Paulo André Cren Benini

Paulo André Cren Benini (born 20 August 1983) is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

Paulo André
Personal information
Full name Paulo André Cren Benini
Date of birth (1983-08-20) 20 August 1983
Place of birth Campinas, Brazil
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position(s) Centre back
Youth career
1999–2001 São Paulo
2001–2002 CSA
2002 Águas de Lindóia
2003 Guarani
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Guarani 22 (2)
2005–2006 Athletico Paranaense 37 (2)
2006–2010 Le Mans 36 (2)
2009–2010 → Corinthians (loan) 12 (0)
2010–2014 Corinthians 88 (5)
2014 Shanghai Shenhua 23 (0)
2015–2016 Cruzeiro 17 (0)
2016 → Athletico Paranaense (loan) 26 (2)
2017–2019 Athletico Paranaense 32 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 November 2018

Club career

Paulo André Cren Benini began his football career playing for the São Paulo youth team, however he was unable to impress the coaching staff and was dismissed by the club. He would go to the youth teams of Centro Sportivo Alagoano, Águas de Lindóia as well as having a trial with Scottish club Rangers F.C. in 2002, under manager Alex McLeish before he joined Série A club Guarani who promoted him to their senior side.[1] While Paulo André would go on to establish himself within the club he was unfortunately part of the squad that was relegated at the end of the 2004 league campaign.[2] Despite this disappointment Paulo André had impressed Atlético Paranaense who gave him another chance at the top tier when they signed him before the start of the 2005 league campaign.

In his debut season for Atlético Paranaense Paulo André would soon establish himself a vital member of the team's defense and helped guide the club to qualify for the 2006 Copa Sudamericana. After having a personally successful debut season he would spark foreign interests and French Ligue 1 club Le Mans signed Paulo André in June 2006 on a four and half years deal.[3] This would see Paulo André make his league debut for Le Mans on 19 August 2006 against Valenciennes FC in a 3–2 victory, however after only three further games Paulo André was struck with a patellar tendon injury in his right knee.[4] The injury would require three surgeries and Paulo André missing the whole of the 2007–08 Ligue 1 campaign. On his return within the 2008–09 Ligue 1 campaign he was able to play in 31 games throughout the season until on 4 August 2009 Brazilian club Sport Club Corinthians Paulista signed Paulo André from Le Mans on a single season loan.[5]

The following season Corinthians would make Paulo André a permanent member of the squad and while he was initially used as a squad player by the 2011 league campaign he would start to establish himself within the starting eleven and went on to win the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A championship with the club.[6] This would then be followed by the club winning the 2012 Copa Libertadores and 2012 FIFA Club World Cup.

On 12 February 2014, Corinthians officially confirmed Paulo André's departure to Chinese Super League side Shanghai Greenland Shenhua.[7]

On 10 February 2015, after a year playing in China, Paulo André joined Cruzeiro.[8]

Career statistics
As of 25 March 2019[9]
Club Season League State League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Guarani 2004[10] Série A 1305260——242
2005[10] Série B 9218141——314
Total 222233101——556
Atlético Paranaense 2005 Série A 282————282
2006 901652100—276
Total 3721652100—558
Le Mans 2006–07[11] Ligue 1 51———1[lower-alpha 1]061
2007–08[11] 00————00
2008–09[11] 311—10—1[lower-alpha 1]1332
Total 362—10—21393
Corinthians 2009 Série A 120————120
2010 15291—1[lower-alpha 2]0—253
2011 16011—00—171
2012 29210—002[lower-alpha 3]0322
2013 281151308[lower-alpha 2]02[lower-alpha 4]0562
2014 00600000—60
Total 10053233090401488
Shanghai Shenhua 2014 Chinese Super League 230————230
Cruzeiro 2015 Série A 17070205[lower-alpha 2]0—310
Athletico Paranaense 2016 Série A 26214040—5[lower-alpha 5]0492
2017 210601012[lower-alpha 2]0—400
2018 11100616[lower-alpha 6]0—232
2019 00200000—20
Total 583220111180501144
Career total 293141001129332011146529
  1. Appearance(s) in Coupe de la Ligue
  2. Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
  3. Appearance(s) in FIFA Club World Cup
  4. Appearance(s) in Recopa Sudamericana
  5. Appearance(s) in Primeira Liga
  6. Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana

Honours

Club

Corinthians

Athletico Paranaense

Individual
  • Bola de Prata: 2011

References
  1. Paulo André - ex-jogador do Corinthians at meutimao.com.br Retrieved 3 March 2014
  2. Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2004 at footballzz.co.uk Retrieved 3 March 2014
  3. Paulo André Cren Benini at globoesporte.com Retrieved 3 March 2014
  4. Le Mans vs. Valenciennes 3-2 at uk.soccerway.com 19 August 2006 Retrieved 3 March 2014
  5. Paulo André muito além dos gramados at revistaemdia.com.br 24 October 2012 Retrieved 3 March 2014
  6. 2011 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A at soccerway.com Retrieved 3 March 2014
  7. Paulo André se despede do Corinthians: "Foram 5 anos que mudaram a minha vida" Archived 2015-01-19 at the Wayback Machine at corinthians.com.br 12/02/2014 Retrieved 3 March 2014
  8. "Paulo André é apresentado e promete lutar pelos títulos [Paulo André is unveiled, promises to fight for titles]". Cruzeiro's official site (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  9. Paulo André at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  10. "Paulo André" (in Portuguese). Jogos do Guarani. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  11. "Paulo Andre". LFP. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
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