Elano, a versatile player | OneFootball

Guilherme Guarche, from the Memory Center

Elano Ralph Blumer was born on June 14, 1981, a Sunday, in Iracemápolis, a city in the state of São Paulo, located in the immediate region of Limeira, about 179 km from the state capital. With an estimated population of 22,400 inhabitants, the city stands out for its peaceful atmosphere and small-town lifestyle.

The Santos star, who today turns 45, is unanimously recognized by Santos fans as one of the best players to have represented the coastal club since its foundation in 1912.

Still very young, while training at a football school in Limeira, he was taken by coach Ismael (Maé) to Guarani in Campinas, where he spent around five years playing in the club’s youth ranks.

At the age of 19, in 2001, he was signed by Santos and quickly adapted to the team that became nationally known as the “Meninos da Vila” and that gave Peixe, then coached by Emerson Leão, the Brazilian Championship title the following year.

His first match for Santos’s main team took place on January 21, 2001, in the coastal club’s 1-0 victory, with a lone goal by Claudiomiro, at Vila Belmiro, in a match valid for the São Paulo State Championship. The Alvinegro, then managed by coach Eugênio Machado Souto, known as Geninho, from Ribeirão Preto, fielded the following lineup in that match between Santos and Guarani: Fábio Costa, André Luís, Galván and Pereira; Michel (Caíco), Renato, Claudiomiro, Robert (Paulo Almeida) and Léo; Deivid (Elano) and Rodrigão.

Brazilian Champion with the Meninos da Vila

The definitive recognition and admiration of Santos fans for the star began with the goal he scored in the 2002 Brazilian Championship final at Morumbi, when Santos became Brazilian champions for the seventh time by defeating their archrivals from the São Paulo capital 3-2.

Elano stood out for his major contribution to the team effort and gradually earned more space within the squad. His excellent ball control, precise passing, and efficient marking made him a kind of modern utility player, following in the footsteps of the great Lima.

Over time, Elano became a versatile player, as he started playing as a defensive midfielder, midfielder, right-back, and even as a forward.

In 2004 he won another national title, and at the beginning of 2005 he was transferred to Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine. After playing for two years in Eastern Europe, he moved to England to play for Manchester City and later Galatasaray of Turkey.

His stylish and productive football earned him a starting spot for Brazil at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

In 2011 Elano returned to Alvinegro and, together with youngsters Neymar and Ganso, as well as Robinho, helped Peixe win the São Paulo State Championship. Alongside Liedson, he was the competition’s top scorer with 11 goals each.

Elano won the Copa Libertadores in 2011 and the São Paulo State Championship in 2012. After that, he was transferred to Grêmio of Porto Alegre in a deal involving Argentine player Miralles.

After playing for Flamengo and Chennaiyin of India, he sealed his third spell with Santos, and on May 13, 2015, the versatile star reached the impressive mark of 300 matches in a Santos shirt against Maringá, in the Copa do Brasil.

As a leader of the Santos squad, he helped the team win the São Paulo state title for the 21st time. In the second half of 2015 he left Vila Belmiro to play in India, returning at the end of the year to become São Paulo State Champion in 2016, totaling seven titles in a Santos shirt.

Upon returning to Peixe for his fourth spell, the star said: “For me, it is very rewarding to be part of this group. I feel like a boy; my spirit is young. My desire to play is still very strong.”

Farewell to football

On December 11, 2016, the versatile player from Iracemápolis made his farewell to football in the match against América/MG in the Brazilian Championship, coming on in place of Lucas Lima in Santos’s 1-0 win, with a goal by Ricardo Oliveira that secured Santos the runner-up spot in the national competition.

In that farewell match for Elano, in tribute to the players and staff who died in the accident involving Chapecoense, children entered the field before kickoff wearing shirts printed with the names of the players from the Santa Catarina club.

After hanging up his boots, Elano became an assistant coach at Santos, even managing the first team in nine matches of the 2017 Brazilian Championship, recording 5 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses, becoming yet another former Santos player to manage the Vila Belmiro side, for which he wore the shirt in 322 matches, scoring 68 goals, in the periods 2001-2005/2011-2012/215/2016.

After 26 years, the versatile Elano returned to his roots and took over as technical coordinator of Guarani in Campinas. His last job had been as coach of Ferroviária.

Today, the star returns once again to Santos and is the manager of the club’s youth teams.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.