| Rodrigo | |
| Fullname: | Rodrigo Juliano Lopes de Almeida |
| Birth Date: | 7 August 1976 |
| Birth Place: | Santos, Brazil |
| Height: | 1.73 m |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Youthyears1: | 1995 |
| Youthclubs1: | Portuguesa Santista |
| Years1: | 1996–1998 |
| Years2: | 1997 |
| Clubs2: | → Guarani (loan) |
| Caps2: | 4 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 1998 |
| Clubs3: | → Gama (loan) |
| Caps3: | 14 |
| Goals3: | 9[1] |
| Years4: | 1999–2003 |
| Caps4: | 59 |
| Goals4: | 19 |
| Years5: | 2002 |
| Clubs5: | → Atlético Mineiro (loan) |
| Caps5: | 0 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2002–2003 |
| Clubs6: | → Everton (loan) |
| Caps6: | 4 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Years7: | 2004 |
| Caps7: | 6 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Years8: | 2005 |
| Caps8: | 0 |
| Goals8: | 0 |
| Years9: | 2005 |
| Caps9: | 6 |
| Goals9: | 1 |
| Years10: | 2005 |
| Caps10: | 7 |
| Goals10: | 0 |
| Years11: | 2006–2007 |
| Caps11: | ? |
| Goals11: | ? |
| Years12: | 2007 |
| Caps12: | 1 |
| Goals12: | 0 |
| Years13: | 2008 |
| Caps13: | 243 |
| Years14: | 2009 |
| Caps14: | ? |
| Goals14: | ? |
| Years15: | 2010 |
| Caps15: | ? |
| Goals15: | ? |
| Totalcaps: | 101+ |
| Totalgoals: | 29+ |
| Manageryears1: | 2014–2015 |
| Managerclubs1: | Boavista (assistant) |
| Manageryears2: | 2015–2016 |
| Managerclubs2: | Boavista |
Rodrigo Juliano Lopes de Almeida (born 7 August 1976), usually called Rodrigo, is a former Brazilian footballer. He was also called Rodrigo Beckham due to his modelling career and hairstyle similar to David Beckham.[2] [3] [4]
He started his career at local club Portuguesa Santista in 1995, having played for the club in Campeonato Paulista matches[5] and was loaned to Guarani for the 1997 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. After returning to Portuguesa Santista, he was loaned to Gama and was a key player for the club as they won 1998 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, scoring 9 goals in 14 matches.[6]
In 1999, Rodrigo joined Botafogo, shining at national level and becoming the club top goalscorer at the 2000 and 2001 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A editions, also being touted to a call-up to Brazil national football team.[7] In 2002, he was loaned to Atlético Mineiro, where he injured his right knee in a match against Cruzeiro.[8]
Rodrigo was signed on loan for Everton in July 2002,[9] choosing his name to be printed as Rodrigol.[10] However, his knee injury was not properly diagnosed[11] and he suffered a ruptured ligament in September[12] and did not play for the club again before being released in May the following year, having played only four matches.[13] He went on trial with Leeds United in the summer of 2003.[14]
After returning to Brazil, he joined Corinthians in 2004, but he dealt with persistent injuries and surgeries to his knee and could not recover his previous form.[15] Later, he had unsuccessful spells at Juventude, Atlético Paranaense, Vasco da Gama, Paraná and Boavista, before ending his playing career at Red Bull Brasil in 2010.
After retiring, Rodrigo worked as a pundit and, in 2014, became an assistant manager for Boavista, being promoted to manager in the following year.[16] He stayed as manager in 2016[17] and was replaced by Joel Santana in 2017.[18]