Vaná

Vanailson Luciano de Souza Alves (born 25 April 1991), commonly known as Vaná, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as goalkeeper for Cypriot First Division club Aris Limassol.

After starting his professional career at Coritiba, he spent several years in Portugal with Feirense, Porto and Famalicão. He made 52 Primeira Liga appearances and played a small role in Porto's league title in 2017–18.

Career Brazil Born in Planaltina, Distrito Federal, Vaná was brought to Clube Atlético Paranaense in 2006. On his release in 2010, a former coach took him to Coritiba Foot Ball Club, where he was promoted to the first team in 2012.

Vaná was loaned to Canoas Sport Club in Rio Grande do Sul for the 2012 Campeonato Gaúcho and later that year joined Associação Chapecoense de Futebol on the same basis, being recalled to Coritiba due to their injury situation. He became known as "Vaneuer", a reference to German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. He was back-up to Iker Casillas and made his debut on 12 May 2018 in the final game of the season away to Vitória S.C. with the title already secured (1–0 victory).

A year later, after the Spaniard suffered a heart attack, Vaná played the final three matches of the season, winning all of them as the title went to S.L. Benfica on the last day. He also played the 2019 Taça de Portugal Final on 25 May, a penalty shootout defeat to Sporting CP.

Famalicão After the signing of Argentine Agustín Marchesín and promotion of youth player Diogo Costa, Vaná fell to third-choice goalkeeper at Porto and on 31 August 2019 he was loaned to fellow Primeira Liga team F.C. Famalicão for the season. Second choice to experienced compatriot Rafael Defendi, he made his debut on 30 October in a 2–1 home win over Gil Vicente FC. He played 23 total games for the club from Vila Nova de Famalicão, who fell short of a European place after a good start to the season.

On 2 October 2020, Vaná returned to Famalicão on a permanent transfer. He battled for a starting place against Russian Ivan Zlobin, and after a period of self-isolation due to COVID-19, the teenager Luiz Júnior.

Aris Limassol Vaná left Portugal on 1 July 2021, when he joined newly promoted Cypriot First Division club Aris Limassol. He helped Aris finish 4th in the 2021–22 Cypriot First Division, and qualify for European football for the first time in the club's history. The following season, he helped them win the league for the first time ever, and was voted as the best goalkeeper of the league season. He also received the Best Save and Golden Gloves awards.

Career statistics

Honours Coritiba Campeonato Paranaense: 2013

ABC Campeonato Potiguar: 2016

Aris Limassol Cypriot First Division: 2022–23