Zé Elias

José Elias Moedim Júnior (born 25 September 1976), commonly known as Zé Elias, is a Brazilian football pundit and retired footballer. A defensive or central midfielder, he played for 12 teams in seven countries. He is a football analyst for ESPN Brasil.

Club career

Born in Guarulhos, Zé Elias was one of the youngest players to ever appear for Sport Club Corinthians Paulista. He had already gained strong interest from PSV Eindhoven during his beginnings as a senior, which happened at the age of 17.

After becoming an undisputed starter at Corinthians, and first appearing for the Brazil national team at 19, Zé Elias went overseas, representing with moderate individual success Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Inter Milan, Bologna F.C. 1909, Olympiacos F.C. and Genoa CFC. He won three consecutive Superleague Greece championships with the fourth club, but appeared sparingly in the process (a maximum of 18 league appearances).

After a return to Brazil with Santos FC, Zé Elias had short-lived stints with FC Metalurh Donetsk, Guarani Futebol Clube, AC Omonia and Londrina Esporte Clube. He retired as a player in March 2008, and assumed a scouting role in Brazil for Inter Milan; however, in June, he signed a contract with SC Rheindorf Altach for the 2008–09 season, before announcing his retirement again.

International career

Zé Elias was capped ten times for Brazil. He received his first call-up on 29 March 1995, in a friendly with Honduras which ended 1–1.

Zé Elias represented the country at the 1996 Summer Olympics where he won bronze, and later at the 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup in a runner-up finish, losing 0–2 in the final against Mexico.

Personal life

Elias' younger brother, Rubinho, is also a professional footballer. A goalkeeper, he played most of his career in Italy.

Honours

Club

Corinthians

Campeonato Paulista: 1995

Copa do Brasil: 1995

Inter

UEFA Cup: 1997–98

Olympiacos

Superleague Greece: 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03

Greek Football Cup: Runner-up 2000–01, 2001–02

Santos

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2004

International

Brazil

CONCACAF Gold Cup: Runner-up 1996

Summer Olympic Games: Bronze medal 1996

References

External links

1976 births

Living people

Footballers from São Paulo

Brazilian men's footballers

Men's association football midfielders

Brazil men's international footballers

1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup players

Footballers at the 1996 Summer Olympics

Olympic footballers for Brazil

Olympic bronze medalists for Brazil

Olympic medalists in football

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players

Sport Club Corinthians Paulista players

Santos FC players

Guarani FC players

Londrina Esporte Clube players

Bundesliga players

Bayer 04 Leverkusen players

Serie A players

Serie B players

Inter Milan players

Bologna FC 1909 players

Genoa CFC players

Super League Greece players

Olympiacos F.C. players

FC Metalurh Donetsk players

Cypriot First Division players

AC Omonia players

Austrian Football Bundesliga players

SC Rheindorf Altach players

UEFA Cup winning players

Brazil men's under-20 international footballers

Brazilian expatriate men's footballers

Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Germany

Expatriate men's footballers in Germany

Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Italy

Expatriate men's footballers in Italy

Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Greece

Expatriate men's footballers in Greece

Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Ukraine

Expatriate men's footballers in Ukraine

Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Cyprus

Expatriate men's footballers in Cyprus

Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Austria

Expatriate men's footballers in Austria

Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics