Aílton (footballer, born 1968)

Aílton Delfino (born 1 September 1968) is a retired Brazilian professional footballer who played as a striker.[1]

Aílton Delfino
Personal information
Date of birth (1968-09-01) 1 September 1968 (age 56)
Place of birth Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1993 Atlético Mineiro 72 (8)
1993–1996 Benfica 32 (11)
1994–1995São Paulo (loan) 29 (13)
1996 São Paulo 0 (0)
1996–1997 Cruzeiro 19 (6)
1997–1999 Portuguesa 57 (9)
2000–2002 São Caetano 16 (1)
2003 Santo André
2003 América Mineiro
Total 225 (48)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Born in Belo Horizonte, Aílton is a youth product of Atlético Mineiro, making his debut in 1987, and taking part in the conquest of three Campeonato Mineiro, in 1988, 1989 and 1991, and one Copa CONMEBOL.[2]

In 1993, Aílton joined Benfica, as the alternative for Adolfo Valencia after negotiations with the Colombian failed.[3] He made his debut on a friendly against FC Barcelona on 18 August 1993, scoring the 2–1 in the 73rd minute.[4] His first season in Portugal was a success, as he help the Lisbon-side win the league title, scoring 14 goals in 33 games, notably the first against Porto on 6 February 1994.[5][6]

In his second season, Artur Jorge made several changes in the squad, with Aílton being loaned out to São Paulo until June 1995. He returned to Portugal for a six-month spell in 1995, without much success, moving permanently to São Paulo in January 1996.[7]

At São Paulo, he won the Copa Master de CONMEBOL, scoring one goal in the semifinal against Botafogo. He then passed through five more clubs, notably helping São Caetano finish runner-up in the Série A in 2000 and 2001, plus starting both games of the 2002 Copa Libertadores Finals.[2]

Honours

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Atlético Mineiro

Benfica

São Paulo

Cruzeiro

References

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  1. ^ «Jogar no Benfica custou-me um divórcio doloroso» maisfutebol.iol.pt
  2. ^ a b "Ailton". Terceiro Tempo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  3. ^ ""El Tren" Valência: "Benfica não tinha dinheiro suficiente para me contratar"" [El tren Valencia: "Benfica did not have enough money for me"]. Record (in Portuguese). 5 October 1999. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  4. ^ "SL Benfica vs. FC Barcelona full match". Footballia. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  5. ^ Tovar, Rui Miguel (2012). Almanaque do Benfica. Portugal: Lua de Papel. p. 526. ISBN 978-989-23-2087-8.
  6. ^ Tovar, Rui Miguel (2012). Almanaque do Benfica. Portugal: Lua de Papel. p. 531. ISBN 978-989-23-2087-8.
  7. ^ Tovar, Rui Miguel (2012). Almanaque do Benfica. Portugal: Lua de Papel. p. 547. ISBN 978-989-23-2087-8.
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