Daniel Lins Côrtes - More Info

Previous Club was Madureira Esporte Club.

Stadium: Aniceto Moscoso, Seating Capacity 10,000. Hopefully this number will be the average attendence for the Phoenix first season. I know Wellington fans will be more loyal and patriotic than us Aucklanders.

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The "Ring of fire"(Phoenix Stadium) will look like the millenium stadium to Daniel.

 

Looking at some websites. He has changed clubs about 4 times in as many years. Trying his luck in Europe but recently last 2 clubs in Brazil have been smaller clubs. I had difficulty with trying to browse through the portuguese sites. But I think he last played in Nov 2006 and has probably been unattached since. He is a midfielder/defender. But he has scored a few goals along the way which is what Pheonix will need.

 

All the best to him for his career in Wellington. I hope for his sake and the Phoenix he will put in 100% in his training and at least try his best. A more familiar scenario would be he wont be back next year, which would be dissapointing. Hopefully he can encourage some of his better brazilian counterparts over soon.

 

 

 

When I was in Brazil a few years back I saw him playing at Botafogo and thought he looked class then.  I was very surprised when things didn't go better for him in Holland (I think they played him left back rather than midfield) -  thought he was at the start of a very bright career.

 

If he plays the way he likes to, and being put in midfield rather than at the back is going to help, then Daniel will set the league alight.

 

Bright future ahead if Nix can land a couple more like him (hopefully Campos and Alex are in his class, but I'm not so sure).

 

Benjamin, it is quite interest his apparent decline in form and clubs of recent. I think he actually played for Brasil as a substitute against Saudi Arabi in a friendly back in 1997. Interesting reading in a paragraph from Wikipedia on him below:

"C�rtes began his career as a promising junior at Rio powerhouse, Flamengo. After appearing for the Brazillian U/18 national team over a dozen times, with childhood friend Kak�, a lack of form left him on the international sidelines for two years. He returned in 1999 with Rio club, Madureira, where he became an instant fans' favourite, leading his side to a runners-up spot in the Carioca Championship.

The form of C�rtes caught the eye of European scouts, and he was soon on his way to the Dutch Eredivisie. After twelve goals and a debut appearance off the bench for the Brazillian national team in their friendly match with Saudi Arabia, C�rtes landed a big money move to Hungarian champion, Videoton FC Feh�rv�r.

After being convinced to return home to Brazil by Botafogo legend, Jairzinho, C�rtes helped the fallen Rio giants regain their status in the Brazillian top-flight. The attack-minded defender was instrumental in his first season back at the club, scoring ten goals, including a memorable hat-trick against local rival Fluminense."

Its hard to imagine that at 27 he is past his prime. With the right support and if he fits into the New Zealand lifestyle and envrironment well enough, I think he will really turn some heads on the pitch for Phoenix. Lets just hope Wellington isn't to windy for him ;)

 

 

 

You have to take into account the way the game works in Brazil.  Everyone works to get to one of the major clubs, mostly in order to get to Europe and earn some 'real' money.  The clubs also depend on players making moves to Europe in order to earn a fat transfer fee to keep the club going.  As a result, if you haven't made a move to Europe by the time you get to 23 or 24, your chances are limitted...  Meanwhile, clubs in Brazil are loathed to fill their squad with players who "aren't going anywhere", so you get a lot of 27-32 year olds who have to drop down the leagues to take the 'star' places in smaller teams.

 

Lads like Daniel, who are still young enough to play plenty of games, but are considered too old to be sold, are faced with the choice of playing for poor money in one of the smaller clubs, or finding a new market for their talents...  Like the A-League.

 

He'll be good value - talent is forever (except in the curious case of Lee Sharpe).

 

(I can't comment on Campos, but I'd guess that the move to Hadjuk was a desperate and ill-jumped attempt to get into Europe.  Maybe he would have been better off staying in Brazil.