Marcelo (footballer, born 1989)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Marcelo

| image =

| fullname = Marcelo dos Santos Ferreira{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/marcelo/rio-ave/1579-63-18275|title=Marcelo|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=Portuguese|accessdate=30 April 2021}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|7|27|df=yes}}

| birth_place = São Carlos, Brazil

| height = {{height|m=1.82}}

| position = Centre-back

| currentclub = Moreirense

| clubnumber = 44

| youthyears1 = 2006–2007 | youthclubs1 = Astral EC

| youthyears2 = 2007–2009 | youthclubs2 = Vasco da Gama

| years1 = 2010 | clubs1 = Rio Preto | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2010–2011 | clubs2 = Ribeirão | caps2 = 21 | goals2 = 2

| years3 = 2011–2018 | clubs3 = Rio Ave | caps3 = 152 | goals3 = 6

| years4 = 2011–2012 | clubs4 = → Leixões (loan) | caps4 = 20 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2018 | clubs5 = Sporting CP | caps5 = 0 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2019 | clubs6 = Chicago Fire | caps6 = 16 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2020–2021 | clubs7 = Paços Ferreira | caps7 = 43 | goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2021–2022 | clubs8 = Al-Tai | caps8 = 26 | goals8 = 1

| years9 = 2022–2023 | clubs9 = Dibba Al Fujairah | caps9 = 23 | goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2023– | clubs10 = Moreirense | caps10 = 55 | goals10 = 2

| totalcaps = | totalgoals =

| club-update = 00:08, 19 April 2025 (UTC)

}}

Marcelo dos Santos Ferreira (born 27 July 1989), known simply as Marcelo, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for as a centre-back for Primeira Liga club Moreirense.

Club career

Marcelo was born in São Carlos, São Paulo. After failing to impose himself at CR Vasco da Gama, he joined amateurs Rio Preto Esporte Clube.

In 2010, Marcelo moved to Portugal, signing with G.D. Ribeirão of the third division. For the 2011–12 season he went straight to the Primeira Liga with Rio Ave FC,{{cite web|url=http://www.rioave-fc.pt/noticias/verdetalhes.php?registo=1467|title=Feliz e Marcelo são reforços oficiais para 2011/2012|trans-title=Feliz and Marcelo are official additions for 2011/2012|publisher=Rio Ave F.C.|language=Portuguese|date=2011|accessdate=19 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519202433/http://www.rioave-fc.pt/noticias/verdetalhes.php?registo=1467|archive-date=19 May 2014}} being immediately loaned to Leixões SC.{{cite web|url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/segunda-liga/artigos/jean-sony-cedido-ao-rio-ave-em-troca-de-tiago-costa-marcelo-e-rafinha|title=Jean Sony cedido ao Rio Ave em troca de Tiago Costa, Marcelo e Rafinha|trans-title=Jean Sony loaned to Rio Ave in exchange for Tiago Costa, Marcelo and Rafinha|publisher=SAPO|language=Portuguese|date=31 August 2011|accessdate=22 February 2018}}

Marcelo made his debut in the Portuguese top flight on 18 August 2012, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–1 home loss against C.S. Marítimo.{{cite news|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/1a-liga/noticias/interior/maritimo-vence-em-vila-do-conde-2725891.html|title=Marítimo vence em Vila do Conde|trans-title=Marítimo win in Vila do Conde|newspaper=O Jogo|language=Portuguese|date=18 August 2012|accessdate=22 February 2018}} At the end of the campaign, in which he started in all his 28 appearances (scoring in a 1–0 win at Gil Vicente F.C. on 13 January 2013){{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/detalhe/gil-vicente-rio-ave-0-1-vitoria-sem-gravata-mas-feita-a-medida-798718|title=Gil Vicente-Rio Ave, 0–1: Vitória sem gravata mas feita à medida|trans-title=Gil Vicente-Rio Ave, 0–1: No-tie win but handmade|newspaper=Record|language=Portuguese|date=13 January 2013|accessdate=23 January 2020}} to help his team finish in sixth position, he won the club's Player of the Year award.{{cite web|url=http://www.rioavefc.pt/gala-do-74-o-aniversario-sucesso-verde-e-branco/|title=Gala do 74.º aniversário: Sucesso verde e branco|trans-title=74th anniversary gala: Green and white success|publisher=Rio Ave F.C.|language=Portuguese|date=10 May 2013|accessdate=22 February 2018}}

On 23 May 2018, Marcelo joined Sporting CP on a free transfer and a three-year contract.{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/sporting/detalhe/sporting-confirma-contratacao-de-marcelo.html|title=Sporting confirma a contratação de Marcelo|trans-title=Sporting confirm signing of Marcelo|newspaper=Record|language=Portuguese|date=23 May 2018|accessdate=24 May 2018}} On 27 December, however, after only one appearance in the Taça de Portugal and another in the Taça da Liga to his credit,{{cite news|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/1a-liga/sporting/noticias/interior/marcelo-rescindiu-contrato-com-o-sporting-10373529.html|title=Marcelo rescindiu contrato com o Sporting|trans-title=Marcelo terminated contract with Sporting|newspaper=O Jogo|first=Lino|last=Devesas|language=Portuguese|date=27 December 2018|accessdate=27 December 2018}} he moved to the Major League Soccer with Chicago Fire FC for a reported €500,000 fee.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/12/27/chicago-fire-acquire-brazilian-center-back-marcelo-sporting-cp|title=Chicago Fire acquire Brazilian center back Marcelo from Sporting CP|publisher=Major League Soccer|date=27 December 2018|accessdate=27 December 2018}}

On 14 January 2020, Marcelo left the Soldier Field by mutual consent.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/01/14/chicago-fire-fc-defender-marcelo-mutually-agree-part-ways|title=Chicago Fire FC, defender Marcelo mutually agree to part ways|publisher=Major League Soccer|first=Tom|last=Bogert|date=14 January 2020|accessdate=14 January 2020}} Shortly after, he returned to the Portuguese top tier with F.C. Paços de Ferreira.{{cite web|url=https://rr.sapo.pt/2020/01/16/futebol-nacional/oficial-marcelo-e-reforco-do-pacos/noticia/178676/|title=Oficial. Marcelo é reforço do Paços|trans-title=Official. Marcelo is a Paços addition|publisher=Rádio Renascença|language=Portuguese|date=16 January 2020|accessdate=23 January 2020}}

Marcelo spent the following two seasons in Western Asia, with Al-Tai FC (Saudi Professional League){{cite news|url=https://www.jn.pt/desporto/marcelo-deixa-pacenses-e-vai-para-a-arabia-saudita-13893222.html|title=Marcelo deixa pacenses e vai para a Arábia Saudita|trans-title=Marcelo leaves pacenses and goes to Saudi Arabia|newspaper=Jornal de Notícias|language=Portuguese|date=1 July 2021|accessdate=20 August 2022}} and Dibba Al Fujairah Club (UAE Pro League).{{cite news|url=https://www.alkhaleej.ae/2022-07-29/%D8%AF%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D9%8A%D8%B6%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%88/%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A/%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6%D8%A9|title=دبا يضم المدافع البرازيلي مارسيلو|trans-title=Dibba sign Brazilian defender Marcelo|newspaper=Al Khaleej|first=Nizar|last=Jaafar|language=Arabic|date=29 July 2022|accessdate=2 August 2022}} He went back to Portugal and its main division in July 2023, with the 34-year-old signing a one-year contract at recently-promoted side Moreirense FC.{{cite web|url=https://www.moreirensefc.pt/noticias/marcelo-chega-para-a-defesa-do-moreirense/|title=Marcelo chega para a defesa do Moreirense|trans-title=Marcelo arrives for Moreirense's defence|publisher=Moreirense F.C.|language=Portuguese|date=15 July 2023|accessdate=13 August 2023}}

On 16 December 2023, Marcelo extended his link at the Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas until 2025.{{cite news|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/4784572318/oficial-marcelo-renova-contrato-com-o-moreirense/|title=Oficial: Marcelo renova contrato com o Moreirense|trans-title=Official: Marcelo renews contract with Moreirense|newspaper=O Jogo|language=Portuguese|date=16 December 2023|accessdate=17 December 2023}}