Alcides Araújo Alves

Football player infobox
playername= Alcides


fullname = Alcides Eduardo Mendes de Araújo Alves
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1985|3|13
cityofbirth = São José do Rio Preto
countryofbirth = Brazil
height = 6 ft 3 in (1.92 m)
currentclub = FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
clubnumber = 21
position = Defender
years = 2002–2003
2003
2004
2004–
2006
2007–2008
2008–
clubs = Vitória
Schalke 04
Santos
Chelsea
→ Benfica (loan)
→ PSV Eindhoven (loan)
→ Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (loan)

caps(goals) = 06 00(0)
06 00(0)
02 00(0)
00 00(0)
21 00(0)
30 00(2)
00 00(0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = April 6 2008
ntupdate =

Alcides Eduardo Mendes de Araújo Alves, best known as "Alcides" (born in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State, March 13, 1985) is a Brazilian footballer who is currently with FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. He also played for PSV and S.L. Benfica .

Career

Biography

Alcides, born on 13 May 1985, a product of the Salvador club EC Vitória, had a short loan spell with FC Schalke 04 in Germany in 2003/04 before returning to Europe in 2004/05 to play for Benfica. Having won the Dutch title with PSV in the 2006/07 season, he was usually played at left back in the 2007/08 campaign. Alcides, a former Brazil youth international, scored two goals for PSV.

Alcides, is a 23-year-old central defender, who helped Brazil win the FIFA World Youth Championship. He had a spell at FC Schalke 04 season 2003 but was a free agent when Benfica moved for him. Alcides, who has been recovering from knee surgery, said: "I am anxious to play again."

Benfica

The Brazilian played under Koeman at Benfica season 2006, operating at both centre-back and right-back under the Dutchman who reportedly described Alcides as the fastest defender he has worked with.

PSV Eindhoven

Alcides has impressed hugely in the year he has been at PSV, and was previously on a similar long-term loan at Benfica, where he was part of the side that defeated both Manchester United and Liverpool in the Champions League. He is known for his incredible pace, and at the heart of PSV's defence

On February 3, 2007 he played his first Eredivisie match for PSV against AZ Alkmaar. He recently played in a UEFA Cup match against English side Tottenham Hotspur in which PSV won 1-0, and played the second leg also.

Alcides had played an important role this season, featuring in 30 games for PSV in all competitions, scoring two goals. It had been widely expected that the player would remain in the Netherlands for at least one more season.

Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk

Brazilian Alcides will spend the season 2008 at Ukrainian side Dnipro Dnjepropetrovsk. This was announced by PSV Eindhoven on Thursday 9 August 2008.Alcides was transferred to FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in August 2008.

Personal

Alcides was kidnapped in Brazil, but was released after he convinced his kidnappers he was not a football player. [cite web | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-533688/REVEALED-The-new-West-Ham-shirt-placate-angry-Curbishley-br--DOES-anybody-White-Hart-Lane-like-Pascal-Chimbonda-br--STAMFORD-Bridge-gets-ready-welcome-Brazilian-pariah-Ronaldinho.html | title=... | work=dailymail.co.uk| accessdaymonth=17 March | accessyear=2008 ]

Professional view

PSV coach Ronald Koeman knows Alcides from his time as coach of Benfica and the Dutchman told the club website: "He [Alcides] is an extra re-inforcement for the defence and he can play in several positions at the back. He is tall, very thin and extremely fast." Alcides played at right-back for Benfica under Koeman and he has had other spells at Vitória FC, FC Schalke 04 and Santos FC.

Footnotes