Jean Paulista Explained

Jean Paulista
Fullname:Jean Francisco Rodrigues
Birth Date:28 November 1977
Birth Place:Sertãozinho, Brazil
Position:Forward / Midfielder
Years1:1996–1997
Years2:1997–1998
Years3:1998–2001
Caps3:42
Goals3:3
Years4:1999
Clubs4:Braga (loan)
Caps4:6
Goals4:0
Years5:1999–2000
Clubs5:Aves (loan)
Caps5:9
Goals5:2
Years6:2001
Clubs6:Imortal (loan)
Caps6:11
Goals6:2
Years7:2001–2003
Caps7:33
Goals7:1
Years8:2003–2004
Caps8:32
Goals8:7
Years9:2004–2005
Caps9:30
Goals9:7
Years10:2005–2008
Caps10:54
Goals10:10
Years11:2008–2010
Caps11:18
Goals11:2
Years12:2010–2011
Caps12:8
Goals12:1
Years13:2011–2012
Caps13:21
Goals13:4
Years14:2012
Caps14:5
Goals14:0
Years15:2013
Caps15:11
Goals15:1
Years16:2013–2014
Caps16:11
Goals16:0
Totalcaps:291
Totalgoals:40

Jean Francisco Rodrigues (born 28 November 1977), commonly known as Jean Paulista, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a forward or an attacking midfielder.

Club career

Born in Sertãozinho, São Paulo, Paulista played with modest Sport Club Corinthians Alagoano and Esporte Clube Taubaté in his country. In 1998, he moved to Portugal where he remained for the following seven years, representing S.C. Farense, S.C. Braga and Vitória F.C. in the Primeira Liga and C.D. Aves, Imortal D.C. and F.C. Maia in the second division. His best personal output, in the country and overall, came in the 2003–04 season, when he scored seven goals to help Aves to the eighth position.

From 2005 to 2008, Paulista competed in Polish Ekstraklasa with Wisła Kraków, netting five times in 27 appearances in his second year. In July 2008, he signed a two-year contract with APOEL FC in the Cypriot First Division, making his official debut for his new club in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Cup; also in that competition, against Red Star Belgrade, he suffered a serious injury which sidelined him for almost a year.

Paulista returned to full fitness in the 2009–10 season, scoring twice to help APOEL to the second position. He made three appearances in that campaign's UEFA Champions League.

After spending the 2010–11 season with AEK Larnaca, Paulista returned to Poland where he played in the lower leagues, starting with Polonia Bytom, until his retirement at the start of 2014.