Juliano Belletti

Juliano Haus Belletti (born 20 June 1976 in Cascavel), is a Brazilian footballer of Italian descent who plays for Chelsea as a defender and sometimes midfielder. He was awarded by Placar with the Silver Ball for his continuous great performances for Atlético Mineiro during the 1999 Brazilian Série A.

Club career

He started his career playing for Cruzeiro in 1993. In 1995, he moved to São Paulo, where he earned a solid spot in the starting lineup. In 1999 he played for Atlético where he was vice-champion of the Brazilian League. Rumors linked him with a move to La Liga side Valencia in 2001, but the move fell apart at the last minute.[citation needed] In 2002, he finally moved to Europe, going to Villarreal. In 2004, after a successful spell at Villarreal he signed for Barcelona where he became the first-choice right back and a key set piece taker in the squad.

Barcelona

After winning the Spanish La Liga title in his first season, Belletti gradually fell out of favor both in Barcelona and in the Brazilian National Team. Being a regular in 04–05 season, he saw a tough competition from Catalan Oleguer Presas. Still, he played most of his second season in-and-out of the first team.

Belletti scored his first and only goal with F.C. Barcelona on the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final. On May 17, 2006, in the Stade de France, Paris, Belletti's club Barcelona played English club Arsenal in the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final. Oleguer was preferred to start rather than Belletti, and he had to make do with a place on the substitute bench. But when manager Frank Rijkaard brought him on for Oleguer he scored the second goal in a 2–1 come-from-behind win which gave them the 2006 UEFA Champions League crown.

His third season was marked by injuries, and the new competition from Gianluca Zambrotta proved too much for him. He played very little in Barcelona's season that ended with nothing.

Chelsea

On August 23, 2007, Chelsea officially announced that Belletti had signed a three-year contract after the player agreed personal terms and passed a medical. He made his English Premier League debut for Chelsea on August 25, 2007, when he came on as a substitute for John Obi Mikel in the 64th minute of their home game against Portsmouth, with the game ending 1–0 to Chelsea.

He made his first start for Chelsea against Aston Villa at Villa Park. Despite a strong debut, Chelsea lost the game 2-0. Following the departure of José Mourinho, Belletti became a regular starter in the right-back position for Premier League, Champions League and Carling Cup games, facing competition from Paulo Ferreira and Michael Essien for his place in the team. In his first season at Chelsea, Belletti scored two goals, both shots from long-range, the first away at Wigan Athletic in November 2007, and the second at Stamford Bridge against Tottenham Hotspur in January 2008. The latter was eventually voted by Chelsea supporters as Chelsea Goal of the Season 2007–08.

Jose Bosingwa's arrival at Chelsea at the start of the 2008–09 season caused Belletti's relinquishment of the right-back position at Stamford Bridge. However, Luiz Felipe Scolari, gave Belletti playing time as a utility player, providing valuable back-up in the central midfield, defensive midfield and right wing positions. His long-range shots have given him cult status among the Chelsea support. In October 2008, he added to his collection of spectacular goals with a powerful shot from 30 yards, in to the top corner, against Middlesbrough at the Riverside, for his fourth league goal for the club. Belletti scored his 3rd goal of the 2008-09 season against Stoke City scoring the leveling goal before team mate Frank Lampard scored the winner in the dying seconds.