Wikipedia

Marcos Senna

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Senna and the second or paternal family name is da Silva.

Marcos Antônio Senna da Silva (born 17 July 1976), known as Senna, is a retired professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.

Marcos Senna
Senna warming up with Villarreal in 2008
Personal information
Full name Marcos Antônio Senna da Silva[1]
Date of birth (1976-07-17) 17 July 1976 (age 48)
Place of birth São Paulo, Brazil
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Central midfielder
Youth career
1994–1997 Rio Branco-SP
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1999 Rio Branco-SP 39 (12)
1998 → América-SP (loan) 4 (0)
1999–2001 Corinthians 43 (1)
2001 Juventude 14 (1)
2002 São Caetano 0 (0)
2002–2013 Villarreal 292 (25)
2013–2015 New York Cosmos 55 (13)
Total 443 (51)
International career
2006–2010 Spain 28 (1)
Medal record
Representing  Spain
UEFA European Championship
Winner 2008 Austria-Switzerland
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He was mainly known for his passing range and long-range shooting and was also a penalty specialist. He spent most of his professional career in Spain with Villarreal, appearing in 363 official matches during 11 seasons, 10 of which were in La Liga (33 goals scored). He ended his career with the New York Cosmos, with whom he twice won the Soccer Bowl.

Born in Brazil, Senna represented the Spain national team during a four-year spell, appearing at the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008, and winning the latter tournament as starter.[2]

Club career

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Villarreal

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Born in São Paulo, Senna began his career with Rio Branco Esporte Clube. After playing for a number of Brazilian clubs early in his career, including being club World Cup champion in 2000 with Corinthians and Copa Libertadores 2002 runner-up with São Caetano, he moved to Spanish side Villarreal CF in 2002, from Associação Desportiva São Caetano. He only made 25 La Liga appearances in his first two seasons combined, however this was mainly due to a serious knee injury he picked up in August 2003.[3] However, after recovering from his injury he became an undisputed starter, helping the club reach as far as the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in 2005–06; eventually, he also gained the club captaincy.

In the summer of 2006, Senna almost joined Manchester United: he had one year left on his contract, and Villarreal were prepared to sell him for a fee of around £4 million.[4][5] However, the deal was put on hold while United pursued Owen Hargreaves, but FC Bayern Munich refused to sell their player and, when United returned with a bid for Senna on transfer deadline day, Villarreal rejected their advances;[6] he had become frustrated with the delays to his proposed move and decided to stay at Villarreal, signing a three-year extension shortly after the transfer window closed.[7][8][9]

On 27 April 2008, Senna scored a goal from inside the centre circle against Real Betis that he deemed "the best goal of my life".[10][11] That season, as the player netted a further three times in a total of 33 matches, Villarreal finished a club-best second, to champions Real Madrid.

After nearly two seasons marred with physical problems,[12][13] 35-year-old Senna returned to full fitness for 2011–12, as the Valencian Community side's playmaker. On 21 March 2012, he scored from a free kick for the 83rd-minute home equaliser against Real Madrid (1–1),[14] but his team would be eventually relegated after a twelve-year stay in the top level.

New York Cosmos

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On 13 June 2013, after helping Villarreal return to the top flight, Senna signed with newly formed North American Soccer League club New York Cosmos for an undisclosed fee.[15] He made his debut in the team's inaugural match on 3 August, a 2–1 win over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers,[16] and scored his first goal on 1 September in a 1–1 draw at FC Edmonton.[17] In his first year with the team he was named the league's player of the week on two occasions, and also helped to wins in the NASL Fall Championship and the Soccer Bowl, scoring the game-winner in the final championship match against the Atlanta Silverbacks.[18]

On 13 November 2013, Senna was awarded a testimonial match by Villarreal, featuring in a 3–0 win over the Cosmos: he started the game and set up Jérémy Perbet for the first goal. In his honour, the crowd broke out in a full minute of applause that started in the 19th minute (the jersey he wore), and he played the second half with the North American before leaving the pitch with 20 minutes to go to another standing ovation.[19][20]

Senna netted his first goal of the season on 12 May 2014, scoring the game-winner in a 1–0 home win over the Spring season champions Minnesota United FC, who were handed their only loss in the competition.[21] His second came on 9 August, as he connected on a spectacular second half free kick to help the Cosmos come from behind to win it 2–1 at the Silverbacks;[22] he helped the club to the third position in the combined standings as well as a berth in The Championship, being nominated to the NASL Team of the Week four times, second best in the squad.

On 10 June 2015, one month shy of his 39th birthday, Senna announced he would retire as a player at the end of the Fall season.[23] His final game was the Soccer Bowl on 15 November, which his team won 3–2 against Ottawa Fury FC, also the swansong of his national teammate Raúl.[24]

International career

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Senna training at Euro 2008

Senna was granted Spanish citizenship in early 2006 and was part of the Spanish squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008. His debut came on 1 March in a friendly match with Ivory Coast, played in Valladolid.[25]

In the quarter-finals of the latter competition, Senna scored the third of Spain's four converted penalties, which resulted in the nation progressing to the semifinals at the expense of Italy, winning 4–2 in the shootout.[26] He played the full duration of the final – a 1–0 win over Germany – and was named in UEFA's squad for the competition.[26][27] Some pundits and journalists also named Senna as their player of the tournament.[28][29][30]

Senna's first international goal came against Armenia on 10 September 2008, a 4–0 win in the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.[31] On 20 May 2010, after an irregular season with Villarreal, with several physical problems, the 33-year-old was left out of Spain's final 23-man squad, with FC Barcelona's Sergio Busquets starting in his place as the national team went on to win the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.[32]

Style of play

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Senna usually played either as a central or defensive midfielder,[33][34] functioning both as a ball-winner and in a more creative role of deep-lying playmaker.[35][36] As such, his role has also been likened to that of a metodista ("centre-half," in Italian football jargon) in the Italian press, due to his ability to dictate play and assist his team defensively.[37][38] In 2008, Glenn Moore of The Belfast Telegraph noted that Senna was known for his "passing, disciplined positioning, tackling and long-range shooting," praising the midfielder for his "genial personality and commanding performances." Senna was also a free kick and penalty specialist.[26][39][40] Pundits and Senna's international teammates observed that he provided "balance" to Spain's midfield at Euro 2008, by doing the "dirty work," namely helping his team to win back the ball and control possession of the midfield through his work-rate, passing, and ability to occupy space, despite his diminutive stature and lack of physicality; his qualitites complemented Spain's tiki-taka passing-based playing style under manager Luis Aragonés.[41][42][43] Regarding his playing style, Senna commented in 2008: "My style is simple and objective. I don't like when players try to do easy things in a complicated way. The others help me in my role, but the important factor is that there is a lot of quality in our team and the opponents are worried about all our midfielders. There is more space left for me and, as I am a good passer too, that becomes important for the team."[42] In addition to his ability as a player, Senna's former New York Cosmos coach Giovanni Savarese praised him for his leadership in 2015.[44]

Personal life

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Senna's younger brother, Márcio, was also a footballer.[45] Marcos Assunção, who represented A.S. Roma and Betis amongst other clubs, is his cousin, and both were also midfielders.[46]

Senna is a Christian, and he spoke about his faith in the documentary "The Prize: Chasing the Dream", along with Kaká. He is also a member of the International Christian ministry Athletes in Action.[47][48]

Along with Raúl Albiol and Guillermo Franco, in 2008 Senna founded Evangélico FC, an organisation consisting of 140 athletes and 16 coaches which sought to promote Christian values among young athletes in Spain.[49]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[50][51]
Club Season League Cup[a] Continental[b] State League[c] Other[d] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rio Branco-SP 1997 Paulista — — — 8 0 — 8 0
1998 Paulista — — — 11 0 — 11 0
1999 Paulista — — — 20 12 — 20 12
Total — — — 39 12 — 39 12
América-SP (loan) 1998 Série C 4 0 — — — — 4 0
Corinthians 1999 Série A 16 0 — 3 0 — — 19 0
2000 Série A 0 0 1 0 5 0 12 1 8 0 26 1
2001 Série A 0 0 10 0 — 15 0 3 0 28 0
Total 16 0 11 0 8 0 27 1 11 0 73 1
Juventude 2001 Série A 14 1 — — — — 14 1
São Caetano 2002 Série A 0 0 — 13 0 — 12 1 25 1
Villarreal 2002–03 La Liga 16 2 0 0 — — — 16 2
2003–04 La Liga 9 0 0 0 1 0 — — 10 0
2004–05 La Liga 29 2 0 0 10 0 — — 39 2
2005–06 La Liga 30 3 0 0 13 1 — — 43 4
2006–07 La Liga 33 0 2 0 1 0 — — 36 0
2007–08 La Liga 34 4 5 1 4 1 — — 43 6
2008–09 La Liga 27 2 0 0 8 2 — — 35 4
2009–10 La Liga 30 1 3 0 7 3 — — 40 4
2010–11 La Liga 20 1 1 0 6 0 — — 27 1
2011–12 La Liga 31 5 1 0 6 0 — — 38 5
2012–13 Segunda División 33 5 0 0 — — — 33 5
Total 292 25 12 1 56 7 — — 360 33
New York Cosmos 2013 North American Soccer League 13 5 1 1 — — — 14 6
2014 North American Soccer League 20 4 1 0 — — — 21 4
2015 North American Soccer League 18 3 3 0 — — — 21 3
Total 51 12 5 1 — — — 56 13
Career total 377 38 28 2 77 7 66 13 23 1 571 61
  1. ^ Includes Copa do Brasil and Copa del Rey
  2. ^ Includes Copa Mercosur, Copa Libertadores, UEFA Intertoto Cup, UEFA Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Includes Campeonato Paulista
  4. ^ Includes Intercontinental Cup, Torneio Rio – São Paulo and Copa dos Campeões

International

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Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Senna goal.
List of international goals scored by Marcos Senna
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 10 September 2008 Carlos Belmonte, Albacete, Spain   Armenia 4–0 4–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification[31]

Honours

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São Caetano

Corinthians

Villarreal

New York Cosmos

Spain

Individual

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Spain" (PDF). FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Los 11 jugadores nacidos fuera de España con más partidos" [The 11 players born outside of Spain with the most matches]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 5 September 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  3. ^ "Senna ruled out for season". uefa.com. Archived from the original on 11 December 2003. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Ferguson admits interest in Senna". BBC Sport. 4 August 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Villarreal prepared to sell Senna". BBC Sport. 8 August 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  6. ^ "Ferguson reveals failed Senna bid". BBC Sport. 13 September 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  7. ^ "United close on Hargreaves". The Guardian. 18 August 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  8. ^ "Star in yellow Senna might have been a Red". The Guardian. 16 September 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  9. ^ "Senna signs three-year Villarreal extension". ESPN Soccernet. 4 September 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  10. ^ "Senna: The goal of my life". Setanta Sports. 29 April 2008. Archived from the original on 2 July 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2008.
  11. ^ "Real Betis 0–1 Villarreal". ESPN Soccernet. 27 April 2008. Archived from the original on 2 December 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  12. ^ "Marcos Senna estará diez semanas de baja por una lesión" [Marcos Senna to miss ten weeks due to injury]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 28 December 2010. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  13. ^ "Marcos Senna recae de su lesión de isquiotibiales" [Marcos Senna relapses on quadriceps injury]. Levante-EMV (in Spanish). 19 February 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  14. ^ "Nine-man Madrid held to a draw". ESPN Soccernet. 21 March 2012. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  15. ^ "Villarreal legend Marcos Senna signs with New York Cosmos". New York Cosmos. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  16. ^ NY Cosmos 2–1 Fort Lauderdale Strikers; NASL, 3 August 2013
  17. ^ FC Edmonton 1–1 New York Cosmos; NASL, 1 September 2013
  18. ^ Lohr, Luke (10 November 2013). "New York Cosmos claim 2013 NASL Soccer Bowl behind goal from Marcos Senna". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  19. ^ "Senna comandó el 'Submarino' una última vez" [Senna in charge of the 'Submarine' one last time]. Marca (in Spanish). 13 November 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  20. ^ "Villarreal takes Senna tribute match 3–0". New York Cosmos. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  21. ^ NY Cosmos 1–0 Minnesota United FC; New York Cosmos, 12 May 2014
  22. ^ Atlanta Silverbacks 1–2 NY Cosmos; New York Cosmos, 9 August 2014
  23. ^ "Marcos Senna to retire at end of season". New York Cosmos. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  24. ^ "New York Cosmos bid farewell to Raul with NASL title victory". The Guardian. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  25. ^ "Cesc guía a España en el triunfo ante Costa de Marfil" [Cesc guides Spain in win against Ivory Coast]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 1 March 2006. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  26. ^ a b c Rocha, Felipe (14 June 2021). ""It was unreal, but it happened" - Marcos Senna on Spain's Euro 2008 triumph". fourfourtwo.com. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Spain dominate Team of the Tournament". UEFA. 30 June 2008. Archived from the original on 31 August 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  28. ^ "Steven Beacom: Best and worst of Euro 2008". The Belfast Telegraph. 30 June 2008. Archived from the original on 10 June 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  29. ^ Wilson, Jeremy (30 June 2008). "Euro 2008: Highs, lows, hits and misses". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 1 July 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  30. ^ O'Neill, Martin (30 June 2008). "BBC pundits on Euro 2008 final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  31. ^ a b "Villa double helps Spain to easy victory". CNN. 10 September 2008. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  32. ^ "Spain omit Marcos Senna from 2010 World Cup squad". BBC Sport. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  33. ^ "New York Cosmos snap up Marcos Senna from Villareal". NBC Sports. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  34. ^ Rich, Tim (1 January 2009). "Marcos Senna cool on Manchester City move". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  35. ^ Hytner, David (9 June 2008). "Fábregas takes positive view, from the bench". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  36. ^ N, Timothy (19 August 2010). "Mesut Ozil and the Top 10 Midfielders in Spain". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  37. ^ "Calciatori in vetrina, niente saldi" [Footballers on sale, no discounts]. la tribuna di Treviso (in Italian). 26 June 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  38. ^ Krishnan, Arvind (13 January 2018). "Marcos Senna: Spain's forgotten midfield general". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  39. ^ Moore, Glenn (28 June 2008). "Marcos Senna: Spain's man from Brazil". The Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  40. ^ "Eternal captain Marcos Senna". Villareal CF. 9 April 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  41. ^ Shakran, K. (30 June 2008). "Marcos Senna: The Unnoticed Player of Euro 2008". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  42. ^ a b Castles, Duncan (28 June 2008). "Senna steals show". The Observer. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  43. ^ Lawrence, Amy (20 June 2010). "World Cup 2010: Pass-masters Spain missing Marcos Senna". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  44. ^ Happe, Liam (6 October 2015). "Spain international Marcos Senna to leave New York Cosmos". www.eurosport.com. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  45. ^ "Discípulo do irmão "espanhol", Márcio Senna também quer ser naturalizado" [Disciple of "Spanish" brother, Márcio Senna also wants naturalization]. Gazeta do Povo (in Portuguese). 1 July 2008. Retrieved 22 March 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  46. ^ "Marcos Senna, estrella de Champions" [Marcos Senna, Champions star]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). 2 October 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  47. ^ "Marcos Senna". Beyond the Ultimate. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  48. ^ "World Cup athletes' real goal—finding fulfillment beyond the field". Athletes in Action. 31 March 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  49. ^ "Marcos Senna presentó el Evangélico FC, equipo de fútbol inspirado en los valores cristianos" [Marcos Senna presented Evangélico FC, football team inspired by Christian values] (in Spanish). Protestante Digital. 20 October 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  50. ^ "Senna". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  51. ^ Marcos Senna at ESPN FC
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