Cleiton Xavier

Cleiton Xavier
Personal information
Full name	Cleiton Ribeiro Xavier
Date of birth	23 March 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth	São José da Tapera, Brazil
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Youth career
	CSA
Senior career*
Years	Team
2001–2002	CSA
2002–2008	Internacional
2005	→ Sport Recife (loan)
2005	→ Brasiliense (loan)
2006	→ Gama (loan)
2006	→ Marília (loan)
2007–2008	→ Figueirense (loan)
2009–2010	Palmeiras
2010–2015	Metalist Kharkiv
2015–2016	Palmeiras
2017–2018	Vitória
International career
2003	Brazil U20
2009	Brazil
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 January 2017

Cleiton Ribeiro Xavier (Ukrainian: Клейтон Шав'єр; born 23 March 1983) is a Brazilian former professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder. He is known by his powerful and accurate free kicks, dribbling skills and passes.

Club career

In his early career, Cleiton Xavier played for CSA and Internacional, and was loaned out various times.

Palmeiras

In early 2009, Palmeiras signed Cleiton from the relegated Figueirense. Cleiton Xavier proved he had good talent in Palmeiras's first matches in the Libertadores Cup and in the São Paulo State Championship. On 29 April 2009 Cleiton Xavier scored an 87th minute away-goal against Colo-Colo in the Libertadores Cup that secured Palmeiras' progression to the knockout stages of the tournament, it was a very long-range shot inside the goalkeeper's left angle.^[1]

Later in the Série A alongside teammate Diego Souza, Cleiton Xavier made an outstanding season with Palmeiras, leading the competition for 19 rounds, however Palmeiras finished 5th due to losses in the final matches and did not qualify for the Libertadores Cup. Cleiton Xavier was elected the 3rd best player of the season, even though he had an injury. In 2010, Cleiton Xavier remained with Palmeiras and also started well the year. He participated in Palmeiras's first ten goals in the São Paulo State Championship.

Metalist Kharkiv

On 14 July 2010, Cleiton Xavier transferred to FC Metalist Kharkiv for €4.5 million.^[2] In 2013, he became popular for scoring a fastest equalizing goal from the starting line after the restart of the match against local league rival, Chornomorets. He then inspired them to a 3 – 1 victory which boosted their chances to qualify for next season Champions League campaign in which the victory lift them above another local rival who competing for the same spot, Dynamo Kyiv.^[3]

Club statistics

As of 28 January 2017

Club	Season	League		Cup		Continental		State League		Total
Club	Season	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Internacional	2002	20	3	0	0	—		0	0	20	3
	2003	25	1	0	0	—		0	0	25	1
	2004	23	1	0	0	—		0	0	23	1
Total		68	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	68	5
Brasiliense	2005	1	0	0	0	—		0	0	1	0
Total		1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Figueirense	2007	28	0	0	0	—		0	0	28	0
Figueirense	2008	33	12	0	0	—		0	0	33	12
Total		61	12	0	0	0	0	0	0	61	12
Palmeiras	2009	32	3	—		12	3	17	3	61	9
Palmeiras	2010	7	1	4	1	0	0	16	5	27	7
Total		39	4	4	1	12	3	33	8	88	16
Metalist Kharkiv	2010–11	26	6	—		9	3	—		35	9
	2011–12	25	10	—		12	2	—		37	12
	2012–13	29	15	—		9	5	—		38	20
	2013–14	20	7	1	0	0	0	—		21	7
	2014–15	9	8	2	2	5	1	—		16	11
Total		109	46	3	2	35	11	—		147	59
Palmeiras	2015	10	0	3	1	—		4	0	17	1
Total		10	0	3	1	0	0	4	0	17	1
Vitória	2017	0	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
Vitória	Total	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career Total		267	53	7	2	42	13	37	8	353	76