Zé Eduardo (footballer, born 1987)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Zé Eduardo

| fullname = José Eduardo Bischofe de Almeida

| image = Zé Eduardo.jpg

| image_size = 200px

| height = {{height|m=1.83|precision=0}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|10|29|df=y}}

| birth_place = Promissão, Brazil

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| position = Forward

| years1 = 2004–2005 | caps1 = 2 | goals1 = 0 | clubs1 = Palmeiras

| years2 = 2005 | caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0 | clubs2 = Portuguesa Santista

| years3 = 2005–2006 | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0 | clubs3 = Atlético Paranaense

| years4 = 2006–2007 | caps4 = 0 | goals4 = 0 | clubs4 = Cruzeiro

| years5 = 2006 | caps5 = 0 | goals5 = 0 | clubs5 = → Villa Nova (loan)

| years6 = 2006 | caps6 = 0 | goals6 = 0 | clubs6 = → Ipatinga (loan)

| years7 = 2007 | caps7 = 0 | goals7 = 0 | clubs7 = → Sport (loan)

| years8 = 2007–2008 | caps8 = 0 | goals8 = 0 | clubs8 = Grêmio

| years9 = 2008 | caps9 = 0 | goals9 = 0 | clubs9 = → Ferroviária (loan)

| years10 = 2008–2010 | caps10 = 0 | goals10 = 0 | clubs10 = Pinheiros

| years11 = 2008 | caps11 = 8 | goals11 = 0 | clubs11 = → Fortaleza (loan)

| years12 = 2009 | caps12 = 12 | goals12 = 1 | clubs12 = → São Caetano (loan)

| years13 = 2009 | caps13 = 10 | goals13 = 0 | clubs13 = → América (MG) (loan)

| years14 = 2009 | caps14 = 9 | goals14 = 3 | clubs14 = → ABC (loan)

| years15 = 2010 | caps15 = 0 | goals15 = 0 | clubs15 = → Santos (loan)

| years16 = 2010–2011 | caps16 = 44 | goals16 = 13 | clubs16 = Santos

| years17 = 2011–2015 | caps17 = 10 | goals17 = 0 | clubs17 = Genoa

| years18 = 2012–2013 | caps18 = 9 | goals18 = 2 | clubs18 = → Siena (loan)

| years19 = 2014 | caps19 = 32 | goals19 = 5 | clubs19 = → Coritiba (loan)

| years20 = 2015 | caps20 = 11 | goals20 = 1 | clubs20 = Shanghai Shenxin

| years21 = 2015–2016 | caps21 = 15 | goals21 = 3 | clubs21 = Goiás

| years22 = 2016 | caps22 = 12 | goals22 = 4 | clubs22 = Al-Shaab CSC

| years23 = 2016–2017 | caps23 = 13 | goals23 = 4 | clubs23 = Vitória

| years24 = 2017–2018 | caps24 = 10 | goals24 = 3 | clubs24 = Figueirense

| years25 = 2018 | caps25 = 8 | goals25 = 1 | clubs25 = Al-Faisaly

| years26 = 2018 | caps26 = 6 | goals26 = 0 | clubs26 = Oeste

| years27 = 2019 | caps27 = 13 | goals27 = 4 | clubs27 = Pahang

| years28 = 2019–2022 | caps28 = 27 | goals28 = 13 | clubs28 = Brasiliense

| years29 = 2022–2023 | caps29 = 2 | goals29 = 1 | clubs29 = Cianorte

| years30 = 2023 | caps30 = 4 | goals30 = 1 | clubs30 = Iguatu

| club-update = 2 November 2023

}}

José Eduardo Bischofe de Almeida or simply Zé Eduardo, also known as Zé Love{{cite web|author=Por Richard Souza Direto de Sucre, Bolívia |url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/times/flamengo/noticia/2012/01/amor-verdadeiro-atras-de-vagner-fla-interrompe-negociacao-por-ze-love.html |title=Amor verdadeiro: atrás de Vagner, Fla interrompe negociação por Zé Love | globoesporte.com |publisher=Globoesporte.globo.com |date=2012-01-20 |access-date=2013-06-06}}{{cite web|author=Olá |url=http://esportes.r7.com/futebol/noticias/ze-love-passa-pelo-brasil-e-mostra-o-que-ja-aprendeu-no-time-italiano-20110813.html |title=Zé Love passa pelo Brasil e mostra o que já aprendeu no Genoa, time italiano - Futebol - R7 |publisher=Esportes.r7.com |date=2011-08-13 |access-date=2013-06-06}}{{cite web|url=http://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/campeonatos/paulista/ultimas-noticias/2011/03/05/ze-love-garante-vitoria-do-santos-enquanto-neymar-curte-folia-em-salvador.jhtm |title=Zé Love garante vitória do Santos enquanto Neymar curte folia em Salvador - 05/03/2011 - UOL Esporte - Futebol |publisher=Esporte.uol.com.br |access-date=2013-06-06}} (born 29 October 1987), is a Brazilian footballer who last played for Iguatu.

Zé Eduardo holds an Italian passport.{{cite web|title=Hammers move for Brazilian|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11685/7465304/Hammers-move-for-Brazilian|publisher=www1.skysports.com|access-date=30 January 2012}}

Career

=Early career=

Zé Eduardo started his professional career in Palmeiras. During his stay at the club, José Eduardo earned the moniker of "Zé Love" and "God of Goalscorer" in a comparison with Palmeiras' standout striker Vagner Love because of his "very impressive" goal scoring stats. After an unremarkable stint at the São Paulo club, Zé Eduardo played for Portuguesa Santista, Atlético Paranaense,{{cite web|url=http://www2.uol.com.br/cbf/bide/bid_a.htm |title=BID Acumulativo Série A /2005|access-date=29 April 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060529035842/http://www2.uol.com.br/cbf/bide/bid_a.htm |archive-date = 29 May 2006|date=8 November 2005|work=Confederação Brasileira de Futebol|language=pt}} Cruzeiro (who bought 70% of the player's economic rights for R$ 300,000{{cite news|url=http://www.cruzeiro.org/noticia.php?id=18992|title=Cruzeiro faz nova aposta |date=January 2006|access-date=11 March 2012|work=Cruzeiro EC|publisher=Re-published by Cruzeiro.org|language=pt}}), Bragantino (2006 Campeonato Paulista), Ipatinga (April – May 2006), Villa Nova (2006 Taça Minas Gerais{{cite news|url=http://www.acessa.com/esporte/arquivo/taca_minas/2006/11/diaadia/06-tupi/|title=Agora, o Mineiro |date=6 November 2006|access-date=11 March 2012|publisher=acessa.com|language=pt}}), Sport (January – August 2007), Grêmio (2007 Copa FGF{{cite news|url=http://www.gremio.net/news/view.aspx?id=3638&language=0|title=GRÊMIO EMPATA NA SEMIFINAL DA COPA FGF |date=21 November 2006|access-date=11 March 2012|publisher=Grêmio FBPA|language=pt}}), Ferroviária (2008 Campeonato Paulista Série A2) and Fortaleza (2008 Brasileiro Série B), also to no success {{according to whom|date=March 2012}}. In December 2008, Zé Eduardo joined São Caetano's squad for the 2009 Campeonato Paulista, scoring only one goal for the team,{{cite web|author=Drive Comunicação |url=http://www.futebolpaulista.com.br/competicoes/Paulista%20-%20S%C3%A9rie%20A1/Artilharia/?ano=2009 |title=Federação Paulista de Futebol, notícias de futebol, jogos de futebol, Marco Polo Del Nero |publisher=Futebolpaulista.com.br |access-date=2013-06-06}} but proving himself to be a valuable{{according to whom|date=March 2012}} player for the team. After a short stint in América from Minas Gerais, Zé Eduardo joined Natal's ABC, where he drew the attention of the larger clubs after scoring three goals in nine matches. {{citation needed|date=March 2012}}

=Santos=

Joining Santos with no fanfare, Zé Eduardo went on to find great glory at the Vila Belmiro club, at first on loan.{{cite news|url=http://www.santosfc.com.br/noticias/conteudo.asp?id=21682#.T1zkLXm0Onk|title=Santos FC contrata o meia Zé Eduardo e o zagueiro Luciano Castan|date=11 January 2010|access-date=11 March 2012|publisher=Santos FC|language=pt|quote=......O zagueiro Luciano Castan e o meia Zé Eduardo foram contratados por empréstimo de cinco meses junto ao União São João (SP) û 04/01 a 05/05 û e Ó Associação Cultural Pinheiros Sport Club (SC) û 04/01 a 04/05, respectivamente......}} Starting off as a substitute, Eduardo played remarkably well, eventually earning a place in the starting 11. Winning the Paulistão and the Copa do Brasil, Zé Eduardo was one of the best players of the Santos squad, scoring a hat-trick against Fluminense at Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos, while Maracaña was under construction.{{cite web|url=http://futpedia.globo.com/campeonato/campeonato-brasileiro/2010/10/06/fluminense-0-x-3-santos |title=Fluminense 0 x 3 Santos, 06/10/2010 |publisher=futpedia.globo.com |date=1974-11-19 |access-date=2013-06-06}} Zé Eduardo was the team joint-fourth-scorer of the team in the Paulistão with 6 goals (along with Wesley), behind Neymar, André Felipe, Ganso.{{cite web|author=Drive Comunicação |url=http://www.futebolpaulista.com.br/competicoes/Paulista%20-%20S%C3%A9rie%20A1/Artilharia/?ano=2010 |title=Federação Paulista de Futebol, notícias de futebol, jogos de futebol, Marco Polo Del Nero |publisher=Futebolpaulista.com.br |access-date=2013-06-06}} In the 2010 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Zé Eduardo scored 10 times, just 7 goals short of Neymar. Zé Eduardo's goals were ranked second in Santos and joint-8th in the league.{{cite web|url=http://www.bolanaarea.com/brasileirao_2010.htm |title=BOLA N@ ÁREA - Campeonato Brasileiro 2010 |publisher=Bolanaarea.com |access-date=2013-06-06}}

After playing for several teams, Zé Eduardo accepted an offer from Italian Serie A club Genoa, signing a five-year contract on 23 January 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.lancenet.com.br/santos/Santos-proposta-Genoa-Ze-Eduardo_0_412758845.html|title=Santos aceita proposta do Genoa por Zé Eduardo|trans-title=Santos accepts Genoa's proposal for Zé Eduardo|publisher=Lancenet|date=21 January 2011|access-date=11 March 2012|language=pt}} It was impossible for him to join Genoa before the closing of the international transfer window because his Italian passport issuance was delayed. Consequently, Genoa allowed him to play for his former club Santos until 22 June (while during that 6 months his contract was owned by FC Lugano). On that day, he started for Santos in the second leg of the 2011 Copa Libertadores Finals, which Santos won 2–1 over Uruguayan powerhouse Peñarol.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/6695349/neymar-helps-brazil-santos-wins-copa-libertadores |title=Neymar helps Brazil's Santos wins Copa Libertadores - ESPN |publisher=Espn.go.com |date=2011-06-23 |access-date=2013-06-06}} Santos received R$ 6.088 million (about €2.7M),Receitas com repasses de direitos federativos {{cite web|url=http://www.santosfc.com.br/upload/site/3584-2011-7-.pdf|title=Balanço Patrimonial do primeiro semestre de 2011|date=21 November 2011|access-date=11 March 2012|work=Santos FC|language=pt}} as Santos owned 60% of the player's economic rights. Genoa announced that they paid €5.4 million to its sister club Lugano in its 2011 annual financial report.Genoa CFC SpA Report and Accounts on 31 December 2011 {{in lang|it}}, [http://www.registroimprese.it/ CCIAA]

=Genoa=

Zé Eduardo was formally signed by Genoa in the summer of 2011 and his contract was recorded by Lega Serie A on 3 August 2011. He featured in a pre-season friendly,{{cite news|url=http://www.genoacfc.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12445&Itemid=31|title=STUBAITAL-GENOA: IL TABELLINO |date=23 July 2011|access-date=11 March 2012|publisher=Genoa CFC|language=it}} but after a long intensive season in Brazil, he was injured and trained away from the main squad.{{cite news|url=http://www.genoacfc.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12440&Itemid=31|title=ZE' LOVE 'CINGUETTA' CON IL GENOA |date=25 July 2011|access-date=11 March 2012|publisher=Genoa CFC|language=it}} Zé Eduardo made his official club debut on 2 December 2011, in a 2–0 defeat by Milan. He had a medical with West Ham United in late January 2012{{cite news|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1015280/west-ham-give-medical-to-genoa-striker-ze-eduardo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202114914/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1015280/west-ham-give-medical-to-genoa-striker-ze-eduardo|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2012|title=Ze Eduardo set for Hammers|date=30 January 2012|access-date=11 March 2012|publisher=ESPN Soccernet}} but the loan deal collapsed. Returning to Italy, he made four appearances as a substitute. The first on 12 February. He played no games in March and did not appear again until 29 April 2012, again as a substitute. His squad number 9 was taken away and given to Italian international Alberto Gilardino with Zé Eduardo being given the number 57 shirt; a number usually taken by players left outside the main squad.

Zé Eduardo refused a trial with A.C. Milan on 22 August 2012, which would have seen him replace the injured Alexandre Pato. Zé Eduardo is quoted as saying, "I have won one Libertadores and two Campeonatos Paulistas with Santos, I don't do tests".{{cite web | url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/mercato/2012/08/23/news/de_jong_berbatov_afellay_kolo_tour-41349070/ | title=Milan-Inter, è derby per De Jong | publisher=republica.it|language=it | access-date=29 July 2013}}

On 20 January 2014, he was signed by Coritiba on loan until the end of the season.{{cite news|url=http://genoacfc.it/notizie/ufficiale-ze-eduardo-al-coritiba/|title=Zé Eduardo al Coritiba|date=10 January 2014|access-date=29 November 2014|publisher=Genoa CFC|language=it}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="2"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|State League !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="2"\|São Caetano (loan) \|2009 \|0	0	0	0\|

\|14	1	14	1
Total !0	0	0	0	0	0	14	1	14	1
rowspan="2"\|ABC (loan) \|2009 \|9	3	0	0\|



\|9	3
Total !9	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	3
rowspan="3"\|Santos \|2010 \|28	10	6	0	2	2	15	6	51	18
2011 \|1	0	6	0	13	1	16	7	30	8
Total !29	10	6	0	15	3	31	13	81	26
rowspan="2"\|Genoa \|2011–12 \|9	0	1	0\|



\|10	0
Total !9	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	10	0
rowspan="2"\|Siena (loan) \|2012–13 \|8	1	1	1\|



\|9	2
Total !8	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	9	2
rowspan="2"\|Genoa \|2013–14 \|1	0	0	0\|



\|1	0
Total !1	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	1	0
rowspan="2"\|Shenxin \|2015 \|10	1	0	0\|



\|11	1
Total !10	1	0	0	-	-	-	-	11	1
rowspan="2"\|Goiás \|2015 \|15	3	0	0	0	0\|

\|15	3
Total !15	3	0	0	0	0	-	-	15	3
rowspan="2"\|Al-Shaab \|2016 \|12	4\|





\|12	4
Total !12	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	12	4
colspan="2"\| Career Total	93	22	8	1	15	3	45	14	162	40