Paulão (footballer, born 1982)

Paulo Afonso Santos Júnior (born 6 May 1982), known as Paulão, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

Paulão
Personal information
Full name Paulo Afonso Santos Júnior
Date of birth (1982-05-06) 6 May 1982
Place of birth Lagoa Santa, Brazil
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
Atlético Mineiro
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2004 Atlético Mineiro
2005 América-MG
2006 Gama 11 (0)
2006–2010 Naval 84 (6)
2010–2011 Braga 26 (3)
2011–2012 Saint-Étienne 10 (1)
2012 → Betis (loan) 17 (0)
2012–2014 Betis 42 (2)
2015 Atlético San Luis 10 (2)
2017 Olhanense 6 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Football career

Born in Lagoa Santa, Minas Gerais, Paulão started playing with local Clube Atlético Mineiro, moving to neighbouring América Futebol Clube after three seasons. In 2006, he competed with Sociedade Esportiva do Gama in the Série B.

In the 2006 European off-season, Paulão moved to Portugal and signed for Associação Naval 1º de Maio, being an undisputed starter from the beginning and scoring six Primeira Liga goals in his last two years combined. He made his debut in the competition on 10 September 2006, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 away win against Académica de Coimbra.[1]

For the 2009–10 campaign, Paulão continued in the country and joined S.C. Braga as a free agent.[2] He only played in seven league games in his first year, but made 34 official appearances in the following for the Minho club (three goals), including seven in its runner-up run in the UEFA Europa League.[3]

In the summer of 2011, Paulão signed with AS Saint-Étienne in France on a free transfer.[4] In the following transfer window, he joined Real Betis on loan.[5]

Paulão netted two times in 22 matches in his first full season in La Liga,[6][7] helping the Andalusians finish seventh and qualify for the Europa League. On 20 April 2014, just 30 minutes into an away fixture against Rayo Vallecano, he asked to be substituted after making two mistakes – this included an own goal – that cost Betis two goals in a 1–3 defeat that made their relegation almost certain,[8] which eventually happened.

References
  1. "Académica-Naval, 1–2 (Lino 28; Lito 63, Nei 66)" (in Portuguese). Record. 10 September 2006. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  2. "Braga resgata Paulão à Naval" [Braga retrieve Paulão from Naval] (in Portuguese). UEFA. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  3. "Europa League final: Porto 1–0 Braga". BBC Sport. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  4. Official: Saint-Etienne land Braga's Paulao on a free transfer; Goal, 7 July 2011
  5. El Betis refuerza su zaga con Paulao (Betis strengthen their back sector with Paulao); Estadio Deportivo, 20 January 2012 (in Spanish)
  6. Betis 1–0 Espanyol: Gran primera mitad verdiblanca que le dio la victoria (Betis 1–0 Espanyol: Great white-and-black first half gave win); Goal, 22 September 2012 (in Spanish)
  7. A Europa a balón parado (To Europe by set pieces); Marca, 7 October 2012 (in Spanish)
  8. Lowe, Sid (21 April 2014). "Paulão's sorrow sums up a season of surrender for Real Betis". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
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