Washington Stecanela Cerqueira

Washington Stecanela Cerqueira (born 1 April 1975), known as Washington, is a Brazilian football pundit, coach, and former player who played as a striker.

Career Washington started his senior career from Caxias in 1991, aged 16, playing there for 8 years, until 1999. He then signed for Paraná Clube where he scored 10 goals in 20 matches. After enjoying a fruitful spell with Ponte Preta (2000-02) scoring a record at the time 12 goals on the 2001 Copa do Brasil an interest from European clubs like Greek champions Olympiacos and Fenerbahçe came up. Washington eventually signed with Fenerbahçe in the summer of 2002. During 2001 and 2002 he was also called up to the Brazil national team by Felipe Scolari scoring 2 goals in 9 games and became a candidate for the 2002 World Cup.

In the 2002–03 Turkish league season Washington scored 9 goals in 12 games but was subsequently released by Fenerbahçe because of his health problems.

Washington was submitted to a coronary catheterization. Once recovered, physicians told him that playing football would not represent a risk to his condition. He then signed with Brazilian club Atlético Paranaense where he was 2004 Série A top-scorer with 34 goals and broke the league's record. For his recovery, he was dubbed Coração Valente, the title of the movie Braveheart in Brazil.

In 2005, he moved to Japan to play for Tokyo Verdy in the J1 League. He had a successful season there with 22 goals in 33 games but could not save his club from relegation. In 2006, he transferred to Urawa Red Diamonds and helped the Reds win their first ever J1 League title, becoming the top scorer in the league with 26 goals in 26 games. In 2007, he scored three goals at the FIFA Club World Cup as the Reds finished third.

On 21 December 2007, Washington returned to Brazil to play for Fluminense. His contract was valid through the end of 2008. Washington finished as the 2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A top scorer, with 21 goals, tied with Keirrison and Kléber Pereira. Even though he renewed his contract with São Paulo until the end of the 2010 season he eventually returned to Fluminense on July 27, 2010. He played a major role in the team's run to win the 2010 Série A, scoring 10 goals throughout the competition and being involved in the play that guaranteed the team's championship (in the last game of the season).

On 13 January 2011, while training with Fluminense in Mangaratiba, Washington announced his retirement from football.

Career statistics Club

includes Japanese Super Cup and Club World Cup

International

International goals International appearances and goals # Date Venue Opponent Result Goal Competition2001 1. 25 April 2001 São Paulo, Brazil 1–1 0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification 26 May 2001 Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Verdy 2–0 1 Unofficial friendly 2. 31 May 2001 Ibaraki, Japan 2–0 1 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup 3. 2 June 2001 Ibaraki, Japan 0–0 0 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup 4. 4 June 2001 Ibaraki, Japan 0–0 0 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup 5. 7 June 2001 Suwon, South Korea 1–2 0 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup 6. 9 June 2001 Ulsan, South Korea 0–1 0 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup2002 7. 31 January 2002 Goiânia, Brazil 6–0 1 Friendly 8. 6 February 2002 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 1–0 0 Friendly 9. 7 March 2002 Cuiabá, Brazil 6–1 0 Friendly

Honours Club Tokyo Verdy Japanese Super Cup: 2005

Urawa Reds Japanese Super Cup: 2006 Emperor's Cup: 2006 J1 League: 2006 AFC Champions League: 2007

Fluminense Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2010

Individual FIFA Club World Cup Top Scorer: 2007 Brazilian League Top Scorer: 2004, 2008 São Paulo State Championship Top Scorer: 2001 Brazilian Cup Top Scorer: 2001 J.League Top Scorer: 2006 J.League Best Eleven: 2006 Troféu Mesa Redonda best player: 2004