Paulo Assunção

This name uses Portuguese naming customs. The first or maternal family name is Assunção and the second or paternal family name is Da Silva.

Paulo Assunção

200px Assunção in action for Atlético Madrid in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Paulo Assunção da Silva
Date of birth	(1980-01-25) 25 January 1980
Place of birth	Várzea Grande, Brazil
Height
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000	Palmeiras	0	(0)
2000–2001	Porto B	36	(4)
2001–2002	Palmeiras	24	(0)
2002–2004	Nacional	50	(2)
2004–2008	Porto	73	(0)
2004–2005	→ AEK Athens (loan)	24	(0)
2008–2012	Atlético Madrid	97	(1)
2012	São Paulo	11	(0)
2013	Deportivo La Coruña	9	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 April 2013

Paulo Assunção da Silva (born 25 January 1980), known as Assunção, is a retired Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder.

He is best known for his positioning and tackling, and also holds a Portuguese passport due to the many years in spent in the country, mainly at the service of Porto. He also played four years in La Liga with Atlético Madrid, winning two Europa League trophies.

Football career

Early years / Porto

Assunção was born in Várzea Grande, Mato Grosso. After first appearing professionally for Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras he emigrated to Portugal, having a short stint with F.C. Porto's B-team and returning shortly to Palmeiras. In the 2002–03 season he joined Madeira's C.D. Nacional, and made his Portuguese first division debut on 26 January 2003 in a 0–0 home draw against Vitória de Guimarães.

After two highly successful individual campaigns, Assunção was purchased again by Porto, but would be loaned for 2004–05 to AEK Athens FC, managed by former Porto coach Fernando Santos. In July 2005 he returned to Porto, going on to be an instrumental element in the side's midfield (alongside Raul Meireles and Lucho González), as it eventually won three consecutive league championships.

Atlético Madrid

In early July 2008, after buying out the remainder of his contract, Assunção joined Atlético Madrid. He adjusted quickly with the capital club, playing in all La Liga matches safe four and helping it repeat the fourth-place finish, with a subsequent qualification to the UEFA Champions League.

Defensive-minded Assunção scored his first goal for the Colchoneros on 17 January 2010, during the team's 3–2 home win against Sporting de Gijón. whilst continuing as the undisputed first-choice at holding midfielder. He lost that position midway through the 2010–11 season, to newly signed Mario Suárez.

In the 2011–12 campaign Assunção was only fourth-choice in his position, after Suárez, Gabi and Tiago. He did contribute with six games – four starts – as Atlético reached and won the UEFA Europa League final.

São Paulo / Deportivo

After more than one decade in European football, Assunção returned to his country to play for São Paulo FC. The deal was confirmed on 21 July 2012 but, on 28 December, it was rescinded by mutual consent, with the player returning to Spain and joining Deportivo de La Coruña.

Honours

Porto

• Primeira Liga: 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08
• Taça de Portugal: 2005–06
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2005

Atlético Madrid

• UEFA Europa League: 2009–10, 2011–12
• UEFA Super Cup: 2010
• Copa del Rey: Runner-up 2009–10

São Paulo

• Copa Sudamericana: 2012

External links

• Paulo Assunção at footballzz.co.uk
• Paulo Assunção profile at ForaDeJogo
• Paulo Assunção profile at BDFutbol
• Paulo Assunção at Soccerway