Danilo Pereira: The Versatile ‌Defender

Danilo Pereira, the Portuguese footballer who recently joined Al-Ittihad Football’s⁣ first team, has had a diverse career as ⁢a defender and⁢ defensive​ midfielder. With over 564 matches​ under his belt, Pereira⁢ has played as ⁣a ​central‍ defender in 119 matches, accounting for 21% of his‍ total appearances.

Early Career and Position Shift

Pereira began ‌his career as a defensive midfielder but was‍ transformed into a central ⁤defender by his compatriot Fernando Santos, coach ⁤of the Portugal national team,‌ in ⁤2022. This position shift⁤ was also adopted by Frenchman Christophe⁢ Gautier at ⁤Paris Saint-Germain, where Pereira played alongside ‍Brazilian stars Marquinhos and Spanish Sergio Ramos.

Club Career and Statistics

Pereira played over 200⁤ matches with Porto,⁤ the longest stretch of⁤ his professional career, ‍with‍ only 3 matches as a‌ central ⁢defender. He⁤ also represented Parma in Italy, ‍Aris in Thessaloniki, Greece, Roda Kerkreide in the Netherlands, and Maritimo​ in Portugal. At Paris Saint-Germain,​ Pereira played 157 matches, ⁣with 65 of them ⁤as a ⁣central defender.

Coaches and Position Changes

Pereira has ‍worked under several coaches, ⁤including German Thomas‌ Tuchel and Argentine Mauricio Pochettino at Paris ⁢Saint-Germain. While they used​ him as‌ a midfielder, Santos’ decision⁢ to play him as a central defender at ⁣the national team level was a⁣ turning point in his career. Pereira ‌has also ‌played under Spanish coach Luis Enrique, who chose him as one⁣ of the two ⁢centre-backs.

Current ​Role and⁣ Future Prospects

As Pereira joins Al-Ittihad Football’s first team, he is expected to play as a defender. With his experience and versatility, he is likely to⁢ be a ⁢valuable asset to the team. As he approaches his 33rd birthday,‌ Pereira continues to be a reliable player,‍ with coaches relying on him⁢ in various positions.