Paulo Assunção

This name uses Portuguese naming customs. The first or maternal family name is Assunção and the second or paternal family name is Da Silva.
Paulo Assunção

Assunção in action for Atlético Madrid in 2010
Personal information
Full name Paulo Assunção da Silva
Date of birth (1980-01-25) 25 January 1980
Place of birth Várzea Grande, Brazil
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position Defensive midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000 Palmeiras 0 (0)
2000–2001 Porto B 36 (4)
2001–2002 Palmeiras 24 (0)
2002–2004 Nacional 50 (2)
2004–2008 Porto 73 (0)
2004–2005 → AEK Athens (loan) 24 (0)
2008–2012 Atlético Madrid 97 (1)
2012 São Paulo 11 (0)
2013 Deportivo La Coruña 9 (0)
2014 Levadiakos 0 (0)
Total 324 (7)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Paulo Assunção da Silva (born 25 January 1980), known as Assunção, is a retired Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder.

He was best known for his positioning and tackling, and also held a Portuguese passport due to the many years in spent in the country,[1] mainly at the service of Porto. He also played four years in La Liga with Atlético Madrid, winning two Europa League trophies.

Football career

Early years / Porto

Assunção was born in Várzea Grande, Mato Grosso. After first appearing professionally for Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras he emigrated to Portugal, having a short stint with FC Porto's B-team and returning shortly to Palmeiras. In the 2002–03 season he joined Madeira's C.D. Nacional, and made his Primeira Liga debut on 26 January 2003 in a 0–0 home draw against Vitória de Guimarães.

After two highly successful individual campaigns, Assunção was purchased again by Porto, but would be loaned for 2004–05 to AEK Athens FC, managed by former Porto coach Fernando Santos. In July 2005 he returned, going on to be an instrumental element in the team's midfield (alongside Raul Meireles and Lucho González),[2] as they eventually won three consecutive league championships.

Atlético Madrid

In early July 2008, after buying out the remainder of his contract, Assunção joined Atlético Madrid.[3] He adjusted quickly with the capital club, playing in all La Liga matches safe four and helping it repeat the fourth-place finish, with a subsequent qualification to the UEFA Champions League.

Defensive-minded Assunção scored his first goal for the Colchoneros on 17 January 2010, during the team's 3–2 home win against Sporting de Gijón.[4] whilst continuing as the undisputed first-choice at holding midfielder. He lost that position midway through the 2010–11 season, to newly signed Mario Suárez.

In the 2011–12 campaign, Assunção was only fourth-choice in his position after Suárez, Gabi and Tiago. He did contribute with six games – four starts – as Atlético reached and won the UEFA Europa League final.

São Paulo / Deportivo

After more than one decade in European football, Assunção returned to his country to play for São Paulo FC. The deal was confirmed on 21 July 2012[5] but, on 28 December, it was terminated by mutual consent,[6] with the player returning to Spain and joining Deportivo de La Coruña.[7]

In January 2014, 34-year-old Assunção signed for Levadiakos F.C. in the Superleague Greece,[8] leaving in June after failing to appear in any competitive games.

Honours

Porto
Atlético Madrid
São Paulo

References

  1. ↑ "Inscripciones" [Signings] (in Spanish). Liga de Fútbol Profesional. Archived from the original on 31 July 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  2. ↑ Paulo Assunção's Porto pride; UEFA.com, 22 November 2005
  3. ↑ Atlético sign Coupet and Paulo Assunção; UEFA.com, 7 July 2008
  4. ↑ Forlan fires Atletico to victory; ESPN Soccernet, 17 January 2010
  5. ↑ São Paulo anuncia a contratação do volante Paulo Assunção (São Paulo announces signing of holding midfielder Paulo Assunção); Gazeta Esportiva, 21 July 2012 (Portuguese)
  6. ↑ Paulo Assunção deixa o São Paulo e deve retornar à Espanha (Paulo Assunção leaves São Paulo and must return to Spain); Blog do Birner, 28 December 2012 (Portuguese)
  7. ↑ Paulo Assunçao ficha por el Deportivo de la Coruña (Paulo Assunçao signs for Deportivo de la Coruña); Goal.com, 8 January 2013 (Spanish)
  8. ↑ Στον ΛΕΒΑΔΕΙΑΚΟ ο Paulo Assunção (Paulo Assunção in Levadiakos); Levadiakos FC, January 2014 (Greek)
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