Françoaldo Sena de Souza
França is a Brazilian former professional footballer known for his role as a striker.
He scored an impressive 182 goals in 323 appearances for São Paulo FC during his six-year stay.
França was the top scorer in the Campeonato Paulista in both 1998 and 2000, with 12 and 18 goals respectively.
Biography
Early Life
Françoaldo Sena de Souza, commonly known as França, was born in Codó, Maranhão, Brazil. He began his football journey at a young age, starting his senior career with Nacional Futebol Clube in 1993 before moving to Esporte Clube XV de Novembro in 1994.
Career
França's breakthrough came in 1996 when he joined São Paulo FC, a powerhouse in Brazilian football. During his six-year tenure at the club, he made a significant impact, scoring 182 goals in 323 appearances, making him the fourth all-time leading scorer at the time of his departure. He was recognized as the league's top scorer in the Campeonato Paulista in both 1998 and 2000, netting 12 and 18 goals respectively. In 2002, he made a move to Europe, signing with Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Germany. Although his first season was challenging due to competition for places, he rebounded in the 2003-04 season, finishing with 14 goals and leading the league with 13 assists.
After his stint in Germany, França transitioned to Japan, where he played for Kashiwa Reysol from 2005 to 2010, experiencing both relegation and promotion during his time there. He concluded his professional playing career with a brief spell at Yokohama FC in 2011.
International Career
On the international stage, França represented the Brazil national team, earning eight caps between 2000 and 2002. He scored once for his country, with his only goal coming in a friendly match against England in May 2000. Despite his contributions, he was not selected for any major tournaments.
Legacy
França's legacy includes significant honors with São Paulo, winning the Campeonato Paulista in 1998 and 2000, and the Copa Master de CONMEBOL in 1996. He also helped Kashiwa Reysol secure the J.League Division 2 title in 2010, marking a successful end to his playing career.
Collected from open sources (2) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Career & Clubs
França was born in Codó, Maranhão. After his senior beginnings with lowly Nacional Futebol Clube and Esporte Clube XV de Novembro (Jaú), he moved in 1996 to national powerhouse São Paulo FC, where he proceeded to net eight goals overall in his debut year – even though he did not start regularly – and 182 goals in 323 games during his six-year stay (fourth all-time at the time of his departure); in 1998 and 2000, as the club won the Campeonato Paulista, the player was crowned the league's best scorer, respectively at 12 and 18. In the 2002 summer, França signed with Bayer 04 Leverkusen from Germany as the team sought replacements for aging Ulf Kirsten (37). In his debut season in the Bundesliga he appeared scarcely, barred by Dimitar Berbatov and Oliver Neuville, netting only once, in his league debut in a 2–4 home loss against VfL Bochum; In 2003–04, although the pair remained at the BayArena, França received much more playing time, and finished just two goals short of the Bulgarian (14 to 16, in as many matches), adding to this a league-best 13 assists. Additionally, Neuville left the following summer. França moved to Japan subsequently, joining Kashiwa Reysol, experiencing one relegation and one promotion in his first two years and leaving the club in 2010, aged 34.
França collected eight caps for Brazil during two years, but was never selected to any major tournament. He scored once for the national team; his only goal coming in a friendly against England in May 2000.
- Club
- Esporte Clube XV de Novembro (1994–1995)
- Club
- Nacional Futebol Clube (1993–1993)
- Club
- Brazil men's national football team (2000–2002)
- League
- Bundesliga
- National team
- Brazil
- Club
- São Paulo FC (1996–2002)
- Club
- Yokohama FC (2011–2011)
- Club
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen (2002–2005)
- Club
- Kashiwa Reysol (2005–2010)
Legacy
São Paulo
Campeonato Paulista: 1998, 2000 Torneio Rio – São Paulo: 2001 Copa Master de CONMEBOL: 1996 Kashiwa Reysol
J.League Division 2: 2010
Clubs
Played together with
Aaron MokoenaBayer 04 Leverkusen · 1998–1999
Abel BragaBrazil men's national football team · 1978–1978- Acácio Cordeiro BarretoBrazil men's national football team · 1986–1990
Adam HložekBayer 04 Leverkusen · 2022–2024- Adam LedwońBayer 04 Leverkusen · 1998–1999
Adam MatysekBayer 04 Leverkusen · 1998–2001- Adaílton dos Santos da SilvaYokohama FC
- Adebayo AdigunKashiwa Reysol · 2009–2010
Ademilson Braga Bispo JuniorSão Paulo FC · 2012
Ademir da GuiaBrazil men's national football team · 1965–1974
Ademir de MenezesBrazil men's national football team · 1945–1953- Ademir Roque KaeferBrazil men's national football team · 1988–1988
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Françoaldo Sena de Souza, commonly known as França, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a striker.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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