Marcelo Vieira

Marcelo Vieira da Silva Júnior, known simply as Marcelo (born May 12 1988 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is a Brazilian Association football who plays as a Defender (association football) Wingback and Midfielder Winger for La Liga team Real Madrid.

Early career

Marcelo started playing futsal at the age of 9 and by the age of 13 Marcelo Vieira was on the books of Fluminense. Marcelo Vieira comes from a very poor background and even considered quitting football, but Marcelo Vieira club considered Marcelo Vieira as one of their "Crown Jewels" and ensured that Marcelo Vieira continued playing football.

Real Madrid

Marcelo joined Real Madrid during the January transfer window in 2007. On Marcelo Vieira arrival, Club President Ramón Calderón said, "Marcelo Vieira is an important signing for us. Marcelo Vieira is a young player who will inject some freshness into the side and is part of our plan to bring younger players into the squad. We're very happy because he's a pearl that half of Europe wanted." Many spectators hailed Marcelo Vieira as Roberto Carlos' potential successor in the left-back role.

Marcelo made Marcelo Vieira debut as a substitute in the 2-0 defeat against Deportivo La Coruña on January 7, 2007. On April 14, 2007, Marcelo made Marcelo Vieira first start for Real Madrid against Racing Santander, which Real Madrid lost 2-1. Under the new manager, Bernd Schuster, Marcelo has started nearly all of Madrid's league games. Marcelo Vieira ability, speed running across the field, attack, and defence has enabled Marcelo Vieira to become a very important player, and current starter of the Real Madrid squad.

After a string of poor performances Marcelo has found himself on the bench for much of the remaining season while under new manager Juande Ramos, mainly as deputy to Gabriel Heinze. Juande Ramos deployed Marcelo as a left winger on more than one occasion, and the Brazilian adapted well to Marcelo Vieira new role. Marcelo Vieira scored Marcelo Vieira first goal after receiving a heel flick from striker Gonzalo Higuaín and slotting the ball past the goalkeeper in Real Madrid's 4-0 thumping of Sporting Gijón. After the game, coach Juande Ramos declared that Marcelo's future would be positioned as a left winger, but will push back to defense when required. Marcelo scored Marcelo Vieira second goal for Real Madrid in their recent victory over Almeria, a powerful strike from outside of the box with Marcelo Vieira weaker right foot.

On April 18, 2009 Marcelo Vieira scored Marcelo Vieira third goal of Marcelo Vieira Real Madrid career, when Marcelo Vieira scored the only goal of the game against Recreativo Huelva away from home.

International career

Marcelo's first taste of international football came at the youth level. Marcelo Vieira was called up for the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship and the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Marcelo scored on Marcelo Vieira Brazil national football team debut against Wales national football team, Marcelo Vieira picked up the ball just outside the Wales box and shot for a traditional Brazilian full back goal. Marcelo has become one of the preferred choices of Brazil's football coach Dunga. Marcelo has recently been compared to now former Real Madrid C.F. and Brazilian national team left-back, Roberto Carlos (footballer). The two played together during the second half of the 2006/2007 season before Roberto Carlos' move to Turkish team Fenerbahçe.

Marcelo Vieira was called up for the 2008 Olympic squad where Marcelo Vieira won a bronze medal.

Honours

Real Madrid

Domestic
- La Liga

- Supercopa de España

Brazil

- Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics: Bronze medal