Player profile – Ramires

 

DOB: 24 March 1987

Place of birth: Barra do Piraí

Nationality: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Position: Midfielder

Squad Number: 7

 

 

Family/Early Days

Ramires Santos do Nascimento commonly known as Ramires, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Brazilian national side. A midfielder, he is comfortable in either the centre or the right of midfield. He has been nicknamed Rambo, because of his strength and ability to beat opponents dribbling past them one by one.

Ramires began his career playing for Royal Sport Club. In 2005, he signed for Joinville, before joining Cruzeiro, whom he spent just over two seasons with appearing in 61 league matches and scoring 10 times. In 2009, Ramires moved to Portugal and signed for SL Benfica from Cruzeiro. He spent one season with Benfica in which he helped them to the Liga Sagres title, five points clear of second place Braga.

Chelsea Career

Ramires joined Chelsea in the summer of 2010 on a four-year contract. He made his Chelsea debut in a 2-0 win against Stoke in late August 2010 and scored his first goal in a 4-0 victory against Bolton.

In total there were 22 starts in his first campaign, providing a committed presence during the side’s winless two months between November and December, and winning a late penalty at White Hart Lane that gave the Blues the chance to beat Spurs. A first Chelsea goal arrived in the 4-0 win against Bolton Wanderers in late January, and the mobbing he received showed how popular the player is at Stamford Bridge.In late March he scored his second Chelsea goal, dancing between two Manchester City defenders before firing high into the top corner. It was a strike deemed worthy of the club’s Goal of the Season award by supporters.

Awards/Key Moments

Brazil

FIFA Confederations Cup: 2009

Individual

Chelsea Goal of the Season Vs. Manchester City, 20 March 2011

Previous Clubs

2006 – 2007 Joinville

2007 – 2009 Cruzeiro

2009 – 2010 Benfica

2011 – present Chelsea

International Career

On 21 July 2008, Ramires was named the replacement for Robinho on the Brazil U-23 team for the 2008 Summer Olympics at Beijing. He appeared four times at the Olympics, as Brazil went on to achieve bronze medal. On 21 May 2009, he was called up for the first time to the Brazilian national team for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification and the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

He played his first game for the national team on 6 June 2009, a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification game against Uruguay, in which he came as a substitute for Elano. Ramires scored his first International goal on 7 June 2010, against Tanzania leading up to the World Cup finals in South Africa. He scored again later on in the game setting the score to 5–1. In the Round of 16 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals he made a run past three Chilean defenders to set up Robinho for the third goal in a 3-0 victory. Dunga, then Brazilian coach, blamed their loss to the Netherlands national team in the quarter-finals to Ramires absence who was serving suspension.

Ramires was named in a 23-man squad for the 2011 Copa America Tournament held in Argentina. He currently wears the number 8 jersey for the national team and as of July 2011, has earned 26 caps and scored 2 goals for them.

Quotes from Player

“I knew him from Portugal, I remember playing against Academica when he became their manager two seasons ago when I was with Benfica” – In October 2011 referring to AVB.

“He is absolutely fantastic, very intelligent and understands the game amazingly well.” – In October 2011 referring to AVB.

What the fans say…

@Graham Brownett

“Lively, Energetic and Great Engine”

@Gaurav Malvankar

“Energetic, Lively, Speedy, Omnipresent”

@Chad

“Ramires = Mr. Last 15 Minutes”

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By Clare Smith

Twitter @chelsea4girls