Kaká (footballer, born 1981)

Club career

Kaká was born in São José do Belmonte, Pernambuco. Until 2006 he was on contract to União Bandeirante Futebol Clube, also being loaned to several modest Brazilian clubs. For 2006–07 he made the move to Europe, joining Portuguese side Académica de Coimbra and being an undisputed starter in his second season in the Primeira Liga (all 30 games played, 2,700 minutes of action), as the Students finished in 12th position.

In the 2008 summer, Kaká signed with Bundesliga's Hertha BSC for €1.9 million. He made his debut in the competition on 17 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 away win against Eintracht Frankfurt, and finished his debut campaign with 12 matches; after only appearing twice for the Berlin-based team in the first half of 2009–10 – the season eventually ended in relegation – he was loaned to AC Omonia in Cyprus on 31 January 2010, helping it win the First Division title for the first time in seven years.

After his return, Kaká continued to be rarely played at Hertha and, in another winter transfer window move, returned to Portugal and joined S.C. Braga, yet on loan. With the Minho club he established himself as a regular, finishing the 2010–11 campaign with 20 official appearances, including eight in the team's UEFA Europa League run to the final, with the player playing in the decisive match against F.C. Porto (0–1 loss).

At the end of the season, Kaká returned to Hertha. On the last day of the 2011 summer transfer window he was once again loaned, this time to Cypriot champions and UEFA Champions League contenders APOEL FC. Kaká made his debut in the Champions League on 19 October 2011 in a 1–1 draw with Porto at the Estádio do Dragão. He added a further three appearances in the competition as APOEL eventually became the first Cypriot club to reach both the knockout stages and the quarterfinals for the first time ever.

In the summer of 2012, Kaká signed with Hungarian club Videoton FC. In late January of the following year he moved to La Liga, loaned to Deportivo de La Coruña, and the move was made permanent in July.

On 29 January 2014, Kaká signed an 18-month contract with APOEL, returning to his former club after one-and-a-half years. He made his debut on 9 February, coming on as an 84th minute substitute in a 2–1 league home win against Apollon Limassol, and scored his first goal one week later, in his team's 3–1 success at Alki Larnaca FC.

On 17 May 2014, in the league title decider between AEL Limassol and APOEL, Kaká suffered a head injury and rushed to the hospital when he was hit by a firecracker launched by AEL fans. The match was abandoned in the 51st minute when the score was still at 0–0, and replayed fifteen days later; he eventually helped his team to the national championship, adding the domestic cup.

Kaká returned to Portugal in its top level in the 2015 off-season, joining newly promoted C.D. Tondela.

Club statistics

As of 9 October 2015

Honours

Omonia

• Cypriot First Division: 2009–10

Braga

• UEFA Europa League: Runner-up 2010–11

APOEL

• Cypriot First Division: 2013–14, 2014–15
• Cypriot Cup: 2013–14, 2014–15