonato Pernambucano: 2000 Vitória
Campeonato Baiano: 2004 Santos
Campeonato Paulista: 2006, 2007 Atlético Madrid
UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2007 Copa del Rey: Runner-up 2009–10 Avaí
Campeonato Catarinense: 2012 Chapecoense
Copa Sudamericana: 2016 (posthumously) Campeonato Catarinense: 2016
Clubs
- Sport Club do Recife1999–2003
- E.C. Vitória2004–2004
- Kashiwa Reysol2005–2005
- Santos F.C.2006–2007
- Atlético Madrid2007–2010
- RCD Mallorca2008–2009
- São Paulo FC2010–2012
- Club Athletico Paranaense2011–2011
- Avaí Futebol Clube2012–2012
- Clube de Regatas do Flamengo2012–2012
- Avaí Futebol Clube2013–2014
- Clube de Regatas do Flamengo2013–2013
- Criciúma Esporte Clube2014–2015
- Associação Chapecoense de Futebol2015–2016
Played together with
- Abass LawallAtlético Madrid · 2000–2001
- Abdelkader OueslatiAtlético Madrid · 2012–2015
Abdoul CamaraRCD Mallorca · 2014–2014
Abdoulwhaid SissokoRCD Mallorca · 2015- Abdulla Al KamaliClub Athletico Paranaense · 2008–2009
- Abdón PratsRCD Mallorca · 2012–2015
- Abel LobatónClub Athletico Paranaense · 2000–2000
Abel ResinoAtlético Madrid · 1986–1995- Abel VerônicoSantos F.C.
Abner ViníciusClub Athletico Paranaense- Abram RaselemaneSantos F.C. · 1999–2001
- Acleisson ScaionAvaí Futebol Clube · 2011–2011
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Cléber Santana Loureiro was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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