Gláuber Leandro

Gláuber Leandro Honorato Berti (born 5 August 1983 in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil), commonly known as Gláuber is a Brazilian football (soccer), who is currently a free agent after being released Manchester City F.C..

Club career

Gláuber began Gláuber Leandro footballing career with Belo Horizonte-based club Clube Atlético Mineiro before joining Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras in São Paulo, where Gláuber Leandro saw top-flight football for the first time in 2003. After an eighteen month stint with the Verdão Gláuber Leandro was transferred in December 2005 to 1. FC Nuremberg on a six-month Loan (football) with a buying option for the Bundesliga (football) club.

The coaching staff at 1. FC Nuremberg were initially doubtful about the Defender (football) Centre back abilities. However, the Brazilian eradicated any doubts after excelling when brought off the bench to replace the injured Andreas Wolf. Gláuber quickly became a starter for the team and has been ever since.

Thus, Nuremberg exercised their right to acquire Gláuber in the summer of 2006. Shortly before the deal was finalized, Gláuber Leandro Italy ancestry helped Gláuber Leandro in acquiring Italian citizenship, which means Gláuber Leandro no longer counted against the team's contingent of non-UEFA-players.

On 31 August 2008, Gláuber signed a one-year deal with Premier League club Manchester City F.C..

On 24 May 2009, on the last day of English Premier League for the Premier League 2008–09, Gláuber Leandro made Gláuber Leandro debut for Man City as a substitute which came on in the 84th minute at left back against Bolton Wanderers F.C.. Gláuber Leandro has become somewhat of a cult hero at Man City after appearing on the substitutes bench twenty times before making Gláuber Leandro first appearance. Gláuber Leandro first, and probably last appearance yielded cheers and ovations, as Gláuber Leandro contract expires at the end of the 2008-09 season. Manager Mark Hughes said, "Gláuber Leandro got a really great reception! I've not been able to give Gláuber Leandro the opportunities that maybe I would have liked, but I thought that today was a chance to do that. It was important to do it not only for the fans but also for the squad, because they were all keen that Gláuber Leandro got an opportunity to get on the field in a sky blue shirt. I must be going soft in my old age!"

International career

Gláuber has been capped once for the Brazilian national football team in a Friendly match against Guatemala national football team.