Helton da Silva Arruda

Football player infobox
playername = Helton


fullname = Helton da Silva Arruda
height = height|m=1.88
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1978|5|18
cityofbirth = Alcântara
countryofbirth = Brazil
currentclub = FC Porto
clubnumber = 1
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2000-2002 2002-2005 2005-
clubs = Vasco da Gama UD Leiria FC Porto
caps(goals) = 52 (0) 67 (0) 66 (0)
nationalyears = 2000-
nationalteam = Brazil
nationalcaps(goals) = 10 (0)
pcupdate = 00:00, 31 July 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 00:00, 31 July 2008 (UTC)

Helton da Silva Arruda (born May 18 1978 in Alcântara, Maranhão), Helton for short, is a Brazilian footballer, in the position of goalkeeper. He currently plays for Futebol Clube do Porto.

Helton is a product of Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama's youth system. He was part of the Brazilian team in 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship and 2000 Olympics football tournament. He first attracted attention after winning the Campeonato Brasileiro and the Copa Mercosur with the club in 2000. In 2002, his contract with Vasco da Gama expired and he signed with Portuguese club União Desportiva de Leiria. At the end of the 2004/2005 season he signed with FC Porto.

It seemed the keeper was destined to spend a long time bench-warming, as Porto legend Vítor Baía barred his way into the first team. However, Helton got his chance sooner than expected when Dutch coach Co Adriaanse summarily dropped Baía, after a mistake against Estrela da Amadora cost Porto a goal and defeat.

Initial criticism for what was seen as excessively harsh treatment meted out to the popular Baía by the coach was soon dissipated as a string of assured performances proved Helton was worthy of the number one spot. He celebrated his first year at the club with the domestic double (league and cup).

Helton received his first call up to Brazil team in October 2006. He started in a friendly match against Kuwait club Al-Kuwait on October 7, 2006. However, it was not his official debut for the team, since the match was not considered as official friendly match by FIFA. His official debut came on November 15, by starting in a friendly match against Switzerland. He was a member of the national squad who won back-to-back titles in Copa America 2007, although he didn't play a single match in the whole tournament as he was second-choice to AS Roma's Doni.

Honours

*FC Porto:
**Portuguese League: 2005/06 and 2006/07
**Portuguese Cup: 2005/06
**Portuguese Supercup: 2006/07
*Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama:
**Brazilian League: 2000
**Mercosur Cup: 2000
*Brazil:
**Copa América: 2007

References

External links

* [http://www.zerozero.eu/uk/jogador.php?id=647 Stats and profile at zerozero.pt]
* [http://www.helton.com.br/ Official website]