David Luiz

Name:	David Luiz
Nationality:	Brazilian
Date of Birth:	22/04/1987
Height:	6' 2" (189cm)
Weight:	13st 3lbs (84.0kg)
Previous
Clubs:	Benfica
Position:	Defender

Chelsea career

David Luiz (full name David Luiz  Moreira Marinho) signed on transfer deadline day in January 2011 after a protracted transfer from Portuguese champions Benfica.

On putting pen to a five-and-a-half year contract he become the third Brazilian in the current squad, linking up with former Benfica team-mate Ramires and fellow defender Alex.

A 6ft 2in centre-back who can cover at either left- or right-back, he is renowned for his skill on the ball as much as his defensive ability.

After signing for Chelsea, he outlined his determination to nail down a regular place in the side, and took the previously unclaimed number 4 shirt, last worn by Claude Makelele.

He won plenty of plaudits for his early showings although conceded a late penalty on his first start, saved by Petr Cech, and went on to win the man of the match award.

Ineligible for the Champions League, he retained his place in the Premier League side until a goal conceded in the opening seconds at Old Trafford torpedoed Chelsea's title chances and Carlo Ancelotti left the Brazilian out of the remaining games.

He had earlier scored against United at Stamford Bridge, and headed home against Manchester City in the Premier League to keep our title hopes alive.

A knee injury following international duty meant he started the current campaign out of the side but he returned in mid-September and duly found the scoresheet again, this time curling home from the edge of the area against Bayer Leverkusen on his Chelsea Champions League debut.

Pre-ChelseaTwenty-three years old when he signed on deadline day in January 2011, David Luiz was born in Sao Paulo and began his career with Esporte Clube Vitoria in Bahia where he made 47 appearances.

He switched to Benfica, initially on loan in January 2007 before making the move permanent that summer.

In total he made 82 league appearances for the Lisbon club missing just one game in the 2009/10 season as they wrapped up a first league title in five years. Uefa.com voted him the Portuguese League's Player of the Year.

International careerDavid Luiz, who made his Brazil debut against America during the 2009/10 season, had earlier represented his country at the 2007 Under 20 World Cup,

He was in the Brazil squad that contested the Copa America in July 2011, and returned to the squad for the September internationals despite not having featured for Chelsea.

Season 2011 - 12

Competition	Apps (as sub)	Goals	Yellow Cards	Red Cards
League	2  (0)	0	2	0
League Cup	2  (0)	0	0	0
Euro Cups	4  (0)	1	2	0

Career History:
Club	Season	Comp.	Apps (as sub)	Goals
Chelsea	2010 - 11	League	11  (1)	2
Benfica	2010 - 11	League	16  (0)	0
		FA Cup	1  (0)	0
		Euro Cups	6  (0)	0
Benfica	2009 - 10	League	29  (0)	2
		League Cup	1  (0)	0
		Euro Cups	10  (0)	0
Benfica	2008 - 09	League	18  (1)	2
		League Cup	1  (0)	0
		Euro Cups	2  (0)	1
Benfica	2007 - 08	League	8  (0)	0
		FA Cup	0  (1)	0
		Euro Cups	3  (1)	0
Benfica	2006 - 07	League	10  (0)	0
		Euro Cups	3  (1)	0