Marcelinho
Personal information
Full name Marcelo Nascimento da Costa
Date of birth (1984-08-24) 24 August 1984
Place of birth Manacapuru, Amazonas, Brazil
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Princesa-AM
Youth career
2001–2002 Rio Negro
2002–2005 São Paulo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005 Cascavel 0 (0)
2006 Santacruzense 0 (0)
2007 São Caetano 0 (0)
2008 Catanduvense 0 (0)
2008–2009 Al-Nasr Dubai[2] 12 (0)
2010 Mogi Mirim 0 (0)
2010–2011 Bragantino 24 (4)
2011–2020 Ludogorets Razgrad 234 (75)
2020–2021 Vitória 26 (1)
2021 Manaus 9 (1)
2021–2022 Operário 17 (3)
2023– Princesa-AM 19 (2)
Total 324+ (83+)
International career
2016–2019 Bulgaria 11 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Marcelo Nascimento da Costa (Bulgarian: Марсело Насименто да Коща; born 24 August 1984), commonly known as Marcelinho (Bulgarian: Марселиньо), is a former Brazilian-born naturalized Bulgarian professional footballer who played as a midfielder.[3]

A youth product of São Paulo, Marcelinho played for Cascavel, Santacruzense, São Caetano and Catanduvense in his early career. In 2008 he signed with UAE Pro-League club Al-Nasr Dubai. In early 2010, he returned to his home country, joining Mogi Mirim. Few months later Marcelinho signed with Bragantino, before moving to Ludogorets in May 2011. With Ludogorets, he has won nine consecutive Bulgarian league titles from 2012 to 2020, as well as two Bulgarian Cups, and four Bulgarian Supercups. With 80 matches played, he holds the record for the most appearances for a Bulgarian team in European tournaments.[4]

Born and raised in Brazil, Marcelinho received Bulgarian citizenship in 2013, and subsequently opted to play internationally for the Bulgarian national team. He made his debut for Bulgaria in a friendly against Portugal on 26 March 2016.

His brother, Gustavo, is also a footballer, currently playing for Olympiakos Nicosia.

Club career

Early career

Marcelinho joined São Paulo as a seventeen-year-old, but he failed to break into the first-team. Since leaving São Paulo in early 2005 he has played for Cascavel, Santacruzense, São Caetano and Catanduvense. In 2008, Marcelinho joined Al Nasr in Dubai.

Mogi Mirim

After one season, Marcelinho left the UAE League side Al Nasr and signed for Mogi Mirim. In the first half of 2010 he earned 15 appearances in the Campeonato Paulista.[5] Marcelinho made his debut in a 5–1 away loss against Palmeiras on 16 January 2010.

Bragantino

In July 2010, Marcelinho signed with Clube Atlético Bragantino,[6] where he played 24 matches and scored four goals to the end of the season in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B. Marcelinho made his first-team debut in a 2–0 home defeat at Ponte Preta on 31 July.[7] In 2011, he appeared 17 times for Bragantino in the Campeonato Paulista, scoring one goal.[8] Marcelinho netted his first goal of 2011 as he scored the winning strike in a 2–1 home victory over Santos on 19 March.[9]

Ludogorets Razgrad

Marcelinho playing for Ludogorets in 2011

On 12 May 2011, Marcelinho joined Bulgarian team Ludogorets Razgrad on a three-year deal and was assigned the number 84 jersey.[10] His debut came in Ludogorets's opening match in the 2011–12 season, at home to Lokomotiv Plovdiv on 6 August. Two weeks later, on 20 August, he scored his first competitive goals for Ludogorets, netting twice in a 4–0 win over Vidima-Rakovski. On 16 May 2012, Marcelinho was named "Man of the match" in a 2–1 win against Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the 2012 Bulgarian Cup Final.[11] He scored both Ludogorets goals late in the match to turn around what had appeared to be a certain defeat for Ludogorets at the hands of Lokomotiv. In the league, Marcelinho scored nine goals and collected his first A Group title winner's medal at the end of his first season in Bulgaria.

Marcelinho started the 2012–13 season by scoring the third goal in Ludogorets 3–1 win against Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the 2012 Bulgarian Supercup on 11 July. A week later, he scored his first-ever Champions League goal, opening the scoring in a 1–1 home draw against Dinamo Zagreb in their second qualifying round first leg tie. He ended the campaign with nine goals in all competitions.

On 19 December 2013, Marcelinho was named the Best foreign player in the Bulgarian league.[12]

On 1 October 2014, Marcelinho scored a stunning goal in the 6th minute during Ludogorets' home debut in the 2014–15 Champions League group phase against the current Champions League champion Real Madrid, but in an eventual 2–1 loss.[13] A few days later, he signed a one-year contract extension, keeping him at Ludogorets until 2016.[14] On 19 April 2015, Marcelinho made his 100th league appearance for Ludogorets in a 3–1 home win over Litex Lovech. On 1 October 2017, he opened the scoring in an A PFG match against Beroe, managing his 57th goal in the league (in 171 matches) and thus overtaking the tally of fellow naturalized Brazilian Marquinhos, which allowed him to become the foreign footballer with the most goals in the top Bulgarian division.[15] Marcelinho's record was subsequently itself surpassed by teammate Claudiu Keșerü. In mid July 2019, he was frozen out of the first team by manager Stoycho Stoev, following a number of disciplinary breaches.[16] He returned to first team action on 18 August, as a substitute in the match against Cherno More Varna, providing an assist, but also being sent off for a second booking.[17]

On 28 June 2020, Marcelinho announced that he would leave the club after nine years, despite his desire to stay in the club for one more year. Ludogorets subsequently retired the number 84 in his honour for his service to the club.[18]

International career

On 24 January 2013, Marcelinho received a Bulgarian passport from the local authorities and became eligible to play for the Bulgaria national team. He later stated in an interview that he would be happy to represent Bulgaria at international level.[19][20]

On 7 March 2016, Marcelinho was called up for the first time to the Bulgaria national team for the friendly matches against Portugal and Macedonia.[21] He scored on his international debut at Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa against Portugal on 25 March, scoring the only goal for a 1–0 win.[22] Despite his good performance with the team Marcelinho never received call-ups from Ivaylo Petev's successor Petar Hubchev as he did not want naturalized players in the team.[23]

In 2019 the new national manager Krasimir Balakov once again picked Marcelinho as part of the squad for the UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifications matches on 7 and 10 June against Czech Republic and Kosovo,[24] though he had to withdraw due to an injury.

Career statistics

Club

As of 22 June 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Other[lower-alpha 2] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Al-Nasr Dubai 2008–09 UAE Pro-League 120[2]00——120
Mogi Mirim 2010 Série B 0000—150150
Bragantino 2010 Série B 24400—00244
2011 0000—171171
Total 2440000171415
Ludogorets Razgrad 2011–12 A Group 25944——2913
2012–13 256002211289
2013–14 32971152105512
2014–15 22850123114012
2015–16 267101010297
2016–17 Parva Liga 321421130004715
2017–18 27930113104212
2018–19 29820144104612
2019–20 1652012110316
Total 2347526680157234798
Career total 271792668015393415103

International

As of match played 17 November 2019
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Bulgaria 201672
201700
201800
201940
[Total112
Scores and results list Bulgaria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Marcelinho goal.
List of international goals scored by Marcelinho[25]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
126 March 2016Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal Portugal1–01–0Friendly
26 September 2016Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria Luxembourg2–24–32018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Ludogorets

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Кешерю на гол от историческо постижение (ВИДЕО)" (in Bulgarian). blitz.bg. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  2. 1 2 "UAE League Professional 2008/2009". goalzz.com. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  3. ↑ "Лудогорец подписа с бразилски национал" (in Bulgarian). novsport.com. 12 May 2011.
  4. ↑ "Постижения и рекорди на Лудогорец в евротурнирите" (in Bulgarian). ludogorets.com. 14 April 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  5. ↑ "Marcelinho Statistics 2010". zerozero.pt.
  6. ↑ "Bragantino contrata mais dois reforços" (in Portuguese). blogdoloredo.blogspot.com. 27 July 2010.
  7. ↑ "Bragantino 0-2 Ponte Preta". Zerozero.pt. 31 July 2010.
  8. ↑ "Marcelinho Statistics 2011". Esporte.ig.com.br.
  9. ↑ "Bragantino 2-1 Santos". zerozero.pt. 19 March 2011.
  10. ↑ "Лудогорец стартира с грандиозната селекция" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 12 May 2011.
  11. ↑ "Ludogorets clinch maiden Bulgarian Cup". uefa.com. 16 May 2012.
  12. ↑ "Марселиньо бе избран за Най-добър чужденец в А група" (in Bulgarian). corner.dir.bg. 19 December 2013.
  13. ↑ "Real Madrid recover to down dogged Ludogorets". uefa.com. 1 October 2014.
  14. ↑ "Марселиньо преподписа с Лудогорец" (in Bulgarian). novsport.com. 7 October 2014.
  15. ↑ "Треньорът на "Лудогорец" се примоли за Мисиджан. Марселиньо вече е най-резултатният чужденец в българското първенство" (in Bulgarian). segabg.com. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  16. ↑ "Стойчо Стоев: докато аз съм треньор, Марселиньо не е част от Лудогорец!" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  17. ↑ "Лудогорец оцеля във варненския ад и пак е на върха, какво завръщане на Марселиньо (видео)" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  18. ↑ Марселиньо призна за разговор с друг български отбор - Лудогорец - БГ Футбол - Sportal.bg
  19. ↑ "Марселиньо и Кишада готови за национали - взеха български паспорти" (in Bulgarian). corner.dir.bg. 24 January 2013.
  20. ↑ "Лудогорец си уреди двама "нови българи"" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 24 January 2013.
  21. ↑ Петев обяви футболистите за Португалия и Македония - интересни имена попаднаха в списъка
  22. ↑ "Portugal 0–1 Bulgaria". bbc.com. 25 March 2016.
  23. ↑ "Хубчев вика шестима от ЦСКА Сф. Селекционерът включи и контузения капитан Дяков в групата за Холандия" (in Bulgarian). duma.bg. 15 March 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  24. ↑ Балъков върна Марселиньо в националния отбор
  25. ↑ "Marcelinho". National Football Teams. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  26. ↑ "Иван Иванов е футболист на годината" (in Bulgarian). sportni.bg. 28 December 2013.
  27. ↑ Yotova, Ralitsa (7 January 2018). "Ивелин Попов е "Футболист на годината" за трети пореден път!" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  28. ↑ "Марселиньо от Лудогорец стана "Футболист №1" на сезона" (in Bulgarian). gol.bg. 25 May 2017.
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