Cleiton Xavier

Cleiton Xavier

Personal information
Full name	Cleiton Ribeiro Xavier
Date of birth	23 March 1983 (1983-03-23) (age 28)
Place of birth	São José da Tapera, Brazil
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position	Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current club	Metalist Kharkiv
Number	10
Youth career
	CSA
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2001–2002	CSA
2002–2008	Internacional	68	(5)
2005	→ Sport Recife (loan)
2005	→ Brasiliense (loan)
2006	→ Gama (loan)
2006	→ Marília (loan)
2007–2008	→ Figueirense (loan)	61	(12)
2009–2010	Palmeiras	88	(17)
2010–	Metalist Kharkiv	31	(11)
National team
2003	Brazil U20	5	(0)
2009–	Brazil	0	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 May 2011. † Appearances (Goals).

Cleiton Ribeiro Xavier (born 23 March 1983 in São José da Tapera, Alagoas) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ukrainian Premier League club FC Metalist Kharkiv and the Brazilian national team. He is known by his powerful and accurate free kicks, dribbling skills and passes.

Club career

In his early career, Cleiton Xavier played for CSA and Internacional, and was loaned out various times.

Palmeiras

In early 2009, Palmeiras signed Cleiton from the relegated Figueirense. Cleiton Xavier proved he had good talent in Palmeiras's first matches in the Libertadores Cup and in the São Paulo State Championship. On April 29, 2009 Cleiton Xavier scored a 87th minute away-goal against Colo-Colo in the Libertadores Cup that secured Palmeiras' progression to the knockout stages of the tournament, it was a very long-range shot inside the goalkeeper's right angle.^[1]

Later in the Série A alongside teammate Diego Souza, Cleiton Xavier made a outstanding season with Palmeiras, leading the competition for 19 rounds, however Palmeiras finished 5th due to losses in the final matches and did not qualify for the Libertadores Cup. Cleiton Xavier was elected the 3rd best player of the season, even though he had an injury. In 2010, Cleiton Xavier remained with Palmeiras and also started well the year. He participated in Palmeiras's first ten goals in the São Paulo State Championship.

Metalist Kharkiv

On July 14, 2010, Cleiton Xavier transferred to FC Metalist Kharkiv for €4.5 million.^[2]

Honours

• Rio Grande do Sul State Championship: 2003, 2004
• Santa Catarina State Championship: 2008

References

1. ^ Golazo - Cleiton Xavier vs Colo=Colo
2. ^ Cleiton Xavier é negociado com time da Ucrânia. (in Portuguese). Palmeiras official site. July 14, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2010 .

External links

• (English) sambafoot
• (Portuguese) CBF
• (Portuguese) zerozero.pt
• (English) Guardian Stats Centre
• (Portuguese) figueirense.com

Persondata
Name	Cleiton Ribeiro Xavier
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	23 March 1983
Place of birth	São José da Tapera, Brazil
Date of death
Place of death