 Rogério Ceni | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rogério Mücke Ceni | ||
| Date of birth | 22 January 1973 [1] | ||
| Place of birth | Pato Branco, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | São Paulo | ||
| Number | 01 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1987–1990 | Sinop | ||
| 1990–1993 | São Paulo | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1990 | Sinop | 0 | (0) |
| 1992– | São Paulo | 515 | (54) |
| National team | |||
| 1997–2006 | Brazil | 17 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 November 2013. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Rogério Mücke Ceni (Brazilian Portuguese: [ʁoˈʒɛɾiu ˈsẽni]; born 22 January 1973) is a Brazilian footballer who plays for São Paulo FC as a goalkeeper.
Most of his professional career, which has spanned more than two decades, is associated with São Paulo FC, with which he has won 17 major titles, including three Brazilian Leagues and two Copa Libertadores. He has also scored more than 111 goals during his career, with all of them coming frompenalties and free kicks,[2][3] becoming the first and only player in his position to reach that milestone.[4][5]
Recognized by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics as the goalkeeper to have scored the most goals in the history of football, surpassing José Luis Chilavert in 2006, Ceni represented Brazil at two World Cups.
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[hide]Club career[edit]
Born in Pato Branco, Paraná, Ceni made his senior debuts with Sinop Futebol Clube, still a junior. In 1990, the 17-year old joined São Paulo FC, spending his first six seasons in Série A as a backup or third-choice.
In the 1997 season, after legendary Zetti moved to Santos FC, Ceni was chosen as his replacement. On 14 July 2005, Ceni was São Paulo's captainas the team won the 2005 Copa Libertadores, a third for the club. Two weeks later, in a match against Clube Atlético Mineiro, he broke the record for most appearances for the team, with 618 matches – he wore a special commemorative jersey that had the number "618" printed on the back; on 25 July of the following year, he scored a penalty against Mexican side C.D. Guadalajara (also a match-winner), becoming the Tricolor's all-time leading scorer in the Libertadores.[6]
From 2005–07, he scored an astonishing 47 goals in all competitions combined, as the club won two national championships and the 2005 FIFA Club World Cup; in the latter competition, he netted in the semifinals against Ittihad FC (3–2, through a penalty kick), and was voted Man of the match inthe final against Liverpool, as well as the tournament's MVP.[7]
On 20 August 2006, Ceni scored his 63rd and record-breaking goal by netting a free kick against Cruzeiro Esporte Clube in the domestic league, a few minutes after denying a penalty to the opposition. Later in the same match, he scored a goal from the spot and took his total to 64, also tying the match 2–2; this put him two goals ahead of the previous holder, Paraguayan José Luis Chilavert.[8]
On 29 October 2006, Ceni made his 700th official appearance for São Paulo, against Figueirense Futebol Clube in a 2–0 victory. Some of the gloss was taken off the occasion when the player was ordered to change his bright yellow jersey because it clashed with the referee's; at the end of the 2007 season, which ended in league conquest, he was voted by the Brazilian Football Confederation as the Best Player.
In April 2009, Ceni fractured his ankle in training, being initially sidelined for six months,[9] but recovering sooner than expected. On 28 October 2010, against Clube Atlético Paranaense, he played his 700th game as club captain.[10] The following year, on 27 March, he scored from a free kick to win it against Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, shooting from 18 metres for his 100th goal.[11]
On 7 September 2011, Ceni made his 1000th appearance for São Paulo.[12] In late January of the following year, the 39-year old underwent an operation on his shoulder, losing six months of competition.[13]
He made his return to the field by scoring a goal on direct free kick against Esporte Clube Bahia on 1 August 2012 in the Copa Sudamericana.
Despite his being 40 years old, Ceni said that he has an eighteen year-old's spirit for competition. However, according to his words, his recovery after training sessions, nowadays, is harder than years ago.[14] On 14 July 2013, Ceni scored his 111th goal from a free kick in a 3–2 loss to Vitória.
International career[edit]
A Brazilian international for nine years, Ceni collected 16 caps. He was selected to the squads that won the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2002 FIFA World Cup (and the 2006 World Cup, still not fully recovered from knee surgery[15]), but only appeared in two games in final stages, the 3–2 win against Mexico in the first tournament and the 4–1 triumph over Japan in the third.[16]
Style of play[edit]
Ceni has been the official kicker of free kicks and penalties of São Paulo FC from 1997 until July 2013, in which time period he scored 112 goals[17] -, he is also known as a excellent goalkeeper. Ceni has been known for brilliant saves like the one made in the final of 2005 FIFA Club World Championship, when São Paulo beat Liverpool FC by 1-0, later going on to win Golden Ball of competition as its best player.[18] Even at 40 years old, Ceni continues to perform as a goalkeeper.
Controversies[edit]
Ceni is also known for his strong personality, and often speaks something can be to cause some controversies. Besides this, he is different from several footballers: he prefers rock instead ofpagode, a Brazilian musical style, common among football players, and has a more classical style of dressing. According to Ceni: "I like to dress me up a good way. It is like to kick free kicks. I do not do to make myself. I feel well."[19] One example of controversy happened in 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup, with coach Zagallo. In that competition, played in Saudi Arabia, Ceni did not like about a attitude that came from some players of Brazil national football team, leaded by Junior Baiano, a former defender: they wanted to shave the hair of every colleague of team. After this episode, Ceni would have isolated by himself of the rest of group and, even playing in a great shape, was, for several times, far from Amarelinha.
