Iriney

Iriney Santos da Silva (born 23 April 1981), known simply as Iriney, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.

Iriney
Iriney training with Betis in 2010
Personal information
Full name Iriney Santos da Silva
Date of birth (1981-04-23) 23 April 1981
Place of birth Humaitá, Brazil
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–1999 Nacional Manaus
1999–2000 Manauense
2000–2002 São Caetano 26 (0)
2003–2005 Rayo Vallecano 86 (1)
2005–2007 Celta 55 (2)
2008–2009 Almería 26 (0)
2009–2012 Betis 100 (3)
2012–2013 Granada 25 (0)
2013–2014 Watford 15 (0)
2014 → Mallorca (loan) 11 (0)
Total 344 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He also held a Spanish passport, having spent more than one decade playing in the country, mainly with Rayo Vallecano and Betis (three years apiece). He amassed La Liga totals of 151 matches and two goals during seven seasons, with Rayo, Celta, Almería, Betis and Granada.

Football career

Born in Humaitá, Amazonas, Iriney made his professional debut with Associação Desportiva São Caetano in 2000, and moved to Spain with Rayo Vallecano three years later. First-choice since his beginnings with the Madrid side, he did saw them drop two consecutive divisions; he made his La Liga debut on 23 February 2003, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–4 home loss against Valencia CF.[1]

In the summer of 2005, Iriney joined RC Celta de Vigo, being one of the Galicians' most consistent players during his two-season spell in the top level. Following the 2007 relegation he decided to leave,[2] but was unable to find a new team due to a lengthy judicial battle until the 2008 January transfer window,[3] when he signed with UD Almería.[4]

Subsequently, after gaining match practice, Iriney was relatively used during his stay in Andalusia, with Almería consecutively retaining their top flight status.[5] In late June 2009 his contract expired and he moved to neighbours Real Betis, freshly relegated to the second level. He contributed with 36 matches – 35 starts – and three goals in his second season as they returned to the main division as champions[6] and, on 25 February 2012, played his 100th official match with the Verdiblancos, against Getafe CF.[7]

After repeatedly refusing to renew his contract,[8][9] Iriney joined neighbouring Granada CF also in the first division, signing for three years as a free agent.[10] After only one, however, he moved sides again, agreeing to a two-year deal with Watford for an undisclosed fee.[11]

Iriney made his debut in the League Championship on 3 August 2013, starting and finishing the 1–0 win at Birmingham City.[12] On 31 January of the following year, he returned to Spain after being loaned to division two's RCD Mallorca until the end of the season.[13]

References
  1. Llamas, Fernando (23 February 2003). "El Valencia impone su autoridad ante el Rayo" [Valencia show authority against Rayo]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  2. Estévez, Antonio (28 September 2007). "El Celta no quiere a Iriney" [Celta do not want Iriney]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  3. Valero, Rafa (15 September 2007). "El Celta e Iriney irán a los tribunales" [Celta and Iriney to take it to court]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  4. Aguilera, Juanjo (10 January 2008). "Iriney, otro brasileño para línea de creación – Corona, lesionado" [Iriney, another Brazilian for creative section – Corona, injured]. Ideal (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  5. "El brasileño Iriney ficha por el Betis" [Brazilian Iriney signs for Betis]. El Correo (in Spanish). 30 June 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  6. "El Betis remonta y consigue el título de campeón de Segunda" [Betis come from behind and get Segunda champions title]. Marca (in Spanish). 4 June 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  7. Muñoz, José Miguel (25 February 2012). "Iriney 100 partidos de verdiblancos y Mel 50 en Primera" [Iriney 100 games as a green-and-white and Mel 50 in Primera] (in Spanish). Number 1 Sport. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  8. González, Mateo (31 December 2011). "Iriney, la renovación imposible" [Iriney, the impossible renewal]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  9. "Iriney rechaza una oferta de renovación del Betis" [Iriney rejects Betis offer to renew]. Marca (in Spanish). 11 May 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  10. "El Granada ficha a Iriney" [Granada sign Iriney]. Marca (in Spanish). 8 July 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  11. "Official: Iriney & Ekstrand sign". Watford F.C. 24 July 2013. Archived from the original on 6 February 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  12. "Birmingham 0–1 Watford". BBC Sport. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  13. "Iriney: "Al equipo le puedo aportar mi carácter"" [Iriney: "I can bring character to this team"] (in Spanish). RCD Mallorca. 31 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
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