Elenildo de Jesus

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Elenildo de Jesus

|image =

|full_name =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|9|7}}

|birth_place = Brazil

|height = 1.80 m

|position = Forward

|currentclub =

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 =

|years1 = 2006–2007

|clubs1 = Saigon Port

|years2 = 2008–2009

|clubs2 = Hải Phòng

|years3 = 2010–2011

|clubs3 = Bình Dương

|years4 = 2012

|clubs4 = TPHCM

|years5 = 2013

|clubs5 = SHB Vientiane

}}

Elenildo de Jesus (born 9 July 1979) is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Early life

He was born in 1979 in Brazil and grew up poor.{{Cite web|url=https://bongdaplus.vn/v-league/cuu-tien-dao-elenildo-de-jesus-tu-ke-an-xin-den-vua-doi-bom-v-league-2948022004.html|title=Elenildo De Jesus: Từ 'Kẻ ăn xin' đến 'Vua dội bom' V.League|publisher=bongdaplus.vn}} He played street football in Brazil.{{Cite web|url=https://vnexpress.net/bong-da/almeida-va-de-jesus-deu-la-hang-hieu-o-v-league-1207674.html|title=Elenildo de Jesus - "máy ủi" có tốc độ kinh hồn|publisher=vnexpress.net}}

Career

He started his V-League career with Vietnamese side Saigon Port.{{Cite web|url=https://plo.vn/the-thao/thay-chinh-va-tro-ngoai-276847.html|title=Thầy Chỉnh và trò... ngoại|publisher=plo.vn}} He was top scorer of the 2006 V-League with eighteen goals and was named as the best foreign player of the year.{{Cite web|url=https://baomoi.com/top-10-cau-thu-goc-brazil-thanh-cong-nhat-tai-viet-nam/c/10675859.epi|title=Elenildo de Jesus - Bao Moi article}} During the 2007 season, he scored fourteen league goals.{{Cite web|url=https://bongda24h.vn/tin-tuc-tong-hop/dieu-samba-tren-san-co-vleague-205-8054-amp.html|title=Elenildo de Jesus - Bong Da article|publisher=Bongda24h.vn}} Before the 2008 season, he signed for Vietnamese side Hải Phòng, where he stayed for two seasons.{{Cite web|url=https://thethaovanhoa.vn/bong-da-viet-nam/elenildo-de-jesus-so-phan-cua-nguoi-danh-vong-thi-truong-n2009111610494233.htm|title=Elenildo De Jesus: Số phận của người "đánh võng" thị trường|publisher=thethaovanhoa.vn}} He has been in the all-time top ten strikers with the most goals in the V-League with sixty goals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baodanang.vn/channel/5423/201303/top-10-cau-thu-goc-brazil-thanh-cong-nhat-tai-viet-nam-2230021/|title=Elenildo De Jesus - Bay Da Nang article}} In 2013, he signed for Laotian side SHB Vientiane.{{Cite web|url=https://vnexpress.net/doi-bong-cua-bau-hien-vo-dich-lao-premier-league-2820170.html|title=Đội bóng của bầu Hiển vô địch Lao Premier League|publisher=vnexpress.net}}

Style of play

He mainly operated as a striker and was known for his agility and speed.{{Cite web|url=https://vnexpress.net/bong-da/elenildo-de-jesus-vua-pha-luoi-moi-cua-v-league-820333.html|title=Elenildo De Jesus, Vua phá lưới mới của V-League|publisher=vnexpress.net}}

Personal life

After retiring from professional football, he lived with his family in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.{{Cite web|url=https://danviet.vn/tien-dao-elenildo-de-jesus-anh-tay-ba-lo-doi-doi-nho-viet-nam-1081403.htm|title=Elenildo De Jesus: Anh "Tây ba-lô" đổi đời nhờ Việt Nam|publisher=danviet.vn}}