1. Overview
Guilherme Alvim Marinato (Гильерми Алвин МаринатуGilyermi Alvim MarinatuRussian, born December 12, 1985), often simply known as Guilherme (Guilhermegih-LYEHR-meePortuguese), is a Brazilian-born naturalized Russian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. While his Russian passport lists his name as Гилерме Алвим МаринатоGilereme Alvim MarinatoRussian, and he is sometimes referred to as Гильерме Алвин МаринатуGilyerme Alvim MarinatoRussian, he typically wears ГилермеGileremeRussian on his jersey. His career is notable for his extensive tenure at Lokomotiv Moscow and his pioneering role as the first Brazilian goalkeeper in Russian football history. Furthermore, his naturalization and subsequent representation of the Russia national team marked a significant moment, as he became the first naturalized player from outside the former Soviet Union to play for the national squad. From a center-left perspective, Guilherme's journey embodies themes of integration and the evolving landscape of national identity in sports. His success as a naturalized player highlights the potential for diversity to enrich national teams and challenge traditional notions of belonging in international football, promoting a more inclusive view of national representation.
2. Early Life and Club Career
Guilherme's early life in Brazil set the foundation for his professional football career, which began with his initial club experiences before his move to Russia.
2.1. Birth and Youth Career
Guilherme Alvim Marinato was born on December 12, 1985, in Cataguases, Minas Gerais, Brazil. He began his football journey playing futsal and transitioned to the role of a goalkeeper at the age of ten. From 2001 to 2002, he was part of the youth academy at PSTC. His professional career began at Atlético Paranaense, a football club based in Curitiba, Paraná state. Before moving to Russia, he had also received an offer from a Turkish club.
2.2. Atlético Paranaense
Guilherme made his professional debut for Atlético Paranaense on February 13, 2005, in a Campeonato Paranaense match against Nacional Atlético Clube, which resulted in a 0-1 defeat. During the 2007 season, he played 18 league matches and three Brazilian Cup games, rising through the club's ranks. While at Atlético Paranaense, he contributed to the team winning the Campeonato Paranaense title in 2005.
3. Lokomotiv Moscow Career
Guilherme's career at Lokomotiv Moscow spanned many years, during which he became a cornerstone of the team and achieved significant milestones.
3.1. Arrival and Early Years
In August 2007, Guilherme signed a five-year contract with Lokomotiv Moscow, becoming the first Brazilian goalkeeper in Russian football history. He was initially given the number 85 jersey. During 2007, he did not feature in any first-team matches, playing only three games for the reserve squad as he adapted to the new environment. His official first-team debut came on July 12, 2009, in a Russian Premier League match against FC Tom Tomsk, which ended in a 0-0 home draw. Following this debut, he established himself as Lokomotiv's first-choice goalkeeper. In 2010, Guilherme changed his jersey number from 85 to 1, and played all 30 league matches that season. He also made his UEFA Europa League debut on August 19, 2010, against Lausanne-Sport.
3.2. Establishing as First-Choice and Captaincy
Guilherme's consistent performances solidified his position as Lokomotiv's primary goalkeeper starting from 2009. In February 2013, during a winter training camp in Cyprus, manager Slaven Bilić appointed Guilherme as the team captain. His strong showings earned him recognition from fans, and he was voted Lokomotiv's Player of the Month in July 2013 and again in March 2015.
3.3. Key Seasons and Contract Renewals
In January 2013, Guilherme extended his contract with Lokomotiv until 2016. A challenging period occurred on July 28, 2014, when he suffered a cruciate ligament injury during a match against CSKA Moscow, forcing him to miss six months of play. He only returned to first-team football the following spring. Despite this setback, the 2014-15 season proved successful for Guilherme and Lokomotiv, as the club secured bronze medals in the league. On May 23, 2022, Guilherme signed another contract extension with Lokomotiv, which was set to keep him at the club until June 2024.
3.4. Departure from the Club
Guilherme concluded his long and distinguished tenure with Lokomotiv Moscow after his contract expired on July 1, 2024.
4. International Career
Guilherme's international career is marked by his acquisition of Russian citizenship and his subsequent contributions as a goalkeeper for the Russian national football team.
4.1. Russian Naturalization and Debut
Although born and raised in Brazil, Guilherme pursued and successfully acquired Russian citizenship on November 22, 2015. This crucial step made him eligible to represent Russia at the international level. On March 11, 2016, he received his first call-up to the Russia national football team for friendly matches against Lithuania and France. He made his historic debut on March 26, 2016, at Otkrytiye Arena against Lithuania. He came on as a substitute at halftime for fellow debutant Stanislav Kritsyuk in a match Russia won 3-0. This appearance marked him as the first player naturalized from outside the former Soviet Union to play for the Russian national team, a significant milestone in Russian football. Prior to this, he had also been called up to the Brazil U-20 national team but did not make an appearance.
4.2. Major Tournament Participation
Guilherme was included in Russia's squad for UEFA Euro 2016, but he did not play in any matches during the tournament. On May 11, 2018, he was named in Russia's extended squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup as a back-up fifth goalkeeper, though he was not included in the finalized World Cup squad. Following the retirement of Igor Akinfeev from the national team after the 2018 World Cup, Guilherme emerged as a primary contender for the first-choice goalkeeper position, competing with Andrey Lunyov. He featured prominently in the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers, playing in nine out of ten matches, keeping six clean sheets, and conceding only eight goals. Despite his strong performance in the qualifiers and being named the 2020-21 Russian Premier League Goalkeeper of the Season, he was not called up for the final tournament in 2021.
5. Personal Life
Guilherme is fluent in the Russian language. On December 12, 2009, which was also his birthday, he married a Brazilian woman. He has stated that his role model in football is fellow Brazilian goalkeeper Júlio César. Guilherme is 78 in (198 cm) tall and weighs 212 lb (96 kg).
6. Career Statistics
Guilherme Alvim Marinato's professional career statistics are detailed below, encompassing his appearances in various club and international competitions.
6.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup (Includes Copa do Brasil, Russian Cup) | Continental (UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League) | Other (Russian Super Cup) | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Atlético Paranaense | 2005 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2007 | Série A | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
| Total | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
| Lokomotiv Moscow | 2007 | Russian Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2008 | Russian Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2009 | Russian Premier League | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 17 | 0 | |||
| 2010 | Russian Premier League | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 33 | 0 | ||
| 2011-12 | Russian Premier League | 40 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | - | 50 | 0 | ||
| 2012-13 | Russian Premier League | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 11 | 0 | |||
| 2013-14 | Russian Premier League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 6 | 0 | |||
| 2014-15 | Russian Premier League | 19 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 25 | 0 | ||
| 2015-16 | Russian Premier League | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 0 | |
| 2016-17 | Russian Premier League | 29 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 33 | 0 | |||
| 2017-18 | Russian Premier League | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| 2018-19 | Russian Premier League | 30 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 0 | |
| 2019-20 | Russian Premier League | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| 2020-21 | Russian Premier League | 25 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 0 | |
| 2021-22 | Russian Premier League | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
| 2022-23 | Russian Premier League | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 0 | |||
| 2023-24 | Russian Premier League | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 0 | |||
| Total | 306 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 387 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 324 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 408 | 0 | ||
7. Honours
Guilherme has earned several team and individual honours throughout his distinguished football career.
7.1. Club Honours
- Atlético Paranaense
- Campeonato Paranaense: 2005
- Dallas Cup: 2004, 2005
- Lokomotiv Moscow
- Russian Premier League: 2017-18
- Russian Cup: 2014-15, 2016-17, 2018-19, 2020-21
- Russian Super Cup: 2019
7.2. Individual Honours
- Russian Premier League Goalkeeper of the Season: 2020-21
8. Legacy and Impact
Guilherme's long and successful career in Russian football, particularly his tenure as a goalkeeper for Lokomotiv Moscow, has cemented his place as a significant figure in the sport. His most notable legacy stems from his naturalization and subsequent representation of the Russian national team. By becoming the first Brazilian goalkeeper in Russian football and, more broadly, the first player naturalized from outside the former Soviet Union to play for the national team, Guilherme broke new ground. This pioneering step expanded the traditional definitions of national identity in Russian football. From a broader social perspective, Guilherme's journey highlights the increasing globalization of sports and the potential for talent migration to enrich national teams. His successful integration and acceptance by fans underscore a more inclusive approach to national representation, demonstrating that contributions can come from diverse backgrounds. His career serves as a precedent, fostering a more open attitude towards naturalized athletes and contributing to the evolving cultural mosaic within Russian sports. His consistent high-level performance reinforced the value of such integration, leaving a lasting impact on how naturalized players are perceived and utilized in the country's football landscape.