Walace (footballer, born 1995)

Walace Souza Silva (born 4 April 1995), or simply Walace (Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈwalasi]), is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Cruzeiro.

Walace
Walace at the 2016 Olympics
Personal information
Full name Walace Souza Silva[1]
Date of birth (1995-04-04) 4 April 1995 (age 29)[2]
Place of birth Salvador, Brazil[2]
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Cruzeiro
Number 20
Youth career
2010 Simões Filho
2011–2013 Avaí
2012Bahia (loan)
2013–2014 Grêmio
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Grêmio 77 (1)
2017–2018 Hamburger SV 27 (2)
2018–2019 Hannover 96 26 (1)
2019–2024 Udinese 160 (3)
2024– Cruzeiro 2 (0)
International career
2015 Brazil U20 5 (0)
2016 Brazil U23 4 (0)
2016–2018 Brazil 5 (0)
Medal record
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 November 2018

Club career

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Grêmio

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Born in Salvador, Bahia, Walace started his youth career with the academy of amateur Simões Filho Futebol Clube. While playing in a cup, he caught the eye of a scout of Avaí Futebol Clube and subsequently joined the club in the next year. However, he was soon loaned to the under-23 team of Esporte Clube Bahia in the same year. In 2013, Walace joined the under-18 team of Grêmio.[3]

Walace was promoted to the senior squad of the club in 2014 by manager Enderson Moreira.[4] On 27 April, he made his first team debut against Atlético Mineiro.[2] In August, he made his first start for the club in a 2–0 defeat against Sport Club Internacional, where he was assigned to mark Andrés D'Alessandro.[5] At the end of the season, media reports suggested that Italian club SSC Napoli, Portuguese clubs FC Porto and S.L. Benfica expressed their interest to sign him.[6]

After the appointment of Roger Machado as the club's manager in 2015, Walace became an undisputed starter for the club.[7] In June, Grêmio rejected an offer from Swiss club FC Basel to secure his services.[8] On 5 October, his contract was extended till 2018.[7] In July 2016, he scored his first league goal in a 2–1 victory over Figueirense Futebol Clube.[9]

Hamburger SV

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On 31 January 2017, Walace moved to German club Hamburger SV, signing a contract until 2021.[1] Eleven days later, he scored his first goal in a 3–0 victory against RB Leipzig.[10]

Hannover 96

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In June 2018, Walace joined league rivals Hannover 96 on a four-year contract until 2022. The transfer fee paid to Hamburger SV was estimated at €6 million with 10% of the fee going to former club Grêmio.[11][12]

International career

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In June 2016, Walace was called by Dunga to the senior international squad for the 2016 Copa America as a replacement for Luiz Gustavo (who left the squad citing personal reasons).[13] He featured once in the tournament, in a 7–1 victory against Haiti.[2]

In the next month, Walace was called to the Brazil under-23 squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics to be held at the month of August. He came as a replacement for Fred, whose club FC Shakhtar Donetsk refused to release him for the tournament.[14] He featured four times in the tournament,[2] with his side emerging as the winner.[1]

Career statistics

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As of match played 7 June 2024
Club Season National League State League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Grêmio 2014[2] Série A 19 0 0 0 1 0 20 0
2015[2] 34 0 8 0 8 0 50 0
2016[2] 24 1 8 3 9 0 4[a] 1 45 5
Total 77 1 16 3 18 0 4 1 115 5
Hamburger SV 2016–17[2] Bundesliga 9 1 2 0 11 1
2017–18[2] 18 1 1 0 19 1
Total 27 2 3 0 30 2
Hannover 96 2018–19 Bundesliga 26 1 2 0 28 1
Udinese 2019–20 Serie A 20 0 2 0 22 0
2020–21 30 0 0 0 30 0
2021–22 36 1 2 0 38 1
2022–23 37 0 37 0
2023–24 37 2 1 0 38 2
Total 160 3 5 0 165 3
Career total 252 7 16 3 27 0 4 1 299 11
  1. ^ Appearances in Copa Libertadores

Honours

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Club

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Grêmio

International

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Brazil

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Hamburg sign Brazil international Walace from Gremio". Bundesliga. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Walace statistics". Soccerway.
  3. ^ "Da Bahia ao Maracanã: Walace deixa "bico" de Carnaval e conquista Felipão [From Bahia to Maracanã: Walace leaves "beak" of Carnival and conquest Felipão]" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Walace é um dos trunfos do Grêmio contra o Atlético-PR [Walace is one of Grêmio's assets against Atlético-PR]" (in Portuguese). Gauchazh. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Destaque no Gre-Nal, Walace se credencia a seguir no time de Felipão [Highlight in Gre-Nal, Walace credits himself to follow in the team of Felipão]" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  6. ^ "GRÊMIO DEFINE O PREÇO PARA VENDER O VOLANTE WALLACE AO FUTEBOL EUROPEU [GRÊMIO SET PRICE TO SELL WALLACE TO EUROPEAN FOOTBALL]" (in Portuguese). JB Filho Reporter. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Grêmio renova contrato e amplia salário de joias Pedro Rocha e Walace [Grêmio renews contract and salary of jewels Pedro Rocha and Walace]" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Após recusar 2 propostas, Grêmio se prepara para mais assédio por Walace [After rejecting 2 proposals, Grêmio prepares for more harassment by Walace]" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  9. ^ "Walace toma gosto por gols e explica comemoração contida pelo Grêmio [Walace takes taste for goals and explains celebration contained by the Guild]" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Leipzig torlos, sieglos und ratlos [Leipzig scoreless, without victory and helpless]" (in German). Franffurter Allgemeine. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Walace-Wechsel zu 96 fix - Vertrag bis 2022". NDR (in German). 26 June 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  12. ^ "Wallace swaps Hamburg for Hannover". Xinhua. 27 June 2018. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  13. ^ "The Olympians: Meet new Brazil star Walace". goal.com. Goal. 18 July 2016. Archived from the original on 20 July 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  14. ^ "Renato Augusto and Walace join Brazil for Olympic games". goal.com. Goal. 15 July 2016. Archived from the original on 18 July 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
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