Alex Biography

Name :
Alex

Nationality :
Brazilian

Date of Birth :
17/06/1982
Niteroi

Height :
6' 2" (189cm)

Weight :
14st 7lbs (92.0kg)

Squad No :
33

Previous Clubs :
PSV

Position :
Defender

Chelsea career
The big Brazilian joined on the eve of the new Premier League season in 2007 after three years playing in Holland at PSV Eindhoven. Chelsea held the first option to sign him.

The international defender put his signature to a three-year deal and was an important reinforcement in a rearguard that had been holed badly by injuries.

His debut season yielded 39 appearances in a Chelsea shirt, more than either of the first-choice partnership, John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, hinting at his overall importance to the squad.

Alex's first Chelsea goal (and the first by a Brazilian for the club) came at Middlesbrough, thundering home a trademark powerful free-kick from 35 yards, which naturally became a Goal of the Season contender.

He followed that up with another at Rosenborg in the Champions League, before showing an altogether different part of his game with a fleet-footed one-two with Andriy Shevchenko against Aston Villa, which he finished with aplomb. That too earned commendation in the end of season awards.

His second Chelsea season (2008/09) was a mixed one although prolonged injury to Carvalho provided a run in the side, and forays forward continued with goals coming against Sunderland and Coventry, the defender eventually making 41 appearances.

A hernia injury delayed his start to the 2009/10 season, an operation in Brazil over the summer meaning he had to wait until the end of October that year to make a first appearance.

When he returned to fitness he found Carvalho and Terry in excellent form, and had to be patient, appearing just six times before the turn of the year, and only another five before March.

It was then that Carvalho began to struggle with his own fitness, and he would not play for Chelsea again after damaging ankle ligaments against Portsmouth in late March.

By then Alex had already turned in a number of eye-catching displays at centre-half, notably against Stoke in the FA Cup, where he made two last-ditch tackles and earned a nomination for the quarter-final Player of the Round award.

Terry admitted the Brazilian was giving manager Carlo Ancelotti a selection headache, eased when Carvalho was ruled out, allowing the burly defender the run of games his own form merited.

In Alex's 25 appearances in 2009/10, Chelsea conceded only 14 times, as he helped the side to a momentous Double and passed 100 club appearances on the way.

The 2010/11 season was the first that Alex started as a first choice in the side and he was a major reason for the team conceding just once in our first five league matches.

Another free-kick special sealed victory over Arsenal in October, but in scoring it Alex tore a thigh muscle and missed four weeks of action.

Upon his return it was discovered he required arthroscopic surgery to his knee, and having delayed the operation to cover for an injury to Terry, Alex left for Brazil at the end of November to go under the knife, not to be seen again until April 2011, although he did finish the season with some sterling displays.

Pre-Chelsea
Prior to PSV, Alex played in his homeland at Santos, the São Paulo club made famous around the globe by Pelé.

After moving to Europe, the young player was part of a side that won three consecutive Dutch league titles with a domestic double completed in 2004/05 under the guidance of Guus Hiddink. In the Champions League of 2006/07 he made the headlines by heading the goal that knocked Arsenal out at the first knockout stage.

International Career
Alex made his international debut in 2003, and was part of the Brazil side that won the 2007 Copa América, playing in the 3-0 defeat of Argentina in the Final.

Excluded from international squads for around 18 months, Alex was again left out as coach Dunga announced his World Cup squad in the summer of 2010.

It was a decision that mystified many around Stamford Bridge, particularly in light of Brazil's quarter-final exit in South Africa. New coach Mano Menezes brought him straight back into the fold, joining new Chelsea team-mate Ramires in the squad, but following injury, he did not regain his place in time to compete in the Copa America in July 2011.