David Luiz Moreira Marinho (born 22 April 1987), known as David Luiz, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Chelsea in thePremier League and as Vice-Captain for the Brazil national football team. Primarily a central defender, he can also be deployed as a left back and a defensive midfielder.[2][3]
After starting out at Vitória, he moved to Benfica at the age of 19, remaining with the club five seasons (three complete). He joined Chelsea in January 2011, winning the Champions League and the FA Cup in the following season.
Vitória
Born in Diadema, São Paulo to Ladislao and Regina Marinho, David Luiz arrived in Esporte Clube Vitória at the age of 14 after being released bySão Paulo FC,[4] and started playing as a defensive midfielder, almost leaving the club for his poor performances in that position.[5] However, he was soon moved to central defender and adapted well.[6]
Luiz made his official debut for Vitória in 2006, excelling in a 2–2 draw against Santa Cruz Futebol Clube for that season's Brazilian Cup.[6] At the worst situation of its history, in the third division, the club eventually promoted to the second level after finishing in second position, with the player appearing in eight of the club's last decisive nine games,[7] scoring his only league goal on 3 September 2006 in a 2–0 home win againstClube Atlético do Porto. [8]
Benfica
On 30 January 2007 Luiz joined Sport Lisboa e Benfica as a replacement for Tottenham Hotspur-bound Ricardo Rocha, on loan.[9] He made a somewhat tumultuous debut for the club in a UEFA Cup match against Paris Saint-Germain F.C. at the Parc des Princes, partnering compatriotAnderson in the center of the defense, replacing the injured Luisão. Benfica lost the match 2–1, but managed to go through to the next round after winning 4–3 on aggregate.
On 12 March 2007, he played his first league match for Benfica, against União de Leiria.[10] At the end of the season, Luiz signed a five-year deal with the club[11] and, on 5 August, scored his first goal for the club in the Torneio do Guadiana friendly tournament, against Sporting Clube de Portugal. He only managed eight appearances in the league due to injury, however, as Benfica finished fourth.
On 11 January 2009, David Luiz netted his first official goal for Benfica, the game's only in a home success against Sporting de Braga. He played most of the campaign as a left back, at the expense of Portuguese international Jorge Ribeiro.
In the 2009–10 season, Luiz was everpresent, appearing in 49 official matches (three goals, 4,206 minutes), as Benfica won the league after a five-year wait. In the season's League Cup, in a 4–1 away win against Sporting, he opened the score in the eighth minute, with Benfica also eventually winning the competition.
On 30 September 2009, Benfica sold 25% of Luiz's economic rights on any future transfer to a third party owner, Benfica Stars Fund, along with other teammates. He was tagged at €18 million, with the fund paying €4.5 million;[12] his contract was also renewed in October, with a release clause of €50 million.
Chelsea
On 31 January 2011, Luiz completed a move to Chelsea for an undisclosed fee, which Benfica reported to be €25 million, on a five-and-a-half-year contract, with Nemanja Matić joining Benfica at the end of the season after his transfer spell away at Vitesse in the Netherlands.[14][15][16] He made his officialPremier League debut on 6 February, replacing José Bosingwa in a 1–0 home loss against Liverpool.[17] Eight days later, he made his first start for Chelsea, in a 0–0 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Instantly becoming a cult hero amongst the Chelsea fans, David Luiz was awarded the Barclays Man of the Match award for his performance, despite giving away a penalty in the 93rd minute of the game, which was saved by Petr Čech.[18]
On 1 March David Luiz scored his first goal for Chelsea, firing in a half volley to help the Blues come from behind to win 2–1 against Manchester United, atStamford Bridge, with Frank Lampard scoring a late penalty winner.[19] On 20 March, he scored his second goal for the Blues, heading in from a free kickagainst Manchester City (2–0 home win), and again receiving the Man of the match award, as well as the Player of the Month for March.[20][21]
Luiz missed the first three games of 2011–12 season due to a knee injury.[22] He made his return to the first team on 13 September in the UEFA Champions League group stage match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen, and he scored from 15 yards to break the deadlock in an eventual 2–0 home win.[23]On his second match, a League Cup third round tie against Fulham, he netted his penalty shoot-out attempt in a 4–3 win (0–0 after 120 minutes).[24]
On 5 February 2012, in a league home fixture against Manchester United, Luiz put Chelsea ahead 3–0 in the 50th minute after his header was deflected byRio Ferdinand, following a Juan Mata free kick – the game ended with a 3–3 draw.[25] On the 25th, through a curled shot, he opened the score againstBolton Wanderers (3–0, home).[26]
On 14 March, Chelsea faced S.S.C. Napoli in the Champions League's round-of-16, following a 1–3 loss at the Stadio San Paolo: Luiz made a stunning performance to help his team win the tie with a 4–1 extra timewin, being subsequently chosen by UEFA as the "Man of the match",[27] an accolade he also received in the first leg of the quarterfinals against former team Benfica (1–0 away win). However, after leaving the pitch in the FA Cup semifinals against Tottenham Hotspur with a muscular injury, it was announced that he would miss both of the Champions League semifinals encounters against FC Barcelona, and the domestic cup final; he played, however, in the Champions League final – John Terry was also suspended for the match – appearing the full 120 minutes and converting his penalty shootout attempt as the Blues won it 4–3.[28]
On 22 September 2012, Luiz signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea.[29] He started the new season again as a regular alongside either Gary Cahill or Terry, and scored his first goal from a free-kick against FC Nordsjælland, in a 4–0 away win for the campaign's Champions League;[30] in the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup, in which Chelsea lost in the final to Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, he was chosen the second best player of the tournament, receiving the Silver Ball for his performances, one of which as a defensive midfielder. He played in that position in a 8–0 home thrashing of Aston Villa the following week, being chosen Man of the match and netting the second from a free-kick.[31][32]
On 17 April 2013, Luiz continued to live up to his reputation for scoring extraordinary goals, slamming an breath-taking long range drive into the top corner in a 3-0 victory against London rivals Fulham FC. A week later, yet again he found the net, this time in a dramatic away win against FC Basel for the first leg of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League semifinals.
International career
David Luiz played with Brazil's under-20 at the 2007 FIFA World Cup, with the team being ousted in the last-16 stage.[33] Courtesy of his solid season at Benfica, he was first picked for the full side for a friendly against the United States on 10 August 2010, after the national team's coaching change, with Mano Menezes replacing Dunga, playing in the 2–0 away win.
Luiz was present in every list of new manager Mano Menezes and was called up for the 2011 Copa América, but did not make a single appearance at the tournament due to injury.[22] In a friendly with Mexico in October of that year, he scored an own goal, but the Seleção eventually won it 2–1.
On 7 September 2012 Luiz captained Brazil for the first time, appearing in a 1–0 win against South Africa in São Paulo.[34]
Personal life
Luiz is engaged to his longtime Portuguese girlfriend Sara Madeira.[35]
He is a devout Christian and has named Kaká as his model.[36] He said: "My faith gives me the belief that I can go out and perform and improve as a player. It gives me strength and inspiration." He later added: "Everything in life belongs to God. Our purpose has already been mapped out."
