Marcelo (footballer, born 1989)
Brazilian footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Marcelo dos Santos Ferreira (born 27 July 1989), known simply as Marcelo, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Liga Portugal 2 club União de Leiria.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marcelo dos Santos Ferreira[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 27 July 1989[1] | ||
| Place of birth | São Carlos, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | União Leiria | ||
| Number | 44 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2007 | Astral EC | ||
| 2007–2009 | Vasco da Gama | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010 | Rio Preto | 9 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Ribeirão | 21 | (2) |
| 2011–2018 | Rio Ave | 152 | (6) |
| 2011–2012 | → Leixões (loan) | 20 | (0) |
| 2018 | Sporting CP | 0 | (0) |
| 2019 | Chicago Fire | 16 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | Paços Ferreira | 43 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Al-Tai | 26 | (1) |
| 2022–2023 | Dibba | 23 | (0) |
| 2023–2026 | Moreirense | 71 | (4) |
| 2026– | União Leiria | 16 | (2) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:32, 2 June 2026 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Marcelo was born in São Carlos, São Paulo. After failing to impose himself at CR Vasco da Gama, he joined amateurs Rio Preto Esporte Clube.[2]
In 2010, Marcelo moved to Portugal, signing with G.D. Ribeirão of the third division. For the 2011–12 season he went straight to the Primeira Liga with Rio Ave FC,[3] being immediately loaned to Leixões SC.[4]
Marcelo made his debut in the Portuguese top flight on 18 August 2012, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–1 home loss against C.S. Marítimo.[5] At the end of the campaign, in which he started in all his 28 appearances (scoring in a 1–0 win at Gil Vicente F.C. on 13 January 2013)[6] to help his team finish in sixth position, he won the club's Player of the Year award.[7]
On 23 May 2018, Marcelo joined Sporting CP on a free transfer and a three-year contract.[8] On 27 December, however, after only one appearance in the Taça de Portugal and another in the Taça da Liga to his credit,[9] he moved to the Major League Soccer with Chicago Fire FC for a reported €500,000 fee.[10]
On 14 January 2020, Marcelo left the Soldier Field by mutual consent.[11] Shortly after, he returned to the Portuguese top tier with F.C. Paços de Ferreira.[12]
Marcelo spent the following two seasons in Western Asia, with Al-Tai FC (Saudi Professional League)[13] and Dibba FC (UAE Pro League).[14] He went back to Portugal and its main division in July 2023, with the 34-year-old signing a one-year contract at recently-promoted side Moreirense FC.[15]
On 16 December 2023, Marcelo extended his link until 2025.[16] He terminated his contract by mutual agreement in January 2026,[17] totalling 76 games during his tenure.[18]
On 16 January 2026, Marcelo joined Liga Portugal 2 club U.D. Leiria on a deal June 2027.[19]
Career statistics
- As of match played 11 January 2026[20]
| Club | Season | League | State league | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rio Preto | 2010 | — | 9[c] | 0 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||||||
| Ribeirão | 2010–11 | Segunda Divisão | 21 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 21 | 2 | ||||
| Rio Ave | 2011–12 | Primeira Liga | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2012–13 | Primeira Liga | 28 | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 1 | ||||
| 2013–14 | Primeira Liga | 24 | 1 | — | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 1 | ||||
| 2014–15 | Primeira Liga | 14 | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9[d] | 1 | 1[e] | 0 | 25 | 2 | ||
| 2015–16 | Primeira Liga | 25 | 2 | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 3 | ||||
| 2016–17 | Primeira Liga | 31 | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | — | 37 | 1 | |||
| 2017–18 | Primeira Liga | 30 | 0 | — | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 37 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 152 | 6 | — | 19 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 198 | 10 | |||
| Leixões (loan) | 2011–12 | Liga de Honra | 20 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | |||
| Sporting CP | 2018–19 | Primeira Liga | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Chicago Fire | 2019 | Major League Soccer | 16 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1[f] | 0 | 18 | 0 | |||
| Paços Ferreira | 2019–20 | Primeira Liga | 15 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| 2020–21 | Primeira Liga | 28 | 0 | — | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 43 | 0 | — | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 45 | 1 | |||||
| Al-Tai | 2021–22 | Saudi Pro League | 26 | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 27 | 1 | ||||
| Dibba | 2022–23 | UAE Pro League | 23 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 0 | |||
| Moreirense | 2023–24 | Primeira Liga | 26 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 2 | |||
| 2024–25 | Primeira Liga | 33 | 1 | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 1 | ||||
| 2025–26 | Primeira Liga | 12 | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 13 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 71 | 4 | — | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 76 | 4 | |||||
| Career total | 372 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 30 | 3 | 18 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 442 | 18 | ||
- Includes Taça da Liga, UAE League Cup
- Appearances in Campeonato Paulista Série A2
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
- Appearance in Leagues Cup
Honours
Sporting CP
Individual
