TBT #17 Leão memories: Emerson, Avaí's history-making defender | OneFootball

Every Thursday, Avaí Futebol Clube celebrates a former player who left a mark on the club’s century-long history. We remember stars who brought us so much joy wearing the blue and white colors.

We have already covered here the stories of: #01 ROGÉRIO ÁVILA – HERE #02 CAVALLAZZI – The Golden Boy - HERE #03 FLÁVIO ROBERTO – 1988 champion - HERE #04 JUTI – The title-winning top scorer of 1975, HERE #05 TONINHO QUINTINO – Santa Catarina State Champion in 1973 HERE  #06 NIZETA, four-time Santa Catarina State Champion HERE #07 ADILSON HELENO – Santa Catarina State Champion in 1988, HERE  #08 ADOLFINHO – The greatest goalkeeper from Santa Catarina of all time HERE #09 BALDUÍNO – The Little King, Santa Catarina State Champion in 1973 and 1975 HERE #010 ZENON – Santa Catarina State Champion in 1973 and 1975 HERE#011 CLÉBER SANTANA – Avaí’s eternal number 88, Santa Catarina State Champion in 2012 HERE #012 VENEZA – The best defender in Avaí’s history, Santa Catarina State Champion in 1975 HERE     #013 BELMONTE – Two-time Santa Catarina State Champion (1988 and 1997) and Santa Catarina Cup Champion (1995) HERE   #014 MIRINHO – one of the greatest idols in Avaí’s history HERE   #015 BIRA LOPES – one of the greatest midfielders in Avaí’s history HERE #016 FOSSATI – goalkeeper and Santa Catarina State Champion in 1988 HERE

In the 17th edition, we will look back at EMERSON, a goal-scoring defender who made history at Avaí.

Emerson dos Santos da Silva, better known as Emerson, was born on May 3, 1983 (43 years old), in Taguatinga, in the Federal District.  At Avaí, he played as a defender on two occasions, from 2008 to 2010 and in 2015. He played 185 matches for Avaí and scored 29 goals, according to the data published in the book AVAÍ F.C. 100 anos de histórias 1923 – 2023, by publisher Dois Por Quatro, by authors Adalberto Jorge Klüser, Felipe Matos and Spyros Apóstolo Diamantaras.

A two-time Santa Catarina State Champion in 2009 and 2010, he made history and became an idol of the Avaí Nation by scoring important goals that led the team to titles and major victories in the State Championship, Brazil’s Série A, and the Copa Sudamericana.

Avaí Santa Catarina State Champion 2009 

Photo: Manoel Bento / Avaí F.C. 

To this day, Emerson is the defender with the most goals in Avaí’s century-long history. In 2010, Emerson was one of the scorers in that historic match against Emelec in the Copa Sudamericana. Avaí won 3-1, with goals by Roberto at 2’ of the second half, Eltinho at 5’ of the second half, and Emerson at 8’ of the second half. Emelec’s goal was scored by Rojas in the very first minute of the match.  With the win, Avaí reached the quarterfinals of the competition. Avaí took the field with Zé Carlos, Marcos (Válber), Emerson Nunes, Emerson and Eltinho; Bruno, Rudinei, Caio, Jeferson and Robinho (Pará); Roberto (Marcelinho). The coach was Vagner Benazzi.

The moment of Emerson’s goal that secured Avaí’s 3-1 victory over Emelec

Photo: Manoel Bento / Avaí F.C. 

Celebration of Emerson’s goal  

Photo: Manoel Bento / Avaí F.C. 

Emerson celebrating the victory with the Mancha Azul supporters 

Photo: Manoel Bento / Avaí F.C.

In 2011, he left Avaí to play for Coritiba-PR, where he was called up to the Brazilian National Team.  In 2013, he signed with Atlético Mineiro. In 2015, he returned to Avaí on loan. After that, he played for Botafogo-RJ for two seasons, as well as Atlético Paranaense, Joinville, Juventude, among others.

After hanging up his boots, he moved into youth management and development, working at Gama-DF, the club where he began his career.  RESEARCH SOURCES  –– KLÜSER, Adalberto; MATOS, Felipe. and DIAMANTARAS, Spyros. O Time da Raça – Almanaque de 90 anos do Avaí Futebol Clube, 1923-2013.     –– KLÜSER, Adalberto; MATOS, Felipe. and DIAMANTARAS, Spyros. AVAÍ F.C. 100 anos de histórias 1923 – 2023     – Photo archive of Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. – Avaí Play channel on YouTube; – Terceiro Tempo website;  – Memória Avaiana website;  – Official Avaí F.C. website;  – Polidoro Júnior website; – ND Mais website;

PHOTOS OF EMERSON AT AVAÍ

Emerson being interviewed on the pitch about earning promotion to Série A in 2008 

Photo: Frederico Tadeu / Avaí F.C. 

Avaí’s squad in a moment of prayer after promotion in 2008 

Photo: Frederico Tadeu / Avaí F.C. 

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. 

Captain Emerson in the official photo for the Avaí 3×1 Emelec match 

Photo: Manoel Bento / Avaí F.C. 

Photo: Manoel Bento / Avaí F.C.

Avaí’s squad before kickoff at Ressacada 

Photo: Manoel Bento / Avaí F.C.

Photo: Manoel Bento / Avaí F.C.

Photo: Manoel Bento / Avaí F.C.

Emerson celebrates his goal against Emelec

Photo: Reuters

Nilton Macedo Machado, president at the time, at Emerson’s presentation upon his return to Avaí in 2015 

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. (05/08/2015)

Press conference for Emerson’s presentation upon his return to Avaí in 2015 

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C.

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C.

Emerson at the kit presentation wearing a shirt referring to Avaí’s participation in the Copa Sudamericana 

Photo: Manoel Bento / Avaí F.C. 

Photo: Frederico Tadeu / Avaí F.C. (08/13/2008)

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. (01/22/2010)

Emerson at a pre-training press conference in the Tullo Cavallazzi press room

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. (03/15/2010)

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