Matuzalém

For Biblical person, see Methuselah.

Matuzalém

Personal information
Full name	Francelino Matuzalém da Silva
Date of birth	10 June 1980 (1980-06-10) (age 31)
Place of birth	Natal, Brazil
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Lazio
Number	11
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1997–1999	Vitória	14	(0)
1999	Bellinzona	0	(0)
1999–2001	Parma	0	(0)
1999–2001	→ Napoli (loan)	52	(2)
2001–2002	Piacenza	28	(3)
2002–2003	Parma	0	(0)
2002–2003	→ Brescia (loan)	30	(0)
2003–2004	Brescia	30	(3)
2004–2007	Shakhtar Donetsk	68	(25)
2007–2009	Zaragoza	14	(1)
2008–2009	→ Lazio (loan)	14	(0)
2009–	Lazio	60	(1)
National team
1997	Brazil U–17	6	(3)
1999	Brazil U–20	4	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 October 2011. † Appearances (Goals).

Francelino Matuzalém da Silva, commonly known as just Matuzalém (born 10 June 1980), is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays in the Italian Serie A for Lazio. He is a midfielder known for his passing and technique. His usual position is central midfielder as well as attacking midfielder and left midfielder.

Career

Early career

Matuzalém began his career at Esporte Clube Vitória and quickly established his place in lower level of the Brazil national team. Known as a goalscoring midfielder,^{[says who?]} he first emerged in the 1997 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Egypt. There, he scored three goals in six games, including a critical goal in the final match.

Napoli

In 1999, Matuzalém left Vitória, and joined Napoli in Italy (on loan from Parma),^[1] where he remained for two seasons, the first spent in Serie B and the second season in what would be Napoli's last in Serie A for six years. Matuzalém was a regular at Napoli, but only scored twice during his time there.

Piacenza and Brescia

Following his Napoli spell, Matuzalém was sent to Piacenza in co-ownership deal in the summer of 2001.^[2] Matuzalém stayed at Piacenza along with Amauri and Matteo Guardalben which all owned by Parma.

With Piacenza at 2001–02 season, the team finished 14th in the league.

The second season of the loan spell saw Matuzalém switch to Brescia on loan, where he played nearly every match and the deal was made permanent at season's end. However, he only lasted one more year, before Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk signed him.

Shakhtar Donetsk

In June 2004, Shakhtar Donetsk signed Matuzalém from Brescia, paid Brescia €8million, Matuzalém's agents €3.75M and €221,092 to Matuzalém's former clubs as solidarity contribution.^[3] It was a Ukrainian record at the time.^{[citation needed]} After the transfer of Anatoliy Tymoschuk to Zenit St. Petersburg, he became the new captain of the club for the 2006–07 season and was voted the club's player of the year.

On 1 July 2007, Palermo made an offer of US$ 7,000,000 but rejected.^[3]

Real Zaragoza

On 2 July 2007, Matuzalém notified in writing Shakhtar of the fact that he unilaterally terminated their contractual relationship with immediate effect. On 5 July, Shakhtar replied Matuzalém and/or his new club should pay the sum in the release clause of €25M, or Shakhtar would start legal action.^[3]

However, on 18 July, he was presented as the latest signing of Real Zaragoza.^[4] And Shakhtar informed Zaragoza to request the club to pay the fee.^[3] After played four games and scoring once, Matuzalém was reported injured since September 2007^[5] and returned in March 2008. He finished the season with just 14 appearances.

Breach of contract saga

But in fact, Matuzalém case was passed by FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) on 2 November 2007, ordered Matuzalém and Zaragoza jointly and severally liable to pay €6,800,000 to Shakhtar.^[3][6]

On 19 March 2008, Shakhtar appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as the club think the fee set by FIFA DRC is too low. On 20 March Matuzalém and Zaragoza also made an appeal to CAS for the compensation.

On 19 May 2009, following a Shakhtar lawsuit, the CAS ordered Matuzalém to pay €11,858,934 to Shakhtar for breach of contract.^[7][8]

Lazio

In July 2008, Matuzalém returned to Italy after four years, joining Lazio on a season-long loan^[9] with an option to buy at the end of the season for €13M (plus VAT).^[3]

Injury plagued his season, yet when fit he established a place for himself in the centre of the Lazio midfield alongside Cristian Ledesma. He claimed some silverware as Lazio won their fifth Coppa Italia, however a booking in the semi-final against Juventus meant he missed the final against Sampdoria.

At the end of the season, Lazio exercised the option to keep him on a permanent basis, but for €5.31M.

On 14 March 2010, he was injured^[10] and missed rest of the season. He became a backup of Ledesma and Cristian Brocchi in next season.

Honours

Team

• Ukrainian Premier League: 2005 and 2006 with Shakhtar Donetsk
• Coppa Italia: 2009 with Lazio
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2009 with Lazio
• Campeonato do Nordeste in 1997 and 1999 with Vitória

International

• FIFA Under-17 World Cup 1997

References

1. ^ Malfitano, Mimmo (17 June 1999). "Napoli: via all' operazione rilancio La difesa e' a posto, arriva Robbiati" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1999/giugno/17/Napoli_via_all_operazione_rilancio_ga_0_9906175520.shtml. Retrieved 5 May 2010. 
2. ^ "Liverpool a caccia di Rui Costa" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 20 May 2002. http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2002/maggio/20/Liverpool_caccia_Rui_Costa_ga_0_0205206421.shtml. Retrieved 1 September 2009. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "CAS 2008/A/1519 – FC Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) v/ Mr. Matuzalem Francelino da Silva (Brazil) & Real Zaragoza SAD (Spain) & FIFA
   CAS 2008/A/1520 – Mr. Matuzalem Francelino da Silva (Brazil) & Real Zaragoza SAD (Spain) v/ FC Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) & FIFA
   ARBITRAL AWARD delivered by the COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT". Court of Arbitration for Sport. 19 May 2009. http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/3229/5048/0/Award%201519-1520%20_internet_.pdf. Retrieved 6 November 2009. 
4. ^ "Zaragoza get Pavón and Matuzalem". UEFA. 18 July 2007. http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/news/kind=1/newsid=562072.html. Retrieved 21 February 2008. 
5. ^ "Matuzalem signed off at Zaragoza". UEFA. 27 September 2007. http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/news/kind=1/newsid=594172.html. Retrieved 21 February 2008. 
6. ^ "FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber Decision (Labour Disputes 117623)". FIFA. 2 November 2007. http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/117623_43278.pdf. Retrieved 6 November 2009. 
7. ^ "Shakhtar win "Matuzalem Case"". shakhtar.com. 19 May 2009. http://shakhtar.com/en/news/9537. Retrieved 9 May 2009. 
8. ^ "FIFA takes note of Matuzalem decision". FIFA.com. 19 May 2009. http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/federation/administration/news/newsid=1059709.html. Retrieved 20 May 2009. 
9. ^ Corriere dello Sport: Ufficiale – Matuzalem e` della Lazio
10. ^ "Infermeria" (in Italian). SS Lazio. 15 March 2010. http://www.sslazio.it/cms/view/home/news/archivio/elenco_news/infermeria/s152/c3553. Retrieved 2 May 2010. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• (Portuguese) CBF
• (Portuguese) Sambafoot.com Profile
• (English) Profile at playerhistory.com
• (Spanish) [1]
• Matuzalém – FIFA competition record

Persondata
Name	Matuzalem
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	10 June 1980
Place of birth	Natal, Brazil
Date of death
Place of death