Player profile: Derlei

Derlei

Full name: Vanderlei Fernandes Silva

Position: Forward

Date of Birth: 14 July 1975

Birthplace: Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil



Fiercely competitive forward Derlei, nicknamed ‘Ninja’ due to his combative style, plays every minute of every match as if it is his last. He has collected a host of trophies along the way, including the most coveted prize of them all in club football – the Champions League.

But only relatively late in his career did Vanderlei Fernandes Silva experience the fame, fortune and accolades befitting of his ability. His initial years in the game were played in the Brazilian lower levels, which perhaps explains why even an impressive strike rate of 42 goals in 91 league games failed to attract the attention of any of Europe’s major clubs.

Mourinho connection

Portuguese team Uniao da Leiria decided to take a chance on the 22-year-old striker in the summer of 1999. After two moderately successful seasons Leiria appointed a young coach learning the ropes by the name of Jose Mourinho. Derlei’s career would never be the same again. Under Mourinho the modest club from central Portugal enjoyed their best ever season, finishing fifth in the league with Derlei playing a major role with 21 goals in 33 games.

Mourinho’s exploits earned him the top job at FC Porto, and he made the Brazilian one of his first signings. Any doubts about whether Derlei could have the same impact at a major club were soon dissipated. The forward was a key player as Mourinho’s Porto swept all before them at home and abroad.

Derlei enjoyed three golden years at the Dragons, with highlights being 12 Uefa Cup goals in 2002/03, including two in a dramatic final against Celtic to lift the trophy, and a crucial nerveless penalty in the Champions League semi-final the following year with Porto going on to win the competition.

FC Porto idol

Derlei’s exploits at Porto earned him hero status at the club, so much so that his standing among the Porto faithful has been in no way diminished by his subsequent spells at bitter rivals Benfica and Sporting.

As Mourinho left and his great side broke up, Derlei joined Costinha and Maniche in moving to Russian club Dynamo Moscow, who were in the midst of buying players from the Portuguese Liga by the hatful in an ultimately failed experiment.

Derlei was one of the exceptions to the unhappy experiences of players arriving at Dynamo from Portugal, and was always well placed in the league’s top goalscorers chart. Nevertheless, after just two and a half seasons Derlei jumped at the chance to leave Moscow and return to Portugal, signing a short-term contract with Benfica.

Sporting rebirth

A miserable spell at the Estadio da Luz made it all the more surprising that Benfica’s neighbours, Sporting, contracted the striker when the Eagles decided not to renew his contract. His first season at Alvalade was blighted by a serious knee injury. Nevertheless, positive contributions at the start and end of the season persuaded Sporting to extend Derlei’s deal for another season.

Despite intense competition for a place in the starting XI, Derlei’s telling contributions, infectious never-say-die attitude and timely goals have made him a regular and a huge favourite among the fans.

by Tom Kundert (21/08/2008)
CLUB APPEARANCES* GOALS
America (RN) 56 21
Guarani 25 7
Madureira 14 4
Uniao de Leiria 91 42
FC Porto 76 29
Dynamo Moscow 41 20
Benfica 12 1
Sporting** 4 1

* League only
** Up to May 2008

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