Elkeson Explained

Ai Kesen
Full Name:Ai Kesen
Birth Name:Elkeson de Oliveira Cardoso[1]
Height:1.80 m
Birth Date:13 July 1989
Birth Place:Coelho Neto, Maranhão, Brazil
Currentclub:Chengdu Rongcheng
Clubnumber:9
Position:Striker
Youthyears1:2001–2009
Youthclubs1:Vitória
Years1:2009–2011
Clubs1:Vitória
Caps1:47
Goals1:7
Years2:2011–2012
Clubs2:Botafogo
Caps2:65
Goals2:19
Years3:2013–2015
Clubs3:Guangzhou Evergrande
Caps3:72
Goals3:59
Years4:2016–2019
Clubs4:Shanghai SIPG
Caps4:74
Goals4:37
Years5:2019–2021
Clubs5:Guangzhou FC
Caps5:45
Goals5:27
Years6:2022
Clubs6:Grêmio
Caps6:23
Goals6:3
Years7:2023–
Clubs7:Chengdu Rongcheng
Caps7:33
Goals7:10
Nationalyears1:2019–
Nationalteam1:China
Nationalcaps1:19
Nationalgoals1:5
Pcupdate:26 May 2024
Ntupdate:1 April 2024

Elkeson de Oliveira Cardoso, simply Elkeson and also known as Ai Kesen (; 13 July 1989), is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Chinese Super League club Chengdu Rongcheng. Born in Brazil, he plays for the China national team.

Starting out at Vitória, he played mostly as an attacking midfielder and as a winger, but since his final days at Botafogo, he was moved to attack and has played as a striker. Born in Brazil, Elkeson obtained Chinese citizenship in 2019 through naturalization and represents China internationally.[2]

Club career

Brazil

Elkeson first played for Vitória's youth academy before signing with the first team in 2009. During the 2010 season, Elkeson proved himself a breakout success and soon earned himself a move to Botafogo in May 2011.

After two years of being one of Botafogo's star players in the Brasileirão, Guangzhou Evergrande of the Chinese Super League secured his services at the end of the 2012 season.

Guangzhou Evergrande

On 24 December 2012, Guangzhou Evergrande officially announced that they had signed Elkeson on a four-year deal for a fee of €5.7 million.[3] [4] He was not initially included in Guangzhou's 30-player squad for the 2013 AFC Champions League due to the limit on foreign players. On 3 March 2013, he made his debut for Guangzhou in the 2013 Chinese FA Super Cup which Guangzhou Evergrande lost to Jiangsu Sainty 2–1. On 8 March 2013, Elkeson scored his first two goals in China in the opening match of the 2013 Chinese Super League against Shanghai Shenxin, which ensured Guangzhou Evergrande's 5–1 victory. He scored thirteen goals in his first seven matches in the league.[5] In July 2013, Elkeson was named in the squad which was submitted for the next stage of the AFC Champions League, replacing Lucas Barrios, who had decided to return to Europe.[6]

He scored twenty-four goals in twenty-eight appearances in the Super League which made him the top goalscorer of the season, eight more than the second-placed Carmelo Valencia. He scored six goals in six matches in the AFC Champions League, including two goals across both legs of the 2013 AFC Champions League Final against FC Seoul as Guangzhou was crowned champion of the competition for the first time.[7] The win in the final was the first time a Chinese club had won the trophy in 23 years.

On 1 December 2013, in the first leg of the 2013 Chinese FA Cup final against Guizhou Renhe, he was sent off after striking Yang Hao in the face with his hand.[8] On 5 December, he received a ban of 4 matches and was fined ¥20,000 by the Chinese Football Association discipline committee.[9]

Guangzhou Evergrande finally lost to Guizhou Renhe 3–2 on aggregate, failing to defend the FA Cup title. Elkeson played all three matches for Guangzhou Evergrande in the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup. On 14 December 2013, he scored Guangzhou's first goal in the FIFA Club World Cup against African champions Al Ahly in the quarter-finals, helping Guangzhou win the match 2–0.[10]

In March 2015, after a match against Changchun Yatai, he was heavily criticised for annulling teammate Gao Lin's certain bicycle kick goal by attempting to poach the goal for himself by just brushing the ball on the line with his head, which meant ultimately that the goal was (correctly) ruled offside and the team only drew the match 1–1.[11]

Elkeson scored the winner as Guangzhou beat Al-Ahli of the UAE to win a second AFC Champions League in three years on 21 November 2015.

Shanghai SIPG

On 21 January 2016, Elkeson moved to fellow Super League side Shanghai SIPG with a fee of ¥132 million (€18.5 million).[12]

On 4 April 2018, Elkeson scored his side's only goal in their 1–1 draw with Kawasaki Frontale in the group stage of the AFC Champions League.[13] The goal was Elkeson's 27th in the competition proper, moving him to fourth all time in the top scoring charts.[14]

On 18 September 2018, Elkeson scored the winning goal for Shanghai SIPG, as the club recorded its first ever win in the Super League against his former club Guangzhou Evergrande. The win cemented SIPG's position in first place at the top of the league table.[15] On 7 October, Elkeson scored again as SIPG recorded a 5–0 win over bottom-of-the-table Guizhou Hengfeng to extend their lead over his former club at the top of the table to 4 points with just over a month of the season left.[16] On 7 November, Elkeson played a part in Shanghai's 2–0 win over Beijing Renhe in the penultimate round of fixtures.[17] The win secured Shanghai SIPG's first Chinese Super League title and ended Guangzhou Evergrande's seven-year title reign.[18]

Return to Guangzhou Evergrande

On 9 July 2019, Elkeson returned to his former club Guangzhou Evergrande. Elkeson reportedly agreed a €10 million (US$11.2 million) annual salary to return, up from €6 million in Shanghai. At the time of his transfer, the two clubs were level on points, and were two points behind leaders Beijing Guoan. Elkeson marked his return to Guangzhou with goals in his first two games, and a hat-trick against local rivals Guangzhou R&F in his third match on 20 July.[19]

On 13 December 2021, Elkeson confirmed his departure from Guangzhou FC, having terminated his contract with the club by mutual consent.[20]

Return to Brazil

On 12 April 2022, Elkeson officially joined Série B side Grêmio, signing a contract until the end of the year and returning to Brazil after ten years abroad.[21] [22] Having scored four goals in 23 matches, he helped O Tricolor gain automatic promotion back to the Brazilian top tier at the end of the 2022 season.[23] On 9 November, he announced his official departure from the club.[24]

Chengdu Rongcheng

On 7 April 2023, Elkeson returned to China and signed with Chinese Super League side Chengdu Rongcheng.[25] On 21 April 2023, he scored his first goal for Rongcheng in a 2–1 home win against Cangzhou Mighty Lions.[26]

International career

In September 2011, Elkeson received his first call up for the Brazil national football team by Mano Menezes for the second leg of the 2011 Superclásico de las Américas against Argentina.[27] However, he did not make an appearance once.

Elkeson was called up to the Chinese national team in August 2019, following the gaining of Chinese citizenship via naturalisation. Elkeson subsequently became the first player to be called up for China without any Chinese ancestry.[28]

Following his naturalisation as a Chinese citizen, his name was rendered as Ai Kesen in Chinese .[29]

On 10 September 2019, Elkeson made his international debut and scored his first 2 goals for China in a 5–0 away win against Maldives in the opening game of the second round of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification.[30]

Career statistics

Club

[31]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupState LeagueContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Vitória2009Série A1211011142
20103461011322040639
2011Série B102018700217
Total47712132931409818
Botafogo2011Série A34830378
2012311152165205418
Total6519521655091!26
Guangzhou Evergrande2013CSL28243166414132
20142828101063934
2015167113403110
Total72594127!158111176
Shanghai SIPG2016CSL26111094003615
2017171112125003018
20181672084002611
20191581082102510
Total74375237!151011754
Guangzhou Evergrande2019CSL13100040001710
20201960041237
2021131100001311
Total45270081004017
Grêmio2022Série B233233
Total23300000023!3
Chengdu2023CSL278278
202462000062
Total331000000033!10
Career total35716126648148032131522214

International

China
YearAppsGoals
201943
202000
202191
202200
202351
202410
Total195
As of 30 May 2021. China score listed first, score column shows score after each Elkeson goal.
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
scope=colNo.scope=col data-sort-type=dateDatescope=colVenuescope=colCapscope=colOpponentscope=colScorescope=colResultscope=colCompetition
scope=row110 September 2019National Football Stadium, Malé, Maldives 14–05–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
scope=row25–0
scope=row310 October 2019Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China 27–07–0
scope=row430 May 2021Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China 55–0
scope=row516 June 2023Dalian Jinzhou Stadium, Dalian, Liaoning, China 141–0 4–0 Friendly

Honours

Vitória

Botafogo

Guangzhou Evergrande

Shanghai SIPG

Grêmio

2022

Brazil

Individual

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2013: List of Players . FIFA . 6 . 11 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131211203509/http://www.fifadata.com/document/FCWC/2013/pdf/FCWC_2013_SquadLists.pdf . 11 December 2013 . dead.
  2. Web site: Landmark move sees Elkeson named in China PR squad. 20 August 2019. The AFC. 20 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190820085915/https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/fifa-world-cup/latest/news/landmark-move-sees-elkeson-named-in-china-pr-squad. live.
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20131112181057/http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/197/709/5/index.html China champs Guangzhou sign Elkeson
  4. http://www.gzevergrandefc.com/show_content.php?id=4494 埃尔克森(ELKESON)正式加盟广州恒大
  5. Web site: Former Botafogo star Elkeson happy with life in China . 12 November 2013 . 12 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131112203949/http://www.sambafoot.com/en/news/46640_former_botafogo_star_elkeson_happy_with_life_in_china.html . live .
  6. Web site: 恒大火速为郑龙补报亚冠资格 埃尔克森替巴里奥斯 . 12 November 2013 . 27 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090743/http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2013-07-19/19466678902.shtml . live .
  7. Web site: Elkeson sets sights on Club World Cup . 12 November 2013 . 13 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131113062015/http://www.the-afc.com/en/acl-news/acl-all-news/27185-elkeson-sets-sights-111113.html . live .
  8. Web site: 埃神又昏了头!愤怒报复染红下场 不是第一次了 . 25 December 2013 . 6 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131206001914/http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2013-12-01/16346912241.shtml . live .
  9. Web site: 埃尔克森被追加停赛 . 25 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131226032754/http://sports.163.com/13/1205/07/9FAKLRVK00051C89.html . 26 December 2013 . dead.
  10. https://web.archive.org/web/20131214200238/http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/matches/round=259709/match=300260479/report.html Guangzhou Evergrande FC 2–0 Al Ahly SC
  11. Web site: Video: How to ruin a team-mate's goal! . 24 March 2015 . 24 March 2015 . 26 March 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150326201628/http://talksport.com/football/video-footballer-shows-how-ruin-team-mates-goal-china-150324140965 . live .
  12. Web site: Time de Conca na China anuncia a contratação do brasileiro Elkeson . Globo Esporte . 21 January 2016 . pt . 24 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160124012643/http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/futebol-internacional/noticia/2016/01/time-de-conca-na-china-anuncia-contratacao-do-brasileiro-elkeson.html . live .
  13. Web site: Shanghai SIPG FC (CHN) 1–1 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) . AFC . 4 April 2018 . 7 November 2018 . 5 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180805082956/http://stats.the-afc.com/match_report/12904 . live .
  14. Web site: Five all-time leading goalscorers in AFC Champions League . Fox Sports . 23 October 2018 . 7 November 2018 . 7 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181107010552/https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-champions-league/958900/5-top-goalscorers-afc-champions-league/ . live .
  15. Web site: Chinese Super League title race takes another twist as Wu Lei and Elkeson help Shanghai SIPG hold on to beat Guangzhou Evergrande . South China Morning Post . 19 September 2018 . 6 November 2018 . 7 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181107103958/https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2164824/chinese-super-league-title-race-takes-another-twist-wu-lei-and-elkeson . live .
  16. Web site: Wu's double keeps SIPG clear at summit . Nasdaq . 7 October 2018 . 6 November 2018 . 8 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181108025815/https://www.nasdaq.com/article/soccerwus-double-keeps-sipg-clear-at-summit-20181007-00053 . live .
  17. Web site: Shanghai SIPG 2–1 Beijing Renhe . ESPN . 7 November 2018 . 7 November 2018 . 7 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181107124327/http://www.espn.com/soccer/match?gameId=507952 . live .
  18. Web site: Shanghai SIPG win Chinese Super League to end Guangzhou Evergrande dominance . ESPNFC . 7 November 2018 . 7 November 2018 . 8 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181108025757/http://kwese.espn.com/soccer/chinese-super-league/story/3692644/shanghai-sipg-win-chinese-super-league-to-end-guangzhou-evergrande-dominance . live .
  19. Web site: Guangzhou R&F F.C. 0 : 5 Guangzhou Evergrande . Who Scored . 21 July 2019 . 21 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190721165009/https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1362861/Preview/China-Super-league-2019-Guangzhou-R-F-F-C-Guangzhou-Evergrande . live .
  20. Web site: 13 December 2021 . Elkeson rescinde com Guangzhou FC após nove anos e se despede da China . 6 February 2023 . ge . pt-BR . 6 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206111354/https://ge.globo.com/futebol/futebol-internacional/noticia/elkeson-rescinde-com-guangzhou-fc-apos-nove-anos-e-se-despede-da-china.ghtml . live .
  21. Web site: 12 April 2022 . Grêmio anuncia o atacante Elkeson como novo reforço . 6 February 2023 . Grêmio FBPA . pt-BR . 6 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206112858/https://www.gremio.net/noticias/detalhes/25159 . live .
  22. Web site: 12 April 2022 . Grêmio oficializa contratação de Elkeson até o fim do ano . 6 February 2023 . ge . pt-BR . 6 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206111356/https://ge.globo.com/rs/futebol/times/gremio/noticia/2022/04/12/gremio-oficializa-contratacao-de-elkeson-ate-o-fim-do-ano.ghtml . live .
  23. Web site: 23 October 2022 . Grêmio faz 3 a 0 no Náutico e confirma retorno à Série A do futebol brasileiro . 6 February 2023 . Grêmio FBPA . pt-BR . 6 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206112858/https://www.gremio.net/noticias/detalhes/25735 . live .
  24. Web site: 5 November 2022 . Elkeson se despede do Grêmio: "Sentimento de gratidão e dever cumprido" . 6 February 2023 . ge . pt-BR . 6 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206111357/https://ge.globo.com/rs/futebol/times/gremio/noticia/2022/11/05/elkeson-se-despede-do-gremio-sentimento-de-gratidao-e-dever-cumprido.ghtml . live .
  25. Web site: 官宣:现役国脚艾克森正式加盟成都蓉城俱乐部. Sina Sports. 7 April 2023. 7 April 2023. zh. 7 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230407022004/https://sports.sina.com.cn/china/2023-04-07/doc-imypphui1874273.shtml. live.
  26. Web site: 成都2–1沧州拿下首胜,艾克森打入回归中超首球,金敃友破门. 21 April 2023. Dongqiudi. 18 October 2023.
  27. http://www.cbf.com.br/noticias/selecao-brasileira/2011/9/22/convocacao-para-o-superclassico-(1) Os convocados para o Superclássico
  28. News: 18 August 2019 . Brazil-born Elkeson included in China squad in landmark move . . 19 August 2019 . 14 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190914055814/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/brazil-born-elkeson-included-in-china-squad-in-landmark-move-11819050 . dead .
  29. Web site: 国足公布26人集训名单:归化球员艾克森和李可入选 . news.sina.com.cn . 30 August 2019 . 中国新闻网 . 31 August 2019 . zh . 31 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190831015457/https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2019-08-30/doc-iicezueu2288153.shtml . live .
  30. Web site: 世预赛-完美开门红!艾克森双响武磊破门 国足5–0. 11 September 2019. Sina Sports. 18 October 2023.
  31. Web site: Elkeson . Soccerway . 6 November 2018 . 6 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181106092829/https://us.soccerway.com/players/elkeson-de-oliveira-cardoso/71829/ . live .
  32. Web site: Chinese champions Guangzhou sell top scorer to rivals 'for national glory' . The Guardian . 21 January 2016 . 21 July 2019 . 21 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190721165502/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jan/21/chinese-champions-guangzhou-sell-top-scorer-rivals-national-glory . live .
  33. Web site: 新王诞生!上港队史首夺超级杯 历史第9支冠军队伍 . Sina Sports . 23 February 2019 . 25 February 2019 . zh . 25 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190225103235/http://sports.sina.com.cn/china/j/2019-02-23/doc-ihrfqzka8555460.shtml . live .
  34. Web site: AFC Champions League 2013 Dream Team . AFC Champions League (Official) Facebook Page . 15 November 2013 . 21 July 2019 . 23 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210523142554/https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=559821994087696&set=a.228540597215839.49977.152840578119175&type=1 . live .
  35. News: John Greco . Four Wanderers in ACL Dream Team . . 11 November 2014 . 12 June 2016 . 8 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160808073751/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/four-wanderers-in-acl-dream-team/17khescdjpnd916s2bx55kqwkl . live .
  36. Web site: Player of the year » China . World Football . 21 July 2019 . 30 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190330125241/https://www.worldfootball.net/footballer_of_the_year/china-land/ . live .
  37. Web site: Elkeson joining Guangzhou Evergrande from Shanghai SIPG ahead of naturalisation to play for China . 4 July 2019 . SCMP . 21 July 2019 . 20 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190720111440/https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3017229/elkeson-joins-guangzhou-evergrande-shanghai-sipg-ahead . live .
  38. Web site: Team of the Year 2014 . sports.sohu.com . 16 May 2016 . 21 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190721164701/http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2014-11-06/21257399801.shtml . live .