Djalminha

Djalma Feitosa Dias (born 9 December 1970), commonly known as Djalminha , is a Brazilian football pundit and former professional player who played as an attacking midfielder. Regarded as a highly gifted and creative playmaker, he was known for his technical ability, close control, vision and flamboyant style of play.

Djalminha represented several clubs in Brazil and Europe, most notably Flamengo, Palmeiras and Deportivo de La Coruña. He was a prominent member of the Deportivo side that won the club's first La Liga title in the 1999–2000 season. At international level, he represented the Brazil national team and was part of the squad that won the 1997 Copa América. Despite his ability, his career was also marked by an unpredictable temperament and a number of disciplinary incidents.

Club career Brazil Son of former footballer Djalma Dias, Djalminha (Little Djalma) was born in Santos, São Paulo, while his father was playing for Santos. He started his career at Flamengo, based in Rio de Janeiro.

Afterwards, Djalminha played for Guarani (being briefly loaned, in 1994, to Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan) and then Palmeiras, where he received the Bola de Ouro (Brazilian Golden Ball) award in 1996.

Deportivo de La Coruña In July 1997, Djalminha joined Spanish club Deportivo de La Coruña, where he scored 26 La Liga goals in 87 appearances in his first three seasons there, playing a significant role in the club's first (and, to date, only) La Liga conquest in 1999–2000. After that, however, the emergence of Juan Carlos Valerón, signed upon Atlético Madrid's relegation, meant less playing time for Djalminha. This was followed by a May 2002 heated confrontation during training with Depor manager Javier Irureta, prompted his loan to Austrian Football Bundesliga side FK Austria Wien in the summer of 2002.

After just 11 appearances for Deportivo in the 2003–04 campaign, Djalminha finished his career with Mexico's Club América, retiring at 34.

Indoor football In 2008, Djalminha returned to Depor, joining its indoor football team alongside club greats Donato, Fran, Noureddine Naybet and Jacques Songo'o.

International career The stiff competition in Brazil in Djalminha's position of attacking midfielder, combined with his somewhat difficult temperament, limited him to just 14 full international caps in six years, the vast majority coming while at Deportivo. He was part of the squad that won the 1997 Copa América, and of the Brazil team that played in Le Tournoi, also in 1997.

Djalminha was due to be called to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but was finally not chosen by Luiz Felipe Scolari after his incident with Irureta days before the announcement of the final squad, losing his place to Kaká.

Style of play Djalminha was a creative attacking midfielder and playmaker, noted for his technical ability, close control, vision, passing and capacity to improvise in possession. La Liga described him as a midfielder of "enormous technical quality" who was capable of opening up opposing defences with "impossible passes". Palmeiras similarly characterised him as a classic, elegant and skilful midfielder whose precise passing made him the creative force behind much of the club's attack during the 1996 season. Former opponents also highlighted his ability in one-on-one situations, his final ball, late runs into attacking positions, free-kick taking and goalscoring.

An unpredictable and flamboyant player, Djalminha frequently used feints, flicks and improvised skills to evade opponents and create chances. Former teammates described him as an imaginative and technically exceptional player who was given considerable freedom on the pitch. He became particularly associated with the lambreta, a variation of the rainbow flick which he famously performed against four Real Madrid players in 2000.

His former Deportivo teammate Víctor Sánchez described him as a player who demanded possession during difficult matches and attempted to find solutions for the team. Former Brazil teammate Juninho Paulista stated that Djalminha was most effective when surrounded by players who could provide running and defensive cover, allowing him greater freedom to influence the game in possession.

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

23!!2!!13!!4!!!!!!36!!6

1993

1994

1995

33!!15!!!!!!!!!!33!!15 Shimizu S-Pulse (loan) 1994 J1 League

1996

1997

22!!12!!12!!6!!!!!!34!!18

1997–98

1998–99

1999–00

2000–01

2001–02

2003–04

137!!38!!21!!3!!27!!9!!185!!50 Austria Wien (loan) 2002–03 Austrian Bundesliga

Club América Apertura 2004 Liga MX

241!!74!!46!!13!!29!!10!!316!!97

International

Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Djalminha goal.

Honours Football Flamengo Copa do Brasil: 1990 Campeonato Carioca: 1991 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1992

Palmeiras Campeonato Paulista: 1996 Copa do Brasil runner-up: 1996

Deportivo La Liga: 1999–2000 Copa del Rey: 2001–02 Supercopa de España: 2000, 2002

Austria Wien Austrian Football Bundesliga: 2002–03

Brazil Copa América: 1997

Individual Bola de Prata: 1993, 1996 Bola de Ouro: 1996

Indoor football Deportivo Spanish League: 2007–08, 2009–10 Spanish Cup: 2007–08, 2009–10

Flamengo Brazilian Championship: 2009

Brazil Indoor Football World Cup: 2006

Individual Indoor Football World Cup MVP: 2006 Brazilian Championship Top Scorer: 2009