Marcel (footballer, born November 1981)

2.1. Early Career

Marcel began his professional career in 2000, rising from the youth ranks of Coritiba. Over four seasons, he made 49 appearances and scored 20 goals, showcasing his promising talent. During this period, his strong performances led to his selection in the Brazilian League Best XI, and he won the Campeonato Paranaense with Coritiba in 2003, also becoming the top scorer in the competition in the same year.

2.2. First K-League Stint

On 14 January 2004, Marcel moved to South Korea to join Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the K League. During his one-season tenure, he became known as 마르셀_Marcel^Korean in the K League. He played in 23 league matches, scoring 8 goals. Across all official competitions for Suwon in 2004, he made 36 appearances and scored 12 goals, contributing to the club's successful 2004 K League title victory.

2.3. European Career

Following his time in South Korea, Marcel moved to Portugal in January 2005, joining Académica de Coimbra for a transfer fee of 1.80 M USD. He spent two seasons with the club, which are often considered a high point in his career. He scored 13 goals during this period, playing a crucial role in saving the club from relegation in his second season. His impressive form attracted the attention of major Portuguese clubs like Benfica and FC Porto.

On 15 January 2006, Marcel was initially signed on loan by Benfica. His move was made permanent in the summer of 2006, with Benfica paying a transfer fee of 2.66 M EUR. However, he found limited opportunities at Benfica, making only 7 appearances without scoring a goal. In December of the same year, he was loaned to Braga for a year, where he played 10 matches and scored 1 goal.

2.4. Brazilian League Loan Spells

After his loan spell at Braga, Marcel returned to Benfica but was immediately loaned out again, this time to Brazilian side São Paulo FC for a year in 2007. Despite the move, he struggled to establish himself in the team, making only 3 appearances without scoring, which led to the cancellation of his loan contract. He was subsequently loaned to Grêmio, where he was joined by his Benfica teammate Diego Souza. In his first stint with Grêmio in 2007, he played 17 matches and scored 5 goals.

In 2008, Marcel was loaned to Cruzeiro, but he played sparsely and failed to make an impact, leading to the termination of his loan on 13 May. He was then loaned to Grêmio once more for the remainder of 2008. During this second spell, he made 29 appearances in the 2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A season, scoring 9 goals. In 2010, while still under contract with Benfica, he was loaned to Santos FC, where he made 13 appearances and scored 5 goals. His final loan spell in Brazil came in 2011 with CR Vasco da Gama, though he did not make any appearances for the club.

2.5. J-League Stint

On 19 December 2008, Marcel was released from Grêmio and loaned by Benfica for another season, this time to Japanese J1 League side Vissel Kobe. He officially joined on 24 December 2008. He played in the opening match of the 2009 J.League season but subsequently faced an injury that sidelined him. Upon his return, he marked his first goal in Japan by converting a penalty kick in a match against Gamba Osaka. He made 10 appearances and scored 3 goals in the J1 League, and an additional 4 appearances with 1 goal in the J.League Cup, totaling 14 appearances and 4 goals across all competitions for Vissel Kobe. After the resignation of coach Caio Júnior, Marcel did not make any further bench appearances in the league. His departure from the club was announced on 17 November 2009.

2.6. Second K-League Stint

Marcel returned to Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the K League on 16 March 2011, seven years after his first stint with the club. He made his second debut for Suwon on 20 March against Pohang Steelers. Initially, his performance was not particularly notable. However, during the middle of the league season, he scored his first goal since returning in a match against Daegu FC. He followed this with a two-goal performance against Pohang Steelers on 20 July. Despite these contributions, he did not maintain consistent impactful performances and his contract was terminated during the summer transfer window of 2011. He made 11 appearances and scored 3 goals in the K League during this period.

2.7. Later Career

After his second spell with Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Marcel returned to Brazil in September 2011 to rejoin his former club, Coritiba, pending bureaucratic clearance. In 2012, he made 12 appearances and scored 1 goal for Coritiba, winning the Campeonato Paranaense again. In 2013, he played for Mirassol FC and later for Criciúma EC before concluding his professional career.

4.1. Club

• Coritiba
  • Campeonato Paranaense: 2003, 2012
• Suwon Samsung Bluewings
  • K League: 2004
• Santos FC
  • Campeonato Paulista: 2010
  • Copa do Brasil: 2010
• São Paulo FC
  • Campeonato Brasileiro: 2007

4.2. Individual

• Campeonato Paranaense Top Scorer: 2003
• Campeonato Paranaense Best XI: 2003
• Brazilian League Best XI: 2003

5.1. Club Appearances and Goals