Alex Teixeira Explained

Alex Teixeira
Fullname:Alex Teixeira Santos[1]
Birth Date:1990 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Duque de Caxias, Brazil
Height:1.73 m
Position:Forward, Attacking midfielder
Youthclubs1:Vasco da Gama
Youthyears1:1999–2007
Years1:2008–2009
Clubs1:Vasco da Gama
Caps1:51
Goals1:10
Years2:2010–2016
Clubs2:Shakhtar Donetsk
Caps2:146
Goals2:67
Years3:2016–2020
Clubs3:Jiangsu Suning
Caps3:121
Goals3:59
Years4:2021–2022
Clubs4:Beşiktaş
Caps4:24
Goals4:4
Years5:2022–2023
Clubs5:Vasco da Gama
Caps5:48
Goals5:6
Nationalteam1:Brazil U15
Nationalteam2:Brazil U17
Nationalyears1:2005
Nationalyears2:2006–2007
Nationalcaps1:9
Nationalcaps2:39
Nationalgoals1:8
Nationalgoals2:11
Nationalyears3:2009
Nationalteam3:Brazil U20
Nationalcaps3:8
Nationalgoals3:3
Club-Update:17 January 2024

Alex Teixeira Santos (pronounced as /pt-BR/; born 6 January 1990) is a Brazilian professional footballer who most recently played as a forward for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Vasco da Gama.

Teixeira began his career with Vasco da Gama, making his debut for the senior team at the age of 18, before moving to Shakhtar Donetsk in November 2009. He spent seven years at the club, scoring 89 goals in 222 appearances, while winning the Ukrainian Premier League five times. In February 2016, he transferred to Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning for an Asian record transfer fee of 50 million.[2]

Internationally, Teixeira has been capped at under-17 and under-20 level for Brazil.

Club career

Vasco de Gama

Early career

Teixeira began his career at Vasco da Gama, playing for the youth team from 1999 to 2007. He was promoted to the senior team for the 2008 season.

2008 season

Teixeira was promoted to the senior squad for the tour of Dubai in January 2008. On 11 May 2008, he made his league debut for the club as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Internacional at the age of 18. His first goal for the club came on 28 June 2008 when he scored a brace in a 4–2 victory over Ipatinga.[3] On 22 August, he netted the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Portuguesa.[4] Vasco were relegated at the end of the season, finishing in 18th position with 40 points, finishing four points off safety.[5]

2009 season

On 8 February 2009, Teixeira was sent off in a Campeonato Carioca match against Fluminense.[6] He scored his first Série B goal in a 2–1 defeat to Bahia on 25 July 2009.[7] On 13 November 2009, he scored his final goal for the club in a 2–1 victory over América.[8] He made his final appearance for the club on 28 November in a 2–0 defeat to Ipatinga.[9] At the end of the season, Vasco were promoted back to the Série A after winning the league by a seven-point margin over the second-place team.[10] This was Texeira's first, and only, trophy during his time with Vasco.

On 21 December 2009, at the age of 19, he left Vasco da Gama to join Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk,[11] joining for a fee of around 6 million on a five-year deal.[12] In total with Vasco, he made 92 appearances for the club, scoring 14 times, including 51 league appearances with 11 goals.

Shakhtar Donetsk

2009–10 season

Teixeira made his debut for the club on 20 March 2010. He started a Ukrainian Premier League match against Zorya Luhansk before being taken off for compatriot Ilsinho after 55 minutes.[13] Shakhtar won the match 2–0. His home debut came on 25 April in a 3–0 victory over Chornomorets Odesa.[14] He was a 65th minute replacement for Ilsinho. His final appearance of the season came on 9 May in a 3–2 win against Tavryia Simferopol.[15] He ended the season with three appearances for the club, all of which came in the league. Shakhtar won the 2009–10 Ukrainian Premier League by a six-point margin over second-placed Dynamo Kyiv, giving Teixeira his first trophy as a Shakhtar player.[16]

2010–11 season

On 4 July 2010, Teixeira came on as a 68th-minute replacement for Jádson in Shakhtar's 7–1 Ukrainian Super Cup victory over Tavriya Simferopol.[17] His European debut came in a 1–0 UEFA Champions League group stage victory over Partizan on 15 September.[18] He scored his first goal for the club on 3 October in injury time against Dynamo Kyiv in a 2–0 win.[19]

On 23 October, he came on as a substitute for Vitaliy Vitsenets in the 46th minute and scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Vorskla Poltava in the 57th minute, before being sent off after 63 minutes for a second bookable offence.[20] He replaced Willian in the 77th minute of Shakhtar's 2–0 Ukrainian Cup final victory against Dynamo Kyiv.[21] He made 39 appearances for the club, 26 of which came in the league, and scored six goals, with five in the league, as Shakhtar secured the treble (League, Ukrainian Cup, and Super Cup).[22]

2011–12 season

Teixeira's first match of the season came in the Super Cup. He came on as a 64th minute replacement for Henrikh Mkhitaryan but could not prevent Shakhtar from losing 3–1 to Dynamo Kyiv.[23] This loss prevented Shakhtar from winning the treble for the second year in a row, although they did manage to recapture the Ukrainian Premier League title and the Ukrainian Cup.[24] Teixeira's first goal of the season came on 24 July in a 2–1 league victory over Karpaty Lviv.[25] He scored the first goal in Shakhtar's 2–1 extra time victory over Metalurh Donetsk in the 2012 Ukrainian Cup final.[26] Shakhtar ended the 2011–12 Ukrainian Premier League as champions with 79 points, four ahead of nearest rivals Dynamo Kyiv, marking Teixeira's third league title in three seasons with the club. The cup success was also his second Ukrainian Cup win with the club. He made 37 appearances, scoring 10 goals. Twenty-six of the appearances and seven goals came in the league, while the other three goals came in the Ukrainian Cup. He finished the season as Shakhtar's top scorer in the Ukrainian Cup, two goals behind the overall top goalscorer Maicon of Volyn Lutsk, who scored five.

2012–13 season

After losing out to Dynamo Kyiv in the Super Cup the previous year, Shakhtar overcame Metalurh Donetsk 2–0 to regain the trophy.[27] Teixeira started the match but was replaced after 77 minutes for the newly signed Marko Dević. Teixeira then gave Shakhtar the lead in a Champions League group stage match against Italian side Juventus on 2 October, although the match ended in a 1–1 draw.[28] This marked his first ever goal in the competition. He scored the opener in a 2–1 victory against English side Chelsea in the Champions League on 23 October.[29]

On 27 October, Teixeira netted the only goal in a 1–0 victory against Tavriya Simferopol.[30] After the departure of Fernandinho to Manchester City, Teixeira was asked to drop deeper in the pitch and act as a replacement. When asked about the decision, he stated, "Yes, indeed, after the departure of Fernandinho, we discussed this issue. I'm going to play in this position. It is important to adapt and get used to it, to operate up to the mark so that the team can continue winning". In July 2013, Teixeira signed a five-year contract extension with Shakhtar.

2013–14 season

During the 2013–14 season, Teixeira was part of a Shakhtar team that won a fifth consecutive Ukrainian Premier League title. In addition to his six league goals, he scored three times during the group stage of the Champions League. He contributed both goals in a 2–0 win over Real Sociedad in San Sebastián, before scoring the second goal of a 4–0 defeat of the same opposition at the Donbass Arena.[31] [32] On 15 May 2014, he played the full 90 minutes of Shakhtar's 2014 Ukrainian Cup final loss to Dynamo Kyiv.

2014–15 season

Teixeira ended the 2014–15 season as joint-top scorer in the Ukrainian Premier League with 17 goals. He registered three goals in eight Champions League appearances; the opening goal of a 2–2 draw with Porto and both home and away to BATE Borisov in respective 5–0 and 7–0 wins.[33] On 4 June 2015, Teixeira played in a Ukrainian Cup final defeat to Dynamo Kyiv for the second consecutive year.[34]

2015–16 season

At the winter break stage of the 2015–16 Ukrainian Premier League season, Teixeira has scored 22 goals from 15 appearances,[35] scoring at least one goal in all but two of his appearances and registering two goals on nine occasions. On 16 October 2015, he scored twice in a 3–0 win over champions Dynamo Kyiv at the Olimpiyskiy to overtake the capital club at the top of the table.[36] On 25 November, he scored twice in a 3–4 loss to Real Madrid in the group stage of the 2015–16 Champions League.[37]

Jiangsu Suning

In January 2016, English Premier League club Liverpool submitted a bid of €32 million (£24.6m) to sign Teixeira, with him expressing a strong desire to move to Merseyside.[38] [39] Shakhtar refused the bid, however, and on 5 February 2016, Teixeira joined Chinese club Jiangsu Suning on a four-year contract for a transfer fee of €50 million.[2] This was the third time in ten days that China's transfer record had been broken, the first being for compatriot Ramires who also joined Jiangsu, from Chelsea.[40]

On 1 March 2016, Teixeira scored on his competitive debut for Jiangsu in a 3–2 win over Jeonbuk Motors in the AFC Champions League.[41] On 5 March 2016, Teixeira scored two goals in a 3–0 win over Shandong Luneng on his Chinese Super League debut.[42]

On 12 November 2020, Teixeira set up his side's first goal converted by Éder and scored the winning goal in the second-leg of the Chinese Super League finals against Guangzhou Evergrande. Jiangsu Suning won the match 2–1, with an aggregate victory of the same scoreline, securing the club's first league title in their history.[43]

Due to the club's financial problems, Teixeira left Jiangsu Suning as a free agent in January 2021.

Beşiktaş

On 5 August 2021, Teixeira announced that he would join Süper Lig club Beşiktaş. On 10 August Beşiktaş announced that Teixeira had signed a three-year contract.

Return to Vasco de Gama

On 13 July 2022, Teixeira returned to Vasco da Gama after twelve years.[44] On 12 January 2023, Teixeira signed a contract extension with Vasco da Gama until December 2023.[45] On 21 December 2023, Vasco da Gama announced that Teixeira would leave the club at the expiration of his contract.[46]

International career

Teixeira is capped at under-17 and under-20 level for Brazil.[47] He played for Brazil at the 2007 Under-17 World Cup and the 2009 Under-20 World Cup. In the latter tournament, he scored three goals but missed the decisive penalty in the final shoot-out against Ghana. He was voted the second best player in the tournament, behind Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah.[48]

Teixeira was named in the Brazil senior team's provisional squad for Copa América Centenario, but was cut from the final squad.[49]

Career statistics

Club

[50] [51] [52] [53]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueState LeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Vasco da Gama2008Série A2951727120558
2009Série B2251233000378
Total511029510120009216
Shakhtar Donetsk2009–10Ukrainian Premier League3000000030
2010–11Ukrainian Premier League265418010396
2011–12Ukrainian Premier League2675350103710
2012–13Ukrainian Premier League27105482104116
2013–14Ukrainian Premier League276408310409
2014–15Ukrainian Premier League22177283003722
2015–16Ukrainian Premier League152200104102626
Total1466700251047125022389
Jiangsu Suning2016Chinese Super League28117662104219
2017Chinese Super League1982073102911
2018Chinese Super League2813323115
2019Chinese Super League3018103118
2020Chinese Super League1910102010
Total12460001481352015373
Beşiktaş2021–22Süper Lig244303010314
Vasco da Gama2022Série B15200152
2023Série A00000000
Total15200000000152
Career total3601432955219651780514184

Honours

Vasco da Gama

Shakhtar Donetsk[54]

Jiangsu Suning

Beşiktaş

2021

Brazil U-20

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009™: List of Players: Brazil . FIFA . 2 . 6 October 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091013164551/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/10/28/62/fwyc_2009_squadlists.pdf . 13 October 2009 .
  2. News: Alex Teixeira moves to Jiangsu Suning. 5 February 2016. Shakhtar Donestsk.
  3. Web site: Vasco vs Ipatinga 4–2. 17 September 2012.
  4. Web site: Portuguesa vs Vasco 0–1. 17 September 2012.
  5. Web site: 2008 Serie A. 17 September 2012.
  6. Web site: Fluminense vs Vasco 0–0. 17 September 2012.
  7. Web site: Bahia vs Vasco 2–1. 17 September 2012.
  8. Web site: Vasco vs América 2–1. 17 September 2012.
  9. Web site: Ipatinga vs Vasco 2–0. 17 September 2012.
  10. Web site: Brazil Second Level 2009. 17 September 2012.
  11. Web site: Alex Teixeira is Shakhtar player . 17 September 2012.
  12. News: Shakhtar take on Alex Teixeira . 22 December 2009 . 7 February 2010 . UEFA.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20100219083454/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid%3D938484.html . 19 February 2010 . live .
  13. Web site: Zorya vs Shakhtar 0–2. 17 September 2012.
  14. Web site: Shakhtar vs Chornomorets 3–0. 17 September 2012.
  15. Web site: Tavirya vs Shakhtar 2–3. 17 September 2012.
  16. Web site: Ukraine 2009/10. 17 September 2012.
  17. Web site: Shakhtar vs Tavriya 7–1.
  18. Web site: Shakhtar vs Partizan 1–0. 17 September 2012.
  19. Web site: Shakhtar vs Dynamo 2–0. 17 September 2012.
  20. Web site: Shakhtar vs Vorskla 1–0. 17 September 2012.
  21. Web site: Dynamo Kyiv vs Shakhtar 0–2. 17 September 2012.
  22. Web site: Ukraine 2010/11. 17 September 2012.
  23. Web site: Shakhtar vs Dynamo 1–3. 17 September 2012.
  24. Web site: Ukraine 2011/12. 17 September 2012.
  25. Web site: Shakhtar vs Karpaty 2–1. 17 September 2012.
  26. Web site: Metalurh Donetsk vs Shakhtar Donetsk 1–2. 17 September 2012.
  27. Web site: Metalurh Donetsk vs Shakhtar Donetsk 0–2. 17 September 2012.
  28. Web site: Juventus forced to share spoils with Shakhtar - Juventus vs Shaktar 1–1. UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 2 October 2012. 2 October 2012.
  29. Web site: Shakhtar vs Chelsea 2–1. 29 October 2012.
  30. Web site: Tavriya vs Shakhtar 0–1. 29 October 2012.
  31. News: Modest Alex Teixeira shares Shakhtar plaudits. 18 September 2013. UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations.
  32. News: Shakhtar forge on as La Real hopes end. 27 November 2013. UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations.
  33. News: Alex Teixeira. 29 January 2016. UEFA.
  34. News: Dynamo Kyiv fans tear down goalposts after beating Shakhtar Donetsk in penalty shootout to win Ukrainian Cup final. 5 June 2015. Kyiv Post.
  35. News: Liverpool's Alex Teixeira hopes diminish as Shakhtar Donetsk dig their heels in over Brazilian's valuation. 25 January 2016. The Mirror.
  36. News: Dynamo 0-3 Shakhtar. 16 October 2015. FC Shakhtar Donetsk. 29 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20151226092629/http://shakhtar.com/en/matches/events/?id=3686. 26 December 2015. dead.
  37. News: Shakhtar Donetsk 3-4 Real Madrid. 25 November 2015. BBC.
  38. Web site: Alex Teixeira: Lowdown on Brazilian attacker in Liverpool's transfer sights. 21 January 2016.
  39. Web site: Alex Teixeira: Shakhtar Donetsk open talks with Liverpool over Brazilian forward. The Guardian. 2 March 2016. 21 January 2016.
  40. News: Alex Teixeira: Shakhtar midfielder in 50m euro move to China. 23 February 2016. BBC Sport. 5 February 2016.
  41. Web site: Alex Teixeira on target but Ramires receives red for Jiangsu Suning. 2 March 2016.
  42. News: Samba stars lead Jiangsu Suning to winning start in Chinese Super League. 5 March 2016. Channel NewsAsia. 5 March 2016.
  43. Web site: Alex Teixeira shines as Jiangsu claim maiden Chinese Super League title. ESPN. 16 November 2020. 19 November 2020.
  44. News: Após 12 anos, Alex Teixeira será novamente o camisa 7 do Vasco. 14 July 2022. Globo Esporte. 27 February 2024. pt.
  45. News: Alex Teixeira acerta renovação e ganha segunda chance após 2022 em baixa no Vasco. 12 January 2023. Globo Esporte. 27 February 2024. pt.
  46. News: Vasco anuncia saída do atacante Alex Teixeira: "Obrigado, Cria". 21 December 2023. Globo Esporte. 27 February 2024. pt.
  47. Web site: Alex Teixeira em campo pelo Brasil contra a Costa Rica nesta quarta . https://archive.today/20130203092642/http://www.supervasco.com/noticias.asp?n=25251 . dead . 3 February 2013 . 18 July 2007 . 10 December 2007 .
  48. Web site: UEFA Champions League Alex Teixeira. 17 September 2012.
  49. Web site: Dunga names 40-man preliminary Copa America squad. goal.com . 29 April 2016 . 30 June 2016.
  50. Web site: < < w w w . n e t v a s c o . c o m . b r > >. www.netvasco.com.br.
  51. Web site: < < w w w . n e t v a s c o . c o m . b r > >. www.netvasco.com.br.
  52. Web site: Alex Teixeira. shakhtar.com/en/. FC Shakhtar Donetsk. 24 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160914113609/http://shakhtar.com/en/team/player/?id=549. 14 September 2016. dead.
  53. Web site: Top scorers table. Chinese Super League official website. 11 September 2016.
  54. Web site: Alex Teixeira moves to Jiangsu Suning. shakhtar.com . 5 February 2016.
  55. Web site: FIFA U20 World Cup Final 2009 – Ghana 0:0 a.e.t. 4:3 PSO Brazil – Report . FIFA.com . 2 December 2015.
  56. Web site: FIFA U20 World Cup Final 2009 – Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20150614041630/http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/archive/egypt2009/awards/index.html . dead . 14 June 2015 . FIFA.com . 4 December 2015.
  57. Web site: Top Scorers (Premier League Championship. Season 2014/2015) . . 21 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121113223643/http://www.fpl.ua/eng/stat/statplayers . 13 November 2012 . dead . uk.
  58. Web site: Top Scorers (Premier League Championship. Season 2015/2016) . . 21 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121113223643/http://www.fpl.ua/eng/stat/statplayers . 13 November 2012 . dead . uk.