Sylvinho

Playername	Sylvinho
Fullname	Sylvio Mendes Campos Júnior
Height
Dateofbirth	April 12, 1974
Cityofbirth	São Paulo
Countryofbirth	Brazil
Position	Left back
Youthyears1	1994
Youthclubs1	Corinthians
Years1	1994–1999
Years2	1999–2001
Years3	2001–2004
Years4	2004–2009
Years5	2009–2010
Clubs1	Corinthians
Clubs2	Arsenal
Clubs3	Celta Vigo
Clubs4	Barcelona
Clubs5	Manchester City
Caps1	136
Caps2	55
Caps3	84
Caps4	89
Caps5	10
Goals1	15
Goals2	5
Goals3	2
Goals4	2
Goals5	0
Nationalyears1	2000–2001
Nationalteam1	Brazil
Nationalcaps1	6
Nationalgoals1	0
Pcupdate	10:25, 4 April 2010 (UTC)
Ntupdate	26 November 2006

Sylvio Mendes Campos Junior (born April 12, 1974 in São Paulo, Brazil), commonly known as Sylvinho, sometimes alternatively spelled Silvinho, is a Brazilian footballer, who is currently a free agent since being released by Manchester City, having previously played for Corinthians, Barcelona, Celta Vigo and Arsenal. He usually plays on the left as an attacking left back and is known for his overlapping runs.

Club career

He started his career at Corinthians from 1994 until 1999. In 1999 he became the first ever Brazilian player to sign for English club Arsenal, who he signed for ahead of North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur who made numerous offers for the Brazilian. Before long he was first choice at left back displacing long-time fan-favourite Nigel Winterburn. He had a setback early on in his first season when he missed a penalty in a shootout as Arsenal crashed out of the League Cup to Middlesbrough, and that season finished in similar heartbreak as Arsenal lost 4–1 on penalties against Turkish club Galatasaray in the 2000 UEFA Cup Final, although this time he did not take a penalty. During his second season at the club he was displaced by Ashley Cole. His stay only lasted for two years but in his short spell there he gained many friends and admirers and scored several spectacular goals including ones against Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic and Chelsea. He also scored twice in the Champions League for Arsenal against Sparta Prague and Spartak Moscow.

In 2001 he moved to Celta Vigo and played there for three years, scoring once in the league against Barcelona, his future club.

Sylvinho obtained Spanish passport in 2004, granted to him after completing three years' residency in Spain, this allows him to bypass the non-EU player restrictions in La Liga.

FC Barcelona

In 2004, after a transfer fee of €2 million, he was signed by FC Barcelona, where he won three domestic leagues, in 2005, 2006 and 2009, as well as the Champions League in 2006 and 2009. He is among many players who have played for both FC Barcelona and Arsenal, including Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Marc Overmars, Emmanuel Petit, Cesc Fàbregas, Fran Mérida, Alexander Hleb, and Thierry Henry. After a series of good performances in 2008, he was given an extension until 2009.

He played for the whole match of the victorious 2009 UEFA Champions League Final for Barcelona, having been an unused substitute in the final three years earlier.

The victorious Champions League Final on 27 May 2009 was the Brazilian's final game for the Catalan club.

Manchester City

Man City visited the Camp Nou on 19 August 2009 and, having beaten Barcelona 1–0 in a friendly, held discussions about Sylvinho joining them at the end of the month, thereby joining up with countryman Robinho. It was announced on 24 August 2009 that he had signed for City on a free transfer, with a one-year contract. He made his debut against Scunthorpe United in the Carling Cup. His first league appearance came on 12 December 2009 against Bolton Wanderers, following the absence of an injured Wayne Bridge. He scored his first goal for Manchester City in a 4–2 win against Scunthorpe in the FA Cup on 24 January 2010, with a spectacular long range strike. On 8 June 2010, it was announced that Sylvinho's contract had expired and that he would be leaving the club, along with Benjani Mwaruwari, Jack Redshaw, Karl Moore and Martin Petrov.

Career statistics

:(correct as of 11 May 2010)

Honours

Club

Corinthians

Campeonato Paulista: 1995, 1997, 1999

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1998

Copa do Brasil: 1995

Arsenal

FA Community Shield: 1999

Barcelona

UEFA Champions League: 2005–06, 2008–09

La Liga: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09

Supercopa de España: 2005, 2006

Copa del Rey: 2008–09

References

External links

Sylvinho at Official FC Barcelona UK Penya

Player profile at Soccerbase

Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:Brazilian footballers Category:Brazilian expatriate footballers Category:Arsenal F.C. players Category:Celta de Vigo footballers Category:FC Barcelona footballers Category:Sport Club Corinthians Paulista players Category:Premier League players Category:La Liga footballers Category:Expatriate footballers in Spain Category:Expatriate footballers in England Category:Spanish people of Brazilian descent Category:Naturalised citizens of Spain Category:Association football fullbacks Category:Brazil international footballers Category:Manchester City F.C. players