Aílton José Almeida

Infobox Football biography
playername = Aílton


fullname = Aílton José Almeida
height = height|m=1.80
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1984|8|20
cityofbirth = Hematita
countryofbirth = Brazil
currentclub = F.C. Copenhagen
clubnumber = 7
position = Striker
years = 2000-2004
2004-2006
2007-present
clubs = Atlético-MG
→ Tupi FC "(loan)"
→ Corinthians (AL) "(loan)"
Örgryte IS
F.C. Copenhagen
caps(goals) =
63 (26)
45 0(7)
pcupdate = 24 September 2008

Aílton José Almeida or just Aílton (born August 20, 1984) is a Brazilian football player who currently plays for F.C. Copenhagen in the Danish Superliga.

He is a quick paced, technically capable striker with a proven track record from Sweden. But as of September 2008 he hasn't had his break-through in Copenhagen, and mostly participates as a substitute. His vague performances had him linked with a move away from F.C. Copenhagen, and Swedish club Helsingborgs IF was at the time the favourite for his signature.cite web |url=http://www.bold.dk/nyt/?vis=77057 |title=Helsingborg lurer på Ailton Almeida |publisher=bold.dk |language=Danish]

Biography

Sweden

He came to F.C. Copenhagen from Swedish Örgryte IS on 1 January 2007 for 22 million Danish kroner,cite web |url=http://borsen.dk/nyhed/93534/newsfeeds/rss/ |title=FCK køber brasilianske Ailton Almeida |publisher=borsen.dk |language=Danish] which at the time was a new transfer record for a Danish club, and still is. Both F.C. Copenhagen and Brøndby IF struggled for Ailton Almeidas signature,cite web |url=http://www.bold.dk/nyt/index.php?vis=59481 |title=Brøndby vil snuppe Ailton for næsen af FCK |publisher=bold.dk |language=Danish] but after some hesitation from Brøndby IF Ailton Almeida ended up in F.C. Copenhagen.cite web |url=http://www.bold.dk/nyt/index.php?vis=62089 |title=BIF kunne have sikret sig Ailton |publisher=bold.dk |language=Danish]

F.C. Copenhagen

Scoring in his only second game for F.C. Copenhagen against Brøndby IF in one of the New Firm matches, he was considered a new star and a start of a new era for the club, which for many years had suffered from the lack of goals from the strikers, however, he did not manage to follow up his performance, and was subsequently placed on the bench as a substitute. On April 15th 2007, Ailton scored on a bicycle kick in F. C. Copenhagens 4-2 win over OB,cite web |url=http://fck.dk/index.php?pageid=1106 |title=15.04. F.C. København - OB |publisher=fck.dk |language=Danish] which led to many people thinking hes breakthrough finally was about to come, but yet again, and had to see himself become a substitute.

After the winter break in the 2007-08 season Aílton got a chance in the Danish Cup quarterfinals, where F.C. Copenhagen was to face Næstved BK. He scored a goal in the beginning of the second half following an assist from his countryman José Júnior.

In the beginning of the 2008-09 season he has been playing regularily, becoming an important member of the starting line-up and the attacking play, however, he still has trouble finding the net.

Language problems

After playing 3 years in Sweden, Ailton Almeida had become somewhat fluent in the Swedish language, which is quite similar to the Danish and Norwegian language. As a result of this his first ever interview with Danish television was made in Danish. Ailton Almeida accidentally said that he was looking forward to be playing for the biggest club in Sweden.

Honours

*Danish Superliga: 2006-07 "(with Copenhagen)"

References

External links

*da icon [http://fck.dk/truppen/spillerprofil/?playerid=175 F.C. Copenhagen profile]