Valdo Filho

Valdo
Personal information
Full name	Valdo Cândido Oliveira Filho
Date of birth	(1964-01-12) 12 January 1964 (age 50)
Place of birth	Siderópolis, Brazil
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current team	Retired
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1983	Figueirense
1984–1988	Grêmio	96	(18)
1988–1991	Benfica	78	(11)
1991–1995	Paris SG	115	(10)
1995–1997	Benfica	60	(9)
1997–1998	Nagoya Grampus Eight	26	(4)
1998–2000	Cruzeiro	56	(7)
2000–2001	Santos	19	(1)
2001–2002	Atlético Mineiro	23	(1)
2002	Juventude	12	(2)
2003	São Caetano
2003–2004	Botafogo	44	(2)
National team
1987–1993	Brazil	45	(4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Valdo Cândido de Oliveira Filho, simply Valdo (born 12 January 1964), is a Brazilian retired footballer who played as a central midfielder.

In a senior career which spanned more than two decades, he played professionally – other than in his own country – in Portugal, France and Japan.

Having appeared more than 40 times for Brazil, Valdo represented the nation in two World Cups and as many Copa América tournaments.

Club career

Born in Siderópolis, Santa Catarina, Valdo began playing football with Figueirense Futebol Clube, making his professional debuts with Grêmio Football Porto-Alegrense, with which he won four consecutive Rio Grande do Sul Leagues.

In the 1988 summer, he signed with S.L. Benfica of Portugal, alongside compatriot Ricardo Gomes, a central defender. Both were important elements in their debut season, as the Reds won the national championship, a feat which was again accomplished in 1991, with the midfielder netting five goals in 26 matches.

Both Valdo and Gomes left for Paris Saint-Germain F.C. in the 1991 summer, and both would return four years later to the Lisbon side, having won a total of four titles, namely the 1993–94 first division title. In his second Benfica spell, he played in 30 league matches in each of his two seasons, winning the domestic cup in 1996.

Aged 32, Valdo joined J. League Division 1 club Nagoya Grampus Eight, and returned to his country after two slow years. He would continued to play until the aged of 40, representing six teams in quick succession (he ended his career after having helped Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas achieve its return to the top division).

International career

Valdo gained 45 caps for the Brazilian national team, during six years. He was called as an uncapped member to the 1986 FIFA World Cup, but did not play one single second.

In the 1990 edition in Italy, Valdo was already a starter, and played in the national side's four matches in the tournament, including the round of 16 0–1 loss against Argentina.^[1]

Statistics

Club

International

Honours

Team

• Grêmio:
  • Rio Grande do Sul State League: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988

• Benfica:
  • Portuguese League: 1988–89, 1990–91
  • Portuguese Cup: 1995–96; Runner-up 1988–89, 1996–97
  • Portuguese Supercup: 1989
  • European Cup: Runner-up 1989–90

• Paris SG:
  • French League: 1993–94
  • French Cup: 1992–93, 1994–95
  • French League Cup: 1994–95

• Cruzeiro:
  • Minas Gerais State League: 1998
  • South American Supercup: 1999
  • Center-West Cup: 1999

Country

• Pan American Games: 1987
• Pre-Olympic tournament: 1987
• Rous Cup: 1987
• Copa América: 1989

Individual

• Bola de Prata (Silver Ball): 1998

Personal

Upon retiring from football, Valdo settled in Portugal, with his Portuguese wife. The couple had one daughter, Tatiele, who died in a car accident at only 13.

References

External links

• Profile at Zerozero
• Stats at ForaDeJogo (Portuguese)
• Futpédia profile (Portuguese)
• Valdo Filho at National-Football-Teams.com