Alex Rodrigo

Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa, better known as Alex, (born 17 June 1982 in Niterói) is a Brazilian professional Association football player. Alex plays as a centre back currently for Chelsea F.C. and the Brazil national football team.

Having been bought by the Premier League club Chelsea in 2004, Alex finally joined the Chelsea squad in the summer of 2007 after three years on loan to PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands. Alex is famously known among PSV fans for Alex Rodrigo great physical strength, Alex Rodrigo imposing appearance and Alex Rodrigo cannonball-like freekicks which earned Alex Rodrigo the nickname "The Tank".

Club career

Santos

Alex began Alex Rodrigo career with Santos Futebol Clube of Brazil, making Alex Rodrigo first team debut in 2002. Alex Rodrigo was signed by England club Chelsea F.C. in 2004 on the recommendation of famed PSV and Chelsea scout Piet de Visser, but because of potential problems in attaining a work permit, Alex Rodrigo was loan (football) to Netherlands club PSV Eindhoven.

PSV

The joint contract of Chelsea and PSV loaned Alex to PSV for three years, with Chelsea having a Euro1 buy-out clause. Alex eventually played three years at PSV, donning the number 4 jersey for the Dutch club.

Alex Rodrigo formally joined PSV in the 2004-05 in Dutch football, helping the club win a domestic double of both the Dutch Eredivisie championship and Dutch Cup that year. In the UEFA Champions League 2004-05, Alex played a key role in the PSV team that was eliminated in the semi-finals against A.C. Milan on away goals (PSV won their home game 3–1 but had previously lost 0–2 in San Siro). The team eliminated AS Monaco FC and Olympique Lyonnais on their way to the semis.

Alex won a second straight Dutch league championship in the Eredivisie 2005/2006 with PSV. Chelsea did not recall Alex, even though Abramovich adviser Piet de Visser and Chelsea head of scouting Frank Arnesen recommended that Alex be brought over from PSV to solve the club's defensive problems. Instead, Chelsea manager José Mourinho insisted on the signing of Khalid Boulahrouz instead. However, Alex Rodrigo was later injured and played no part in PSV's UEFA Champions League 2006-07 knockout stage Quarter-finals against Liverpool F.C., which PSV lost 4–0 on aggregate.

Chelsea

In an interview with Netherlands newspaper De Telegraaf, Alex confirmed that Chelsea were in the process of getting Alex Rodrigo a work permit and that the possibilities of Alex Rodrigo joining Chelsea next season were very high. Alex later confirmed that Chelsea had almost completed the process of acquiring Alex Rodrigo a work permit and that Alex Rodrigo would start next season as a Chelsea player.

Alex was granted a work permit on 2 August 2007, and completed Alex Rodrigo transfer to Chelsea F.C. after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical, signing a three year deal, and adding to Chelsea's options at centre-back, along with team captain John Terry, Portuguese international Ricardo Carvalho, and Israeli international Tal Ben Haim.

On 14 August 2007, Alex was presented to the English media, in a press conference with manager José Mourinho, and was given shirt number 33. Alex Rodrigo made Alex Rodrigo debut on 19 August 2007 when Alex Rodrigo came on as a substitute for Florent Malouda against Liverpool F.C. in the 85th minute, with the teams tied at 1–1. Alex Rodrigo also played in the 2–0 defeat away at Aston Villa F.C. and the 4–0 victory over Hull City A.F.C. in the Football League Cup.

Alex scored Alex Rodrigo first goal for Chelsea on 20 October 2007, bulging the net from an absolutely stunning free kick 30 yards out against Middlesbrough F.C.. Alex Rodrigo scored another goal from a free kick on 28 November 2007 in a Champions League game against Rosenborg BK. Alex Rodrigo then scored in Chelsea's 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, scoring Alex Rodrigo first goal at Stamford Bridge from an Andriy Shevchenko pass, taking Alex Rodrigo tally for the season to 3.

Alex again wasn't a first team starter for the Premier League 2008–09, however Alex Rodrigo has been playing regularly at centreback due to frequent back injuries to Ricardo Carvalho.

Alex Rodrigo scored Chelsea's 1000th Premier League goal against Sunderland A.F.C. on 1 November 2008. Alex has so far started every game for Chelsea after the arrival of Guus Hiddink, who managed Alex at PSV Eindhoven. Alex Rodrigo also scored in an FA Cup quarter-final against Coventry City F.C..

In the 2009 Champions League Quarter-finals (second leg at Stamford Bridge) against Liverpool F.C., Alex scored a sensational canonball freekick from 30 yards to level the score 2-2. Chelsea F.C. would eventually draw the game 4-4 with Liverpool F.C. and move on to the Champions League Semi-finals against F.C. Barcelona on aggregates (7-5).

Chelsea fans have begun to sing a song for Alex to the Tune of Oh Paokara the lyrics are:

"Oh Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa, he's from Brazil
he plays alongside John Terry and he's just a bit hard
give Alex Rodrigo the ball outside the box he'll score from 30 yards"

On 10 May, Alex scored a header in Chelsea's 4-1 win over Arsenal in the Premier League from a Didier Drogba free-kick. The goal was Alex Rodrigo second against the Gunners in Alex Rodrigo career.

International career

Alex made Alex Rodrigo debut for Brazil national football team on July 17, 2003 against Mexico national football team in 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Although Alex Rodrigo played under Brazil Olympic football team at the tournament, the tournament was a full international tournament, hence the international cap gained was fully recognized by FIFA.

Alex Rodrigo was overlooked for the 2006 FIFA World Cup squad. However, after the World Cup, Alex Rodrigo earned regular call-ups with the new head coach, Dunga. Alex Rodrigo was a member of the Brazil squad that won the Copa América 2007 with a 3–0 victory over arch-rivals Argentina national football team in the final. Alex Rodrigo was dropped form Brazilian squad to 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup due to injuries.