Zé Roberto

José Roberto da Silva Júnior (born 6 July 1974), commonly known as Zé Roberto, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a left wing-back or as a midfielder. Currently, he is a technical advisor to Palmeiras, acting directly with the players and the coaching staff.[3]

This article is about the Brazilian international footballer. For other people, see Zé Roberto (disambiguation).

In this Portuguese name, the second or paternal family name is da Silva. "Júnior" is a generational suffix used for someone whose name is the same as their father, like "Jr." in English.
Zé Roberto
Zé Roberto with Palmeiras in 2017
Personal information
Full name José Roberto da Silva Júnior[1]
Date of birth (1974-07-06) 6 July 1974
Place of birth São Paulo, Brazil
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s) Left wing-back, midfielder
Youth career
Palestra de São Bernardo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1996 Portuguesa 61 (1)
1997 Real Madrid 15 (0)
1998 Flamengo 24 (0)
1998–2002 Bayer Leverkusen 113 (17)
2002–2006 Bayern Munich 110 (5)
2006–2009 Nacional 0 (0)
2006–2007 → Santos (loan) 13 (2)
2007–2009 → Bayern Munich (loan) 59 (9)
2009–2011 Hamburger SV 54 (7)
2011–2012 Al-Gharafa 14 (1)
2012–2014 Grêmio 82 (6)
2015–2017 Palmeiras 68 (3)
Total 648 (51)
International career
1995–2006 Brazil 84 (6)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Brazil
FIFA World Cup
Winner2002 Korea/Japan
FIFA Confederations Cup
Winner1997 Saudi Arabia
Winner2005 Germany
Copa América
Winner1997 Bolivia
Winner1999 Paraguay
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Early career

Zé Roberto started in the youth ranks of Palestra de São Bernardo but it was while playing for Portuguesa, as a left-back, that he became known throughout Brazil after finishing as runner-up in 1996 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.

He then joined Real Madrid in January 1997 for a brief spell, where he helped them win the 1996–97 Spanish league championship.[4] He was also part of the Madrid's 1997–98 UEFA Champions League winning squad,[5] scoring his only goal for the club in the opening group match against Rosenborg BK,[6] before moving back to Brazil to play for Flamengo midway through the season. In an interview in 2012, Zé Roberto spoke of his decision to leave Madrid because of his ambition to play for Brazil at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France and had limited opportunities to prove his talents in Spain.[7]

The first half of 1998 Zé played for Flamengo under manager Paulo Autuori alongside Romário, Palinha, Juan (who would later play for Leverkusen and AS Roma), and his former Portuguesa teammate Rodrigo Fabri for the Rio de Janeiro State Championship, finishing disappointingly as runners-up. After this he was signed by German Bundesliga club Bayer 04 Leverkusen.[8]

Bayer Leverkusen

He joined Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 1998.[9] It was at Leverkusen that he really made a name for himself, quickly becoming a popular figure at the club. During his four-year stay, Bayer enjoyed their most successful period, finishing as runners-up in the German Bundesliga on three occasions.

On 4 December 2001, he opened the scoring with a curling free kick against Deportivo de La Coruña in the 64th minute, as Bayer comprehensively beat the Spanish side 3–0 in the second group stage of the Champions League.[10] Following Bayer's victory over Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on 9 April 2002,[11] Zé Roberto announced that he would be joining former teammate Michael Ballack at Bayern Munich.[12] Despite the transfer distractions, Zé Roberto helped Bayer reach the final of the Champions League on 15 May 2002, losing 2–1 to former club Real Madrid in Glasgow.[13] In four years at the club, Zé Roberto appeared in 113 league matches scoring 16 goals.

Bayern Munich and Santos
Zé Roberto with Bayern Munich in 2006

In May 2002, Zé Roberto joined Bayern Munich for a reported fee of €12 million, signing a three-year deal, linking up with emerging German talent Sebastian Deisler and former Leverkusen teammate Michael Ballack.[14][15] With Bayern, he claimed the domestic league and cup double three times between 2002 and 2006. He found his starting spot threatened under new coach Felix Magath and left the club in 2006. Following the announcement that he would not return to Bayern Munich, he publicly criticized the club's style of play and predicted struggles if changes were not made.

Being a free agent, Zé Roberto signed through his agent Juan Figer a three-year contract with Club Nacional de Football in Montevideo, a club he would never play for.[16] In August 2006, it was announced that Zé Roberto would join Santos FC in Brazil for one year.[17] He helped the team win the 2007 Campeonato Paulista,[18] his first title in a Brazilian competition. He scored seven goals in the 2007 Copa Libertadores, where Santos reached the semi-finals. During his time with Santos, Zé Roberto appeared in 48 official matches and scored 12 goals, playing for the first time in his career as an attacking midfielder.

In June 2007, it was announced that Zé Roberto would return to Bayern Munich, which paid one million euro to Nacional for a two-year loan.[16][19] He stated, "It was as if I’d never been away", en route to winning a fourth domestic double with the Bavarians. The revitalised Zé Roberto demonstrated all his newly acquired skills by scoring five goals and forming a rock-solid partnership with Mark van Bommel in his new role in central defensive midfield.[20]

Zé Roberto made a successful start to the 2008–09 season, scoring four goals in his first 11 starts. He would conclude his second spell at the club appearing in 59 league matches and scoring nine goals.

Zé Roberto left the club at the end of the 2009 season after Bayern executives refused to offer him a new two-year deal.[21]

Hamburger SV
Zé Roberto training with Hamburg in 2009

Zé Roberto's contract with Bayern ran until 30 June 2009. The club offered him a contract until 2010, though he declined.[22] Bundesliga side Hamburger SV officially announced his signing to a two-year contract on 2 July 2009.[23][24] Der Spiegel reported that Hamburg actually paid €4 million sign-on fees to Zé Roberto's agent Juan Figer, which Bayern also paid €1 million in 2007.[25][16]

In May 2011, Zé Roberto confirmed that he would not renew his contract with the German team as he wanted a longer contract than the new one offered by the club.[26]

Al-Gharafa

On 10 July 2011, Zé Roberto signed a two-year contract with the Qatari club Al-Gharafa,[27] where he helped his team win the 2012 Emir of Qatar Cup.

Return to Brazil

After a season with Qatari outfit Al-Gharafa, Zé Roberto returned to Brazil in May to join Grêmio, helping them finish third in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. On 10 December 2012, he expressed his desire to retire at Grêmio after extending his contract by a further year.[28]

On 9 December 2014, Zé Roberto left Grêmio as the club decided not to renew his contract.[29]

Palmeiras
Zé Roberto playing for Palmeiras in 2017

On 22 December 2014, Zé Roberto joined Palmeiras on a one-year contract, valid until 31 December 2015.[30] He was immediately appointed team captain, helping them win the 2015 Copa do Brasil with four goals scored in the competition. In the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Palmeiras finished in the 9th position. He signed a one-year extension to his contract on 19 October 2015, that will keep him in the squad until 31 December 2016.[31] On 28 November 2016, he won his first national championship in Brazil, declaring after the final match against Chapecoense that he would not retire at the end of the season.[32] Eventually, on 9 December, he signed a new contract with Palmeiras, keeping him at the club until the end of 2017.[33] On 24 November, he announced Palmeiras match against Botafogo two days later would be the last of his career and that he would retire.[34]

International career

Zé Roberto was part of the Brazil squads at the 1998[35] and 2006 World Cups.[36] In 1998, he helped the Seleção to the final, making one appearance,[37] but was an unused substitute as Brazil lost to hosts France 3–0.[38][39] He was left out of the 2002 World Cup winning squad due to a calf injury.[40] Zé Roberto scored Brazil's third and final goal in a man of the match performance in Brazil's second round match against Ghana in the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.[41]

Zé Roberto helped Brazil to wins at the 1997 and 1999 editions of the Copa América, scoring Brazil's third goal in their 3–1 defeat of Bolivia in the final on 26 June 1997.[42]

He also represented Brazil at the 1997 and 2005 FIFA Confederations Cups in Saudi Arabia and Germany respectively, winning both. He played the full ninety minutes of the final in 2005, as Brazil overpowered arch rivals Argentina 4–1 on 29 June 2005.[43]

Style of play
Zé Roberto in 2011

Capable of playing both as a left-sided defender and in several midfield positions, Zé Roberto was a quick, hard-working and versatile left-footed player who in his prime was known for his technique, vision and efficient style of play as well as his dribbling, passing, crossing and tackling ability.[37][44] He started his career as an attacking full-back or wing back on the left flank, occasionally functioning in a box-to-box role in midfield; he was later deployed as a left-winger and subsequently in a more creative role as an attacking midfielder, although he struggled to find space in the national side in this position due to the presence of several other world-class playmakers in the squad.[37] During his time at Bayern Munich, Zé Roberto excelled alongside van Bommel as a defensive midfielder due to his ability to read the game, break down opposing plays and subsequently start counter-attacks; his adeptness at this new holding role led him to be called up to the Brazil national team once again, where he also formed an effective and consistent defensive midfield partnership with Emerson.[37]

Personal life

Zé Roberto is married to Luciana, with whom he has three children.[45]

He is a Christian, stating, "Aside from the fame, the money, from not being able to have anything and today being able to have everything, I find that the difference is to have God in my heart, by accepting Jesus. The money will finish, fame will be forgotten, but God is special. Today I have God and tomorrow I will live with God in a much better place, that is, heaven."[46]

Career statistics

Sources:[47][48]

Club
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Portuguesa 1994 Série A
1995 Série A
1996 Série A
Total 611
Real Madrid 1996–97 La Liga 9000000090
1997–98 La Liga 60006[lower-alpha 2]100121
Total 150006100211
Bayer Leverkusen 1998–99 Bundesliga 32410401[lower-alpha 3]0384
1999–2000 Bundesliga 277003[lower-alpha 4]000307
2000–01 Bundesliga 242107[lower-alpha 5]000322
2001–02 Bundesliga 3045015[lower-alpha 2]100505
Total 11317702911015018
Bayern Munich 2002–03 Bundesliga 311417[lower-alpha 2]000422
2003–04 Bundesliga 302207[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 3]0402
2004–05 Bundesliga 221408[lower-alpha 2]12[lower-alpha 3]1363
2005–06 Bundesliga 271408[lower-alpha 2]000391
Total 1105141301311578
Santos (loan) 2006 Série A 122001[lower-alpha 6]0–132
2007 Série A 100014[lower-alpha 7]7–157
Total 13200157–289
Bayern Munich (loan) 2007–08 Bundesliga 3056010[lower-alpha 8]03[lower-alpha 3]0495
2008–09 Bundesliga 294419[lower-alpha 2]2–427
Total 599101192309112
Hamburger SV 2009–10 Bundesliga 2362014[lower-alpha 9]1–397
2010–11 Bundesliga 31120––331
Total 54740141–728
Al-Gharafa 2011–12 Qatar Stars League 14100––141
Grêmio 2012 Série A 293004[lower-alpha 6]100334
2013 Série A 223109[lower-alpha 7]39[lower-alpha 10]44110
2014 Série A 310105[lower-alpha 7]07[lower-alpha 10]1441
Total 8262018416511815
Palmeiras 2015 Série A 26294—14[lower-alpha 11]1497
2016 Série A 271415[lower-alpha 7]09[lower-alpha 11]0452
2017 Série A 150305[lower-alpha 7]111[lower-alpha 11]0341
Total 68316510134112810
Career total 528505371411857784083
  1. Includes DFB-Pokal, Copa do Brasil
  2. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. Appearance(s) in DFB-Ligapokal
  4. One appearance in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Cup
  5. Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Cup
  6. Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
  7. Appearances in Copa Libertadores
  8. Appearances in UEFA Cup
  9. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  10. Appearances in Campeonato Gaúcho
  11. Appearances in Campeonato Paulista

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[49]

National team YearAppsGoals
Brazil 199540
199640
1997111
199820
1999153
2000100
200110
200210
200380
200470
2005141
200671
Total846

International goals

Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first.[49]
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.29 June 1997Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia Bolivia3–13–11997 Copa América
2.24 July 1999Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico Germany1–04–01999 FIFA Confederations Cup
3.1 August 1999Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico Saudi Arabia3–28–2 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup
4.4 August 1999Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico Mexico3–43–4 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup
5.5 June 2005Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil Paraguay3–04–12006 FIFA World Cup qualification
6.27 June 2006Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany Ghana3–03–02006 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Real Madrid[47]

Bayern Munich[47]

Santos[47]

Al-Gharafa[47]

Palmeiras[47]

Brazil[47]

Individual

See also

References
  1. "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Brazil" (PDF). FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2019.
  2. "Zé Roberto". Palmeiras (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  3. "Zé Roberto ganha cargo administrativo e seguirá no Palmeiras após aposentadoria". Globoesporte. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  4. "Zé Roberto é anunciado oficialmente como novo reforço do Grêmio". Zero Hora (in Portuguese). 3 April 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  5. "Former Real Madrid star Ze Roberto signs new contract – at age 42!". GOAL.com. 10 December 2016.
  6. "Real Madrid 4-1 Rosenborg". UEFA. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  7. Coerts, Stefan (30 July 2012). "I would have succeeded at Real Madrid with more patience, claims Ze Roberto". Goal.com. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  8. "Flamengo vende Zé Roberto ao Bayer Leverkusen". Universo Online (in Portuguese). 21 May 1998.
  9. "Ze Roberto: Skilful players can play anywhere". FIFA. 30 July 2012. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  10. "Leverkusen humble Deportivo". UEFA. 4 December 2001. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  11. "Leverkusen joy as Liverpool fall". UEFA. 9 April 2002. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  12. Fudge, Simon. "Ze Roberto claims Bayern move". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  13. "Madrid win ninth European crown". UEFA. 15 May 2002. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  14. "Ze Roberto signs for Bayern". Sports Illustrated. AP. 17 May 2002. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  15. "Bayern sign Ze Roberto". BBC Sport. 17 May 2002. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  16. "HSV kaufte Zé Roberto vom uruguayischen Club Nacional Montevideo". Der Spiegel (in German). 29 August 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  17. "Santos anuncia contratação de Zé Roberto". O Globo Online (in Portuguese). 31 August 2006. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  18. "São Paulo State Championship 2007". RSSSF. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  19. "Zé Roberto seals return to Bayern". FC Bayern Munich. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2007.
  20. "Bayern wait on duo". FIFA. 29 January 2009. Archived from the original on 31 January 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  21. "Ze Roberto leaves Bayern". Soccer News. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  22. "Klinsmann lässt Butt ran" (in German). kicker.de. 9 March 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2009.
  23. "HSV verpflichtet Zé Roberto" (in German). hsv.de. 2 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 July 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
  24. "HSV seal Zé Roberto signature". UEFA.com. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  25. "Report: Ze Roberto not as free as initially thought". The Earth Times. 31 August 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  26. "Zé Roberto to leave HSV". hsv.de. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  27. "Zé Roberto hat noch nicht genug" (in German). kicker.de. 10 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  28. "Ze Roberto extends Gremio deal". Soccerway. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  29. "Grêmio confirma saída de Zé Roberto". Globo Esporte. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  30. "Palmeiras anuncia acordo com Zé Roberto até dezembro de 2015". Lancenet (in Portuguese). 22 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  31. "Zé Roberto acerta renovação de contrato com o Palmeiras até final de 2016" (in Portuguese). S.E. Palmeiras. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  32. "Zé Roberto: "Nicht der Zeitpunkt aufzuhören"". kicker (in German). 28 November 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  33. "Former Real Madrid star Ze Roberto signs new contract – at age 42!". Goal. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  34. "Brazil's Ze Roberto announces retirement at the age of 43". ESPN FC. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  35. "Brazil". Travel Notes. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  36. "For Brazil, anything less than title is a disappointment". Sports Illustrated. 20 March 2006. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  37. "Recognition at last for Ze Roberto". FIFA. 20 January 2006. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  38. "Brazil – France 0:3". FIFA. 12 July 1998. Archived from the original on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  39. "Host nation routs Brazilians 3–0 in World Cup final". Sports Illustrated. 1 December 1998. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  40. "Romario left out of Brazil's squad". Sports Illustrated. 6 May 2002. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  41. "Ronaldo became the highest scorer in World Cup finals history as Brazil beat Ghana to book a quarter-final place against France". BBC Sport. 27 June 2006. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  42. "Final". RSSSF. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  43. "Brazil – Argentina 4:1". FIFA. 29 June 2005. Archived from the original on 28 August 2007. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  44. "Zé Roberto da Silva Júnior" (in Portuguese). data2.7m.cn. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  45. "Zé Roberto Profile". Bayern Munich. Archived from the original on 7 February 2005.
  46. Persaud, C.H.K. (2004). Famous People Speak about Jesus: A Compendium of Expressions of Praise and Reverence. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 1465325751.
  47. "Zé Roberto". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  48. "Ze Roberto – Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  49. Robert Manrud (17 September 2010). "José Roberto da Silva Júnior "Zé Roberto" – International Appearances". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  50. "Bundesliga Historie 1999/2000" (in German). kicker.
  51. "Bundesliga Historie 2001/02" (in German). kicker.
  52. "Bundesliga Historie 2007/08" (in German). kicker.
  53. "The FIFA TSG nominates 23 players for the MasterCard All-Star squad". FIFA. 7 July 2006. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  54. "Bola de Prata Placar 2012". Placar (in Portuguese). 11 April 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  55. "Bola de Prata Placar 2014". Placar (in Portuguese). 11 December 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  56. "Finalistas, Palmeiras e Santos dominam a seleção do Paulistão (Finalists, Palmeiras and Santos dominate the selection of Paulistão)" [Finalists, Palmeiras and Santos dominate Paulistão's team of the year]. Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). 30 April 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  57. "Zé Roberto vence eleição do gol mais bonito (Zé Roberto wins election of the most beautiful goal)". Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 31 January 2023.
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