Adriano Basso

Football player infobox
playername = Adriano Basso


fullname = Adriano Basso
nickname =
height = height|ft=6|in=1
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1975|4|18|df=y
cityofbirth = Jundiaí
countryofbirth = Brazil
currentclub = Bristol City
clubnumber = 1
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2000–2002
2002–2003
2004
2004–2005
2005–
clubs = Ponte Preta
Atlético-PR
St Albans City
Woking
Bristol City
caps(goals) = 002 (0)
010 (0)

025 (0)
114 (0)
pcupdate = 15:04, 09 April 2008 (UTC)

Adriano Basso (born April 18, 1975 in Jundiaí) is a Brazilian football goalkeeper currently playing for Bristol City. He is currently the only Brazilian goalkeeper in the English Football League.

He previously played for Ponte Preta and Atlético Paranaense in his homeland before moving to England to marry his wife. He had an unsuccessful 3-month trial with Arsenal before joining non-league sides St Albans City and Woking. [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-13|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/05/23/bride-boom-89520-20426347/|title=Championship Play-Off Final preview: Bristol City vs Hull|publisher=Mirror.co.uk]

Basso eventually signed for Bristol City shortly after the 2005/06 campaign had begun, making his first team debut live on Sky Sports versus Swindon Town. Soccer AM also recognised him as the Football League's best Goalkeeper due to his acrobatic saves.

Fans were split on whether or not Basso was the right choice as first choice Goalkeeper when he replaced long-serving Steve Phillips, during the 2005/2006 season. Basso has since been noted as being one of the best Goalkeepers to have played for the club for many years, after winning over the majority of Bristol City fans, due to his flamboyant saves and his trademark pointing to the sky when his name is called over the PA system at the start of a match. Bristol City fans often imitate this and say "Always Believe" along with the player. Basso's "Always Believe" slogan first came to the notice of Bristol City fans when ITV had a feature of Bristol City's game against Millwall F.C. on the football highlights programme The Championship. The Bristol City Supporters Trust in partnership with Brilliant Weekends produced pointing foam hands with the words "Always Believe" on the front of them. These were handed out before several key games of the 2006/07 season including a local derby with fierce rivals Bristol Rovers.

Basso was shortlisted for the 2006/2007 player of the season award, which was eventually won by Jamie McCombe, but did win awards from supporters groups, as the club were promoted to the English League's second tier.

Basso is also a devout Christian, and credited his save from a Darius Henderson penalty in the match against Watford on the 11th of March to the "Holy Spirit". [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/7289241.stm 'Hand of God' helps City stay top ] ]

He was recently crowned BBC West Footballer of the Year. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/sports_personality_of_the_year/7113369.stm City boss Johnson lands top award ] ]

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=38084|name=Adriano Basso
* [http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10327~35635,00.html Adriano Basso's BCFC.co.uk profile]