Player Profile: Edinho
 Full name: Arnaldo Edi Lopes da Silva
Position: Forward
Date of Birth: 7 July 1982
Birthplace: Aveiro, Portugal
As one of many players to leave Portugal in order kick-start their careers abroad, former Vitoria Setubal and Sporting Braga striker Edinho has used his foreign experience to establish himself as a regular in Carlos Queiroz’s plans for the Portuguese national team.
Having been released by Vitoria Setubal as a youngster, Edinho spent a couple of years in the lower leagues in Portugal before joining Braga in 2003. The stocky forward excelled with the club’s B team, leading to loan spells with Pacos de Ferreira and Gil Vicente. However, Edinho failed to make much of an impression during his time on loan and was subsequently released by Braga in 2007.
Vitoria Setubal re-signed the then 25-year-old and it would be his original club who ended up launching Edinho’s career. A good first half of the 2007/08 campaign, during which he showed a keen eye for goal, led to a loan move from Vitoria to Greek giants AEK during the winter transfer window.
Greek success
Playing for his future in Greece, Edinho made a tremendous impact in Athens, at one stage scoring in five successive games, including the winner against champions Olympiacos. As a result, the move was made permanent at the end of the season, with Edinho signing for AEK in a €500,000 deal.
Things continued to go well for the Portuguese at the start of the 2008/09 season, leading to Carlos Queiroz travelling to Greece to watch Edinho in action as rumours of an international call-up began to surface. However, despite regularly finding the net, disciplinary problems led to a deterioration in the player’s relationship with AEK, and by the end of his second term in Greece, Edinho had become unsettled.
His performances in Greece led to plenty of interest from across the continent during the summer of 2009, with Paris Saint-Germain thought to be particularly keen on taking the striker. Edinho opted for Spanish football and a €900,000 move to Andalucian side Malaga, where he would link up with fellow Portuguese Duda.
In keeping with his career to date, Edinho’s stay in La Liga would prove a brief one. Often having to settle for a place on the bench and regularly played in a wide position, Edinho once again showed an eagerness to move on. His wish was granted in January 2010, as former Benfica manager Fernando Santos stepped in to bring the striker back to Greece with PAOK.
International career:
Edinho’s form in Greece with AEK caught the attention of new Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz, who introduced him into the Seleccao set-up in March 2009, with the player making his debut and scoring in a friendly against South Africa shortly afterwards. Edinho ended the year with six caps and two goals to his name and a realistic chance of making Portugal’s 23-man World Cup squad.
by Sean Gillen (22/01/2010)
| Club |
Appearances* |
Goals |
| Barreirense |
19 |
2 |
| Braga |
6 |
0 |
| P. Ferreira (loan) |
21 |
2 |
| Gil Vicente (loan) |
25 |
6 |
| Vitoria Setubal |
15 |
6 |
| AEK Athens |
36 |
12 |
| Malaga |
6 |
2 |
| PAOK |
- |
- |
| |
|
|
| PORTUGAL |
6 |
2 |
* League appearances only
|
