Éder Aleixo de Assis

Éder

Personal information
Full name	Éder Aleixo de Assis
Date of birth	(1957-05-25) May 25, 1957
Place of birth	Vespasiano, Brazil
Height
Position(s)	Left winger, Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1975–1976	América	26	(6)
1977–1979	Grêmio	47	(14)
1980–1985	Atlético	79	(27)
1985	Internacional (Limeira)
1986	Palmeiras	8	(1)
1987	Santos
1987	Sport Recife
1988	Botafogo	6	(1)
1988	Atlético Paranaense
1988	Cerro Porteño
1989–1990	Fenerbahçe	1	(0)
1988–1989	Malatyaspor
1989–1990	Atlético	19	(2)
1991	Atlético Paranaense	9	(3)
1992	União São João
1993	Cruzeiro EC
1994–1995	Atlético
1995–1996	União São João
1996	Gama
International career
1979–1986	Brazil	52	(8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Éder Aleixo de Assis, was also known as Éder or Éder Assis (born May 25, 1957 in Vespasiano, Brazil), is a former Brazilian footballer. He played as a left winger and striker, most notably with Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, Clube Atlético Mineiro in the Campeonato Brasileiro and with the Brazilian national team. He also played for Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras in 1986. A couple of years later transferred to Malatyaspor with Carlos and Serginho in 1988–89 season but played only one match for him and returned to Brazil.

International career

He had 52 caps with the Brazilian national team between May 1979 and April 1986. Éder came to international prominence during the 1982 FIFA World Cup, playing in midfield alongside Zico, Sócrates and Falcão, considered one of the greatest Brazilian national teams ever. In Brazil's first match of the tournament he scored a wonderful, winning goal against the Soviet Union, flicking the ball up and volleying it with blistering power into the net from 25 yards. He followed that up with another outstanding goal in the 4–1 win over Scotland, when he feigned to shoot powerfully but then lofted the ball over Scotland's frozen goalie Alan Rough and into the far corner, from the edge of the area. He smashed a bending free kick against the crossbar vs Argentina in the 2nd round group game from 30 yards out and this shot resulted in the first goal scored by Zico.

Éder didn't make the Brazilian squad for the 1986 World Cup, after losing form and fitness during the preceding season, and also because he apparently pushed a ball boy during a warm-up game for Brazil. He was sent off in his final international match, against Peru, in April 1986. Off the field he was occasionally a controversial figure; rumours abounded that he preferred partying to training and he often fell out with coaches or fellow players.

Style of play

Éder wasn't the quickest winger in the world but he was athletically built and had dazzling close control, as well as a shot that earned him the nickname "The Cannon" from his devoted fans.

Honours

Club

• Reconquista in 1977; Campeonato Gaúcho in 1979 and Torneo Ciudad de Rosario in 1979 with Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense
• Hexa (from 1978 to 1983); Campeonato Mineiro in 1985; Tournoi de Paris in 1982; and Trofeo Ramón de Carranza in 1990 with Clube Atlético Mineiro
• Winner Copa do Brasil in 1993 with Cruzeiro Esporte Clube

Individual

• Winner of the Brazilian Silver Ball in 1983
• South American Player of the Year Bronze award in 1983