Fábio Aurélio Rodrigues

Personal information
Full name	Fábio Aurélio Rodrigues
Date of birth	24 September 1979 (1979-09-24) (age 30)
Place of birth	São Carlos, Brazil
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Playing position	Left Back/Left Midfield
Club information
Current club	Liverpool
Number	12
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps (Gls)†
1997–2000	São Paulo	054 0(3)
2000–2006	Valencia	096 (11)
2006–	Liverpool	058 0(4)
National team‡
1999–	Brazil U-23	013 0(1)[2][3]
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:13, 19 September 2009 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18:35, 28 December 2008 (UTC)

Fábio Aurélio Rodrigues (born 24 September 1979) is a Brazilian football player, who plays for the English Premier League team Liverpool. He can play at left back or left midfield and is noted for his passing accuracy, crossing ability and curling free-kicks.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Club career

[edit] São Paulo

Aurélio came through the youth scheme at São Paulo FC, making his first team debut in 1997, and has represented Brazil at Under-17 and Under-20 levels. He also played in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

[edit] Valencia

He joined Valencia CF after the Olympics on a six-year contract. The 2001–02 season would see his first major trophy win, when he helped Valencia to their first La Liga championship in 31 years.^[4] The next year, he established himself as one of the league's best left-backs with 8 league goals; 10 goals in all competitions. The 2003–04 season was another big year for Valencia, winning both the domestic La Liga championship as well as the European 2003–04 UEFA Cup tournament, beating Olympique de Marseille 2–0 in the final. Aurélio missed most of the season with a broken leg, however, managing only two games.

Aurélio holds an Italian passport, allowing him to play in England without needing a work permit.

[edit] Liverpool

On 3 July 2006, the Liverpool Echo published an interview with Aurélio where he explained:

"I am going to a new club in which the trainer knows me, to see if I can conquer the objectives I have set myself. The most important moments I had in my career were the titles (with Valencia) and that was with Benítez. He trusted me and he continues to trust me and that is what I value more." ^[5]

On 5 July, the transfer was confirmed by Liverpool.^[6]

Aurélio played a key part in Liverpool's squad during his first season, notably providing two assists for Peter Crouch and Daniel Agger in a 4–1 win over fellow title contenders Arsenal on 31 March 2007. However, Aurelio soon suffered a setback as he injured his achilles tendon on 3 April in a UEFA Champions League first leg tie against PSV. Aurélio missed the rest of Liverpool's 2006–07 campaign and returned to the squad the following season on 18 September, coming on as a substitute in a 1–1 draw against F.C. Porto in the Champions League group phase.

Aurélio scored his first goal for Liverpool on 2 March 2008 in a league match win against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium. The final score was 3-1, with Aurelio scoring Liverpool's third with a volley from Xabi Alonso's corner.^[7] He then scored on the 7th of February 2009 against Portsmouth at Fratton Park with an in-direct free kick into the bottom corner, getting his team back on level terms. The final score was 3-2 to Liverpool.

Aurélio went on to establish himself as Liverpool's first choice left-back but was again beset with injury in the team's 1-1 draw with Chelsea in a Champions League semi-final first leg clash. Aurélio tore his adductor muscle after a forceful impact with Joe Cole and as a result, was ruled out for the rest of the season.^[8]

For the 2008-09 season, Aurélio was in direct competition with new signing Andrea Dossena. On 14 March 2009, Aurélio scored Liverpool's 3rd goal with a free-kick as Liverpool won 4-1 against Manchester United, at Old Trafford.^[9] On 14 April, he scored Liverpool's opening goal in the second leg of the Champions League quarter final against Chelsea with a low curling free kick. The match ended a 4-4 draw, with Chelsea progressing to the next round on aggregate.

It was reported on Thursday July 9 that Aurelio suffered a knee injury while playing football with his children. Rumours were circulating that he would be out for 6 months but current manager Rafael Benítez quashed these rumours by confirming that he would only be out for 1–2 months.^[10] Aurelio made his return from injury by coming on as a substitute in Champions league game against Debreceni VSC on 16 September.

[edit] International career

Aurélio played for Brazil at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

In October 2009, he was called into the Brazil squad for the friendlies against England in Doha, and shortly later, Oman in Muscat during November 2009, but he was not able to make his debut due to injury concerns.^[11]

[edit] Statistics

All-time club performance

Club	Season	Brazilian League		Copa do Brasil		Campeonato Paulista		CONMEBOL		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
São Paulo	1997	15	1	2	0			2	0	19	1
	1998	11	1	-	-			2	0	13	1
	1999	23	1	-	-			5	0	28	1
	2000	5	0	12	1			2	0	19	1
	Club Total	54	3	14	1			11	0	79	4
Club	Season	La Liga		Copa del Rey		Supercopa de España		Europe		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Valencia	2000–01	7	0					2	0	9	0
	2001–02	15	1					4	0	19	1
	2002–03	27	8					8	2	35	10
	2003–04	2	0					2	0	4	0
	2004–05	21	0					1	0	22	0
	2005–06	24	2							24	2
	Club Total	96	11					17	2	113	13
		Premier League		FA Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
Liverpool	2006–07	17	0	1	0	1	0	5	0	24	0
	2007–08	16	1	1	0	3	0	9	0	29	1
	2008–09	24	2	1	0		0	8	1	33	3
	Club Total	57	3	3	0	4	0	20	1	80	4
	Career Total	202	17	17	1	4	0	48	3	272	21

[edit] Honours

São Paulo

• Winner
  • São Paulo State Championship: 1998, 2000
• Runner-Up
  • Copa do Brasil: 2000
  • Supercopa Sudamericana:1997

Valencia

• Winner
  • La Liga: 2001–02, 2003–04
  • UEFA Cup: 2004
  • European Super Cup: 2004
  • UEFA Champions League runner up 2001

Liverpool

• Winner
  • Community Shield: 2006
  • UEFA Champions league runner up 2007
  • FA Premiership 2008-09 runner up

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Fábio Aurélio career stats at Soccerbase
• Official LFC profile
• LFChistory.net player profile
• FIFA.com Profile
• ESPN Profile

v • d • e Brazil squad – 2000 Olympics 1 Helton • 2 Baiano • 3 Bilica • 4 Álvaro • 5 Marcos Paulo • 6 Fábio Aurélio • 7 Ronaldinho • 8 Fabiano • 9 Edu • 10 Alex • 11 Geovanni • 12 Roger • 13 André Luís • 14 Lúcio • 15 Mozart • 16 Athirson • 17 Lucas • 18 Fábio Costa • Coach: Luxemburgo