Emerson Sheik

Emerson was born in Nova Iguaçu, Brazil. As a promising teenager, he developed in São Paulo FC's youth system. He made his senior side debut in 1998.

Emerson went to Japan to join Consadole Sapporo of the second division, for whom he scored 31 goals in 34 games during the 2000 season. After the season, he joined another second division team, Kawasaki Frontale, with whom he continued his goal-scoring domination, registering 19 goals in 18 league games. In the middle of the 2001 season, however, he left Frontale to join the first division Urawa Reds, for whom he has yet again excelled. He scored 71 league goals in 100 appearances for the Reds and won 2003 J1 League top scorer and 2004 J1 League MVP.

Emerson later joined Qatar outfit Al-Sadd with the transfer fee of 8 million US dollars in 2005.

On 25 August 2007, Emerson signed a three-year contract with French side Stade Rennais FC.[2]

Emerson could not break into the first team at Rennes. Meanwhile, his previous team Al-Sadd were going through a lean phase. They had many bad results and were 14 points behind unbeaten leaders Al-Gharafa by the end of 2007. Their new import Mauro Zarate did not link up nicely with Emerson's ex-striking partner, Carlos Tenorio up front. The fans of Al-Sadd started rooting for the return of Emerson. So Al-Sadd started negotiations with Emerson in December and on 19 December, the club's official website announced Emerson's return.[3]

On 20 March 2009, the former São Paulo FC and Rennes forward signed a season-long deal with childhood favorite Flamengo; the 30-year-old was a free agent after leaving Al-Sadd. He generally kept a good scoring record for the club, which long sought a competent striker before his arrival. In the Série A 2009 season, his partnership with Adriano was one of the league's most effective forward lines. Club legend Andrade praised both players' performance.[4]

On 5 September 2009, he signed a two-year deal with Al Ain FC. He was presented to the press on 6 September 2009 and was handed a number eight shirt.

On 16 June 2010, Emerson signed for Fluminense Football Club. On 5 December 2010, Emerson scored the winning goal for Fluminense to conquer the 1st division Brazilian title, making him Brazilian champion two years in a row.

On 18 May 2011, Emerson signed for Sport Club Corinthians Paulista. On 4 December 2011, he won his third Brazilian championship in a row with Corinthians, making him the first player in history to win three straight Brazilian championships with three different teams. On 4 July 2012, Emerson scored two goals in the second match of the 2012 Copa Libertadores Finals, helping Corinthians to win their first Copa Libertadores.[5][6] On 16 December 2012, he was part of the Corinthians team which won the FIFA World Club Championship, beating Chelsea 1–0.[7] In the last few minutes of the game, he was involved in an off-the-ball incident with Gary Cahill, in which Emerson fell to the ground holding his face. Cahill received a red card, but the Englishman claimed Emerson fouled him first before diving.[8]

In an interview for Esporte Espetacular, an attraction of Rede Globo, Emerson showed his dislike for Mano Menezes, coach of the club. Emerson told reporters: "I do not wanna work with him [Mano] anymore." Still, according to the former corintiano: "I think he [Mano] is a very limited coach. I did not see anything special in him, and I do not think he will improve, because he does not have the humility to ask something."[9]

Emerson returned to Corinthians in 2015 as Tite returned to the club as the new manager. He was a first choice for many of the first games of the season, including the 2015 Copa Libertadores. After Corinthians was eliminated in the Round of 16, the club opted against renegotiating Emerson's contract, due to end in 31 July of the same year. He was released on 12 June, after both sides reached an agreement on the matter.[10]

In April 2014, he was loaned to Botafogo, his third club in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He took the shirt number seven, used before by Botafogo's biggest idol, Garrincha.

On 18 August 2013, after the 1–0 victory by Corinthians against Coritiba FC in the Brazilian League, Emerson celebrated the alvinegro triumph by kissing his friend and posting the photo on Instagram.[14]

On 19 August, one day after the incident, Corinthians supporters protested against the kiss at Joaquim Grava Training Center where Corinthians were undertaking a training session. Emerson called the protests an "idiotic prejudice".[15]

On 21 August, in the first game after the incident, a 1–0 loss against Luverdense in the 2013 Copa do Brasil, Emerson was sent off along with opposition player Zé Roberto after they argued on field. Speaking to the press after the game, Zé Roberto in reference to Emerson, said: "I am not the guy that takes a kiss from anyone, I do not accept this kind of thing."[16]

FIFA Club World Cup

* Friendly

[17]

Consadole Sapporo

• J2 League: 2000

Urawa Red Diamonds

• J.League Cup: 2003

Al Ain FC

• UAE Super Cup: 2009

Flamengo

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2009
• Campeonato Carioca: 2009
• Taça Rio: 2009

Fluminense

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2010

Corinthians

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2011, 2015
• Campeonato Paulista: 2013, 2018
• Copa Libertadores: 2012
• Recopa Sudamericana: 2013
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2012

• J.League MVP: 2003
• J.League Top Scorer: 2004
• J.League Best XI: 2002, 2003, 2004
• Qatar National First Division MVP : 2006
• Copa Libertadores de América: 2012 Best Player[18]