Biography
Who is Fábio Aurélio?
Early life and career
Fábio Aurélio Rodrigues was born on September 24, 1979, in the city of São Carlos, Brazil. He is the son of Mario and Neide, and he holds dual citizenship in both Brazil and Italy. Fábio is an academy graduate of São Paulo FC, where he began his professional path.
He made his senior debut for the São Paulo team in 1997 at the age of 17. During his time at the club, he participated in over 50 matches. His performance at the club level led to him representing Brazil at the under-17 and under-20 levels. He also played for the Brazil Olympic team during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. While at São Paulo, he was part of the squads that won the Campeonato Paulista in 1998 and 2000.
Time with Valencia
Following the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Fábio moved to Spain to join La Liga club Valencia on a six-year contract. In the 2001–02 season, he helped the team secure their first La Liga championship title since 1971 under the guidance of manager Rafael Benítez. The following year, he established himself as a prominent left-back in the league, contributing 8 league goals.
The 2003–04 season was significant for Valencia as they captured both the La Liga title and the UEFA Cup. In the latter competition, Valencia defeated Marseille 2–0 in the final. However, Fábio missed the majority of that season due to a broken leg and only appeared in two matches during that campaign.
Liverpool career
In July 2006, Fábio left Valencia to join the Premier League club Liverpool on a Bosman free transfer, becoming the first Brazilian player to sign for the team. He cited the opportunity to work again with former manager Rafael Benítez as a primary reason for his decision. He made his debut for the club on August 13, 2006, during an FA Community Shield victory against Chelsea.
His time at Liverpool involved various injury setbacks, including an achilles tendon injury in 2007 and an adductor muscle tear in 2009. Despite these challenges, he remained a key member of the squad. He scored his first goal for the club on March 2, 2008, in a match against Bolton Wanderers. In 2010, he briefly left the club after rejecting a pay-as-you-play offer but returned shortly after on a two-year deal under manager Roy Hodgson. He eventually left Liverpool at the conclusion of the 2011–12 season after six years with the club.
Final years and retirement
On May 24, 2012, Fábio returned to Brazil to sign with Grêmio on a free transfer. His time at the club was hampered by a torn cruciate ligament injury, which caused him to miss eight months of play. He made only five appearances for the team.
Fábio announced his retirement from professional football on April 4, 2014. Following his departure, he claimed he was forced out by club chairman Fabio Koff, although this allegation was denied by club officials who stated he was no longer fit to play.
Birthday and age
Fábio Aurélio was born on September 24, 1979, which makes Fábio 47 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Fábio shares the date with 52 other famous people.
Explore more
