Vágner Love

Vágner Silva de Souza (born 11 June 1984), known as Vágner Love, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Kazakhstan Premier League team Kairat.[2] He is a forward who has been described by World Soccer Magazine as possessing "mobility, flair, awareness and powerful shooting".[3]

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Silva and the second or paternal family name is de Souza.
Vágner Love
Vágner Love with CSKA Moscow, 2009
Personal information
Full name Vágner Silva de Souza
Date of birth (1984-06-11) 11 June 1984
Place of birth Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Kairat
Number 9
Youth career
2001–2003 Palmeiras
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2004 Palmeiras 42 (27)
2004–2011 CSKA Moscow 158 (79)
2009 → Palmeiras (loan) 12 (5)
2010 → Flamengo (loan) 5 (4)
2012–2013 Flamengo 36 (13)
2013 CSKA Moscow 14 (6)
2013–2015 Shandong Luneng 31 (19)
2015 Corinthians 30 (14)
2016 Monaco 12 (4)
2016–2018 Alanyaspor 44 (34)
2018–2019 Beşiktaş 18 (6)
2019–2020 Corinthians 30 (5)
2020– Kairat 0 (0)
National team‡
2003 Brazil U20 6 (4)
2004–2007 Brazil 20 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 0:08, 9 December 2019 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17:44, 20 September 2015 (UTC)

The second name Love was given to Vágner while playing for CSKA Moscow as he was known for his playboy lifestyle.

Over two spells, Vágner Love scored 117 goals across 241 official games in eight seasons at CSKA Moscow. He won 14 honours in the Russian capital, scoring in their win in the 2005 UEFA Cup Final.

Vágner Love scored four goals in 20 games for the Brazil national team, winning the Copa América in 2004 and 2007.

Club career

Palmeiras

Vágner Love started his career with Palmeiras. In the 2003 season, he helped them to return to the Série A, the nation's top-flight division.

CSKA Moscow

In the summer of 2004, Vágner Love was bought by Russian Premier League club CSKA Moscow. For over a year after his arrival, rumours kept appearing that he did not want to stay in Moscow, and a transfer to Corinthians in particular was hinted at numerous times. These rumours, however, eventually subsided, and he mentioned a number of times that he was fully committed to his contract and is looking forward to completing its full tenure.

Vágner Love scored the final goal that sealed CSKA's 3–1 victory in the 2005 UEFA Cup Final over Sporting CP at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon. In addition to winning the UEFA Cup, he has gone on to win the Russian Premier League title and Russian Cup in both 2005 and 2008, as well as the Russian Super Cup in 2006.

Vágner Love became the top scorer in the 2008 season and the top scorer of the 2008–09 UEFA Cup, the latter with 11 goals in 8 games.[4]

Return to Palmeiras on loan

On 28 August 2009, following a run of poor form for CSKA, Vágner Love was signed by his former club Palmeiras on a one-year loan deal until 31 July 2010.[5] CSKA press spokesman Sergei Aksenov claimed that Vágner Love left Russia due to "urgent family problems demand(ing) his presence at home in Brazil".[6][7]

Vágner Love had a respectable return of 5 goals in 12 games for Palmeiras, but his loan spell was ended prematurely: After publicly stating his concern over his safety at Palmeiras due to off-field altercations with fans, as well as his desire to play for his childhood team Flamengo, the deal was ended early on 14 January 2010.[8]

Antonio Nocerino and Vágner Love

Flamengo

On 15 January 2010, the day after his loan was terminated with Palmeiras, Vágner Love officially signed a loan deal with reigning Brazilian champions Flamengo, through till July 2010.[9][10] He made his Flamengo debut against Bangu in the Campeonato Carioca on 23 January 2010, scoring two goals.

Vágner Love performed very well playing for Flamengo, scoring 23 goals in 26 matches. His successful strike partnership with Adriano was dubbed by fans as "Império do Amor", or "The Love Empire", in reference to Adriano's nickname "The Emperor" and Vágner Love's artistic surname. The presence of midfielder Dejan Petković in Flamengo's squad made supporters start the year with high expectations—it was widely believed that the Serbian's passing and free-kick abilities, coupled with Adriano's and Vagner's prolific scoring, would produce a top team.

However, with Adriano struggling to keep an athlete's body mass index, and Petković's legs growing old (he was already 37 then), the team failed to advance past the quarter-finals in the 2010 Copa Libertadores.[11] Shortly after, Adriano revealed he wanted to try playing in Italy again,[12] and Flamengo could not convince CSKA to extend Vágner Love's loan, thus dismantling the once-promising "Love Empire".[13]

Return to CSKA
Love playing for CSKA

After a change of presidency, on 12 January 2013, Flamengo did not pay his pendencies of rights with CSKA, and Vágner Love had to leave the club, returning to Russia after a one-year absence.[14] On January 16, he was "re-presented" in Moscow and signed a three-year contract extension.[15] He continued his goal scoring record with CSKA on his return to the club, and propelled the club to the Premier League title in 2013 after a goalless draw with Kuban Krasnodar on 18 May, the club's first league title since 2006.[16]

Shandong Luneng

On 24 July 2013, Vágner Love transferred to Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng[17] in a reported €12 million transfer.[18]

Corinthians

On 8 February 2015, Vágner Love rescinded his contract with Shandong Luneng and signed with Corinthians in Brazil.[19] He went on to become the top scorer of the club during the national championship as Corinthians went on to win the Série A that year.

Monaco

On 13 January 2016, Ligue 1 club Monaco announced the signing of Vágner Love on an 18-month deal for a €1 million transfer fee.[20] On 20 March, he opened the scoring in an eventual 2–0 win against Paris Saint-Germain, the Parisian club's first home defeat since May 2014.[21]

Alanyaspor

On 30 August 2016, Turkish Süper Lig club Alanyaspor reached an agreement with Monaco for the transfer of Love.[22] On 31 August 2016, he was officially presented after passed the medical.[23] Having failed to score in his first seven appearances for the club, Love scored 23 goals in 20 matches that followed to earn the Golden Boot award.[24]

Beşiktaş

On 26 January 2018, Turkish Süper Lig club Beşiktaş reached an agreement with Alanyaspor for the transfer of Love.[25]

Return to Corinthians

On 25 January 2019, Love returned to Corinthians on a deal until the end of 2020 after rescinding his contract with Beşiktaş.[26] He rescinded his contract in June 2020.[27]

Kairat

On 8 July 2020, Kazakhstan Premier League club FC Kairat announced the signing of Vágner Love on a six-month contract, with the option to extend it.[2]

Career statistics

Club career
As of match played 15 March 2020.
Club Season League Cup Continental Other[28] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Palmeiras 2002 2000––20
2003 291900––2919
2004 11800––118
Total 422700––4227
CSKA Moscow 2004 1290094–2113
2005 21770157004314
2006 2397472103815
2007 23131033112817
2008 26201168–3329
2009 133314310217
Total 1186119644273118495
Palmeiras (loan) 2009 12500––125
Total 125000000125
Flamengo (loan) 2010 54141151104–2923
Total 541415104002923
CSKA Moscow 2010 1590052002011
2011–12 2595161103711
Total 401851113105722
Flamengo 2012 36131027252–5119
Total 361310752005119
CSKA Moscow 2012–13 95310000126
2013–14 2100001031
Total 116310010157
Shandong Luneng Taishan 2013 1060000–106
2014 21137455–3322
Total 31197455–4328
Corinthians 2015 30141632330004916
Total 301416230004916
Monaco 2015–16 12410––134
Total 12410––––134
Alanyaspor 2016–17 2823–––2823
2017–18 141021––1611
Total 423321––––4434
Beşiktaş 2017–18 1031021–134
2018–19 830084–167
Total 18610105––2911
Corinthians 2019 305152104005511
2020 0061100071
Total 305213114506212
Career total 43421695*39*9750101617298

International career

Vágner Love earned his first call up for the Brazil national football team for the 2004 Copa América, in a squad without the main stars to give them rest after the end of the 2003-04 season.[29] He made his debut as a substitute in the 4-1 win against Costa Rica, which was his single appearance as Brazil went on to win the competition.[30]

In 2006, Vágner Love was named in Dunga's first squad for the national team[31] and scored his first goal for the Seleção in the same year, against Wales.[32]

In 2007, he was called up for the 2007 Copa América, in which he scored in a 6-1 win against Chile. He played his last match for the national team in that year, against Uruguay, totalling 20 matches and 4 goals for Brazil.

International stats
As of 1 April 2009[33][34][35]

Honours
Vágner after winning the 2013 Russian Super Cup with CSKA

Club
Palmeiras
CSKA Moscow
Shandong Luneng
Corinthians

International
Brazil

Individual
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References
  1. http://www.lnts.com.cn/portal.php?mod=view&eid=61
  2. "ОФИЦИАЛЬНО: ВАГНЕР ЛАВ ИГРОК КАЙРАТА". fckairat.com/ (in Russian). FC Kairat. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  3. "Talent Scout – Vagner Love". World Soccer. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  4. "2008/09 UEFA Cup scorers table". ESPN. 16 May 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  5. "CSKA loan Vagner to Palmeiras". Soccerway. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  6. "CSKA loan Vagner Love to Palmeiras". ESPN. Reuters. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  7. "CSKA loan Vagner to Palmeiras". Fifa.com. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  8. "Nota Oficial: Palmeiras faz acordo com Vagner Love e atleta é liberado" [Vagner Love is released] (in Portuguese). palmeiras.com.br. 14 January 2010.
  9. ТРАНСФЕРНЫЕ НОВОСТИ [Transfer News: Vagner Love loan to Flamengo] (in Russian). pfc-cska.com. 15 January 2010. Archived from the original on 22 January 2010.
  10. "chegada de Vagner Love" [Arrival of Vagner Love] (in Portuguese). flamengo.com.br. 15 January 2010. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010.
  11. "Flamengo perde para o Universidad Católica e se complica na Libertadores" [Flamengo lost to Catholic University and is complicated in Libertadores] (in Portuguese).
  12. "Adriano vai para o Roma" [Adriano goes to Rome] (in Portuguese).
  13. "Vágner Love deixa o CSKA e volta para o Flamengo" [Vagner Love leaves CSKA for Flamengo and back] (in Portuguese).
  14. Vágner Love surpreende torcida e deixa o Fla para voltar ao CSKA Vágner Love surrenders fans and lets Fla come back to CSKA
  15. Vagner Love se apresenta oficialmente ao CSKA e assina por três anos Love presents officially at CSKA and signs for three years Archived 21 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  16. "The Moscow outfit lift their first domestic championship since 2006 as a goalless draw with Kuban Krasnodar put Zenit out of sight in the title race". GOAL. 18 May 2013.
  17. 鲁能官方宣布签下前巴西国脚 正式与尼库莱解约 [Luneng officially announced the signing of former Brazil striker formal surrender with Ni Kulai] (in Chinese). sina.com. 24 July 2013.
  18. "CSKA bid farewell to Vágner Love". UEFA. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  19. "Corinthians fecha com Vagner Love, que assina até julho de 2016". Globo Esporte. 8 February 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  20. http://www.marca.com/futbol/america/2016/01/10/5692adc922601da4018b467c.html
  21. "Paris Saint Germain 0-2 Monaco". BBC Sport. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  22. "Vágner Love Alanya'ya geliyor" [Vágner Love comes to Alanya] (in Turkish). Alanyaspor. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  23. "Vágner Love Alanya" (in Turkish). Alanyaspor. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  24. Robinson, James (3 June 2017). "WING AND A PRAYER Vagner Love has been on an incredible run of form and it's all to do with his club's fans". DreamTeamFC. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  25. "son-dakika-besiktas-vagner-love-transferi-icin-aytemiz-alanyasporla-anlasti" [Vágner Love comes to Besiktas]. Hurriyet (in Turkish). 26 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  26. "Vagner Love rescinde com o Besiktas e fica perto de voltar ao Corinthians | Goal.com". www.goal.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  27. "Perto de volta ao CSKA, Vagner Love rescinde contrato e não é mais jogador do Corinthians". globoesporte.globo.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  28. Includes other competitive competitions, including the Russian Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup
  29. https://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/ultimas/2004/06/09/ult59u84639.jhtm
  30. http://futpedia.globo.com/campeonato/copaamerica/2004/07/11/brasil-4-x-1-costa-rica
  31. https://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/ultimas/2006/08/01/ult59u103224.jhtm
  32. https://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/ultimas/2006/09/05/ult59u104337.jhtm
  33. "Seleção Brasileira (Brazilian National Team) 2004–2005". Rsssfbrasil.com. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  34. "Seleção Brasileira (Brazilian National Team) 2006–2007". Rsssfbrasil.com. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  35. "Seleção Brasileira Restritiva (Brazilian National Restrictive Team) 2000–2003". Rsssfbrasil.com. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  36. "足协杯-麦克格文压哨绝杀 鲁能5-4舜天夺冠". Sports.sina.com.cn. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
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