Quick Facts
Biography
Dante Bonfim Costa Santos (born 18 October 1983), commonly known as Dante (Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈdɐ̃tʃi]), is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for French Ligue 1 club Nice. Primarily a central defender, he has previously also been used as a defensive midfielder or a left back.
Produced at Juventude, he went on to join Lille, Charleroi and Standard Liège, winning the Belgian Pro League with the latter. In January 2009, he was signed by Borussia Mönchengladbach, spending two-and-a-half seasons before making a €4.7 million move to Bayern Munich, where he won nine domestic and international honours.
Dante made his international debut for Brazil in 2013, winning that year's Confederations Cup and representing the nation at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Career
Early career
Dante joined Juventude's youth system in 2001 and by 2002 became a part of the club's first team setup. In 2004, he made his move to European football, signing for Lille in France. After two seasons with the club where he only featured in 12 league games, Dante moved to Belgium, signing for Charleroi in 2006. After a successful campaign in the Belgian Pro League for Charleroi where he made 27 appearances and helped the club to a respectable fifth-place finish, he moved across the country to Standard Liège.
Dante had a successful debut season with the Belgian giants, as Standard were crowned league champions, the Brazilian defender proving to be an integral member, missing just one league game. In his second season with Standard, he featured in the first 15 league games of the campaign before interest from Germany sent the player to the Bundesliga.
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Dante signed for German side Borussia Mönchengladbach from Standard on 27 December 2008 for an undisclosed fee, signing a contract with the club until summer 2013. He made his debut for the club on 20 March 2009, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 loss to fellow strugglers VfL Bochum. His first goal for the club came against eventual champions VfL Wolfsburg on 11 April but it came in a losing effort as Gladbach fell 2–1 thanks to a late strike by defender Sascha Riether. The Brazilian scored a dramatic late winner against Energie Cottbus on 13 May, heading in a cross from winger Marko Marin to give the club a 1–0 win in the 91st minute. On the final day of the Bundesliga season on 23 May 2009, Dante scored Gladbach's only goal in a 1–1 draw with Borussia Dortmund, a point which meant that the club avoided immediate relegation back to the 2. Bundesliga.
In the opening fixture of the 2009–10 Bundesliga campaign on 9 August 2009, Dante received a red card for a bad foul as Mönchengladbach relinquished a 3–0 lead against VfL Bochum, drawing 3–3. He netted his first goal of the campaign on 31 October, heading home a corner in the 76th minute to draw the game level at 2–2 and an 82nd-minute strike from Rob Friend handed Gladbach a 3–2 victory over Hamburger SV. On 9 April 2010, Dante headed in a free-kick from Juan Arango to double Gladbach's lead, resulting in a 2–0 defeat of Eintracht Frankfurt that all but secured Bundesliga survival.
The 2010–11 campaign proved to be another difficult campaign for Gladbach. Dante only featured in 17 league games as he battled against persistent injury and the club finished in 16th place, the relegation play-off spot. He did, however, play the full 90 minutes in each play-off match against VfL Bochum as Borussia Mönchengladbach managed a 2–1 aggregate victory to remain in the German top flight for the 2011–12 season.
The following season proved much more successful, as Dante featured in 38 games in all competitions, playing the full 90 minutes in each game. In January 2012, he hinted that he could leave the club before his contract expires in June 2014, revealing to the press that he desired to play for a top club in Germany, singling out Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen. Dante was influential as the club made a run to the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal where the club lost 4–2 on penalties to Bayern Munich on 21 March 2012, with Dante and Håvard Nordtveit missing their penalties to give Bayern a spot in the final with champions Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern Munich
On 26 April 2012, Dante agreed to join Bayern Munich at the start of the 2012–13 season for an estimated fee of €4.7 million.
2012–13
Dante's first appearance for the club came in the DFL-Supercup on 12 August 2012, starting at centre-back in Bayern's 2–1 defeat of Borussia Dortmund. He made his league debut for the Bavarian giants on 25 August as Bayern cruised to a 3–0 opening day victory over promoted side Greuther Fürth. He scored his first competitive goal for the team in a 5–0 thrashing of Hannover 96 on 24 November 2012. Dante made an immediate impact at Bayern, earning a place in the starting XI and forming partnerships with the interchanging Holger Badstuber, Daniel Van Buyten and Jérôme Boateng in the centre of defence.
Following the defender's impressive start with Die Roten, coach Jupp Heynckes told media that Dante was one of the first names on the team sheet, with club captain Phillip Lahm supporting the manager's sentiments: "Dante is one of the best defenders I've ever played with." He secured his first league title since moving to Germany after a 1–0 defeat of Eintracht Frankfurt on 6 April 2013 and was seen celebrating with the supporters in the stands following the result. In the Champions League final against German rivals Borussia Dortmund, Dante conceded a penalty for a rash challenge, but failed to receive a red card, in an entertaining 2–1 victory for the Bavarians.
With Dante at the heart the defence, Bayern broke records for fewest goals conceded and most clean sheets in a Bundesliga season during their treble-winning campaign.
2013–14
In new manager Pep Guardiola's first Bundesliga game, coincidentally against Dante's former club Borussia Mönchengladbach, the defender scored an own goal after a mix-up with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer; the game nonetheless ended in a 3–1 victory for Bayern.
On 21 December 2013, Dante scored the opening goal as Bayern beat Raja Casablanca 2–0 in the final of the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup.
In February 2014, Dante scored three goals in the space of four matches for Bayern; in Bundesliga wins over Eintracht Frankfurt (5–0) and SC Freiburg (4–0) and a DFB-Pokal victory over Hamburger SV (5–0).
On 24 March 2014, Dante extended his contract with Bayern until June 2017.
VfL Wolfsburg
On 30 August 2015, Dante agreed to move to VfL Wolfsburg for an undisclosed fee. On 13 January 2016, Dante injured teammate Bas Dost in training.
Nice
On 22 August 2016, Wolfsburg announced the departure of Dante to French Ligue 1 side Nice, with whom he signed a three-year contract.
Fan culture
In his time at Borussia Mönchengladbach, Dante was well known for his hair, becoming a cult hero with Borussia fans regularly sporting large afro wigs as an homage to their favourite player. Bayern fans quickly continued this tradition after the defender's move to Munich.
International career
Dante received his first call-up to the Brazil national team on 21 January 2013 by returning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari to be part of the squad for a friendly against England, on 6 February at Wembley Stadium. He started the game, which England won 2–1 after goals from Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard. On 22 June 2013, he scored his first international goal in the final group game of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup against Italy at the stroke of half-time, after coming on as a substitute for David Luiz on the 33rd minute.
Dante was a member of Brazil's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, making his only appearance in the semi-final as a replacement for the suspended captain Thiago Silva, as the Seleção were defeated by Germany in a record 7–1 scoreline. In a comment regarding the defeat, he stated that he has "been treated with 'less respect'".
Personal life
Dante is married and has two children.
Career statistics
Club statistics
As of 29 January 2017
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | League | Season | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Brazil | League | Copa do Brasil | — | South America | Other1 | Total | ||||||||
| Juventude | Série A | 2002 | 20 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 0 | ||||||
| 2003 | 20 | 1 | — | 20 | 1 | |||||||||
| 2004 | 13 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | |||||||||
| Club totals | 53 | 1 | — | 53 | 1 | |||||||||
| France | League | Coupe de France | Coupe de la Ligue | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||||
| Lille | Ligue 1 | 2003–04 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||||
| 2004–05 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |||||
| 2005–06 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| Club totals | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||||
| Belgium | League | Belgian Cup | — | Europe | Other2 | Total | ||||||||
| Charleroi | First Division | 2005–06 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 1 | ||||
| 2006–07 | 12 | 1 | — | — | 12 | 1 | ||||||||
| Club totals | 24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 26 | 2 | |||||||
| Standard Liège | First Division | 2006–07 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 23 | 0 | |||
| 2007–08 | 33 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 2 | ||||||
| 2008–09 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 24 | 1 | ||||||
| Club totals | 63 | 2 | 14 | 1 | — | 11 | 0 | 88 | 3 | |||||
| Germany | League | DFB-Pokal | — | Europe | Other3 | Total | ||||||||
| Borussia Mönchengladbach | Bundesliga | 2008–09 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 10 | 3 | |||
| 2009–10 | 32 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 3 | ||||||
| 2010–11 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 21 | 2 | |||||
| 2011–12 | 33 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 0 | ||||||
| Club totals | 93 | 8 | 8 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 103 | 8 | |||
| Bayern Munich | Bundesliga | 2012–13 | 29 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 1 | |
| 2013–14 | 29 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 46 | 4 | ||||
| 2014–15 | 27 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 0 | ||||
| 2015–16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Club totals | 86 | 3 | 14 | 1 | — | 28 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 132 | 5 | |||
| VfL Wolfsburg | Bundesliga | 2015–16 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 1 | |
| Club totals | Brazil | 53 | 1 | — | — | 53 | 1 | |||||||
| France | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 35 | 0 | |||||
| Belgium | 87 | 4 | 16 | 1 | — | 11 | 0 | — | 114 | 5 | ||||
| Germany | 202 | 12 | 24 | 1 | — | 34 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 266 | 14 | |||
| Career statistics | 373 | 17 | 40 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 470 | 20 | ||
- 1.^ State championship
- 2.^ League playoffs
- 3.^ 2009 Relegation playoff, 2012 DFL-Supercup, 2013 DFL-Supercup, 2013 FIFA Club World Cup, 2014 DFL-Supercup.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 June 2013 | Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil |  Italy | 1–0 | 4–2 | 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup |
| 2 | 16 November 2013 | Sun Life Stadium, Miami, Florida |  Honduras | 2–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
Honours
Club
- Standard Liège
- Belgian Pro League: 2007–08
- Belgian Supercup: 2008
- Bayern Munich
- Bundesliga: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15
- DFB-Pokal: 2012–13, 2013–14
- DFL-Supercup: 2012
- UEFA Champions League: 2012–13
- UEFA Super Cup: 2013
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2013
International
- Brazil
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 2013
Individual
- ESM Team of the Year: 2013
- ^ "Dante" (in German). fussballdaten.de. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
- ^ "Dante". Soccerway.com. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
- "ESM-Top-11: Nur Torres und Ivanovic durchbrechen Bundesliga-Phalanx" (in German). kicker.de. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2014.