Paulo Assunção

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Assunção and the second or paternal family name is Da Silva.

Paulo Assunção
Assunção in action for Atlético Madrid in 2010
Personal information
Full name Paulo Assunção da Silva[1]
Date of birth (1980-01-25) 25 January 1980[1]
Place of birth Várzea Grande, Brazil
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position Defensive midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000 Palmeiras 0 (0)
2000–2001 Porto B 36 (4)
2001–2002 Palmeiras 24 (0)
2002–2004 Nacional 50 (2)
2004–2008 Porto 73 (0)
2004–2005 → AEK Athens (loan) 24 (0)
2008–2012 Atlético Madrid 97 (1)
2012 São Paulo 11 (0)
2013 Deportivo La Coruña 9 (0)
2014 Levadiakos 0 (0)
Total 324 (7)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Paulo Assunção da Silva (born 25 January 1980), known as Assunção, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

He also held a Portuguese passport due to the many years in spent in the country,[2] mainly at the service of Porto. He also played four years in La Liga with Atlético Madrid, winning two Europa League trophies.

Club career

Early years and Porto

Assunção was born in Várzea Grande, Mato Grosso. He first appeared professionally for Palmeiras then emigrated to Portugal, having a short stint with Porto's reserves only to return to Palmeiras. For the 2002–03 season he joined Madeira's Nacional, making his Primeira Liga debut on 26 January 2003 in a 0–0 home draw against Vitória de Guimarães.[3]

Following two highly successful individual campaigns, Assunção was purchased again by Porto, but would be loaned for 2004–05 to AEK Athens, moving alongside his teammate Bruno Alves on the indication of their former coach Fernando Santos.[4][5][6][7] In July 2005 he returned, going on to be an instrumental element in the team's midfield (alongside Raul Meireles and Lucho González) as they eventually won three consecutive league championships.[8][9]

Assunção left the Estádio do Dragão after being threatened with a shot to the knee by Porto supporters who wanted him to renew his contract.[10]

Atlético Madrid

In early July 2008, having bought out the remainder of his contract, Assunção joined Atlético Madrid.[11] He adjusted quickly at the capital side, playing all La Liga matches safe four and helping them to repeat the fourth-place finish, with a subsequent qualification for the UEFA Champions League.[12][13]

Defensive-minded Assunção scored his first goal for the Colchoneros on 17 January 2010, during the team's 3–2 home win against Sporting de Gijón.[14] whilst continuing as the undisputed starter at holding midfielder. He lost that position midway through the 2010–11 season to newly signed Mario Suárez.[15]

In the 2011–12 campaign, Assunção was only fourth choice in his position after Suárez, Gabi and Tiago.[16] He did contribute six appearances – four starts – as Atlético reached and won the final of the UEFA Europa League.[17]

São Paulo and Deportivo

After more than one decade in European football, Assunção returned to his country with São Paulo.[18] The deal was confirmed on 21 July 2012[19] but, on 28 December, it was terminated by mutual consent,[20][21] with the player moving back to Spain and joining Deportivo de La Coruña.[22]

In January 2014, the 34-year-old Assunção signed for Levadiakos in the Super League Greece,[23]

Personal life

Assunção's son, Gustavo, is also a footballer and a midfielder.[24][25]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[26][27][28]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other[a] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Palmeiras 1999 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 2 0 2 0
2000 0 0 1 0 — 0 0 5 0 6 0
Total 0 0 1 0 — 0 0 7 0 8 0
Porto B 2000–01 36 4 — — — — 36 4
Porto 2000–01 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 — 0 0
Palmeiras 2001 2 0 — — — — 2 0
2002 22 0 0 0 — — 2 0 24 0
Total 24 0 0 0 — — 2 0 26 0
Nacional 2002–03 16 1 0 0 — — — 16 1
2003–04 34 1 3 0 — — — 37 1
Total 50 2 3 0 — — — 53 2
Porto 2004–05 0 0 — — — — 0 0
2005–06 25 0 4 0 — 4 0 — 33 0
2006–07 22 0 1 0 — 7 0 1 0 31 0
2007–08 26 0 4 0 0 0 8 0 1 0 39 0
Total 73 0 9 0 0 0 19 0 2 0 103 0
AEK Athens (loan) 2004–05 24 0 8 0 — 5 0 — 37 0
Atlético Madrid 2008–09 34 0 1 0 — 8 0 — 43 0
2009–10 30 1 7 0 — 16 0 — 53 1
2010–11 24 0 5 0 — 4 0 1 0 34 0
2011–12 9 0 2 0 — 6 0 — 17 0
Total 97 1 15 0 — 34 0 1 0 147 1
São Paulo 2012 11 0 — — 0 0 — 11 0
Deportivo 2012–13 9 0 — — — — 9 0
Levadiakos 2013–14 0 0 — — — — 0 0
Career total 324 7 36 0 0 0 58 0 12 0 430 7

Honours

Porto

Atlético Madrid

References

  1. ^ a b c "Paulo Assunção" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Inscripciones" [Registrations] (in Spanish). Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional. July 2008. Archived from the original on 31 July 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  3. ^ Cunha, Pedro Jorge (19 November 2020). ""Fui rezar a Fátima e três meses depois assinei pelo FC Porto"" ["I went to Fátima to pray and signed for FC Porto three months later"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Δύο "δράκοι" στην AEK μέσω Σάντος" [Two "dragons" in AEK via Santos]. Kathimerini (in Greek). 3 August 2004. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  5. ^ "Porto promise to AEK". UEFA. 3 August 2004. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  6. ^ "Se me dissessem, não acreditava" [If they had told me, I would not believe it]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 6 May 2005. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  7. ^ Almeida, Germano (20 December 2012). "Paulo Assunção: "Peseiro é um grande treinador"" [Paulo Assunção: "Peseiro is a great manager"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  8. ^ Tavares, Nuno (22 November 2005). "Paulo Assunção's Porto pride". UEFA. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  9. ^ "Raul Meireles: "O Adriaanse pôs-me a chorar logo na pré-época"" [Raul Meireles: "Adriaanse made me cry as early as in preseason"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 27 April 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Paulo Assunção abandonou FC Porto por ter sido ameaçado com tiro no joelho" [Paulo Assunção left FC Porto for being threatened with a shot to the knee]. Público (in Portuguese). 26 January 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Atlético sign Coupet and Paulo Assunção". UEFA. 7 July 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  12. ^ "El Atlético visitará Europa la próxima temporada (3–0)" [Atlético will visit Europe next season (3–0)]. Diario Siglo XXI (in Spanish). 30 May 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  13. ^ "La baja de Assunçao abre la titularidad a Cléber" [Assunção out means Cléber is poised to start]. Marca (in Spanish). 28 August 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  14. ^ "Forlan fires Atletico to victory". ESPN Soccernet. 17 January 2010. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  15. ^ Malagón, Manuel (18 November 2010). "Mario Suárez o Assunçao, la última duda de Quique" [Mario Suárez or Assunção, Quique's last doubt]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  16. ^ Caleya, M.J. (8 March 2012). "El Atlético quiere reencontrarse con la victoria ante el complicado Besiktas de Simao" [Atlético want to find winning ways again against Simão's tough Beşiktaş] (in Spanish). RTVE. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  17. ^ "La baja de Assunçao abre la titularidad a Cléber" [Assunçao out means Cléber is poised to start]. Marca (in Spanish). 28 August 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  18. ^ "Paulo Assunçao deja el Atlético y ficha por el Sao Paulo" [Paulo Assunção leaves Atlético and signs for São Paulo]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 21 July 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  19. ^ "São Paulo anuncia contratação de volante Paulo Assunção, ex-Atlético de Madri" [São Paulo announce signing of holding midfielder Paulo Assunção, formerly of Atlético de Madrid] (in Portuguese). ESPN Brazil. 21 July 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  20. ^ Lozetti, Alexandre (28 December 2012). "Paulo Assunção pede e São Paulo aceita rescindir contrato do volante" [Paulo Assunção requests and São Paulo accept to terminate holding midfielder's contract] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  21. ^ Birner, Vitor (28 December 2012). "Paulo Assunção deixa o São Paulo e deve retornar à Espanha" [Paulo Assunção leaves São Paulo and must return to Spain] (in Portuguese). Blog do Birner. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  22. ^ "Paulo Assunçao ficha por el Deportivo de la Coruña" [Paulo Assunçao signs for Deportivo de la Coruña] (in Spanish). Goal. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  23. ^ Στον ΛΕΒΑΔΕΙΑΚΟ ο Paulo Assunção [Paulo Assunção in Levadiakos] (in Greek). Levadiakos F.C. January 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  24. ^ Aguiar, Fábio (3 October 2018). "Gustavo Henrique: O filho de Paulo Assunção que encanta Simeone" [Gustavo Henrique: The son of Paulo Assunção who thrills Simeone] (in Portuguese). Notícias ao Minuto. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  25. ^ Colino, Jesús (27 January 2021). "Los Assunçao, una familia unida por el fútbol y la solidaridad" [The Assunçãos, a family united by football and solidarity]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  26. ^ Paulo Assunção at ForaDeJogo (archived)
  27. ^ Paulo Assunção at Soccerway
  28. ^ Paulo Assunção at WorldFootball.net
  29. ^ a b c "Paulo Assunção: do "muito dinheiro" à felicidade ao lado de "gente humilde"" [Paulo Assunção: from "lots of money" to happiness next to "humble folks"]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 16 October 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  30. ^ McNulty, Phil (12 May 2010). "Atletico Madrid 2–1 Fulham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  31. ^ Henson, Mike (9 May 2012). "Atl Madrid 3–0 Athletic Bilbao". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  32. ^ Harrold, Michael (27 August 2010). "Slick Atlético seal Super Cup success". UEFA. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  33. ^ Besa, Ramón (19 May 2010). "Ganó el serio, cayó el alegre" [Serious won, playful lost]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
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