Edu (footballer, born 1979)

Luís Eduardo Schmidt (born 10 January 1979), commonly known as Edu, is a Brazilian retired footballer.

Edu
Edu as a Betis player in 2008
Personal information
Full name Luís Eduardo Schmidt[1]
Date of birth (1979-01-10) 10 January 1979[1]
Place of birth Jaú, Brazil[1]
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward / Midfielder
Youth career
1996–1997 XV Jaú
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2000 São Paulo 11 (0)
2000–2004 Celta 117 (27)
2004–2009 Betis 136 (36)
2009–2010 Internacional 25 (3)
2011 Vitória 5 (1)
2012 Colorado Rapids 9 (0)
Total 303 (67)
National team
1999–2000 Brazil U23 14 (8)
2000 Brazil 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

A versatile midfielder and forward, he played most of his professional career in Spain – helping both Celta and Betis to their first-ever Champions League participation – amassing La Liga totals of 253 matches and 63 goals in nine years.

He started his career with São Paulo.

Club career

Born in Jaú, São Paulo, Edu made only 11 Série A appearances for São Paulo FC over the course of three seasons, then transferred to Spain's RC Celta de Vigo for 2000–01. Even though he only scored three goals during his first year, he went on to become one of the Galician side's most important elements in the subsequent La Liga campaigns.

Hindered by injuries throughout 2003–04, Edu also played a small part in Celta's run in the UEFA Champions League, netting once against Arsenal in a round-of-16 home defeat (2–3). Upon the club's relegation he moved to Real Betis, spending the first two seasons on loan.[2]

Edu made a huge impression during his first year in Andalusia, as his partnership with countryman Ricardo Oliveira featured strongly in the success of the club, who qualified to its first Champions League. He finished the campaign with 11 goals in 32 league appearances, with the team also winning the Copa del Rey.

In his second year, Edu only scored in three league matches, but started it by scoring a last-minute goal against AS Monaco FC in the Champions League third qualifying round, as the Verdiblancos went on to win 3–2 on aggregate.[3][4]

After two seasons, Edu was officially signed for €2,000,000 in 2006. On the final day of 2006–07 he scored twice in the final ten minutes in a 2–0 win at Racing de Santander, which proved instrumental in avoiding relegation to the second division.[5] In the following season, as Betis again battled relegation, he finished as the club's top scorer at 12; two of those came on 29 March 2008 as he netted the first and the last for his team in a 3–2 home win against FC Barcelona, who led 2–0 at half-time.[6]

Edu appeared very rarely in the 2008–09 campaign due to injuries and Betis were relegated, with the played being released subsequently. Shortly after, he returned to Brazil after a nine-year absence and signed a two-year contract with Sport Club Internacional.[7]

On 2 June 2011, aged 32, Edu joined Esporte Clube Vitória on a free transfer. On 26 April of the following year he signed for Colorado Rapids in the United States,[8] being released by the Major League Soccer club on 16 November.[9]

International career

Edu made his Brazil debut against Thailand, on 23 February 2000. It would be his only cap for the full side.[10]

Late in the summer, Edu scored twice at the 2000 Summer Olympics, as the country was ousted in the quarter-finals.[11]

Honours

Betis

References
  1. "Luis Eduardo Schmidt 'EDÚ'". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  2. "Edú" (in Spanish). Yo Jugué en el Celta. 7 November 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  3. "Salvados por la campana" [Saved by the bell] (in Spanish). UEFA. 9 August 2005. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  4. "El Betis jugará la Champions" [Betis will play Champions] (in Spanish). UEFA. 24 August 2005. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  5. "Racing Santander 0–2 Real Betis". ESPN Soccernet. 17 June 2007. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  6. Rincón, Jaime (29 March 2008). "Siesta azulgrana" [Azulgrana nap]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  7. "Inter ganha importantes reforços" [Inter get important additions] (in Portuguese). SC Internacional. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  8. Sferra, German (26 April 2012). "Edu would become 4th Brazilian to play for Colorado". Colorado Rapids. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  9. Rosano, Nicholas (16 November 2012). "Colorado part ways with Denver native Casey, 7 others". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  10. "Brasil goleia Tailândia por 7 a 0 em 23 de fevereiro de 2000" [Brasil rout Thailand 7 to 0 on 23 February 2000] (in Portuguese). Brazilian Football Confederation. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  11. Edu – FIFA competition record
  12. "Dani delivers for Betis". UEFA. 12 June 2005. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  • Edu at BDFutbol
  • Edu at National-Football-Teams.com
  • Edu at Soccerway
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