Clayton (footballer, born 1975) explained

Clayton
Fullname:Clayton Ferreira Cruz
Birth Date:19 July 1975
Birth Place:São João do Paraíso, Brazil
Height:1.76 m
Position:Forward
Years1:1994–1998
Years2:1997
Years3:1998–1999
Years4:1999
Years5:1999–2003
Years6:2003–2005
Years7:2004–2005
Years8:2005
Years9:2006
Years10:2006–2007
Years11:2007–2008
Years12:2008
Years13:2009–2010
Years14:2011–2012
Clubs1:Atlético Mineiro
Clubs2:Guarani (loan)
Clubs3:América-RJ
Clubs4:Santa Clara
Clubs5:Porto
Clubs6:Sporting CP
Clubs7:Penafiel (loan)
Clubs8:Vitória Guimarães
Clubs9:Sport Recife
Clubs10:Penafiel
Clubs11:Alki Larnaca
Clubs12:Omonia
Clubs13:AEL Limassol
Clubs14:Serrano-BA
Caps1:52
Caps2:4
Caps3:0
Caps4:12
Caps5:74
Caps6:8
Caps7:29
Caps8:6
Caps9:2
Caps10:21
Caps11:21
Caps12:9
Caps13:36
Caps14:13
Totalcaps:287
Goals1:4
Goals2:0
Goals3:0
Goals4:8
Goals5:11
Goals6:0
Goals7:5
Goals8:0
Goals9:0
Goals10:3
Goals11:9
Goals12:1
Goals13:9
Goals14:1
Totalgoals:51

Clayton Ferreira Cruz (born 19 July 1975), known simply as Clayton, is a Brazilian former professional footballer. A forward or winger, he operated preferably on the left.

His 16-year professional career was spent, other than in his country, in Portugal – five teams represented, mainly Porto with which he won five major titles, including one Primeira Liga championship and one UEFA Cup – and Cyprus (three clubs).

Football career

Clayton was born in São João do Paraíso, Minas Gerais. After a solid career in native Brazil, mainly with Clube Atlético Mineiro, he moved to Portugal in 1999, joining Azores' C.D. Santa Clara.

In December 1999, Clayton signed for fellow Primeira Liga club FC Porto, and went on to become an important attacking element.[1] On 25 May of the following year, in the replay match of the final of the Taça de Portugal, he was directly involved in both of his team's goals in a 2–0 win over Sporting CP.[2]

On 17 October 2001, in the season's UEFA Champions League, Clayton scored a brace against Celtic in a 3–0 home triumph.[3] He was also a part of the UEFA Cup-winning side in 2002–03, although he did not play in the final against the same opponent.

For 2003–04, Clayton moved to Sporting.[4] After appearing scarcely throughout the campaign he was loaned to lowly F.C. Penafiel,[5] representing Vitória S.C. subsequently.[6]

After another Brazil spell with Sport Club do Recife, and another season at Penafiel (now in the Portuguese second level), Clayton moved to Cyprus. Starting 2007–08 with Alki Larnaca FC, he joined AC Omonia in the following January transfer window.

In January 2009, Clayton moved teams in the same country, signing with AEL Limassol. He returned to Brazil aged 35, playing the remainder of his career in amateur football.[7]

Honours

Porto

2002–03

1999–00,[2] 2000–01,[8] 2002–03

2001; Runner-up 2000

2002–03

AEL

Runner-up 2008–09

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Clayton tardou a retribuir a confiança de Mourinho. Clayton took some time to repay Mourinho's confidence. Record. Portuguese. 9 April 2002. 14 January 2018.
  2. News: FC Porto: Com Deco foi "outra loiça". FC Porto: «Different dishware» with Deco. Record. Portuguese. 26 May 2000. 14 January 2018.
  3. News: Champions League: Celtic caught in Porto storm. The Daily Telegraph. 17 October 2001. 14 January 2018.
  4. Web site: Surprise swap between rivals. UEFA. 14 July 2003. 15 June 2010.
  5. News: "Duelo com Miguel vai dar-me grande gozo". "I will have a ball battling it out with Miguel". Público. Portuguese. 7 May 2005. 14 January 2018.
  6. Web site: Clayton going to Guimarães. UEFA. 19 July 2005. 15 June 2010.
  7. Web site: Clayton decide voltar a jogar e assina com o Serrano. Clayton decides to play again and signs with Serrano. Globo Esporte. Portuguese. 13 January 2012. 15 January 2018.
  8. News: Bragança-FC Porto, 1–2: Uma exibição mínima mas lá deu para a vitória. Bragança-FC Porto, 1–2: Minimal display but good enough for the win. Record. Portuguese. 12 February 2001. 18 May 2017.