Matuzalém

For the Biblical figure, see Methuselah.
Matuzalém
Personal information
Full name Matuzalém Francelino da Silva
Date of birth (1980-06-10) 10 June 1980
Place of birth Natal, Brazil
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1999 Vitória 14 (0)
1999 Bellinzona 0 (0)
1999–2001 Napoli 52 (2)
2001–2002 Piacenza 28 (3)
2002–2003 Parma 0 (0)
2002–2003 → Brescia (loan) 30 (0)
2003–2004 Brescia 30 (3)
2004–2007 Shakhtar Donetsk 68 (25)
2007–2008 Zaragoza 14 (1)
2008–2013 Lazio 75 (2)
2013–2014 Genoa 36 (1)
2014–2015 Bologna 34 (0)
2015–2016 Hellas Verona 7 (0)
2016 Miami FC 3 (0)
National team
1997 Brazil U–17 6 (3)
1999 Brazil U–20 4 (1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16 April 2016 (UTC).


Matuzalém Francelino da Silva, commonly known as just Matuzalém (born 10 June 1980), is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a midfielder. He is an offensive playmaking midfielder known for his passing, creativity, and technique, which earned him the nickname "The Professor". His usual position is that of a central midfielder, although he is also capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, or as a left midfielder.[1][2][3][4]

Career

Early career

Matuzalém began his career at Salvador-based Vitória and quickly established his place in lower level of the Brazil national team. Known as a goalscoring midfielder, he first emerged in the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship in Egypt. There, he scored three goals in six games, including a critical goal in the final match.

Napoli

In 1999, Matuzalém left Vitória to join Napoli in Italy, via Parma, in a temporary deal,[5] where he remained for two seasons, the first spent in Serie B and the second season in what would be Napoli's last in Serie A for six years. The club signed Matuzalém in co-ownership deal for 5 billion lire in summer 2000.[6] Matuzalém was a regular starter at Napoli, but only scored twice during his tenure in Naples.

Piacenza and Brescia

Following his Napoli spell, Matuzalém was bought back by Parma, subsequently reselling half of his rights to Piacenza in another co-ownership deal in the summer of 2001, for 6 billion Lire (€3,098,741).[7])[8] Matuzalém stayed at Piacenza alongside Amauri, Nicola Mora and Matteo Guardalben, all of which were also partly owned by Parma.

With Piacenza at 2001–02 season, the team finished 14th in the league. In the opening round of the season, Matuzalém became the first foreigner to score for Piacenza in the Serie A. In June 2002, Parma reacquired all of his rights again.[9]

The second season of the loan spell saw Matuzalém switch to Brescia on loan, where he played nearly every match and the deal was made permanent at season's end. However, he only lasted one more year, before Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk signed him.

Shakhtar Donetsk

In June 2004, Shakhtar Donetsk signed Matuzalém from Brescia, paying Brescia €8,000,000, Matuzalém's agents €3,750,000 and €221,092 to Matuzalém's former clubs as solidarity contribution.[10] It was a Ukrainian record at the time. After the transfer of Anatoliy Tymoschuk to Zenit Saint Petersburg, he became the new captain of the club for the 2006–07 season and was voted the club's Player of the Year.

On 1 July 2007, Palermo made an offer of US$7,000,000 for Matuzalém, but it was rejected.[10]

Real Zaragoza and breach of contract saga

On 2 July 2007, Matuzalém notified in writing Shakhtar of the fact that he unilaterally terminated their contractual relationship with immediate effect. On 5 July, Shakhtar replied Matuzalém and/or his new club should pay the sum in the release clause of €25 million, or Shakhtar would start legal action.[10] The actual phrasing in the contract, however, stated that Shakhtar would be under an obligation to release him if the new club offered to pay that amount. It was not, strictly speaking, a penalty clause.

On 18 July, however, he was presented as Real Zaragoza's newest signing.[11] Shakhtar informed Zaragoza to request the club to pay the fee.[10] After played four games and scoring once, Matuzalém was reported injured since September 2007[12] and returned in March 2008. He finished the season with just 14 appearances.

Matuzalém's case was considered by FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) on 2 November 2007, which ruled Matuzalém and Zaragoza jointly and severally liable, ordering payment of €6,800,000 to Shakhtar.[10][13] On 19 March 2008, however, Shakhtar appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), as the club perceived the fee set by FIFA DRC as too low. On 20 March, Matuzalém and Zaragoza also made an appeal to CAS for the compensation. On 19 May 2009, the CAS ordered Matuzalém to pay €11,858,934 to Shakhtar for breach of contract.[14][15] The decision was upheld by the Swiss Federal Tribunal.[16] Zaragoza also later paid €500,000 to Shakhtar on 1 September 2010.[17]

Neither Matuzalém or Zaragoza were able to pay the ordered compensation. For this reason, further sanctions, including banning Matuzalém from all football-related activities, were imposed by FIFA on 31 August 2010. This FIFA decision was appealed to the CAS but was rejected on 29 June 2011. The CAS decision was appealed to the Swiss Federal Tribunal. In its decision rendered on 27 March 2012, the Swiss Federal Tribunal annulled the CAS decision, as they found the ban on Matuzalém "a severe infringement of [his] right to privacy". The Tribunal also questioned whether the sanction was likely to lead to the payment of the compensation, which was the stated purpose of the ban. The compensation to be paid to Shakhtar was not affected by this case. This remains the only case where a CAS decision has been overturned based on the merits of the case.[17]

Lazio

In July 2008, Matuzalém returned to Italy after four years, joining Lazio on a season-long loan[18] with an option to buy at the end of the season for €13 million (plus VAT).[10] Injuries plagued his season, though when fit he established a place for himself in the centre of the Lazio midfield alongside Cristian Ledesma. He claimed some silverware as Lazio won their fifth Coppa Italia, however a booking in the semi-final against Juventus meant he missed the final against Sampdoria. At the end of the season, Lazio exercised the option to keep him on a permanent basis, but for €5,310,000 on a five-year contract.

On 14 March 2010, Matuzalém was injured[19] and missed the remainder of the season. He became a backup of Ledesma and Cristian Brocchi in next season.

Genoa

On 3 January 2013, Matuzalém was signed by Genoa on a temporary deal.[20] On 24 August 2013 Matuzalém formally joined Genoa on free transfer[21] in 2-year contract.[22]

Bologna

On 4 July 2014, Matuzalém was signed by Serie B club Bologna in another free transfer.[23]

Hellas Verona

On 19 September 2015, Matuzalém signed with Serie A side Hellas Verona.[24] His contract with Verona was terminated on 8 January 2016.[25]

Miami FC

Matuzalém signed with Miami FC of the North American Soccer League (NASL) on 20 January 2016.[26] He was released on 12 May 2016.[27]

Honours

Club

Shakhtar Donetsk[28]
Lazio[28]
Vitória[28]

International

Brazil Under-17[28]

Footnotes

    References

    1. ↑ ""Doppio regista", Matuzalem prova a convincere Reja" (in Italian). TuttoMercatoWeb.com. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
    2. ↑ "Rosa Piacenza 2001-02" (in Italian). StoriaPiacenza1919.it. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
    3. ↑ "ESCLUSIVA - Il professor Matuzalem sale in cattedra, Lucescu: "E' il più forte giocatore che ho allenato... Lo Shakhtar? La FIFA intervenga presto, ma deve pagare il Saragozza"". lalaziosiamonoi.it (in Italian). Retrieved 14 January 2015.
    4. ↑ "Lazio, senti Matuzalem: "Rischiai il carcere, ora sono felice"" (in Italian). TuttoMercatoWeb.com. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
    5. ↑ Malfitano, Mimmo (17 June 1999). "Napoli: via all' operazione rilancio La difesa e' a posto, arriva Robbiati". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 5 May 2010.
    6. ↑ Parma AC SpA Report and Accounts on 30 June 2001 (Italian)
    7. ↑ Parma AC SpA Report and Accounts on 30 June 2002 (Italian)
    8. ↑ "Liverpool a caccia di Rui Costa" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 20 May 2002. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
    9. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20071118213039/http://www.lega-calcio.it/ita/partecipazioni2002.pdf
    10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "CAS 2008/A/1519 – FC Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) v/ Mr. Matuzalem Francelino da Silva (Brazil) & Real Zaragoza SAD (Spain) & FIFA
      CAS 2008/A/1520 – Mr. Matuzalem Francelino da Silva (Brazil) & Real Zaragoza SAD (Spain) v/ FC Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) & FIFA
      ARBITRAL AWARD delivered by the COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT"       (PDF). Court of Arbitration for Sport. 19 May 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
    11. ↑ "Zaragoza get Pavón and Matuzalem". UEFA. 18 July 2007. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
    12. ↑ "Matuzalem signed off at Zaragoza". UEFA. 27 September 2007. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
    13. ↑ "FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber Decision (Labour Disputes 117623)" (PDF). FIFA. 2 November 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
    14. ↑ "Shakhtar win "Matuzalem Case"". shakhtar.com. 19 May 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2009.
    15. ↑ "FIFA takes note of Matuzalem decision". FIFA.com. 19 May 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
    16. ↑ Swiss Federal Tribunal 4A_320/2009 of 2 June 2010
    17. 1 2 Roy Levy: Swiss Federal Tribunal overrules CAS award in a landmark decision: FIFA vs Matuzalem
    18. ↑ Corriere dello Sport: Ufficiale – Matuzalem e` della Lazio
    19. ↑ "Infermeria". SS Lazio (in Italian). 15 March 2010. Archived from the original on 23 March 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
    20. ↑ "Comunicato" (in Italian). SS Lazio. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
    21. ↑ "Bilancio S.S. LAZIO SpA 30-06-2014" (PDF) (in Italian). SS Lazio. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
    22. ↑ Genoa CFC SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 31 December 2013 (Italian), PDF purchased from Italian CCIAA
    23. ↑ "Matuzalem al Bologna" (in Italian). Bologna FC 1909. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
    24. ↑ http://gazzettaworld.gazzetta.it/news/serie-a/hellas-verona/matuzalem-signs/
    25. ↑ http://www.hellasverona.it/news.php?id=26368
    26. ↑ http://www.nasl.com/news/2016/01/20/serie-a-veteran-matuzalm-joins-miami-fc
    27. ↑ http://www.nasl.com/transactions
    28. 1 2 3 4 "Matuzalém". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 January 2016.


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