Geraldo Alves

Portugal

Born in Minas Gerais in Brazil to a Portuguese mother, Alves moved to Póvoa de Varzim when he was six months old. He finished his football development at Varzim, signing with Primeira Liga giants Benfica in 1999 and going on to appear in six competitive games over the course of two seasons while being mainly registered with the reserves in the third division, where he was also deployed as a defensive midfielder. Alves moved to fellow top-flight club Beira-Mar in January 2002, where he was sparingly used. He then represented Gil Vicente and Paços de Ferreira also on loan, experiencing his most steady period at the latter after a permanent transfer; in the 2006–07 campaign, as they achieved a first-ever qualification for the UEFA Cup, he played 28 matches and added two goals, all in a 2–1 home win over Nacional on 7 April 2007.

AEK Athens

On 5 June 2007, Alves signed a three-year deal worth €1.3 million with AEK Athens, where his younger brother Bruno had already played on loan from Porto. In a 20 September UEFA Cup match against Red Bull Salzburg, he scored his first goal for the side in a 3–0 home win (3–1 on aggregate). A starter in his debut season, Alves lost his spot in 2008–09 to Swedish international Daniel Majstorović, and reportedly was also unhappy for not being played in his natural position.

Romania

On 5 July 2010, Alves joined Steaua București on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract. He made his Liga I debut 20 days…

Alves' younger brother, Bruno, was also a footballer and a central defender; he had paternal Brazilian ancestry, his father Washington having spent ten years of his career in Portugal – mainly with Varzim – where his children were born. The youngest sibling, Júlio, was also a footballer, and their uncle Geraldo Assoviador also played the sport. Alves married a Romanian woman, with the couple having one daughter.

Paços Ferreira

Segunda Liga: 2004–05 AEK Athens

Greek Football Cup runner-up: 2008–09 Steaua București

Cupa României: 2010–11 Petrolul Ploiești

Cupa României: 2012–13 Astra Giurgiu

Liga I: 2015–16 Supercupa României: 2016 Cupa României runner-up: 2016–17